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FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM  //  The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum strives to promote cooperation between the peoples of Finland and Russia by supporting civic initiatives for democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech.

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Jul 17 / 4:45am

FSB Halfway to Absolute Power

by Kerkko Paananen

The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, today passed on third reading a measure that dramatically expands the powers of the FSB, a measure that Russian rights activists are urging President Dmitry Medvedev not to sign. Under the terms of the measure, the FSB in cases where there is no evidence of a crime can declare any Russian of being engaged in "impermissible actions which create the conditions for the committing of a crime," a declaration that opens the way to arbitrary actions against people.

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Filed under // Authoritarianism Democracy FSB Police Russia

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Jun 11 / 3:30am

Is Russia Orwell's "Animal Farm"?

by Kerkko Paananen


Russia is like George Orwell's Animal Farm, where the pigs set the rules, writes independent journalist Dmitry Sidorov, former bureau chief for Kommersant Publishing in Washington, D.C., in Forbes.

Since Putin became Russia's undisputed leader, he has rapidly eliminated critique and dissent. The Kremlin has tens, or hundreds, of thousands of sheep capable of endlessly bleating "Putin and Medvedev are good, the opposition is bad." For hundreds of years Russia has known no other rules, making every resident mimic the pattern of elite behavior no matter how much money he had or didn't have. Together they stole, and stole big, throughout the history of the country.

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Filed under // 1984 Corruption FSB Kremlin Medvedev Orwell Police Putin Russia

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May 14 / 12:21am

Russians believe bribery "solves problems"

by Mikael Storsjö


Average bribe size in Russia almost doubles in three years

The average bribe size in Russia almost doubled from 5,048 rubles (EUR 131) in 2006 to 8,887 rubles (EUR 231) in 2010, the Levada Center said with reference to a poll it conducted on 16-19 April 2010.

Ninety-two percent of Russians registering companies or applying for business permits have had to give bribes in the past three years. The rate was only 19% in 2005, the center said.

Some 65-67% of the respondents had to bribe traffic police officers. A total of 43-45% gave bribes in court (32% in 2005) or in the registration of their driving licenses and the technical examination of vehicles (26% in 2005). A total of 38.5% gave bribes for dropping criminal charges (less than 1% in 2005).

Thirty-three percent bribed government workers issuing them with documents, 30% gave bribes to hospital staff, military registration and enlistment offices and higher educational establishments, 27% gave bribes to school teachers, 20% gave bribes in apartment privatization, 15% in the registration of their residence, and 14.5% in the course of employment.

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Filed under // Bribery Corruption Police

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Apr 20 / 1:16pm

Riot police chase soap bubbles

by Kerkko Paananen

Riot police in Russia's city of St Petersburg broke on 18 April 2010 a spontaneous "flash mob" organised to celebrate spring by blowing thousands of soap bubbles. The event -- dubbed "Dream Flash aka Soapy St Pete" -- brought together around 500 youngsters carrying flashy scarves and umbrellas and blowing soap bubbles near the Gorkovskaya metro station.

The flash mob's organisers pointed out that the event was entirely apolitical. Any aggressive behaviour or attempts to use the event for political or other ends have nothing to do with the celebration, the event organisers stressed. Dream Flash promotes no political movement and does not lend support to any cause; the participants came just for a walk.

Riot police announced that the meeting was not sanctioned and called on the participants to disperse immediately. At the same time, a group of young men behaving aggressively, possibly Neo-Nazis, suddenly joined the marchers, began shouting some slogans, and throwing crackers at the crowd. Police then began dispersing people, arresting about a dozen.

Dream Flash is a flash mob organised by the Livejournal community ru_dreamflash in Moscow and St Petersburg. The Soap Bubble March usually takes place in the beginning of April. The event is all about celebrating spring and blowing soap bubbles. It is one of the most popular unofficial events organised in Moscow, and probably in Russia as a whole.

http://www.fontanka.ru/2010/04/18/032/

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Filed under // Dream Flash Flash Mob OMON Police Russia St Petersburg WTF

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Feb 22 / 1:14am

Russia's police top brass uses slave labour

by Kerkko Paananen

Russian police top brass uses slave labour, a former police official has alleged. Speaking to The New Times, Larisa Krepkova, former Lieutenant-Cynologist at the Zubr (Bison) riot police unit in the Moscow suburb of Shchelkovo, claimed that the unit seized guest workers from the CIS in the labour market on Yaroslavl Highway. The workers were then sent to work as slave labour at the country houses of senior police officials. Those who tried to escape were savagely beaten. One of the dachas where slaves were held was that of Mikhail Sukhodolsky, deputy head of Russia's Ministry of Interior.

http://newtimes.ru/articles/detail/15933

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Filed under // Immigrants Police Russia Slavery

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Feb 2 / 2:31pm

Russian riot police blow the whistle

by Kerkko Paananen

A group of Russian riot police officers told the opposition New Times that they are being forced to make false arrests and that their fellow officers work as bodyguards for gangsters.

"One of us once protected a shwarma place outside a hotel in Moscow's Ismailov district. On Arbat, we guard the office of a Georgian mobster," one officer said. Commanders get their cut.

Officers were forced to arrest innocent people because of orders to make at least three detentions per shift. Otherwise they risked seeing their monthly salaries cut, the report said.

The police officers made their allegations public after they received no reaction to a letter sent to President Dmitry Medvedev. The letter was signed by "about a dozen" OMON officers.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/omon-officers-complain-of-corruption-in-their-ranks/398800.html

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Filed under // Corruption OMON Police Russia

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