Stories about Russian from May, 2015
The Boomerang Effect: Why Would Tajikistan's Special Forces Chief Join ISIS?
"This is the most well-made film of a Tajik IS fighter. Unsurprisingly, they have quickly used [him] for recruitment purposes."
Did Russia Just Effectively Outlaw Internet Anonymizers?
A Russian court has ruled to block a webpage for being "an anonymizer," raising concerns that tools like Tor and other anonymizing proxy services might soon be banned wholesale.
Dying in Secret: The Ethics of Investigating Russia's Ukraine Casualties
A new type of investigative journalism by bloggers is blurring the lines between armchair Internet sleuthing and hard-hitting investigative reporting to uncover information about Russia's role in the Ukraine conflict.
Dear Ukrainian Officials: Russian Security Services Thank You for Your Cooperation!
A group of journalists pulled a prank on Ukrainian officials who use Russian email services, alerting them to the dangers of careless information security policies.
Activist Ambassador Lawyer Journalist: What It’s Like to Be Hated Online in Russia Today
Earlier this week, Afisha magazine's Nina Nazarova published a collection of fascinating interviews with four public figures who have played major roles online and in the news in Russia.
Russia Launches ‘Predictive System’ for Monitoring Protest Activity Online
The new Russian software will allegedly be able to spot preparations for protests online long before they happen, and could supply that information to law enforcement, academics and state officials.
The Profitable Patriotism of Vladimir Putin's Biker Bromance
Putin’s biker bromance admittedly isn’t radically new, but the prominence—both in Russia and abroad—of the "Night Wolves" motorcycle gang is exploding like never before.
HIV/AIDS Corruption Is a Business for Central Asian Bureaucrats
"The whole system is corrupt, starting with the government. The fish rots from the head."
Mr. Bureaucrat, Russia's ‘Wrinkled’ Young Women Would Like a Word
In response to a sexist outburst by a ranking government official, young women have started posting selfies with the hashtag #WrinkledWoman while scrunching up their faces to lampoon the remark.
How the Internet Both Facilitates and Challenges Rape in Russia
The explosion of online social networks makes it easier than ever for sexual predators, but the Internet also presents women with new weapons against a legal system stacked against them.
Fed Up With ‘Political’ Blocking, Russia and Ukraine Appeal to Facebook
Ukrainians and Russians are unhappy about Facebook allowing "politically motivated" takedowns of posts they say are being reported for violations by masses of "Kremlin supporters."
Leaked Emails Reveal What Vladimir Putin Tells World Leaders at Private Meals
The leaked emails can be sorted into three types of reports: menu options for meetings, summaries of the catering services, and—most interestingly—outlines of Putin's conversations with his guests.
Did a Journalist Save a Chechen Teenager from Marrying a 57-Year-Old Police Captain? No.
Last week, we reported that a journalist had succeeded in preventing a Chechen teenager from being married against her will. It now appears the marriage will go through, after all.
How a Schoolboy ‘Son’ of Tajikistan's President Extracted a Massive Bribe from a Citizen
"I bet that he is the scion of some other official, because we could never afford to educate our children at this school."
How Twerking May Destroy a Russian Small Business
A Russian cosmetics company is using a scandalous dance in its marketing, and a Russian politician says the ad commits a “depraved act” against minors.
How a Russian Journalist Ruined a Chechen Wedding
How an independent Russian journalist averted the forced marriage of a 17-year-old Chechen girl to a high-ranking, 57-year-old police official.
Russia's Democratic Opposition Is Trying to Unite and the Road Ahead Is Bumpy
Two of Russia’s leading opposition parties recently announced the formation a "democratic alliance" with plans to run on a joint ticket in upcoming regional and national elections.