http://www.inthesetimes.com/archives/tags/russia/ In These Times features award-winning investigative reporting about corporate malfeasance and government wrongdoing, insightful analysis of national and international affairs, and sharp cultural criticism about events and ideas that matter. en-us Expression Engine jessica@inthesetimes.com seamus@inthesetimes.com Wed, 15 Nov 2006 05:00:00 -0600 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/2887/ethnic_cleansing_in_russia/ It started out as geopolitical bullying, with the Kremlin applying an economic headlock to pressure an obstreperous little neighbor, Georgia, to return to Moscow's fold. But a related campaign against "Georgian interests" in Russia, involving mass arrests of alleged illegal immigrants and a crackdown on Georgian-owned businesses, has dangerously fuelled xenophobia in Russia's streets and buoyed the country's rising neo-fascist movement. President Vladimir Putin personally triggered the anti-Georgian frenzy by complaining, in a televised meeting, that non-Slavs from the Caucasus region dominate farmer's markets in most cities, incurring the wrath of native Russians. "The indignation of citizens is right," Putin said. "(We must) protect the interests of Russian manufacturers and Russia's native population." Putin may have been trying to gather… Russia Ethnic Cleansing International Affairs David Moberg Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:00:00 -0600 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3053/return_of_the_cold_war/ As if the Bush administration didn't already have its hands full with the "war on terror" spiraling out of control in Iraq and Afghanistan, its Jan. 20 announcement that it plans to expand the proposed U.S. missile defense system into the former Warsaw Pact nations Poland and the Czech Republic is threatening to re-kindle the Cold War. Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken out forcefully against the proposal, calling it emblematic of the United States' "increasing disregard for the fundamental principles of international law." In response, he threatened to pull Russia out of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, which spells out how many soldiers and how much military hardware can be deployed throughout the continent. Putin isn't… weapons russia europe David Moberg Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:00:00 -0600 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3424/dark_side_of_russias_rainbow/ Rainbow banners. Colorful costumes. Thumping music. Waving politicians. These are some modern-day trappings of a typical gay pride parade in any major U.S. city. But it's a far cry from the scene of this year's pride march in Moscow, where participants were ridiculed, beaten and arrested for daring to demonstrate publicly in a country where homosexuality was a crime until 1993. Among those arrested this year was Nikolai Alexeyev, a founder of the gay rights organization Gay Russia. In the past two years, Alexeyev helped organize the first pride marches in Moscow, knowing he would face opposition from the hundreds of people who turned out to protest the events. The city government refused to issue official permits for the demonstrations,… activism lgbt russia David Moberg