Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Russia

Poisoned Russian Ex-Spy Worsens 'Dramatically'

Livinenko on November 20 (epa)

November 23, 2006 -- Doctors at a London hospital say the condition of former Russian intelligence agent Aleksandr Litvinenko, who was poisoned in London three weeks ago, dramatically worsened overnight.

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November 23, 2006

"We can confirm there was a dramatic deterioration in Aleksandr Litvinenko's condition overnight and that he is critically ill, in intensive care," Geoff Bellingham, the clinical director of the University Hospital College in London, told reporters.

Bellingham said doctors were convinced Litvinenko's condition was not due to a heavy metal such as thallium. He said radiation poisoning is also unlikely.

Litvinenko was an open critic of the Kremlin. Russian officials have denied any involvement.

(Reuters, AFP)

Russia's Democratic Development

Demonstrators speak with local politicians in Butovo about the destruction of a local forest in July 2006 (RFE/RL)

IS RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY MANAGING? Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Western powers seek to pressure Russia under the pretext of concern over its democratic development. He has said Russia is ready to listen to "well-intentioned criticism," but will not allow anyone to interfere in its internal affairs. The Kremlin has been criticized for stifling political oppostion, increasing central control over the media, and cracking down on the work on nongovernmental organizations.

Concerns Raised About Moscow Chairing Rights Committee

Using Racism Is A Time-Honored Kremlin Tool

Putin Comes Under Fire At Global Media Congress

Oligarch's Case A Sign Of The Times

'Letter Of 100' Warns That Putin Is Suppressing Democracy

A Hard-Line Agenda For Putin's Second Term

Book Says Putin's Russia Falls 'Between Democracy and Dictatorship'

NGOs Denounce Status Changes As Move To Curb Activities

Scrutiny Of Foreign Funds Hurts Democracy Programs

U.S. Official Says Russian NGO Law Part Of Antidemocratic Trend

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Syrians in the northwestern town of Kfar Nubul pose with a cartoon depicting Russia

Angry Over Syria, Arab World Threatens Russian Boycott

Groups in a number of Arab states, angry over the Russian-Chinese veto of a UN resolution aimed at stopping the violence in Syria, have called for a one-day boycott of Russian and Chinese goods on February 12. More

Alla Dzhioyeva attends a protest by her supporters in Tskhinvali on January 28.

South Ossetian Opposition Leader Hospitalized After Raid

Alla Dzhioyeva, the opposition candidate whose victory in a runoff ballot in November for de facto president of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia was swiftly annulled by the republic's Supreme Court, was taken to a hospital after a raid by some 200 masked security personnel on her headquarters in Tskhinvali. More

Protesters gather behind a banner reading "Honest Elections" during a demonstration in Moscow on February 4.

How To Rig An Election

A whistle-blower in Samara explains how the authorities fixed the Duma elections in December -- and plan to do the same in the presidential vote in March. More