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 06:00:00 -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 Rachel Jefferson Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:00:00 -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 Rachel Jefferson Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:00:00 -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 Rachel Jefferson Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3964/russias_monroe_doctrine/ By Pentagon standards, Russia's lightning summer conflict with Georgia wasn't much of a war. There was no forced "regime change" and no "shock and awe," merely a swift, armored thrust by Russia's Vladikavkaz-based 58th army that dispersed an ill-advised Georgian military assault on the Moscow-protected statelet of South Ossetia. And though the Russian air force took undisputed control of the skies and targeted some aspects of Georgia's infrastructure, there was no plan to systematically destroy it. The whole thing ended with an internationally brokered deal that secured the Russian army's withdrawal to its pre-war positions and the insertion of European monitors to guarantee the peace. But the Russian military's first foray beyond its borders since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991… Russia NATO Georgian war Rachel Jefferson Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0600 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3980/closeted_russia/ When Irina Sergeeva first ventured outside her native Russia, she was struck by the contrast between gay culture at home and in Western cities like New York. There aren't a lot of places for gays in Russia beyond bars and clubs that dot its big cities, she says: "If you don't want to drink beer or alcohol, there's nowhere to go." For years, Sergeeva, along with Ksenia Zemskaya and Manny de Guerre, tried to think of ways to enrich the lives of gay people in Russia. Finally, in 2007, they decided to organize a film festival -- though they had no experience with organizing. Bok o Bok (or "Side by Side"), Russia's first international lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)… glbt Russia film festival Rachel Jefferson Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:51:16 -0500 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/4297/from_russia_with_mercy/ Amidst the numerous wars and anarchic bloodletting and misery in Africa, the ethnic slaughters in the former Yugoslavia and the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan--not to mention between Israelis and Arabs--it is easy to forget what has transpired recently between Russians and Chechens. The landscape of devastation is searingly rendered in 12, a loose Russian-language adaptation of Twelve Angry Men. Directed by Academy Award-winner Nikita Mikhalkov, 12 is remarkable for keeping viewers' attention for its entire two-and-a-half hour length. Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar of 2008, 12 debuted commercially in New York and Los Angeles, March 4th, with a national roll-out to follow. "Twelve Angry Men" was a 1954 television play adapted three years later by… movies international Russia Rachel Jefferson