Largest protest since collapse of Soviet Union rocks Russia - Europe - World. Mikhail Gorbachev calls for Putin to resign. Mr Gorbachev, 80, has been virulently critical of the elections that took place on December 4.
Vladimir Putin's world is falling apart. Watching an authoritarian regime disintegrate is like watching an episode of the American television series House, MD.
Someone who was enjoying an active lifestyle at the beginning of the series is experiencing multiple organ failure 15 minutes later, with the doctors frantically trying to figure out why, and which vital organ is going to go next. A friend sent me a link to a programme broadcast on Russian national television recently (the link was to a YouTube clip, since most people I know do not have actual working television sets – the habit of watching TV has quietly died among the educated class here over the last 10 years). For over 10 minutes it made fun, crudely and openly, of Vladimir Putin's annual televised Q&A session. "What do you make of this? " my friend wrote. NTV, the channel on which the show was broadcast, is owned by the state gas monopoly, Gazprom, which has a large press holding. Right now Putin is scrambling, planting his own hardliners in key positions. Putin ejects Kremlin puppet master after protests. All-girl Russian punk band rages against Putin.
Tens of thousands of protesters pressure Putin. Russia's 'love affair' with Putin ending: analysts. Russia foils 'Chechen plot' to assassinate Vladimir Putin. Moscow motorists stage rolling demonstration against Putin. REPORTING FROM MOSCOW -- Moscow’s Garden Ring street, a 10-mile circle around large portions of the city’s historic center, including the Kremlin, turned white on a frosty Sunday afternoon -- not with snow but with white ribbons, stickers, balloons, posters and inscriptions on thousands of cars participating in the latest large protest against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Organizers said at least 5,000 cars participated in the novel demonstration on wheels, billed as a dress rehearsal for a massive anti-Putin march slated for next weekend. Moscow police estimated that 300 vehicles took part. In some areas, at least three lanes of one of the widest thoroughfares in the city were clogged with protest-mobiles. One car was exquisitely trimmed with articles of women’s white underwear.
A large black utility vehicle had inscribed in large white letters on its side: “It is not black, it is … white.” Russians stage rival protests over Putin. Thousands back Putin in 'Russian workers' protest. The sense of an ending - Stephen Holmes, Ivan Krastev Putin and the decline of "no-choice" politics. Blatantly rigged elections are the easiest way for the Putin regime to mimic the authoritarian power it does not possess.
December's protests destroyed Putin's reputation of being in control; even genuinely competitive elections would be unable to restore his legitimacy. The protests in Moscow and other cities following the parliamentary elections in December 2011 did not hail the beginning of a Russian version of the Arab spring. Nor did they represent the belated arrival of a Ukrainian-style coloured revolution. Russia is not Egypt, for one thing. Tearful Putin claims victory in Russian election. Russia election: Twitter flooded with Vladimir Putin fraud claims. Police Detain Two More Pussy Riot Activists. Moscow police have detained two more members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot as part of a criminal probe launched after the group stormed the altar of Moscow’s largest cathedral and performed a protest song, a police spokesperson said on Sunday.
Last week, five women from the band, clad in bright balaclavas, performed an acapella version of what they said was a “punk prayer” entitled “Holy Sh*t.” The lyrics included lines such as “Holy Mother, Blessed Virgin, chase Putin out!” Putin claims victory in Russia's presidential election, backed by exit polls, early vote count. 'Putin leave' banner put up opposite Kremlin. Obama to give US missile defense secrets to Russians. Putin Ratchets Up Anti-U.S Rhetoric as Kremlin Race Grows. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is stepping up rhetoric against the U.S. as his campaign for the March 4 presidential election intensifies after the biggest protests against his rule.
The U.S. “wants to control everything” and takes decisions unilaterally on key questions, Putin said on a campaign stop yesterday in the Siberian city of Tomsk, 3,100 kilometers (1,900 miles) east of Moscow. “Sometimes I get the impression the U.S. doesn’t need allies, it needs vassals.” Putin, 59, is seeking a new term in the Kremlin amid the biggest challenge to his 12-year rule after fraud allegations at parliamentary polls sparked mass protests. The Russian leader, who has repeatedly accused the U.S. of interfering in other countries’ affairs, said last week that reports by a state-owned Moscow radio station supported American interests.
‘Reset’ in Relations U.S. Putin seeks campaign momentum on bobsleigh run. Russia and the United States: Pushing Tensions to the Limit? In Russia, Putin allies sharpen anti-American attacks ahead of elections. A main target of the attacks is Michael McFaul, the new ambassador, a longtime democracy advocate and Russia expert who as a top aide to Obama has been an architect of what the White House calls a “reset’’ with Moscow. Japan Scrambles Fighters to Meet Russian Bombers. Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force had to scramble fighter jets in response to flights by Russian military aircraft near Japanese airspace on Wednesday, Kyodo news agency said on Thursday citing the Defense Ministry.
According to the ministry, a total of five Russian planes, including two Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers, two Su-24 Fencer reconnaissance planes and an A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft skirted Japanese territory on Wednesday. “They flew over the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan off Hokkaido and the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan,” Japanese officials said, adding that it was the first time a Russian AWACS plane was spotted near Japan. Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans in August 2007.
Yesterday’s flights by Russian Air Force aircraft close to the coast of Japan were carried out strictly in accordance with international rules and took place over international waters, air force spokesman Col. Japan Scrambles Fighters to Meet Russian Bombers. Explosion at Russian power station sparks conspiracy theories in Moscow. Explosion at power station near St Petersburg causes huge flashesMotorists see the light show while stuck in traffic By Will Stewart Updated: 12:54 GMT, 8 February 2012.
Russia Would Use Nukes to Stave Off Threats - General Staff. Russia would use nuclear weapons in response to any imminent threat to its national security, Chief of the Russian General Staff Gen.
Nikolai Makarov said on Wednesday. “We are certainly not planning to fight against the whole of NATO,” Makarov said in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio, “but if there is a threat to the integrity of the Russian Federation, we have the right to use nuclear weapons, and we will.” The general said Russia’s nuclear deterrent is the cornerstone of strategic stability and serious efforts are being taken by the Russian government to modernize the country’s nuclear triad. The Russian Defense ministry is planning to acquire at least 10 Borey class strategic nuclear submarines, thoroughly modernize its fleet of Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers, and equip its Strategic Missile Forces with formidable Yars mobile ballistic missile systems.
Makarov also stressed the importance of maintaining highly-efficient, mobile conventional forces. Russia Set to Build World’s Most Powerful Laser Station. Strength Through Appeasement… Obama to Share US Missile Secrets With Russia.