Corey Flintoff http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100491&ft=1&f=2100491 Corey Flintoff is NPR's international correspondent based in Moscow, Russia. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Corey Flintoff http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100491&ft=1&f=2100491 Russian Parliament May Pass Anti-Gay Law The Russian parliament is expected to give final approval this week to a bill that would make it illegal to expose children to information about homosexuality. Russian law experts say the courts would likely rule against the legislation because it violates the Russian constitution's ban on discrimination. Even so, authorities could use it to harass specific organizations or visitors from abroad such as Madonna who spoke in favor of gay rights during a concert in St. Petersburg last year. And the legislation could curry favor among conservatives whom Putin has been courting since returning to the presidency. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=193194578&ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=193194578&ft=1&f=2100491 The Russian parliament is expected to give final approval this week to a bill that would make it illegal to expose children to information about homosexuality. Russian law experts say the courts would likely rule against the legislation because it violates the Russian constitution's ban on discrimination. Even so, authorities could use it to harass specific organizations or visitors from abroad such as Madonna who spoke in favor of gay rights during a concert in St. Petersburg last year. And the legislation could curry favor among conservatives whom Putin has been courting since returning to the presidency.

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]]> Despite Critics, Russia Promises A Grand Olympic Spectacle The challenges include mild winter weather, high costs and residents who have lost their homes. But Russia says it will put on a great show when the 2014 Winter Olympics come to Sochi next February. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/06/11/190722902/despite-critics-russia-promises-a-grand-olympic-spectacle?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/06/11/190722902/despite-critics-russia-promises-a-grand-olympic-spectacle?ft=1&f=2100491 The challenges include mild winter weather, high costs and residents who have lost their homes. But Russia says it will put on a great show when the 2014 Winter Olympics come to Sochi next February.

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]]> Kremlin Critic Claims Mass Corruption Ahead Of 2014 Olympics A critic of President Vladimir Putin is charging Russian officials and contractors with some $30 billion in theft and corruption activities, in the runup to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Boris Nemtsov is calling the preparations a "monstrous scam." Fri, 31 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/31/187459782/kremlin-critic-claims-mass-corruption-ahead-of-2014-olympics?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/31/187459782/kremlin-critic-claims-mass-corruption-ahead-of-2014-olympics?ft=1&f=2100491 A critic of President Vladimir Putin is charging Russian officials and contractors with some $30 billion in theft and corruption activities, in the runup to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Boris Nemtsov is calling the preparations a "monstrous scam."

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]]> End Of Arms Embargo Against Syria Angers Russia Responding to criticism of their arms supplies to Syria, the Russians argue that they are providing defensive weapons to a sovereign government under previously signed contracts, whereas the European Union is proposing to arm non-governmental groups, which, incidentally, include foreign terrorists. Wed, 29 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=187105068&ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=187105068&ft=1&f=2100491 Responding to criticism of their arms supplies to Syria, the Russians argue that they are providing defensive weapons to a sovereign government under previously signed contracts, whereas the European Union is proposing to arm non-governmental groups, which, incidentally, include foreign terrorists.

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]]> Russian Lawmakers: Don't Criticize Soviet Actions In WWII Don't mess with Soviet history, especially when it comes to World War II. That's the message coming from some hard-line Russian legislators who are angry with an opposition lawmaker who criticized Josef Stalin's World War II counterintelligence agency, SMERSH, and likened it to Adolf Hitler's Gestapo. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/181573908/russian-lawmakers-dont-criticize-soviet-actions-in-wwii?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/181573908/russian-lawmakers-dont-criticize-soviet-actions-in-wwii?ft=1&f=2100491 Don't mess with Soviet history, especially when it comes to World War II. That's the message coming from some hard-line Russian legislators who are angry with an opposition lawmaker who criticized Josef Stalin's World War II counterintelligence agency, SMERSH, and likened it to Adolf Hitler's Gestapo.

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]]> U.N. Tries To Get Syria Peace Talks Back On Track U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, saying it is important not to "lose momentum" in the effort to convene a peace conference on Syria. Ban was only the latest in a string of foreign dignitaries who have come to Russia, seeking Putin's blessing for such a conference, expected to be held in early June. There's a lot at stake. Russia has been a long-time supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and continues to supply weapons to his regime. U.S. officials have said lately that those weapons include advanced missile systems for attacking ships and airplanes. If Assad already has such weapons, they could pose a real threat to international efforts to impose a no-fly zone, to deliver supplies to the rebels, or to maintain a maritime embargo. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845128&ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845128&ft=1&f=2100491 U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, saying it is important not to "lose momentum" in the effort to convene a peace conference on Syria. Ban was only the latest in a string of foreign dignitaries who have come to Russia, seeking Putin's blessing for such a conference, expected to be held in early June. There's a lot at stake. Russia has been a long-time supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and continues to supply weapons to his regime. U.S. officials have said lately that those weapons include advanced missile systems for attacking ships and airplanes. If Assad already has such weapons, they could pose a real threat to international efforts to impose a no-fly zone, to deliver supplies to the rebels, or to maintain a maritime embargo.

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]]> Gerard Depardieu To Star In Two Chechnya-Based Films The actor accepted Russian citizenship in January after he denounced a proposed new tax on the rich in his native France. The Chechen connection is likely to rile human rights groups that have accused the president of the Russian republic of gross human rights violations. Depardieu will appear opposite Elizabeth Hurley in the first of the films. Thu, 16 May 2013 18:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/16/184585831/gerard-depardieu-to-star-in-two-chechnya-based-films?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/16/184585831/gerard-depardieu-to-star-in-two-chechnya-based-films?ft=1&f=2100491 The actor accepted Russian citizenship in January after he denounced a proposed new tax on the rich in his native France. The Chechen connection is likely to rile human rights groups that have accused the president of the Russian republic of gross human rights violations. Depardieu will appear opposite Elizabeth Hurley in the first of the films.

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]]> Russia Orders Alleged U.S. Spy To Leave Country Russia's Federal Security Service says it apprehended a U.S. Embassy officer and accuses him of trying to entice a Russian official to provide classified information to the CIA. Russian authorities provided a photo, allegedly of third secretary Ryan Christopher Fogle, wearing a wig, and a photo of cash he was carrying along with a compass and a Moscow street map. Vogel was handed over to the U.S. Embassy after being questioned. Tue, 14 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=183984434&ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=183984434&ft=1&f=2100491 Russia's Federal Security Service says it apprehended a U.S. Embassy officer and accuses him of trying to entice a Russian official to provide classified information to the CIA. Russian authorities provided a photo, allegedly of third secretary Ryan Christopher Fogle, wearing a wig, and a photo of cash he was carrying along with a compass and a Moscow street map. Vogel was handed over to the U.S. Embassy after being questioned.

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]]> Once A Grand Occasion, May Day Loses Significance In Russia May Day in Moscow used to attract thousands of people to celebrate International Workers Day. Although May Day may still be a holiday, it's much less of an occasion now. Wed, 01 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180361647/once-a-grand-occasion-may-day-loses-significance-in-russia?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180361647/once-a-grand-occasion-may-day-loses-significance-in-russia?ft=1&f=2100491 May Day in Moscow used to attract thousands of people to celebrate International Workers Day. Although May Day may still be a holiday, it's much less of an occasion now.

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]]> Investigating The Boston Bombing ... In Southern Russia Suspected Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev traveled to Dagestan in southern Russia twice in recent years, and investigators want to know whether that experience led him toward a radical and violent form of Islam. Wed, 01 May 2013 03:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180108357/investigating-the-boston-bombing-in-southern-russia?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180108357/investigating-the-boston-bombing-in-southern-russia?ft=1&f=2100491 Suspected Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev traveled to Dagestan in southern Russia twice in recent years, and investigators want to know whether that experience led him toward a radical and violent form of Islam.

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]]> Investigators Question Parents Of Boston Bombing Suspects Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow were in Dagestan in southern Russia on Wednesday to question the parents of the Tsarnaev brothers. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/24/178858033/investigators-question-parents-of-boston-bombing-suspects?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/24/178858033/investigators-question-parents-of-boston-bombing-suspects?ft=1&f=2100491 Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow were in Dagestan in southern Russia on Wednesday to question the parents of the Tsarnaev brothers.

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]]> Relatives Of Bombing Suspects Shocked By Attacks The Tsarnaev brothers' relatives in Russia's Dagestan republic reacted differently to the Boston Marathon bombings and subsequent shootout. Their mother saw pictures of Tamerlan's body on YouTube and is said to be in shock, unable to speak. More distant relatives share their thoughts. People at the mosque that Tamerlan visited in 2012 say the mosque is in no way responsible for his actions. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/178651284/relatives-of-bombing-suspects-shocked-by-attacks?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/178651284/relatives-of-bombing-suspects-shocked-by-attacks?ft=1&f=2100491 The Tsarnaev brothers' relatives in Russia's Dagestan republic reacted differently to the Boston Marathon bombings and subsequent shootout. Their mother saw pictures of Tamerlan's body on YouTube and is said to be in shock, unable to speak. More distant relatives share their thoughts. People at the mosque that Tamerlan visited in 2012 say the mosque is in no way responsible for his actions.

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]]> Suspects' Chechen Roots Draw Eyes To Russia Much has been made of the fact that the suspects in the Boston bombings are ethnic Chechens, with links to the volatile North Caucasus region of Russia. Russian reaction to the story, however, appears to be as complex as the region's turbulent history. Sat, 20 Apr 2013 06:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/20/178084378/suspects-chechen-roots-draws-eyes-in-russia?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/20/178084378/suspects-chechen-roots-draws-eyes-in-russia?ft=1&f=2100491 Much has been made of the fact that the suspects in the Boston bombings are ethnic Chechens, with links to the volatile North Caucasus region of Russia. Russian reaction to the story, however, appears to be as complex as the region's turbulent history.

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]]> Chechnya In Perspective: A Tumultuous History The news that the Boston bombing suspects had links to the troubled North Caucasus region has a lot of resonance in Russia. Russia had to fight two wars to put down a separatist rebellion in Chechnya, and it's still fighting Islamist insurgents in the neighboring region of Dagestan. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/178005655/chechnya-in-perspective-a-tumultuous-history?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/178005655/chechnya-in-perspective-a-tumultuous-history?ft=1&f=2100491 The news that the Boston bombing suspects had links to the troubled North Caucasus region has a lot of resonance in Russia. Russia had to fight two wars to put down a separatist rebellion in Chechnya, and it's still fighting Islamist insurgents in the neighboring region of Dagestan.

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]]> Retaliating Against U.S., Russia Bars 18 Americans The already-frayed relations between the U.S. and Russia have unraveled even more over the past several days. Russia has published a list of 18 Americans who will be barred from entering the country because of their alleged involvement in human rights violations. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/15/177290781/retaliating-against-u-s-russia-bars-18-americans?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/15/177290781/retaliating-against-u-s-russia-bars-18-americans?ft=1&f=2100491 The already-frayed relations between the U.S. and Russia have unraveled even more over the past several days. Russia has published a list of 18 Americans who will be barred from entering the country because of their alleged involvement in human rights violations.

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