• Dobriansky and Ryvkin: Russian Propaganda is Racist and Obscene

    Two former U.S. Presidential Administration staff members are encouraging the U.S. Government to improve the effectiveness of American foreign diplomacy.

    The former administration staffers, who both worked for prior Republican administrations, encouraged the U.S. Government and Congress, “to revitalize America’s public diplomacy infrastructure,” in the context of intensified Russian propaganda, which they characterized as, “racist and obscene.”

    “Consistent with our core values, the United …

  • Ukraine to file lawsuit against Russia with ICJ

    The Ukrainian Justice Minister, Pavlo Petrenko, stated in an interview with the Ukrainian 5th Channel that Ukraine will file a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice against Russia for supporting terrorism (ICJ). “The next year will be associated with the initiation of a major lawsuit before the International Court of Justice, which is the principal judicial arm of the United Nations (UN),” Petrenko stated.

    The Minister of Justice stressed that the evidence has already been collected …

  • Number of Putin's Decrees at All Time Low In 2015

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued fewer decrees for the third year in a row since his inauguration. He signed 638 decrees in the year 2015, a record low over the last 15 years.

    The Center for Economic and Political Reforms reports that specialists have conducted an analysis of the yearly issued decrees from the year 1994, providing comparative analysis of the activities of Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.

    The research revealed that the average number of decrees of …

  • Crimeans Appeal Decision to Switch to Russian License Plates

    The Russian Government has required all Crimean drivers to change their documents and license plate numbers to Russian standards by April 1, 2016. However, the residents of Crimea have appealed this decision by Russia before the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, RIA Novosti reported.

    “The Supreme Court will hear a complaint filed in connection with the government resolution requiring Crimean drivers to change their registration documents and license plate numbers to the Russian system,” …

  • Nine Killed in Xenophobic Attacks in Russia in 2015

    Several dozen people were injured and nine were killed in attacks fueled by radical xenophobia in Russia in 2015. According to the SOVA Human Rights Center for Information and Analysis, Moscow and St. Petersburg are the main centers of ethnic and racial violence in Russia. 

    "The level of violence is still the highest in Moscow (3 dead, 26 wounded) and St. Petersburg (3 dead, 14 wounded). There are a noticeable number of victims in Moscow [oblast] (5 injured), Samara and Novosibirsk regions (3 …