West 'Wasted 20 Years' After Berlin Wall Fell: Gorbachev

President offers some reforms, but opposition says not enough

(NEWSER) - Outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev used his final state-of-the-nation address today to offer reforms in the wake of the massive protests and upheaval that have gripped the country since the Dec. 4 parliamentary elections , but he also railed against the "provocateurs and extremists" who threaten stability, reports the AP . Russia needs "democracy, not chaos," said Medvedev, warning that "we won't allow any outside interference into our domestic affairs." More»

Also says McCain 'nuts', protesters wearing condoms

(NEWSER) - Protesters be damned, Vladimir Putin outright rejected calls for new elections today in a marathon appearance on a call-in show. Instead, notes the AP , he continued to place the blame for the widespread protests on the West's "well-organized pattern of destabilizing society," adding that they "still fear our nuclear potential," and that Russia's "independent foreign policy" is "an impediment for some." Putin's characteristically bellicose appearance carried a number of gems, and could spark some backlash:

• On John McCain's tweet that 'the Arab Spring is coming to a neighborhood near you': "He has the blood of peaceful civilians on his hands, and he can't live without the kind of disgusting, repulsive scenes like the killing of Gadhafi. Mr. McCain was captured and they kept him not just in prison, but in a pit for several years. Anyone (in his place) would go nuts."

Authorities say 25K; media put it at 5K or fewer

(NEWSER) - Authorities said 25,000 people attended a pro-Putin rally yesterday in Russia, but the real number was "not even close" to that amount, reports the New York Times —and many of the attendees weren't there of their own free will. "Apparently it’s our duty. We’re supposed to make up the masses," says an accountant who claims she was "forced to come." Another, amid expletives, complained that classes were canceled in order for students to attend. More»

Medvedev writes conciliatory note on Facebook

(NEWSER) - Russian leaders are swiftly trying to ease tensions over national elections that have sparked massive demonstrations in Moscow and around Russia, the Guardian reports. "We respect the point of view of the protesters," said a rep from Prime Minister Putin's office. "We will continue to listen to them." Demonstrators are promising to return in two weeks if the Kremlin doesn't invalidate the parliamentary election, which gave Putin's United Russia party nearly 50% of the vote. More»

More rallies expected for today

(NEWSER) - Mikhail Gorbachev is stepping into the fray, and urging Russian authorities to annul the results of Sunday's scandal-ridden elections and hold a new vote. His voice is joined by those of thousands of Russians who have taken to the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg since Monday, and Gorbachev warned that the unrest would only rise if new elections were not held, reports the AP . To wit, more rallies are expected today, and a protest scheduled for Saturday was announced on Facebook. More»