Monday, July 22, 2013

News Review: Four Dutch Nationals Arrested in Russia on Gay Propaganda Charges | Russia's Anti-Gay Crackdown - New York Times | Snowden “on a Leash”: The High-Stakes Game in Russia - Heritage.org (blog)

» Four Dutch Nationals Arrested in Russia on Gay Propaganda Charges
22/07/13 16:39 from The InterpreterThe Interpreter
Four Dutch nationals have been arrested in Russia on charges of spreading ‘homosexual propaganda’, Nos television reported on Monday. Four Dutch nationals have been arrested in Russia on charges of spreading ‘homosexual propaganda’, Nos tel... 

4 Dutch Citizens Suspected of Gay Propaganda Crime in Russia

RIA Novosti
Four Dutch citizens detained by police during a gay rights seminar outside the northern Russian city of Murmansk appeared in a local court Monday for allegedly promoting homosexual relationships among minors, human rights activists and local media reports said.
Investigators and migration officials reportedly detained the four, who were making a film about gay rights in Russia, on Sunday afternoon at a campsite during an event for young rights activists. The four were then questioned for about eight hours, said Tatyana Kulbakina, a representative of human rights monitoring organization OGON.
Those detained included Kris van der Veen, a gay rights activist and a Dutch city councilman.
"Instead of sitting on the plane, we're still in Murmansk," Van der Veen wrote on Facebook on Monday afternoon. "It's about the documentary, homosexual propaganda. It's going alright, but it's not clear what to do next. There has been lots of support and help from activists and the consulate."
There was no official statement from police or investigators about the case.
The detentions are one of the first instances of the enforcement of controversial Russian legislation banning the promotion of "non-traditional relationships" toward minors. Individuals in violation of the law, which was signed by President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, can be fined up to 100,000 rubles ($3,000).
After several delays to the start of court proceedings, the hearings for the four Dutch citizens were canceled Monday, and the judge returned the case materials for further investigation, according to Kulbakina, who was present at court. "It looks like it won't go to court," she said.
The four Dutch citizens are free to leave the country, Kulbakina added, but the material they recorded in Russia for their film was confiscated by police, and they may try to get it back.
"Leaving by car after a bizarre day in court. I believe there is no case," Van der Veer tweeted late Monday.
The reason for the police raid on the event outside Murmansk on Sunday was not immediately clear, but the Russian LGBT Network, an NGO monitoring gay rights, and media reports suggested that the Dutch filmmakers had interviewed a minor about gay issues.
The four Dutch citizens were also each fined 3,000 rubles ($100) by migration officials for violating the terms of their visas, Kulbakina said.


Read more: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/4-dutch-citizens-suspected-of-gay-propaganda-crime-in-russia/483479.html#ixzz2Zus9Smha
The Moscow Times 


» Russia's Anti-Gay Crackdown - New York Times
22/07/13 20:02 from Russia - Google News
Press TVRussia's Anti-Gay CrackdownNew York TimesA few days earlier, just six months before Russia hosts the 2014 Winter Games, Mr. Putin signed a law allowing police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals they suspect of bei...



» Russia's Anti-Gay Crackdown - New York Times
22/07/13 01:04 from Russia - Google News
Gay Star NewsRussia's Anti-Gay CrackdownNew York TimesA few days earlier, just six months before Russia hosts the 2014 Winter Games, Mr. Putin signed a law allowing police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals they suspect o...

» Op-Ed Contributor: Russia’s Anti-Gay Crackdown
22/07/13 01:03 from NYT > Europe
Russian President Vladimir V. Putin has declared war on homosexuals.  

» Same-Sex Marriage Apocalyptic, Patriarch Says
22/07/13 07:31 from The Moscow Times Top Stories
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has condemned the legalization of same-sex marriages as a sign of "the coming of the apocalypse."


» “The Apocalypse Cannot Happen on a Local Level, but the Patriarch Knows Better”
22/07/13 16:16 from The InterpreterThe Interpreter
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) associated legalization of same-sex marriage to the coming apocalypse. According to the Western media, such statements aim to divert people’s attention from the problems Russia faces. Those who ...


» Russian Patriarch Says Gay Marriage 'Sign Of Apocalypse'
21/07/13 20:20 from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Patriarch Kirill told a congregation at Kazan Cathedral in Moscow's Red Square on July 21 that such recognition "means people are choosing a path of self-destruction."


» Sister Cities Ramp Up Russia Boycott Over Antigay Law - RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
21/07/13 17:36 from Russia - Google News
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLibertySister Cities Ramp Up Russia Boycott Over Antigay LawRadioFreeEurope/RadioLibertyThe Russian law, signed by President Vladimir Putin in June, introduces fines of up to 1 million rubles (about $30,000) for the dis...


» Leaker Snowden Hopes to Leave Airport by Wednesday, Lawyer Says
22/07/13 16:23 from The Moscow Times Top Stories
Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden hopes to be granted papers by Wednesday allowing him to end his month-long stay in the transit area of a Moscow airport and move to the city center, his Russian lawyer said Monday.


» Snowden “on a Leash”: The High-Stakes Game in Russia - Heritage.org (blog)
22/07/13 14:59 from Russia - Google News
Heritage.org (blog)Snowden “on a Leash”: The High-Stakes Game in RussiaHeritage.org (blog)President Obama is considering cancellation of his summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin at the September G-20 confab over Russia's harbori...


» U.S. Increases Pressure Over Snowden
21/07/13 20:00 from The Moscow Times Top Stories
Placing new pressure on the Kremlin in the case of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, the White House said it was considering canceling a summit between Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin in Moscow.


» Lawyer Says Snowden Will Keep Pledge
21/07/13 20:00 from The Moscow Times Top Stories
A Russian lawyer advising Edward Snowden said the National Security Agency leaker had agreed to fulfill his pledge not to hurt U.S. interests if he was granted asylum in Russia.


» U.S. Increases Pressure Over Snowden
21/07/13 12:51 from The Moscow Times Top Stories
Placing new pressure on the Kremlin in the case of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, the White House said it was considering canceling a summit between Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and two U.S. senator...


» Medvedev Extends List of State Officials to Disclose Income, Spending
22/07/13 14:09 from The InterpreterThe Interpreter
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed on Monday a resolution obliging officials of nearly 30 state companies to report their incomes and expenditures, in an apparent bid to crack down on corruption. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed on ...


» Russia Helicopter Crash Probe: Britons Killed - Sky News
22/07/13 07:06 from Russia - Google News
Russia Helicopter Crash Probe: Britons KilledSky NewsRussia's Emergency Situations Ministry said the Eurocopter helicopter banked to one side and crashed while attempting to take off in the Lovozersky district of Murmansk. crash NTV Rus...


» Russia Helicopter Crash: Dead Britons Named - Sky News
22/07/13 05:04 from Russia - Google News
The IndependentRussia Helicopter Crash: Dead Britons NamedSky NewsTwo Britons killed in a helicopter crash in Russia have been named by the Foreign Office. It issued a statement on behalf of the families of Mark Robertson and Rupert Beaumon...


» Russia Helicopter Crash Probe: Britons Killed - Sky News
22/07/13 04:09 from Russia - Google News
The GuardianRussia Helicopter Crash Probe: Britons KilledSky NewsRussia's Emergency Situations Ministry said the Eurocopter helicopter banked to one side and crashed while attempting to take off in the Lovozersky district of Murmansk. c...



» Fishing trip Britons killed in Russia helicopter crash - BBC News
22/07/13 00:40 from Russia - Google News
The GuardianFishing trip Britons killed in Russia helicopter crashBBC NewsTwo British men in their 60s have died in a helicopter crash while on a fishing trip in northern Russia. On arrival, rescuers were told the pair had just been dropped...

» 3 killed in Russian helicopter crash - CBC.ca
21/07/13 23:35 from Russia - Google News
3 killed in Russian helicopter crashCBC.caThree people, including two British tourists, were killed on Sunday in a helicopter crash in northern Russia, officials said. Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said the private Eurocopter c...

» Fishing trip Britons killed in Russia helicopter crash - BBC News
21/07/13 20:31 from Russia - Google News
The GuardianFishing trip Britons killed in Russia helicopter crashBBC NewsTwo British men in their 60s have died in a helicopter crash while on a fishing trip in northern Russia. On arrival, rescuers were told the pair had just been dropped...



» Vladimir Putin Invites Russia's Critics To “Try Some Viagra” - Deadspin
21/07/13 19:46 from Russia - Google News
Vladimir Putin Invites Russia's Critics To “Try Some Viagra”DeadspinRussia wiped the floor with the competition at the World University Games, garnering 292 medals—with 155 of them being gold—at the 12-day competition. People complained...
» Fishing trip Britons killed in Russia helicopter crash - BBC News
21/07/13 19:31 from Russia - Google News
Mirror.co.ukFishing trip Britons killed in Russia helicopter crashBBC NewsTwo British men in their 60s have died in a helicopter crash while on a fishing trip in northern Russia. On arrival, rescuers were told the pair had just been dropped...

» Two Britons killed in Russian helicopter accident during fishing trip
21/07/13 19:27 from World news: Russia | guardian.co.uk
Men die along with guide after being hit by rotor blades of helicopter which tilted to one side in Murmansk regionTwo Britons on a fishing expedition were killed on Sunday morning, along with their Russian guide, in a helicopter accident in...

» Russia Announces A Naval Buildup in the Pacific - the Diplomat
22/07/13 01:38 from Russia - Google News
Russia Announces A Naval Buildup in the Pacificthe DiplomatRussia will begin a naval buildup in the Pacific Ocean next year, a top military official said on Thursday. In an interview on Russia TV, Rear Admiral Sergei Avakyants, Commander of...


» Russia to adopt new cyber security concept - The Voice of Russia
22/07/13 00:44 from Russia - Google News
Russia to adopt new cyber security conceptThe Voice of RussiaIn the near future Russia intends to draft and ratify a foundation document which will be the basis for public policy in the field of cyber security, wrote the newspaper the Komme...


» Russia's nuclear deterrent seen as in jeopardy - WND.com
21/07/13 22:48 from Russia - Google News
Russia's nuclear deterrent seen as in jeopardyWND.comWASHINGTON – There is growing concern that Russia's nuclear deterrent may now be in jeopardy because the defense industry has failed to meet the expectations of Russian President ...


» Georgia Braces For The Post-Saakashvili Era
21/07/13 15:10 from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Georgia's upcoming presidential election will be a watershed in the country's politics, insofar as it will usher in profound constitutional changes adopted in October 2010 that enhance the powers of the prime minister while reducing those o...



» Russian region says militants flocking to Syria - MiamiHerald.com
21/07/13 11:06 from Russia - Google News
Macon TelegraphRussian region says militants flocking to SyriaMiamiHerald.comMAKHACHKALA, Russia -- The leader of a restive province in Russia's Caucasus Mountains says local Islamic militants are fighting alongside rebels in Syria and ...

» Islamic militants from Russia's Caucasus flock to join Syrian rebels, official ... - Washington Post
21/07/13 11:02 from Russia - Google News
Islamic militants from Russia's Caucasus flock to join Syrian rebels, official ...Washington PostMAKHACHKALA, Russia — The leader of a restive province in Russia's Caucasus Mountains says local Islamic militants are fighting alongsi...

» NSA Revelations Could Provide Ideal Cover For Authoritarian Governments
21/07/13 08:43 from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
While the NSA's Internet surveillance stirs debate in the U.S., its international ramifications are just starting to be felt. Among them, experts say, is a potential boost to authoritarian governments that could use the scandal to justify c...


» Troubling justice in Russia - The Japan Times
21/07/13 14:38 from Russia - Google News
Troubling justice in RussiaThe Japan TimesMagnitsky was an auditor for Hermitage Capital Management, a London-based hedge fund that did business in Russia. In 2008, he discovered and reported the theft of more than $200 million in funds. It...


Friday, July 12, 2013

Snowden allows himself to become a propaganda tool in Russian hands

Mike Nova comments: How could he get his security job and how could he get his clearance in a first place?! Ah?!

» Edward Snowden Letter: US Blocking Asylum
12/07/13 10:56 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
The fugitive whistleblower's claims are reportedly made in a letter ahead of a meeting with rights groups at a Moscow airport.

» Fugitive Snowden to meet with human rights groups
12/07/13 12:10 from Reuters: International
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Former intelligence agency contractor Edward Snowden asked to meet human rights groups at a Moscow airport on Friday to discuss what he called "threatening behaviour" by the United States to prevent him gaining asylum. 


» Snowden to Meet with Human Rights Groups
12/07/13 08:55 from Voice of America
Human rights groups and Russian lawyers have confirmed that former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden will hold a meeting at the Moscow airport where he has been confined for three weeks while trying to find a country to grant him ..