Russia rights activists warn new treason law raises Stalinist specter
Russian civil rights activists Wednesday issued a statement warning that a proposed law that would change the definition of treason would allow the government to arrest any government critic . The proposed legislation extends the definition...
Russia lower house approves bill to cut jury trials in terrorism and treason cases
The Russian Duma Friday approved by 355-85 a bill that would end jury trials on charges of terrorism and treason . Ostensibly directed against lenient juries , the bill is excepted to...
Russia commission to examine whether Soviet Union art sales lawful
A Russian government commission is examining the legality of the Soviet Union's pre-World War II artwork sales, an official from the State Hermitage Museum said on Tuesday. Museum director Mikhail Piotrovsky said in his St. Petersburg state-of-the-museum...
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Friday signed into law legislation authorizing the creation of a DNA database for convicted criminals, according to reports. Under the law, passed by the State Duma on November...
Russia lower house advances bill to end jury trials for terrorism suspects
The Russian State Duma on Friday gave first reading to a bill that would ban jury trials for terrorism, espionage, and treason, among other crimes. In a vote of 351 to 34 with...
Europe court orders Russia to compensate families for Chechen disappearances
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Thursday ruled on six Chechnya disappearance cases , ordering Russia to pay a total of 320,000 to the relatives of the victims. In each case, the applicants, all Russian...
Russia president calls for judicial reforms to stem shift to Europe rights court
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday proposed that Russian courts become more transparent in order to restore faith in the justice system and prevent people from turning to the European Court...
Russia upper house approves presidential term extension amendments
Russia's Federation Council , the upper house of parliament, voted 144-1 on Wednesday to approve amendments to the Russian Constitution that would extend presidential terms from four to six years and terms...
Russian presidential term extension signals Putin's return to power
Ariel Cohen : "The Russian Constitution proclaims a presidential republic within a multi-party system, with president as a "guarantor" of the Constituion. However, checks and balances in Russia were underdeveloped since the collapse of communism...
Russia's State Duma Friday approved amendments to the Russian Constitution that would extend presidential terms from four to six years and terms for Duma members ...
