Russia 02 (Aug 10 - Sep 15)

[behappyalways]

Russian Bungling: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to South Ossetia

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/ ... 50,00.html

[winston]

Hmmm.... looks like a pattern forming. First, Thailand. Now, Russia. Who's next ?

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Thousands of Russians protest against Putin
by Steve Gutterman and Amie Ferris-Rotman

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people in Moscow and thousands more in cities across Russia, demanded an end to Vladimir Putin's rule and a rerun of a parliamentary election on Saturday in the biggest opposition protests since he rose to power 12 years ago.

Potesters waved banners such as "The rats should go!" and "Swindlers and thieves - give us our elections back!" in cities from the Pacific port of Vladivostok in the east to Kaliningrad in the west, nearly 7,400 km (4,600 miles) away.

But the biggest protest by far was in Moscow, where riot police were out in force but just watched as protesters waving flags and shouting "Putin is a thief!" staged the opposition's biggest protest rally since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

The protests showed a groundswell of anger over the December 4 election, which the opposition says was rigged to favor Putin's United Russia, and discontent with the prime minister three months before he tries to reclaim the presidency at the polls.

"Today 60,000, maybe 100,000 people, have come to this rally," former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov said in a speech to a huge crowd packed into Bolotnaya Square across the Moscow River from the Kremlin.

"This means today is the beginning of the end for these thieving authorities," said Kasyanov, who now leads an opposition movement which was barred from the election.

People of all ages gathered in Moscow, many carrying white carnations as the symbol of their protest and some waving pictures of Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev declaring: "Guys, it's time to go." Helicopters at times buzzed overhead.

"We are not cattle or slaves. We have a voice and we have the strength to defend it," he said in the message, which drew cheers when it was read out from the stage by Oleg Kashin, an opposition journalist.

The protesters were mainly angered by the election, in which they say only cheating prevented United Russia's result being worse. International monitors also said the ruling party had an unfair advantage and that they had evidence of ballot-stuffing.

Source: Reuters US Online Report World News

http://www.newsmeat.com/news/meat.php?a ... &buid=3281

[winston]

I thought dinosaurs were extinct a long time ago. However, they are now reappearing in China, the UK and now, Russia.

Russian security council chief wants Web regulation

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Internet must be subject to "reasonable regulation," the head of Russia's Security Council said in remarks published on Wednesday, a fresh sign of Kremlin concern about the use of social networks to promote anti-government protests.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/ ... ningdigest

[winston]

Russian president wants political system overhaul
by Timothy Heritage

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev has called for an overhaul of Russia's "exhausted" political system, in a sign that street protests and dissatisfaction with Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule, are starting to have some impact.

The two men have dismissed the protesters' claims that a December 4 parliamentary election was marred by fraud and ignored calls for a rerun.

They also sought to play down the significance of the demonstrations as Putin prepares to return to the presidency in an election next March.

The hints by Medvedev and Putin that they are ready to tinker with the political system have made little impact on the protesters, who on December 10 staged the biggest opposition rallies since Putin rose to power in 1999.

The protesters remain angry the leaders have ignored their demands for a re-run of the December election, which the opposition says was rigged to help United Russia secure a slim majority in the lower house of parliament.

International monitors also said the vote was slanted to favor United Russia, and the protesters plan another day of rallies across the world's biggest country and energy producer on December 24.

Putin, a former KGB spy who won support during his 2000-08 presidency by restoring order after the chaos that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, ushered Medvedev into power in 2008 because of a constitutional ban on three successive terms as president.

But an opinion poll last week showed Putin's approval ratings have fallen sharply. Many people feel alienated by a system dominated by the 59-year-old leader, who looks set to win the presidential election on March 4 and rule for at least six more years.

For some, the final straw was an announcement by Medvedev and Putin at a United Russia congress on September 24 that they planned to swap jobs after the March election, a decision widely seen as arrogant and undemocratic.

"We've had enough. Putin was president, then Medvedev, now it'll be Putin again. Who knows, maybe they're planning to bring back Medvedev again later," said Igor Belyakov, 35, during Saturday's protest organized by the liberal Yabloko party.

Putin sought to rebuild support in his long television question-and-answer session on Thursday, at which he discussed the protests and the allegations of electoral fraud.

But when he said he had mistaken the white ribbons worn by protesters for condoms, the comment went down badly. Many young people dismissed him as out of touch on the same social network sites that they have used to summon people to protests.

Source: Reuters US Online Report World News

http://www.newsmeat.com/news/meat.php?a ... &buid=3281

[winston]

Russia's Central Bank Cuts Key Rate Unexpectedly

(RTTNews) - Russia's central bank on Friday unexpectedly decided to cut its key refinancing rate for the first time since 2010 and narrowed the interest rate corridor.

The key refinancing rate was lowered by a quarter point to 8 percent. Economists were expecting the bank to maintain the rate at 8.25 percent. This was the first reduction since June 2010.

At the same time, it raised the overnight deposit rate to 4 percent from 3.75 percent and left the repurchase rate unchanged at 5.25 percent.

http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1787212

[winston]

You can fool some of the people all the time; All of the people, some of the time but not All of the people All of the time ...

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Russians Rally Against Putin

Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded Moscow's Sakharov Avenue Saturday, protesting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and alleged fraud in recent parliamentary elections.

The demonstration was even larger than a similar protest two weeks ago, the Associated Press reported.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11356338 ... ooyah_html

[winston]

6.9 magnitude quake hits southeastern Russia: USGS

(Reuters) - An earthquake of 6.9 magnitude hit southeastern Russia near the border with Mongolia on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicenter of the quake was 28 miles deep and was about 57 miles northeast of Kyzyl, Russia, USGS said.

Source: Reuters

[winston]

Demonstrators Brave a Temperature of Minus 17 C to Take Part in an Anti-Putin Rally in Moscow Yesterday

Tens of thousands marched through Moscow Saturday despite bitterly cold weather to protest against Vladimir Putin’s domination, with organisers disputing police claims that a pro-Putin rally elsewhere in the capital was even larger.

Source: AFP GLOBAL EDITION -

[winston]

Russian oligarchs should pay privatization fee: Putin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, seeking to return to the presidency in an election next month, said on Thursday large Russian companies privatized "dishonestly" in the 1990s should pay a fee to win public acceptance for the deals.

"We need to close the period of the '90s, of what, speaking honestly, was dishonest privatization," Putin said in a speech to a business group representing big businesses, which account for two-thirds of Russia's economy.

"This should be a one-off contribution, or something like that. We should think about something like that."

http://www.newsmeat.com/news/meat.php?a ... &buid=3281

[kennynah]

time for him to receive money....