The 2016 Russian Words of the Year, Explained
Those eager to polish their Russian, or to simply pepper their conversations with witticisms, are in for a treat. From Global Voices. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Crimean Tatar leader added to Russian List of ‘Terrorists & Extremists’ for Opposing Annexation
Russia has added Crimean Tatar Mejlis leader Ilmi Umerov to its notoriously long list of so-called ‘Terrorists and Extremists’ for saying, as do all democratic states, that Russia should be made to leave Crimea. With its customary contempt for presumption of innocence, it has also added all 19 Crimean Muslims whom it is holding in custody...
Russian Sova Centre forcibly added to ‘foreign agent’ list for criticizing authorities
In the latest move aimed at crushing critical voices and independent NGOs in Russia, the renowned Sova Centre has been labelled a ‘foreign agent’. The reason almost certainly lies in the Centre’s monitoring and criticism of Russia’s ever-increasing misuse of dangerously broad ‘anti-extremism’ legislation. …read more...
Russian historian of Soviet terror arrested on chillingly cynical charges
Yury Dmitriev has devoted the last 30 years to ensuring that the history of the Soviet Terror is known, and the unmarked graves of countless victims honoured. Judging by the harassment preceding his arrest, this has made him enemies, and there are strong grounds for concern over the criminal proceedings initiated against him. …read more...
Is Russia Really ‘Winning’?
Emma Ashford On last Friday, Vladimir Putin held his annual press conference, capping what many have described as an extremely successful year for the Russian president. Indeed, if you’re a regular consumer of today’s media, you could be forgiven for believing that Russia has supplanted the United States in the Middle East, that...
Kremlin’s Donbas Proxies Use Russian FSB Tactics Against Luhansk Bloggers
The so-called ‘Luhansk people’s republic’ is now holding two Luhansk bloggers – Edward Nedlyaev and Hennady Benitsky prisoner, accusing them of ‘extremism’ …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Best of TOL for 2016
Our favorite stories of the year. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
‘Deported’ Crimean Tatar activist on hunger strike too weak to stand
Nedim Khalilov began his hunger strike on Nov 24, in protest at being forcibly ‘deported’ from his homeland 9 months after the Crimean Tatar lodged a law suit against Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading and occupying Crimea. …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Key Maidan journalist murder suspect released to flee or to commit more crimes
A man who has admitted taking part in the fatal attack on journalist Viacheslav Veremiy in February 2014 has once again been released from custody. This is despite legitimate grounds for believing that if Yury Krysin does not simply go into hiding, he will continue his criminal activities …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
No investigation into abduction of Crimean Tatar activist, just FSB surveillance of his parents
Seven months after Ervin Ibragimov’s abduction from near his home in Russian-occupied Crimea, there is nothing to suggest that the de facto authorities are trying to find him. Instead, they have men following the Crimean Tatar activist’s parents. Ervin Ibragimov had reported such surveillance just before he was abducted. …read...
