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The Home Stretch: the Magnitsky Act in Congress

Details: 27 July 2012; Vladimir Kara-Murza

On July 26, 2012 the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee approved the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, which had been passed in 1974. Last month, key Congressional comittees had unanimously passed the Magnistky Act, a law imposing severe sanctions on those who have violated human rights in Russia and elsewhere. Vladimir V. Kara-Murza, a leading Russian journalist, activist, and, until recently, the RTVi Washington Bureau Chief, reports on the repeal of the historic amendment and the passage of the Magnitsky Act. As he explained to IMR, Kara-Murza was forced out of his position at RTVi because of his participation in the preparation and advocacy for the expansion of the Magnitsky Act.

Details: Nation

My Perestroika DVD Now for Sale at myperestroika.com

Tracking Classmates From Soviet Childhoods To Putin's Russia

Details: 24 July 2012

After festival screenings in over 30 countries, 'My Perestroika' has finally arrived on DVD. The film premiered at Sundance, was broadcast nationwide on PBS on the POV series, and received the prestigious 2012 Peabody Award. To purchase it, please visit 'My Perestroika' website, where the DVD is sold for purposes of both institutional/educational and home use. The DVD includes over an hour of deleted scenes and interviews. All DVDs are Region 0, and can be shipped overseas. "This is a small independent film, supported by grants and donations from individuals. Purchasing your DVD via myperestroika.com ensures that maximum assistance is provided to alleviate the production and distribution costs we’ve accrued", Hessman explains.

Details: Politics

The Krymsk Syndrome

Details: 23 July 2012; Olga Khvostunova

This month's flooding in the southern Russian town of Krymsk, which left 172 dead, have illustrated two important new realities of Russian politics. First of all, public trust in the government has reached the point of no return as, by and large, statements issued by government officials are now seen as lies by many in Russia. Secondly, due to the ineffectiveness of government measures, growing numbers of citizens’ groups have appeared in order to fill the gap, effectively creating alternative agencies of self-government.

Details: Politics

Why Russia Can't Have a Public Television Network

Details: 25 July 2012; Tatiana Stanovaya

The first two months of Vladimir Putin’s latest presidency have effectively ended the dialogue between the authorities and opposition forces. Putin’s administration has passed stringent new legislation on non-profit organizations; imposed de facto censorship on the Internet; and publicly persecuted opposition leaders and demonstrators, among other anti-democratic offenses. Against this backdrop, the state is also finally creating a public television network. Presumably, this new outlet will be another tool the government uses in to attempts to turn public opinion in its favor instead of a forum for building a healthy media environment Tatyana Stanovaya, head of the Center for Political Technologies analytics department, explains why public television as it is understood in the West won't thrive in Russia.

Details: Nation

Debunking Putin's Newest Myth

Details: 18 July 2012; Alexander Yanov

There is an unspoken consensus in contemporary Russian political discourse that 'Putinism' does not constitute an ideology. However, this consensus may blind political observers to the emergence of a new approach of legitimizing Putin's regime, namely, a mythology of the unique nature of the Russian civilization. Historian Alexander Yanov discusses the philosophical foundations of this approach, decisively demonstrating that Putin's new ideological project has more bark than bite.

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