The author of this article the quality Russian newspaper Vedomosti compares the Russian state with those types of authoritarianism that existed in the 20th century in Latin America - both dictatorships and populist regimes.Сравнение нынешнего российского режима с теми типами авторитаризма, которые существовали в ХХ в. в других странах, позволяет, ( Read more... )

Today the prominent politologist and publicist Andrei Piontkovsky turns 70. In this interview, given a few days ago, he picks up the theme of Russia as a catching-up nation in connection with Medvedev's "excursion" to the USA. Piontkovsky says that over centuries, despite several attempts of modernisation, Russia has been lagging behind the West. ( Read more... )

In his article Four Stones the leader of the Moscow branch of the Solidarity movement Sergey Davidis points out that the corner stones of Putin's imitation democracy are laws on elections, political meetings, parties and the court system. He proposes to work out alternative laws, start their public discussions and campaigns for adoption. They can ( Read more... )

Alexei Dymovsky, the famous Internet policeman, answers questions about himself, his movement and about the future that he wants for his children.

You can watch this video on www.livejournal.com

Алексей Дымовский о дружбе народа с милицией, о детях и гражданских пикниках, о правде, кривде и минусах своей известности ( Read more... )

The famous dissident Vladimir Bukovsky, who lives in Cambridge (England), compares the present opposition movement in Russia with opposition in the Soviet Union and in Poland. He says that in Poland it was easier to organise opposition, because there it based on a national movement. In Russia people have forgotten mutual trust and work ethics. ( Read more... )

Twenty years ago, in May 1990, the first Congress of People's Deputies of Russia took place. This first Russian parliament of the modern times created the post of the President and became a cradle of a multiparty system. In the video (see the link at the bottom of the page) several deputies of 1990-93 speak about the role of the Congress and ( Read more... )

A manifest of the civil society (project) written by Sasha Sotnik asotnik. The beginning: "Since October 1993 Russia has been outside the legal terrain. After Yeltsin's violation of the Constitution, the power in Russia was seized by a small group of oligarchs and bureaucrats under the patronage of the security forces, making it possible in 1999 the ( Read more... )

The executive director of the All-Russia movement "For human rights" Lev Ponomarev invites all democracy-loving Russians to join the "Solidarity" movement.

Click to view

Исполнительный директор общероссийского движения "За права человека" Лев Пономарёв lev-ponomarev обращается ко всем демократически настроенным россиянам с призывом вступить в движение "Солидарность ( Read more... )

Last week Putin coined a new political term: украинизация - ukrainisation. He said that ukrainisation of the political life (in Russia) cannot be allowed. Before this word had been used to mean 1) introduction or reinforcement of Ukrainian culture and language in a society; 2) adapting a computer for the Ukrainian language. Here you can read an ( Read more... )

Leaders of the Russian opposition, as conscripts, undergo a medical examination by the chairman of the Central Election Committee Vladimir Churov, as a doctor, and the minister of social development Tatiyana Golikova, as a nurse. ( Other names )