MEDUZA/EN/VHF

The sidestepping spokesman: Dmitry Peskov’s comment on ‘blood feuds’ shows that he needs to take another look at Russia’s Criminal Code

February 09, 2022 00:55 - 1 minute - 1.35 MB

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has been sidestepping questions about the Chechen authorities' threats against the Yangulbayev family all week. On Friday, February 4, journalists -- referring to a "blood feud" threat made by Russian lawmaker Adam Delimkhanov -- asked Peskov about the issue of blood feuds in Chechnya. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/04/the-sidestepping-spokesman

Not talked about on TV: Five years after Russia decriminalized domestic violence, women’s aid groups are busier than ever. Officials continue to sweep the problem under the rug.

February 09, 2022 00:54 - 8 minutes - 8.13 MB

Exactly five years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that decriminalized some forms of domestic violence. Since then, victims have been unable to press criminal charges for domestic battery unless it's at least the abuser's second offense -- first time offenders only face administrative fines, ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 rubles ($66 to $400). To find out what impact this legislation has had on Russia's domestic violence problem, Meduza spoke to Diana Barsegyan -- th...

‘My task is to kill you’: Domestic violence victim who fled Dagestan describes family members’ thwarted attempt to kidnap her in Moscow

February 09, 2022 00:52 - 3 minutes - 3.2 MB

Aishat Khiramagomedova fled her family home in Dagestan in October 2021, after reaching out to Krepost (Fortress), a charity organization that assists victims of domestic abuse. She made it to Moscow, where Krepost provided her with shelter and access to a psychologist. Within a few months she was starting to find her feet -- she had a job and was looking for an apartment with her boyfriend. But on February 4, Aishat's family tried to kidnap her and bring her back to Dagestan. Origi...

Worse than ineffective: Two independent studies have confirmed that EpiVacCorona is a worthless vaccine — and it should be taken off the market

February 09, 2022 00:51 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MB

Despite a recent report that Russia's Health Ministry has stopped placing orders of the EpiVacCorona vaccine, its manufacturer is optimistic and claims to expect the next production order to come in February. Meanwhile, scientists, as well as journalists at Meduza, have obtained convincing evidence that EpiVacCorona is ineffective and gives recipients a completely false sense of security (unlike Sputnik V, which has been proven to protect recipients from COVID-19's most severe effect...

‘Blood was supposed to be shed’: Ukrainian police arrest two suspects over alleged plot to orchestrate violent unrest in Kyiv and regions near border with Russia

January 31, 2022 20:48 - 4 minutes - 4.09 MB

Ukraine's National Police have arrested two suspects on charges of attempting to orchestrate violent unrest in Kyiv and other parts of the country, the Interior Ministry announced during a press conference on Monday, January 31. According to police officials, the detained suspects were planning a series of demonstrations and recruiting paid participants to clash with police officers. Allegedly, the first rally was supposed to take place in the capital on Monday and involve as many as...

As seen on state TV: Russia’s primetime coverage of the impasse over Ukraine, in brief

January 31, 2022 18:48 - 3 minutes - 2.95 MB

A month and a half after Moscow presented the United States and NATO with demands for sweeping security guarantees, tensions between Russia and Western countries remain high. Diplomatic negotiations have made little progress and with upwards of 100,000 Russian troops still concentrated near Ukraine's borders, Washington has repeatedly warned that a full-fledged invasion is imminent. Meanwhile, Russian state television has been offering its own analysis of the crisis, putting the focu...

The old guard: The average age among Russia’s political elite is almost on par with the Brezhnev era. But Putin’s top officials are still younger than their American counterparts.

January 31, 2022 16:49 - 4 minutes - 4.5 MB

When Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia, the mandatory retirement age for government officials was 65 years old. During Dmitry Medvedev's presidency in 2010, this age limit was lowered to 60. But just three years later, after Putin had returned to the presidency, it was raised to 70 years old. Since then, the Russian president has been gradually extending or abolishing the mandatory retirement age for senior civil servants, as Putin's entourage continues to age along with him. In...

‘Geopolitical status is more important’: Why is the Kremlin constantly ratcheting up tensions over Ukraine? Meduza’s sources say it’s to avoid ‘giving in’ to Washington.

January 28, 2022 22:49 - 5 minutes - 5.17 MB

The tensions over Ukraine are becoming more and more alarming by the day. Russian troops have long been stationed near the Ukrainian border, NATO countries are sending additional forces to Eastern Europe, and politicians are swapping mutual accusations of escalating the conflict. It seems that no one really knows what's happening -- or, most importantly, what will happen in the near future. To try and gain some clarity, Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev spoke to his sources...

‘No one is going to hand over Ukraine’: A local journalist reports on the hopes and fears of Kharkiv residents amid the looming threat of a Russian invasion

January 28, 2022 18:49 - 9 minutes - 9 MB

The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv is located just 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the border with Russia. In 2014, it was among the main centers of a bitter standoff between supporters and opponents of the Maidan Revolution. Eight years later -- against the backdrop of a Russian troop buildup that has provoked international fears of a military escalation -- Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speculated that Moscow may try to "occupy" Kharkiv. In a dispatch from the city, local journali...

A gaping hole in the criminal code: Torture is endemic in Russia today. Here’s what can be done about it.

January 27, 2022 21:50 - 10 minutes - 9.82 MB

There is no article on torture in the Russian Criminal Code. However, torture itself, unfortunately, remains a widespread practice: reports of brutal violence in prisons and police stations appear with frightening regularity. We believe that the use of torture is absolutely unacceptable, and we strive to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of this issue. The following text explains why the Russian Criminal Code needs to be changed -- and how introducing a separate articl...

United Russia asks Putin to start supplying military aid to Donetsk and Luhansk ‘people’s republics’

January 26, 2022 14:48 - 1 minute - 1.25 MB

Russia's ruling party has initiated an appeal asking the country's leadership to start supplying military assistance to the self-proclaimed "people's republics" in eastern Ukraine, Interfax reported on Wednesday, January 26. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/26/united-russia-asks-putin-to-start-supplying-military-aid-to-donetsk-and-luhansk-people-s-republics

Navalny’s brother is added to federal wanted list in Russia

January 26, 2022 08:48 - 45 seconds - 789 KB

Police in Russia have added Oleg Navalny, the brother of jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny, to a federal wanted list, the nation's Interior Ministry reported on Tuesday. The announcement does not list the charges. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/26/navalny-s-brother-is-added-to-federal-wanted-list-in-russia

‘He was clueless’: Russian DJ Denis Kaznacheev was charged with laundering $310 million. Then, unexpectedly, the U.S. authorities withdrew their extradition request.

January 25, 2022 17:49 - 7 minutes - 7.4 MB

In early January, the American authorities withdrew a request to extradite Berlin-based Russian DJ Denis Kaznacheev. The U.S. had charged him with laundering hundreds of millions of dollars. As a result, a Berlin court placed Kaznacheev in pre-trial detention before releasing him on bail, while making it clear that Germany would not challenge his extradition stateside. In recent months, new details of the case have emerged: Kaznacheev was accused of running WebKazna -- a money launde...

Russia puts Alexey Navalny and key associates on ‘terrorist and extremist’ list

January 25, 2022 14:48 - 1 minute - 1.77 MB

Imprisoned opposition leader Alexey Navalny and a number of his close associates have been added to Russia's list of "terrorists and extremists." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/25/russia-puts-alexey-navalny-and-key-associates-on-terrorist-and-extremist-list

Who is Yevhen Murayev?: The UK claims that Russia wants to impose this ex-MP as a puppet leader in Ukraine. He says that’s nonsense.

January 25, 2022 00:49 - 10 minutes - 9.76 MB

"The Russian Government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine," the UK Foreign Office said in a statement released on Saturday, January 22. The British authorities pointed to former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevhen Murayev as a "potential candidate," while also claiming to "have information that the Russian intelligence services maintain links with numerous former Ukrainian politicians." Commenting on this information, UK For...

The latest vis-à-vis Ukraine: Western countries withdraw families from Kyiv embassies and the Kremlin blames NATO for escalating tensions

January 24, 2022 18:48 - 5 minutes - 4.88 MB

The United States, UK, and Australia have started to withdraw the family members of embassy staff in Ukraine, as tensions between Russia and NATO countries continue to rise. On Monday, January 24, NATO confirmed that member countries had sent additional ships and jets to enhance deployments in Eastern Europe. In turn, the Kremlin's spokesman accused the alliance of provoking "an escalation of tensions." Meanwhile, the ruble's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar dropped significantl...

Snapshots from Sakharovo: One year ago, thousands of people were arrested at pro-Navalny rallies across Russia. This ‘special’ detention center became a symbol of those protests.

January 24, 2022 15:48 - 1 minute - 1.22 MB

In the winter of 2021, Russia was rocked by large-scale protests demanding the release of opposition leader Alexey Navalny. After spending months abroad recovering from chemical nerve-agent poisoning, Navalny had returned to Russia only to be thrown in jail. During the ensuing pro-Navalny rallies, thousands of people were detained. Police in Moscow made so many arrests that the capital's detention centers were overflowing. As a result, many detainees were sent to a migrant detention ...

Real photos of ‘Putin’s palace’: Alexey Navalny’s researchers say they’ve corroborated a bombshell report on the Russian president’s alleged seaside residence

January 20, 2022 17:48 - 1 minute - 1.34 MB

Alexey Navalny's investigative team operating abroad has released a new report devoted to "Vladimir Putin's palace" -- a seaside mansion that's been under construction for years in Gelendzhik and linked to the Kremlin and the president's close friends. Exactly a year and a day ago, Team Navalny published an investigative report about the residence that has attracted more than 121 million views. In these new revelations, the jailed opposition leader's researchers say they've obtained ...

‘Allied Resolve’ begins: Troops spotted near the border with Ukraine as Russian forces arrive in Belarus for joint military drills

January 19, 2022 19:48 - 3 minutes - 3.66 MB

The "Allied Resolve" joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus are underway. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Wednesday, January 19, that Russian forces have begun to arrive in Belarus for the first phase of the maneuvers, which will last until February 9. The second phase will run from February 10-20. According to open-source reports, Russian troops and hardware have already been spotted within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of the Belarusian border with Ukraine. Taking...

Communist Party submits draft resolution to State Duma on raising issue of Russia recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk ‘people’s republics’

January 19, 2022 17:48 - 1 minute - 1.5 MB

Russian lawmakers from the Communist Party (KPRF) have submitted to the State Duma for consideration a draft resolution that proposes sending a formal appeal to President Vladimir Putin "on the need to recognize the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/19/communist-party-submits-draft-resolution-to-state-duma-on-raising-issue-of-russia-recognizing-donetsk-and-luhansk-people-s-republics

First lady of Kuzbass: Anna Tsivilyova is not only married to a regional governor. She’s also related to Putin and owns a major stake in one of Russia’s biggest coal companies.

January 19, 2022 16:48 - 2 minutes - 2.56 MB

Anna Tsivilyova, the wife of the governor of Russia's Kemerovo region, happens to be the daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin's cousin, according to a new report from the investigative outlet Agentstvo. What's more, according to the journalists' findings, she and her husband acquired a major stake in one of Russia's biggest coal companies thanks to the generosity of one of Putin's oldest friends -- billionaire Gennady Timchenko. Though the coal company, Kolmar, had financial ...

2014 vs. 2022: Ukraine’s improved but still longshot odds of withstanding a full-fledged Russian invasion

January 18, 2022 23:49 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MB

After last week's talks between Russia, the United States, and NATO led to no apparent breakthroughs on European security, speculation has resumed in the West that Moscow is preparing an expanded invasion of Ukraine that could begin at any time. The Kremlin denies any plans to attack Ukraine, but policymakers in Kyiv and Washington say the Russian military's buildup near Ukraine's borders suggests otherwise. Some experts in the West, including several former senior U.S. military pers...

Human rights group Gulagu.net releases video evidencing abuse in Omsk prisons

January 18, 2022 20:48 - 2 minutes - 2.46 MB

The prisoners' rights group Gulagu.net (No to the Gulag) has released a new video evidencing the abuse of inmates in prisons in Russia's Omsk region. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/18/human-rights-group-gulagu-net-releases-video-evidencing-abuse-in-omsk-prisons

Moscow court fines Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov and Novaya Gazeta over missing ‘prohibited organization’ disclaimer

January 18, 2022 19:48 - 1 minute - 1.65 MB

A Moscow court has fined Novaya Gazeta and its editor-in-chief, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, for failing to appropriately label a "prohibited organization" in the newspaper's reporting. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/18/moscow-court-fines-nobel-laureate-dmitry-muratov-and-novaya-gazeta-over-missing-prohibited-organization-disclaimer

Canceling QR-codes: Russian lawmakers withdraw controversial vaccine pass bill from consideration

January 17, 2022 19:48 - 2 minutes - 2.48 MB

The Russian State Duma Council unanimously agreed to withdraw from consideration a controversial bill that would require QR-code vaccine passes for accessing many public spaces, parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin announced on Monday, January 17. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/17/canceling-qr-codes

From the airport to the courtroom: Ukraine’s former president Poroshenko returns to the country, faces arrest on treason charges

January 17, 2022 17:48 - 3 minutes - 3.42 MB

On the morning of Monday, January 17, Ukraine's former president, lawmaker Petro Poroshenko, arrived in Kyiv after spending nearly a month abroad. An estimated 3,000-4,000 people met him at Kyiv's Zhuliany Airport; some of his supporters carried Ukrainian flags and posters with pro-Poroshenko slogans. At passport control, Poroshenko was met by officials from Ukraine's State Investigation Bureau. His passport was taken away for around 15 minutes, but then returned to him. The state in...

How navalny became Navalny: The photos that capture 17 years of activism, investigations, campaigning, and zeal

January 17, 2022 14:48 - 37 seconds - 675 KB

On February 2, a Moscow court incarcerated Alexey Navalny, making him not only Russia's most outspoken opposition politician and most serious opponent to Vladimir Putin but also the country's most famous political prisoner. Drawing heavily on work by Evgeny Feldman, Meduza studied photo archives to recall how Navalny went from a young Moscow activist and blogger in the mid-2000s to the international figure he is today. His journey, which features arrests, political campaigns, crimina...

#FreeNavalny: Supporters rally in cities around the world one year after Alexey Navalny was arrested upon returning to Russia

January 17, 2022 14:48 - 1 minute - 1.08 MB

On January 17, 2021, Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport immediately upon returning to Russia from Germany, where he had spent months recovering from a near-fatal poisoning. Navalny would go on to spend the next year behind bars, first in Moscow's Matrosskaya Tishina remand prison and then in a prison colony in the Vladimir region, where he is still in custody today. The Kremlin critic was incarcerated under a reinstated sentence aft...

Completely different approaches: Political scientist Igor Zevelev breaks down Russia’s security talks with the U.S. and NATO

January 14, 2022 21:49 - 6 minutes - 6.05 MB

Russia's week of security talks with the U.S., NATO, and the OSCE wrapped up on Thursday, January 13. The meetings took place amid ongoing international concern over Russia concentrating troops near its border with Ukraine. However, the talks didn't result in any agreements, as each party refused to budge key issues. Russia has demanded an array of security guarantees, including that NATO rule out membership for Ukraine and Georgia. But both the alliance and Washington insist that Mo...

Meet the Tokayevs: Journalists trace real estate in Russia to Kazakhstani president’s ex-wife and son

January 14, 2022 19:49 - 6 minutes - 5.87 MB

Precious little is known about the immediate family of Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. But according to a recent investigation from RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time TV, Tokayev's ex-wife and son are both closely connected to Russia. Indeed, according to media reports, Tokayev's ex-wife is a Russian citizen. And both she and her son have been linked to pricey real estate in and around Moscow. More recently, their ownership of two apartments in the Russian capital...

Russia puts Navalny associates Leonid Volkov and Ivan Zhdanov on ‘terrorist and extremist’ list

January 14, 2022 14:48 - 1 minute - 1.28 MB

Leonid Volkov and Ivan Zhdanov, two close associates of imprisoned opposition leader Alexey Navalny, have been added to Russia's list of "terrorists and extremists." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/14/russia-puts-navalny-associates-leonid-volkov-and-ivan-zhdanov-on-terrorist-and-extremist-list

CSTO troops to complete withdrawal from Kazakhstan by January 19, Russian Defense Minister says

January 13, 2022 14:48 - 1 minute - 1.73 MB

The withdrawal from Kazakhstan Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping forces, which began on Thursday, January 13, will end by next Wednesday, January 19, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/13/csto-troops-to-complete-withdrawal-from-kazakhstan-by-january-19-russian-defense-minister-says

‘Not an easy discussion’: Russian and NATO officials say they are far from agreement after talks in Brussels

January 12, 2022 20:48 - 3 minutes - 2.94 MB

Russian and NATO officials convened for talks at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, January 12. The meeting came two days after diplomats from Russia and the U.S. held similar talks in Geneva. Both discussions were largely inconclusive. Washington and NATO are attempting to push back against sweeping security proposals put forward by Russia in December, while also trying to deter Moscow from launching a full-fledged attack on Ukraine. Speaking to the press after We...

Putin’s trigger: Tens years after they first caused the Russian authorities to clutch their pearls, Pussy Riot has been almost entirely forced out of the country

January 12, 2022 18:56 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MB

In November 2021, the feminist protest group Pussy Riot turned 10 years old. For the entirety of the group's existence, the Russian authorities (among others) have been trying their damnedest to shut them up. After staging a "punk prayer" in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012, three Pussy Riot activists were sentenced to two years in prison. After a demonstration at the 2018 World Cup, other Pussy Riot members, who ran onto the field in police uniforms, were arrested -- and...

Headed for six figures: The Omicron variant is bringing Russia’s coronavirus epidemic to a tipping point, officials warn

January 11, 2022 18:48 - 1 minute - 1.75 MB

According to government officials, Russia's coronavirus epidemic has reached a tipping point. On Tuesday, January 11, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova, and Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko all raised concerns about the rapid spread of the Omicron strain during a meeting of the Presidium of the Government Coordination Council on countering COVID-19. Among other things, they warned that the daily number of new coronavirus cases in Russia could soon...

Head of Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo remand prison resigns

January 11, 2022 17:48 - 2 minutes - 2.02 MB

The head of Moscow's Lefortovo remand prison, Alexey Romashin, has stepped down, informed sources told RTVI, RIA Novosti, and Novaya Gazeta on Tuesday, January 11. Eva Merkacheva and Alexey Melnikov of Moscow's Public Monitoring Commission (a prisoners' rights watchdog) also confirmed the prison chief's resignation to TASS and Interfax. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/11/head-of-moscow-s-notorious-lefortovo-remand-prison-resigns

‘Reinforced concrete guarantees’: Here’s what the heads of the Russian and U.S. delegations said after today’s talks in Geneva

January 10, 2022 19:48 - 1 minute - 1.86 MB

On Monday, January 11, diplomats from Russia and the United States held a series of security talks in Geneva. Taking place against the backdrop of Russia massing troops along its border with Ukraine, the discussion centered around a set of draft security proposals that Moscow presented to the United States and NATO in December. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman underscored that no con...

A grim year : Meduza’s Andrey Pertsev sums up the key developments in Russia’s domestic politics in 2021

January 10, 2022 15:49 - 6 minutes - 6.32 MB

The year 2020 saw the death of public politics in Russia. To accommodate a plebiscite on amending the constitution, the authorities introduced a three-day voting period (leaving ballots unsupervised at polling stations overnight), as well as "mobile polling stations" (giving rise to the infamous "stump" voting). The official result was 67 percent turnout, with 78 percent of voters supporting the constitutional changes. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/10/a-grim...

Technically legal: How Kazakhstan won peacekeepers from a Russian-led military alliance

January 07, 2022 11:50 - 8 minutes - 8.08 MB

On January 6, Russian paratroopers from the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (KSOR) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) began arriving in Kazakhstan. This marked the start of the first military operation by the combined forces of the six former Soviet states that make up the military alliance, which has existed now for nearly 20 years. The legality of today's operation in Kazakhstan is questionable, insofar as the use of collective force in the absence of external ag...

Day six of Kazakhstan’s unrest : Police are ordered to shoot to kill, the president doubles down on ‘terrorists and killers’ rhetoric, and rumors spread about Nazarbayev

January 07, 2022 11:48 - 4 minutes - 4.53 MB

Police and soldiers have "essentially" restored order across Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared on Friday. "The local authorities control the situation, but terrorists are still using weapons and damaging people's property. That is why counterterrorist actions will continue until the complete destruction of the militants," Tokayev said at a meeting on January 7 with the nation's law enforcement heads. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/07/day-s...

Kazakhstan’s revolt continues: Thousands arrested, dozens killed, and gunfire in Almaty as authorities crackdown on protesters

January 06, 2022 21:48 - 5 minutes - 4.96 MB

With Kazakhstan under a state of emergency due to mass protests, the Collective Security Treaty Organization deployed troops to the country on January 6 to help quell the unrest. Earlier, Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued several emergency orders to his cabinet, calling for the formation of a special group to carry out investigations and prosecutions regarding the demonstrations and rioting. Meanwhile, lines formed outside grocery stores, ATMs, and gas stations as pe...

‘This is a turning point’: In a dispatch from Almaty, a local journalist shares an eyewitness account of Kazakhstan’s uprising

January 06, 2022 18:49 - 7 minutes - 7.33 MB

Developments in Kazakhstan have evolved rapidly since demonstrations began on January 2. Under pressure from nationwide protests, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed the cabinet and removed Nursultan Nazarbayev from his lifetime post as chairman of the National Security Council on January 5. By that evening, it appeared as though protesters had taken complete control of Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty. But the military soon returned to the city and launched an "anti-terrorist...

From ‘demonstrators’ to ‘terrorists’: How Kazakhstani officials changed the way they talk about the unrest now sweeping the nation

January 06, 2022 14:49 - 5 minutes - 4.92 MB

Protests in western Kazakhstan against suddenly doubled fuel costs began on January 2 and quickly spiraled into wider, nationwide unrest, including violent clashes with the authorities. Dozens have reportedly been killed in clashes, and police officials say several officers have died, as well. In cities like Zhanaozen, demonstrators' demands have become more and more political. Following these developments, the nation's authorities have also changed the way they talk about the unrest...

Moscow calls unrest in Kazakhstan an ‘externally incited’ insurrection by ‘trained and organized armed formations’

January 06, 2022 12:49 - 1 minute - 1.73 MB

Russian officials view this week's protests in Kazakhstan as an "externally incited" attempt to undermine the security and integrity of the state, diplomats in Moscow announced in a statement published on the Foreign Ministry's website on Thursday. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/06/moscow-calls-unrest-in-kazakhstan-an-externally-incited-insurrection-by-trained-and-organized-armed-formations

Overnight developments in Kazakhstan’s uprising: CSTO peacekeepers have been deployed, and an ‘antiterrorist operation’ is underway against protesters and rioters

January 06, 2022 12:48 - 4 minutes - 4.4 MB

The Collective Security Treaty Organization has deployed troops to Kazakhstan, the organization confirmed officially to the news agency Interfax. The contingent of peacekeepers includes units from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The decision to send soldiers was reached based on "the threat to the Republic of Kazakhstan's national security and sovereignty caused, among other things, by outside interference," Armenian Prime Minister and acting CSTO Collective Sec...

An uprising in Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev is removed from nation’s Security Council as state authorities vow ‘extreme’ police response to protests

January 05, 2022 16:48 - 4 minutes - 4.36 MB

Demonstrations began in Kazakhstan on January 2 in response to suddenly doubled fuel prices. After three days of protests and increasingly violent clashes with police, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev fired his government cabinet, restored price controls, and declared a state of emergency in three different regions. But the protests have continued. Beginning early on January 5, demonstrators started trying to seize control of administration buildings in major cities. Original Article:...

Protests in Kazakhstan against doubled fuel prices escalate to clashes with police

January 04, 2022 22:48 - 1 minute - 1.59 MB

Protests in Kazakhstan's biggest metropolis against rising fuel prices escalated to violence on Tuesday. Demonstrators in Almaty smashed and set fire to several police cars. Journalists at multiple news outlets reported the use of riot-control measures like stun grenades and tear gas against crowds at Republic Square, where as many as several thousand people gathered. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/05/protests-in-kazakhstan-against-doubled-fuel-prices-escalate-to...

Top Russian ice hockey team names son of Putin’s close friend as new head coach

January 04, 2022 12:48 - 1 minute - 1.27 MB

Boris Rotenberg, one of Russia's richest businessmen and a close friend of Vladimir Putin, can boast another achievement this week: his son Roman was just named the head coach of St. Petersburg's top ice hockey team, SKA. Roman Rotenberg has never served as a head coach before, and he's never played hockey at a professional level, but he's now at the helm of one of the Kontinental Hockey League's wealthiest teams, reports Radio Svoboda. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/202...

Google reportedly threatens to delete video from U.S.-based blogger after Russian censor flags it as ‘illegal gay propaganda’

January 04, 2022 11:48 - 1 minute - 1.59 MB

A U.S.-based Russian-language blogger says Google is threatening to delete one of his YouTube posts after Russia's federal censor flagged it as prohibited content and a Russian court added it to Russia's Internet blacklist. Court records from late November 2021 confirm that a judge in Vladivostok granted a request by Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor to ban a video uploaded to YouTube on June 11, 2019, by a man named Felix Glyukman because the content supposedly violates Russia's...

Putin removes top investigator who oversaw major cases against anti-Kremlin opposition

January 03, 2022 18:48 - 1 minute - 1.65 MB

Vladimir Putin has dismissed a Federal Investigative Committee senior official who was responsible for several major cases over the past decade, including multiple probes into Russia's anti-Kremlin opposition. The presidential order releasing 40-year-old Major General Rustam Gabdulin is dated December 28, 2021, but it wasn't reported by the news media until a few days later. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/03/putin-removes-top-investigator-who-oversaw-major-cases-...

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