• 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 …

  • Prestigious London Concert Hall Closed To Russian Artists

    The Royal Albert Hall, the most prestigious concert hall in London, is now closed to Russian artists. Andrey Sidelnikov, a political emigre from Russia and the coordinator of the “Speak Louder!” Movement shared this sentiment in an interview with Krym.Realii.

    "In the aftermath of the Valeria concert, the best and most important concert hall in London is now closed to Russian artists—all of them.[The owners] no longer want to deal with Russian artists. Reputation in the UK is very expensive," …

  • Russia Halts Transit of Ukrainian Goods

    The Russian Federation has imposed customs duties as well as a food embargo against Ukraine in an effort to protect its market from the influx of duty-free supplies entering the Ukraine from the European Union. The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine (MEDTU) reported that Russia has fully halted the transit of Ukrainian goods into its territory as of 4 January 2016.

    “This ban by the Russian Federation is not clear. It is unacceptable and discriminatory in nature. Therefore, …