Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law expanding the definition of treason, a move critics say gives the government broad authority to brand anyone a traitor. The law went into effect Wednesday — despite a promise by Mr. Putin on Monday that he would review the measure. Previous legislation described high treason as […]
Russia Detains Members of Banned Islamist Group
Posted November 12th, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
Russian police have arrested six members of a banned Islamic group on suspicion of distributing extremist literature and recruiting followers. Police said Monday the six were members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organization designated as an international terrorist group by Russia’s Supreme Court. Officials say the group, which aims to establish an Islamic state, was conducting […]
Uncertainty over Iraq’s $4 billion Arms Deal With Russia
Posted November 10th, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
The fate of a $4.2 billion dollar weapons deal between Iraq and Russia appears to be in limbo. A spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday that the deal had been cancelled because of his government’s “suspicions of corruption.” However, other officials say the plan is under review. Baghdad and Moscow signed off […]
Iraq Cancels $4.2 Billion Arms Deal With Russia
Posted November 10th, 2012 at 7:40 am (UTC-5)
Iraq has canceled a $4.2 billion weapons deal with Russia. A spokesman for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced the cancellation Saturday, saying the prime minister had “suspicions of corruption” surrounding the deal. The spokesman said an investigation in under way, but it was not immediately clear who or what was being investigated. Baghdad and Moscow […]
Russian Court Sends Anti-Putin Protester to Prison
Posted November 9th, 2012 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
The first of 19 Russians arrested during a massive protest rally against President Vladimir Putin’s re-election has pleaded guilty to criminal charges and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison Friday. Human-rights activists said they were surprised at the severity of the sentence handed down to Maxim Luzyanin, a 36-year-old businessman. He had pleaded guilty […]
Germany Gets Tough On Putin’s Russia
Posted November 9th, 2012 at 9:30 am (UTC-5)
German lawmakers are set to debate a motion urging Chancellor Angela Merkel to push for more democracy in Russia when she meets with President Vladimir Putin next week in Moscow. Germany’s Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, will present a resolution Friday focusing on Mr. Putin’s confrontational course toward government critics. Ms. Merkel’s center-right coalition […]
Putin Replaces Army Chief of Staff
Posted November 9th, 2012 at 7:35 am (UTC-5)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his army chief of staff, just days after replacing the defense minister. Mr. Putin announced Friday that General Valery Gerasimov will take over the position from Army chief of staff Nikolai Makarov. Gerasimov was a commander in the second war with Chechnya. On Tuesday, Mr. Putin dismissed Defense Minister […]
Germany Gets Tough On Putin’s Russia
Posted November 8th, 2012 at 9:05 pm (UTC-5)
German lawmakers are urging Chancellor Angela Merkel to push for more democracy in Russia when she meets with President Vladimir Putin next week in Moscow. On Friday, Germany’s Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, is set to debate a motion focusing on Mr. Putin’s confrontational course toward government critics. Ms. Merkel’s center-right coalition will present […]
Russia Hopes for US Flexibility on Missile Defense Plan
Posted November 8th, 2012 at 12:45 pm (UTC-5)
Russia says it expects the United States will show more flexibility in a dispute over U.S. missile defense plans following the re-election of President Barack Obama. Speaking Thursday at an international conference in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin expressed hope that the U.S. president will take into account the opinions of Russia and others […]
Russia Keeps Activist in Custody
Posted November 7th, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC-5)
A Russian Court has upheld a decision to keep in custody an opposition activist who says he was kidnapped in Ukraine and forced to confess to plotting a coup. The Moscow City Court Wednesday rejected a complaint filed by Leonid Razvozzhayev’s lawyers to cancel a lower court decision to keep him in pre-trial detention. Razvozzhayev […]
