Banking & Financial Crisis
State-controlled Sberbank will offer payment deferrals to individual borrowers who experience income disruption (Meeting with Putin).
Culture
Hundreds of items are missing from the Hermitage museum, apparently from theft, though the institution’s director says many of the artifacts were of little value or have been missing since World War II (100s items missing).
Military & Nuclear Weapons
Russian officials announced they will be commissioning 70 strategic nuclear missiles in addition to other military equipment (Russian to get 70 nuclear missiles).
Nationalism
Immigration into Russia has sparked activity by nationalist groups, with little opposition from the government, though members of a skinhead group were recently convicted of racially-motivated, violent crimes (Clark).
Opposition Parties, Trade and Censorship
Russian democratic parties met earlier this month in St. Petersburg. Loosely unified under the title of Solidarity, the organizations still differ in their opinions on participation in elections and opposition to nationalism (Chernov).
Though not a party, drivers in Primorye region took to the streets—in cars—to protest tariffs on foreign cars put in place by the Putin government. The protest did not sway the government. Riot police arrested over 100 people. In much of the world this would be news, but it wasn’t covered by the state-owned television stations (Abdullaev & Mereu; Malpas & Antonova).
Socialist Economy
Even though the government cleared mining company Uralkali in a mining accident that created a sinkhole, but caused now injuries, it may still levy heavy fines on the company and attempt to take it over (Levy).
Sources
100s items missing from Russia’s Hermitage. (2008 Dec. 8). Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008482841_apeurussiamissingart.html, accessed 2009 Jan. 6.
Abdullaev, N., & Mereu, F. (2008 Dec. 16). Far east drivers get leaders to listen. Moscow Times. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/373168.htm, accessed 2008 Jan. 6.
Chernov, S. (2008 Dec. 9). Democrats meet to form joint program. St. Petersburg Times. http://www.times.spb.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=27788, accessed 2008 Dec. 11.
Clark, T. (2008 Dec. 15). Russian skinheads get up to 20 years in jail for 19 murders. Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aAyge8hOY0PE&refer=europe, accessed 2009 Jan. 6.
Levy, C. (2008 Dec. 8). Russia my use accident inquiry to take over mine. Austin American-Statesman. http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/world/12/08/1208russia.html, accessed 2009 Jan. 6.
Malpas, A., & Antonova, M. (2008 Dec. 22). Primorye protests don’t sway putin. Moscow Times. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/373322.htm, accessed 2009 Jan. 6.
Meeting with Putin, CEO says Sberbank to give a break on loans. (2008 Dec. 22). PRIME-TASS. http://www.prime-tass.com/news/show.asp?topicid=60&id=449592, accessed 2009 Jan. 6.
Russian to get 70 nuclear missiles in 3 years. (2008 Dec. 22). Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hE_-OiPRaNN8o4Pov7KcF87YZtgwD957TOS80, accessed 2009 Jan. 6.
Showing posts with label opposition parties outside USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opposition parties outside USA. Show all posts
2009/01/06
2008/11/29
Russia Intelligencer 2008 November 29
Kasparov Predicts Quick End to Medvedev Presidency
Opposition leader Garry Kasparov has predicted that the financial crisis will bring about unrest that will end the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev within 18 months (Kasparov predicts).
Opposition Leaders Meet
Notable opposition leaders met to coordinate their efforts to prevent changes to the Russian constitution, including extension of presidential terms, and to bring down the present regime (Wendle).
Presidential Term Extended to Six Years
The Duma approved a bill to extend presidential terms to 6 years. Interestingly, all Communist Party members in the Duma voted against the bill on its first reading of three. The bill would also extend terms of Duma members to 5 years (Malpas, Nowak, Wendle).
Sources
Kasparov predicts short Medvedev presidency, mass protests (2008 Nov. 17). RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081117/118358740.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Malpas, A. (2008 Nov. 17). Duma backs 6-year presidential term. Moscow Times. http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/1010/42/372406.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Nowak, D. (2008 Nov. 14). Russian lawmakers back extending presidential term. Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jPsRzMy3_geQb7l75K7KZ6iNTizQD94EUGQ80, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Wendle, J. (2008 Nov. 24). Big names miss Solidarity meeting. Moscow Times. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/1010/42/372566.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Opposition leader Garry Kasparov has predicted that the financial crisis will bring about unrest that will end the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev within 18 months (Kasparov predicts).
Opposition Leaders Meet
Notable opposition leaders met to coordinate their efforts to prevent changes to the Russian constitution, including extension of presidential terms, and to bring down the present regime (Wendle).
Presidential Term Extended to Six Years
The Duma approved a bill to extend presidential terms to 6 years. Interestingly, all Communist Party members in the Duma voted against the bill on its first reading of three. The bill would also extend terms of Duma members to 5 years (Malpas, Nowak, Wendle).
Sources
Kasparov predicts short Medvedev presidency, mass protests (2008 Nov. 17). RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081117/118358740.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Malpas, A. (2008 Nov. 17). Duma backs 6-year presidential term. Moscow Times. http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/1010/42/372406.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Nowak, D. (2008 Nov. 14). Russian lawmakers back extending presidential term. Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jPsRzMy3_geQb7l75K7KZ6iNTizQD94EUGQ80, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Wendle, J. (2008 Nov. 24). Big names miss Solidarity meeting. Moscow Times. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/1010/42/372566.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
2008/11/11
Russia Intelligencer 2008 November 11
Financial Crisis & Censorship
Russian shares were clobbered in the London and Russian stock markets, losing some 70 percent of their value, in spite of the government’s interventions (Halpin; Vorobieva & Zhdannikov; Weir “Crisis spares”).
Russian media is prohibited from using the words “crisis” and “collapse” in relation to the…events in economy (Bloomfield).
Foreign Affairs: Libya
Colonel Muammar Qaddafi visited with Dimitri Medvedev to discuss the possible placement of a Russian naval base Libya, ostensibly as a shield against attack from the U.S. Russia recently wrote off about $4.6 billion in Libyan debt in exchange for lucrative contracts, including a major rail project (Libya “ready to host Russian naval base”).
Nationalization, especially Energy
The Russian government has been expanding its takeover of major industries and squeezing out foreign companies. Gazprom, the energy conglomerate in which the Russian government holds a majority share, is the appears to be the center of the program and has been awarded exclusive rights to export oil (Weir “Gazprom”).
Opposition Parties
Several opposition parties and figures, including Garry Kasparov, are working to form a group that would seek to protect the Russian constitution (Russian opposition figures).
Russian Justice
A trial of suspects in the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya was set to begin. The primary suspect, Chechen native Rustam Makhmudav, is on the lam in Western Europe. Those being tried a conspirators include Makhmudav’s brothers and FSB agent Pavel Ryaguzav. Because Ryaguzav is in the FSB, all the trials will be in secret military courts, though protestors have called for open trials. Politkovskaya was known for reporting on human rights violations in Chechnya (Murder of Russian journalist remembered).
On a related note, the lawyer who once represented Politkovskaya, Karina Moskalenko, found mercury in the car she and her family used after experiencing a sudden decline in health. She has represented several Russian opposition figures. It looks like political assassination is all to common in Russia (Schwirtz & Cowell; Stack; Zarakhovich).
Sources
Bloomfield, A. (2008 Oct. 27). Bans, tough talk can’t hide the trouble Russia is in. Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bans-tough-talk-cant-hide-the-trouble-russia-is-in/2008/10/26/1224955853364.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Halpin, T. (2008 Oct. 20). Russia is well prepared to survive financial crisis says Putin. Times. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/russia/article4981200.ece, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Libya “ready to host Russian naval base.” (2008 Oct. 31). RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/world/20081031/118052964.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Murder of Russian journalist remembered. (2008 Oct. 7). Agence France-Presse in Inquirer. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20081007-165159/Murder-of-Russian-journalist-remembered, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
Russian opposition figures for movement to support constituion. (2008 Nov. 6). RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081106/118162025.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
Schwirtz, M., & Cowell, A. (2008 Oct. 15). Toxins found in Russian rights lawyer’s car. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/world/europe/16russia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
Stack, M. (2008 Oct. 16). Lawyer for Russian dissidents may have been poisened. Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-poison16-2008oct16,0,5763910.story, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
Vorbieva, P., & Zhdannikov, D. (2008 Oct. 13). Russian shares loose gain, await state money. Reuters. http://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/10/13/2008-10-13T165251Z_01_LD209760_RTRIDST_0_RUSSIA-MARKETS-UPDATE-3.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Weir, F. (2008 Oct. 21). Crisis spares Russia’s “average Joe.” Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1021/p06s02-wogn.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Weir, F. (2007 Jan. 23). Gazprom: Rising star in new Kremlin capitalism. Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0123/p01s03-woeu.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Zarakhovich, Y. (2008 Oct. 19). Murder, Russian style: Political assassination. Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1851854,00.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
Russian shares were clobbered in the London and Russian stock markets, losing some 70 percent of their value, in spite of the government’s interventions (Halpin; Vorobieva & Zhdannikov; Weir “Crisis spares”).
Russian media is prohibited from using the words “crisis” and “collapse” in relation to the…events in economy (Bloomfield).
Foreign Affairs: Libya
Colonel Muammar Qaddafi visited with Dimitri Medvedev to discuss the possible placement of a Russian naval base Libya, ostensibly as a shield against attack from the U.S. Russia recently wrote off about $4.6 billion in Libyan debt in exchange for lucrative contracts, including a major rail project (Libya “ready to host Russian naval base”).
Nationalization, especially Energy
The Russian government has been expanding its takeover of major industries and squeezing out foreign companies. Gazprom, the energy conglomerate in which the Russian government holds a majority share, is the appears to be the center of the program and has been awarded exclusive rights to export oil (Weir “Gazprom”).
Opposition Parties
Several opposition parties and figures, including Garry Kasparov, are working to form a group that would seek to protect the Russian constitution (Russian opposition figures).
Russian Justice
A trial of suspects in the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya was set to begin. The primary suspect, Chechen native Rustam Makhmudav, is on the lam in Western Europe. Those being tried a conspirators include Makhmudav’s brothers and FSB agent Pavel Ryaguzav. Because Ryaguzav is in the FSB, all the trials will be in secret military courts, though protestors have called for open trials. Politkovskaya was known for reporting on human rights violations in Chechnya (Murder of Russian journalist remembered).
On a related note, the lawyer who once represented Politkovskaya, Karina Moskalenko, found mercury in the car she and her family used after experiencing a sudden decline in health. She has represented several Russian opposition figures. It looks like political assassination is all to common in Russia (Schwirtz & Cowell; Stack; Zarakhovich).
Sources
Bloomfield, A. (2008 Oct. 27). Bans, tough talk can’t hide the trouble Russia is in. Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bans-tough-talk-cant-hide-the-trouble-russia-is-in/2008/10/26/1224955853364.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Halpin, T. (2008 Oct. 20). Russia is well prepared to survive financial crisis says Putin. Times. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/russia/article4981200.ece, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Libya “ready to host Russian naval base.” (2008 Oct. 31). RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/world/20081031/118052964.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Murder of Russian journalist remembered. (2008 Oct. 7). Agence France-Presse in Inquirer. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20081007-165159/Murder-of-Russian-journalist-remembered, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
Russian opposition figures for movement to support constituion. (2008 Nov. 6). RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081106/118162025.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
Schwirtz, M., & Cowell, A. (2008 Oct. 15). Toxins found in Russian rights lawyer’s car. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/world/europe/16russia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
Stack, M. (2008 Oct. 16). Lawyer for Russian dissidents may have been poisened. Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-poison16-2008oct16,0,5763910.story, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
Vorbieva, P., & Zhdannikov, D. (2008 Oct. 13). Russian shares loose gain, await state money. Reuters. http://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/10/13/2008-10-13T165251Z_01_LD209760_RTRIDST_0_RUSSIA-MARKETS-UPDATE-3.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Weir, F. (2008 Oct. 21). Crisis spares Russia’s “average Joe.” Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1021/p06s02-wogn.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Weir, F. (2007 Jan. 23). Gazprom: Rising star in new Kremlin capitalism. Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0123/p01s03-woeu.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 3.
Zarakhovich, Y. (2008 Oct. 19). Murder, Russian style: Political assassination. Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1851854,00.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 11.
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