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Russian border guard killed by Georgian police
The Kremlin says it will honor its commitment to withdraw its troops despite what it sees as Georgian provocations aimed at worsening relations. The Kremlin says it will honor its commitment to withdraw its troops despite what it sees as Georgian provocations aimed at worsening ... more
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Russia To Ban 'Adult Themed' Cartoons
The Kremlin was accused of a return to Soviet-style indoctrination after Russia moved to ban American cartoons like The Simpsons and replace them with programmes teaching children to be patriotic.
The move came as Russia's broadcast watchdog began hearings on whether or not to revoke the license of a cartoon network as punishment for transmitting episodes of South Park, The Simpsons and Family Guy.
The American cartoons, all of which have adult themes, have been fallen foul of recently tightened extremism laws that critics say have been used to muzzle opponents of the Kremlin.
The State Duma, Russia's parliament, said that the frequency given to the 2x2 cartoon channel would instead be given to new government network that "reflects the state position in the area of youth policy".
In place of foreign cartoons, Russia's children would instead watch programmes teaching them patriotism, respect for family values and the importance of sport, the Duma's youth committee said.
The move comes as MPs are also considering the compulsory introduction of patriotism classes in all Russian schools. Under one proposal lessons in Russian literature could be scaled back to find room on the curriculum.
The proposal to create a new state channel, criticised in some quarters as an attempt to seize lucrative frequency rights from a private broadcaster, was likened by some activists to Soviet era moralizing that fettered the minds of the young. The Kremlin was accused of a return to Soviet-style indoctrination after Russia moved to ban American cartoons like The Simpsons and r... more -
Ingushetia abuses 'may spark war'
Russia's southern republic of Ingushetia is verging on civil war, a human rights group says, accusing officials of state-sponsored terror.
The Moscow Helsinki Group says the federal authorities in the Caucasus republic are engaged in kidnappings, torture and extra-judicial killings.
The authorities say they are fighting a war against terrorism.
Attacks against security forces - often carried out by Islamist militants - have intensified in Ingushetia.
Violence in the predominantly Muslim republic started during the war in neighbouring Chechnya in the late 1990s, when armed separatists began attacking government targets.
The Moscow Helsinki Group (MHG) presented its findings on Tuesday, following a recent visit to Ingushetia by several members of the group.
"What's happening there is unthinkable and shouldn't happen in a country which respects the rule of law," MHG president Lyudmila Alexeyeva said at a news conference in Moscow.
The group directly accused the Kremlin-backed authorities in the tiny republic of engaging in state-sponsored terror.
"In Ingushetia, they arrive at people's homes, some are taken away, others are killed right away, there is torture. These actions by the authorities can never be justified in the name of fighting terrorism," Ms Alexeyeva said.
Another MHG member warned that "civil war could break out" in the republic.
"One part of the population is keeping quiet, but another part is taking up the fight. Fear creates rebellion, the federal government takes responsibility for that," Valery Borshchev said.
Armed separatist groups began attacking government targets in Ingushetia in the late 1990s.
More at link Russia's southern republic of Ingushetia is verging on civil war, a human rights group says, accusing officials of state-sponsore... more -
Did the Kremlin shut down a tabloid paper?
A Moscow newspaper reporting rumours that President Vladimir Putin had secretly divorced and was planning to marry a 24-year-old gymnast has suspended publication.
The publishers insisted the suspension was a purely commercial decision. But Russian journalism experts warned it showed the extent to which the media had been cowed by the Kremlin... A Moscow newspaper reporting rumours that President Vladimir Putin had secretly divorced and was planning to marry a 24-year-old gymna... more -
Why does the Kremlin want 3,200 mice?
Wanted: 3,200 white mice. Must be female. No more than 18 grams. Purchaser: the Kremlin security service.
So why does the Kremlin guard, which is made up of elite troops who protect President Vladimir Putin, want to buy so many female white mice?
"Everyone is wondering what they are for. But if they were ordered then that means they are needed," an official from the service said with a gruff chuckle.
He refused to speculate about whether the mice could be used to feed to the falcons which are kept in the Kremlin, the seat of Russia's rulers, to scare off crows.
"There are more important things to think about," he said.
Some Russian media have also speculated the mice could play a role in testing toxic substances or indicating the presence of dangerous gases.
Whatever the case, the cat is out of the bag. Documents posted on the official government tender Web Site on Friday showed the Kremlin guard has found a supplier and will pay 475,776 roubles (10,040 pounds) for the mice." Wanted: 3,200 white mice. Must be female. No more than 18 grams. Purchaser: the Kremlin security service. ... more -
Putin's Secret $40 Billion Fortune
Putin is on his way out of office and it's creating quite a stir in the Kremlin...not because they're going to miss him, but because they're going to miss his assets. Apparently, the president has a secret multibillion-dollar fortune and rival clans on the inside of the Kremlin are scrambling to stake a claim. Putin is on his way out of office and it's creating quite a stir in the Kremlin...not because they're going to miss him, but... more
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Russian Software Piracy Crackdown Restricts Free Speech
According to a report recently filed by the Washington Post, the Kremlin has finally begun to crackdown on software piracy ... with a twist. The Russian state agency is targetting political enemies with claims of piracy, including independent news media, political parties, and private advocacy groups. In particular, 'the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, one of the last outposts of critical journalism in Russia, suspended publication of its regional edition in the southern city of Samara on Monday after prosecutors opened a criminal case against its editor, alleging that his publication used unlicensed software. According to a report recently filed by the Washington Post, the Kremlin has finally begun to crackdown on software piracy ... with a ... more
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Kremlin honors American traitor with highest Russian award
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or nation. A person who commits treason is known as a traitor. treason is treachery against one's country or monarch.
During World War II, George Koval was a top Soviet spy, code named Delmar and trained by Stalins ruthless bureau of military intelligence. In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or nation. A person who c... more
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