Russian TV Rubs Out Putin Foes

'The Guardian' correspondent wrote articles critical of Putin

(NEWSER) - This won't help the perception that Vladimir Putin is a wee bit thin-skinned: When a British reporter tried to re-enter Russia after writing a series of damning articles based on the WikiLeaks cables, he got this message from a security official: "For you, Russia is closed," reports the Guardian . The newspaper's Moscow correspondent, Luke Harding, got stopped at the airport, detained in a cell for about an hour, then sent home on the first available flight. More»

(NEWSER) - South Park has angered another vigilant parent—Mother Russia. A Russian channel cut a scene from a rerun this week because it depicted Vladimir Putin as greedy and desperate, a network spokesman announced today. It's unclear whether the decision came from the channel's executives or regulators, but the move prompted fierce criticism from Russian bloggers. More»

Novaya Gazeta 's work has earned it a grim legacy of dead reporters

(NEWSER) - The murders of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and reporter Anastasia Baburova last week are only the latest to strike the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, and show just how costly freedom of the press still is in Russia, Der Spiegel reports. Investigative reporters are likely to make so many enemies—from members of the military to corrupt politicians, businessmen, or gangsters—that Gazeta wants to provide its reporters with guns. More»

Chechen crime group, government officers implicated

(NEWSER) - Ten men were arrested today in the murder of Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya last October, the Guardian reports. A Chechen organized-crime boss led the group responsible for the slaying, Russian authorities say. Those arrested are said to include current and former officials in the interior ministry and the security service. More»

Measure could become law next week

(NEWSER) - Basking in his re-election glow, Vladimir Putin yesterday backed a move to jack up the fine for illegal protesting—to a hefty $9,500, reports the New York Times . Despite furious opposition, the measure could become law as early as next week. "We must protect people from extreme radical manifestations," said Putin, apparently desperate to prevent more demonstrations like those last December against some very dodgy election results. The law could have been a lot worse, though, as an earlier version called for fines as high as $47,000. More»