23 Aug 10 | Index Index, minipost
An opposition leader and two other activists have been charged with “resisting police” and “holding an unsanctioned march“. Former deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov was arrested, along with activist Mikhail Schneider and human rights campaigner Lev Ponomaryov, at a march marking Russia’s National Flag Day on 22 August. The men were detained at a Moscow police department and later a magistrate’s court, before being released early this morning. All three deny the charges and say that they were simply walking down the street carrying a flag. The court hearing is expected to continue on 24 August.
18 Aug 10 | Digital Freedom, Index Index, minipost
The website of the Russian Centre for the Protection of Forestry (Roslesozashchita) has been blocked since 13 August after it contradicted the official government line that brush fires had not reached areas contaminated by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The agency said fires were reported in the Bryansk region bordering Belarus and Ukraine, where radioactive residue covers large areas. Speaking on Russian television shortly before the website became inaccessible, emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu dismissed this as “unclear information from an unclear website”. Officials seem reluctant to comment on the radioactive threat, despite warnings from Greenpeace Russia. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) suggest the website may have been blocked because the information posted was embarrassing for the government rather than incorrect.
16 Aug 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Rapper Noize MC, who was jailed for 10 days in Volgograd after mocking local police in a song and an improvised rap at a festival, has released a new song criticising the police. Launched soon after the artist left jail last week, and entitled “10 Days in Paradise” or “10 Days (Stalingrad)”, the song sarcastically thanks police for the inspiration provided by his time in prison. The accompanying video shows footage of Russian police brutality, including violence at a demonstration in St. Petersburg on 31 July. Noize MC, whose real name is Ivan Alexeyev, has included in the song an apology he read out while in prison, which was distributed by the Volgograd police’s press service. Alexeyev told Gazeta.ru that the apology was only written and performed because he was threatened with having his charges changed from “disorderly conduct” to “insulting a police officer” — an offence punishable by up to one year of “correctional labour”.
02 Aug 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Russian authorities have been criticised for giving permission to a sports car federation to hold an event in Triumfalnaya Square, St Petersburg, on July 31, the same day that opposition protesters had applied to use the square. Two weeks after the protesters applied to use the square it was announced that car racing would take place instead. Angered by this, hundreds of protesters arrived at the square on July 31 to be greeted by police. In total around 95 were arrested in similar protests across Russia, including well known Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov. Reports state that many of those arrested had facial injuries.
