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 Sun, 19 May 2013 06:06:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Corey Flintoff http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100491&ft=1&f=2100491 yes 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. no 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. 227 no 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. no 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. 168 no 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. 130 no 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. 328 no 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. 155 no 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. 200 no 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. 187 no 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. 221 no 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. 75 no 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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]]> Emigre Artist Sculpted Exquisite Gems Of Russian Folk Life Semiprecious stones were the medium of choice for Vasily Konovalenko, a Soviet ballet set designer turned sculptor. His masterful workmanship captured Russian characters, from Cossacks and drunks to country folk and czarist henchmen. He fell afoul of the authorities and left Russia for the U.S. in the 1980s. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176233728/emigre-artist-sculpted-exquisite-gems-of-russian-folk-life?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176233728/emigre-artist-sculpted-exquisite-gems-of-russian-folk-life?ft=1&f=2100491 Semiprecious stones were the medium of choice for Vasily Konovalenko, a Soviet ballet set designer turned sculptor. His masterful workmanship captured Russian characters, from Cossacks and drunks to country folk and czarist henchmen. He fell afoul of the authorities and left Russia for the U.S. in the 1980s. 248 no Semiprecious stones were the medium of choice for Vasily Konovalenko, a Soviet ballet set designer turned sculptor. His masterful workmanship captured Russian characters, from Cossacks and drunks to country folk and czarist henchmen. He fell afoul of the authorities and left Russia for the U.S. in the 1980s.

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]]> Ex-Diplomats: U.S.-Russian Relations Not As Dire As They Seem The United States and Russia have been at odds over human rights, Syria and even the adoption of Russian orphans by American families. But former U.S. envoys who met with officials in Moscow this week say they found "a willingness to explore ideas" and urged cooperation on economic and security issues. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176153411/ex-diplomats-u-s-russian-relations-not-as-dire-as-they-seem?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176153411/ex-diplomats-u-s-russian-relations-not-as-dire-as-they-seem?ft=1&f=2100491 The United States and Russia have been at odds over human rights, Syria and even the adoption of Russian orphans by American families. But former U.S. envoys who met with officials in Moscow this week say they found "a willingness to explore ideas" and urged cooperation on economic and security issues. 240 no The United States and Russia have been at odds over human rights, Syria and even the adoption of Russian orphans by American families. But former U.S. envoys who met with officials in Moscow this week say they found "a willingness to explore ideas" and urged cooperation on economic and security issues.

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]]> Once Championed By Putin, Medvedev Falls Precipitously Out Of Favor Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is under attack these days — and is receiving no support from his erstwhile political partner, President Vladimir Putin. Though loyal and cautious, Medvedev became a magnet for the opposition, who sought an alternative to Putin. Now, observers say, it's only a matter of time before Medvedev is ousted. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/02/175917448/once-championed-by-putin-medvedev-falls-precipitously-out-of-favor?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/02/175917448/once-championed-by-putin-medvedev-falls-precipitously-out-of-favor?ft=1&f=2100491 Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is under attack these days — and is receiving no support from his erstwhile political partner, President Vladimir Putin. Though loyal and cautious, Medvedev became a magnet for the opposition, who sought an alternative to Putin. Now, observers say, it's only a matter of time before Medvedev is ousted. 255 no Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is under attack these days — and is receiving no support from his erstwhile political partner, President Vladimir Putin. Though loyal and cautious, Medvedev became a magnet for the opposition, who sought an alternative to Putin. Now, observers say, it's only a matter of time before Medvedev is ousted.

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]]> In Crackdown, Some Russian Groups Labeled As 'Foreign Agents' A new law places the tag on human rights and other private groups that receive funding from abroad. In Russia, the label is nearly synonymous with "spy." Critics say the law is part of an effort by President Vladimir Putin to stifle dissent. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175361647/in-crackdown-some-russian-groups-labeled-as-foreign-agents?ft=1&f=2100491 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/27/175361647/in-crackdown-some-russian-groups-labeled-as-foreign-agents?ft=1&f=2100491 A new law places the tag on human rights and other private groups that receive funding from abroad. In Russia, the label is nearly synonymous with "spy." Critics say the law is part of an effort by President Vladimir Putin to stifle dissent. 239 no A new law places the tag on human rights and other private groups that receive funding from abroad. In Russia, the label is nearly synonymous with "spy." Critics say the law is part of an effort by President Vladimir Putin to stifle dissent.

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