Author Archive
Posted on September 1, 2010 - by Venik
Mystery over Russian general found dead on Turkish beach
Russian media question official version of death of Yuri Ivanov, that he died going for a swim A mysterious accident in which one of Russia’s most powerful spies was found dead on a Turkish beach has provoked speculation that the deputy head of the country’s foreign military intelligence service had been murdered. The badly decomposed [...]
Posted on August 31, 2010 - by Venik
Scores detained by police at anti-Kremlin protests
Protests against alleged erosion of Article 31 of Russia’s constitution, which guarantees the right to free assembly, take place on the 31st of each month Police detained more than 130 people, including prominent opponents of prime minister Vladimir Putin, at anti-Kremlin protests, after Putin said demonstrators without permits could expect harsh treatment. In Moscow police [...]
Posted on August 31, 2010 - by Venik
Lib Dem MP’s Russian links questioned after aide ‘interrogated by MI5′
Mike Hancock dismisses as ‘rubbish’ claims about his parliamentary assistant and Russian intelligence The Russian links of Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock are under the spotlight after questions were raised about the extent to which he has in effect acted as a lobbyist for the Kremlin in the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe. Colleagues from the [...]
Posted on August 31, 2010 - by Venik
Austrian conference hosts ‘politicians versus journalists’ debate
ALPBACH, Austria: I am interrupting my blog holiday to report on a session of a conference here organised by the International Press Institute at the European Forum Alpbach 2010. It didn’t matter to us panellists that the question under discussion – “Politicians construct and journalists search for reality?” – was a statement rather than a [...]
Posted on August 30, 2010 - by Venik
Global Moron Alert
Here’s my scientific study* on the density of morons in various almost randomly-selected countries. We deal with morons on a daily basis. Some of us would swear we are surrounded by morons. But how many morons are there? I decided to try to answer this question and arrived at some unexpected results. Wikipedia defines “moron” [...]
Posted on August 30, 2010 - by Venik
The Russian protesters who won’t give up
The 31ers are making their protest global after being fenced out of a Moscow square For the Kremlin it has become something of an embarrassment. On the 31st of the month, a group of noisy protesters gather in downtown Moscow’s Triumfalnaya Square. They shout slogans against Vladimir Putin and his regime. The 31ers, as they [...]
Posted on August 30, 2010 - by Venik
Vladimir Putin says ‘unsanctioned’ protesters can expect police brutality
Russia prime minister dismisses protests against his regime as ‘provocations’ as anti-Putin rallies take place in world cities Vladimir Putin today angrily dismissed protests against his regime as “provocations” and said anyone who took part in unsanctioned street rallies against the Kremlin should expect a “whack on the bonce”. Using characteristic street language, Putin derided [...]
Posted on August 30, 2010 - by Venik
Skinheads attack crowds at Russian rock festival
Police unsure of motives behind attack in which 19 people were injured and six taken to hospital About 100 skinheads attacked crowds of revellers at a Russian rock festival yesterday, injuring 19 people, reports in the Russian media say. The state-run Rossiya 24 television channel showed footage of large groups of bare-chested men with cropped [...]
Posted on August 30, 2010 - by Venik
Russians need our support | Susan Richards
Only corruption and force hold Putin’s pyramid of power together. Protests could bring about change Russia is entering a potentially volatile period. Though Vladimir Putin remains a popular leader – and the economy, thanks to rising oil prices, looks set to grow by an enviable 4% this year – the pressure for political change is [...]
Posted on August 29, 2010 - by Venik
Teenage girl killed in skinhead rampage at Russian festival
Over 100 men attack at Tornado festival in Miass, injuring up to 100 people in latest ultra-nationalist attack to hit country A 14-year-old girl was killed and dozens of revellers injured yesterday when more than 100 bare-chested skinheads rampaged through a rock concert in central Russia attacking people with iron clubs. The teenager was among [...]
Posted on August 29, 2010 - by Venik
Margaret Thatcher blocked Soviet aid for striking miners, files reveal
Margaret Thatcher exerted intense diplomatic pressure on Mikhail Gorbachev over funds for miners during strike She was the prime minister at the height of her powers, using every arm of the state to crush the striking miners. He was the Soviet heir apparent who had authorised a large donation to help striking comrades in the [...]
Posted on August 29, 2010 - by Venik
Islamist rebels launch deadly attack on Chechen president’s village
At least 19 people including five civilians die as insurgents strike against pro-Moscow leader Ramzan Kadyrov At least 19 people were killed today after Islamist rebels launched an audacious attack on the heavily defended residence of Chechnya’s pro-Kremlin president, Ramzan Kadyrov. Chechen officials said that 12 insurgents and two guards were killed after the rebels [...]
Posted on August 29, 2010 - by Venik
Chechnya shootout leaves 19 dead
Ramzan Kadyrov’s guards in gun battle with separatists in president’s home village Five civilians were among 19 people killed today in a shootout between the Chechen president’s security guards and suspected separatists, officials said. At least 12 insurgents and two security officers were killed when the rebels entered Tsentoroi, Ramzan Kadyrov’s home village, his spokesman [...]
Posted on August 26, 2010 - by Venik
Russian spy Anna Chapman films risqué video in Moscow
Anna Chapman, the Russian spy deported from the US, has been filmed wearing revealing clothes for a magazine shoot The woman at the centre of one of the most intriguing spying scandals since the cold war reappeared last night after video footage was leaked showing her taking part in a photo-shoot for a Russian men’s [...]