Russian news, notes and thoughts

January, 2013 /

31 January, 2013  // According to the latest World Press Freedom Index 2013 conducted by the organization "Reporters Without Borders" Russia is on the 148th place out of 179 in the company of many African and Asian countries. Russia compared to the previous year fell by six positions, and the report's authors attribute this directly to the return of Putin to power.

25 January, 2013  // In 2012, Russia ranked first in the number of complaints lodged with the European Court of Human Rights. As of December 31, there were 28,600 claims from Russia waiting in line. The Court delivered 122 guilty verdicts against Russia in the proceedings in which it found violations of the European Convention on Human Rights. Russia accounts for 22.3% of all cases of the European Court of Human Rights.

19 January, 2013  // January 19, Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the twelve major Christian holidays - Epiphany or Theophany. On the night of January 19, according to ancient tradition, which spread to Russia with the adoption of Christianity, many of the faithful, regardless of weather conditions, are swimming in rivers and ponds. This year the weather is not very comfortable, in many regions of the country the temperature is minus 15-20 degrees Celsius.

13 January, 2013  // Moscow is hosting the "March Against the Scum" organized by people who do not agree with the law banning adoptions of Russian children by U.S. citizens. According to the organizers of the protest, the march involves about 50 thousand people. People demand to cancel this law and dissolve the State Duma. This law was made in haste in response to Sergei Magnitsky Act adopted in the United States in December.

7 January, 2013  // Newly-made Russian citizen Gerard Depardieu, famous French actor, visited Saransk, the capital of Mordovia Republic, where he was presented with felt boots (valenki), Mordovia national shirt, offered to build a house in a beautiful area somewhere in the republic and also offered to take the post of Minister of Culture. Unfortunately, the actor refused to be Minister of Culture, but promised to present Mordovia worldwide.

2 January, 2013  // From this year, Russia has one more memorable date. August 1 is now the Day of Memory of the Russian soldiers who died during the First World War 1914-1918. Because of the revolutionary events that ended the war for Russia, its heroes are almost forgotten now.

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