Vladimir Putin publicly stated that writer Akunin is involved in protest actions, because he was an “ethnic Georgian” and “could not perceive Russia's actions during (...) the armed struggle between Georgia and Russia.” The topic is promising. The list can be significantly expanded. Nemtsov is an “ethnic Jew” and does not agree with the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in relation to settlements on the west coast.

In the Kremlin The results of the week. Disposition January 20, 2012 Alexander Golts The outgoing week is important primarily by the fact that it quite clearly demonstrated the tactics and strategy of both the authorities and the opposition in anticipation of the new wave of protests and the presidential election.

Journalist of the OpenSpace portal Ilya Klishin, one of the creators of Facebook groups dedicated to the rallies on December 5, 10 and 24 in Moscow, as well as the upcoming march on February 4, reported on his social network page that he is under pressure from the intelligence services, which act through his parents .

Friends of mercy will see each other JANUARY 20, 2012 SVETLANA SOLODOVNIK The number of “friends of mercy”—regular benefactors of the Orthodox service “Mercy”—has reached 2 thousand people. During the height of the financial crisis, many philanthropists reduced their spending on donations. “But we could not close the almshouse, dissolve the orphanages for orphans, we could not fire the sisters of mercy who take care of children every day.

In the opposition Open letter to Sergey Udaltsov January 20, 2012 Ivan Starikov Sergey! You and I have known each other for a long time. Your character, fundamentalness, honesty, known today in the country for everyone, have become clear to me in 2005. Then, even from liberal politicians, not everyone showed his readiness to enter the initiative group to nominate Mikhail Khodorkovsky to the State Duma.

The information about the alleged readiness of 48 percent of potential voters, thrown up last week, can vote on March 4 for Mr. Putin can only indicate one thing - the Kremlin decided to limit the presidential election in one round. True, even before that it was bad to believe that those responsible in power for the presidential campaign, and Putin himself, allow some other options, except for a “crushing victory”. In opposition minds, on the contrary, hope for a second round does not fade away.