I’m absolutely baffled by the story coming out of this week of a 20 million rouble ($660,000) lawsuit involving Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian church, and Yury Shevchenko, a former Russian health minister.

The basic story is pretty straightforward, but so odd that there must be something going on below the surface that… Read the rest

The strange case of the Patriarch, some sand, and 20 million rouble lawsuit is a post from: Siberian Light

As expected, Georgia brushed past a rather inept Russia in their latest European Nations Cup game and with just a re-arranged match against the Ukraine to play, the Georgians now head the table in group 1a.

The result itself came as no surprise but the Bears would have been disappointed with the manner and margin… Read the rest

Georgia cruise past abject Russia is a post from: Siberian Light

In the latest round of European Nations Cup games, Russia grabbed their opportunity to turn in a winning performance over the Ukraine as they attempt to climb the 2011 European Nations Cup table. However, the most impressive performance of the weekend came in Bucharest where a physical encounter saw Georgia edge past their Romanian hosts.… Read the rest

Russia and Georgia both win in Rugby ENC is a post from: Siberian Light

Around 10,000 people attended a rally on Moscow’s Novy Arbat Street on March 10, demonstrating their opposition to Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President-elect.

This weekend’s rally was smaller than many of the protests seen in Moscow recently. Rally organizers put attendance at around 25,000, but police estimates said the crowd was closer to 10,000 in size.… Read the rest

10,000 protest in Moscow against Putin is a post from: Siberian Light

After all the fuss, Putin actually won the Russian Presidential Election pretty comfortably. As I write this, 99.3% of the votes have been counted, and Putin got 63.75% of them and his nearest challenger (Gennady Zyuganov, of course) scored a mere 17.19%.

There’s a lot to think about after the election, and I thought… Read the rest

Thoughts on Putin’s Win is a post from: Siberian Light

While Russia would have been buoyed by their performance against Portugal in the last round of European matches, coach Kingsley Jones will have been bitterly disappointed with the manner in which they surrendered to a strong but beatable Romanian side at the weekend.

Georgia however rebounded from their own setback against Spain last time out… Read the rest

Russia capitulate while Georgia rally in latest European Nations Cup games is a post from: Siberian Light

Dmitry Medvedev has submitted a draft law proposing the formation of new electoral districts to the Russian State Duma.

However, his initiative comes amid signs that his ambitious proposals for electoral reform may be coming up against sustained opposition within the Duma.

225 new electoral districts

The draft law is the latest of… Read the rest

Medvedev submits draft electoral law amid growing opposition is a post from: Siberian Light

Moscow is gearing itself up for more protests and rallies on 23 February. Approval has already been given for two large rallies – one pro-Putin and one pro-Communist – and decisions are due shortly on a number of other rallies.

What are the political parties doing?

The Communists have scored a bit of a… Read the rest

Moscow gearing up for more rallies is a post from: Siberian Light

If you’ve been grumbling about Russia’s elections, spare a thought for those poor unfortunate souls in the democractic wasteland that is Turkmenistan. For they have apparently re-elected Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as their President with a spectacular 97% of the vote, based on a 96% turnout.

The result is a dramatic improvement on Berdimuhamedov’s performance in… Read the rest

Turkmenistan President re-elected with 97% of vote is a post from: Siberian Light

Portugal 32-33 Russia

Coach Kingsley Jones was indebted to the kicking qualities of Anton Ryabov and Yuri Kushnarev whose collective boots saw Russia scrape home by a single point in their European Nations Cup Tie on the 11^th of February. Portugal actually outscored their opponents in the tries department by 4 to 3 but by… Read the rest

Narrow win for Russia while Georgia slump to defeat in European Nations Cup is a post from: Siberian Light