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Russia – Walk Free Foundation – Global Slavery Index 2014

THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 1,049,700 PEOPLE IN MODERN SLAVERY IN RUSSIA – THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO 0.7315% OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION

 

 

Escalating ethnic violence in Russian cities,25 coupled with regional conflict has heightened racial tension, particularly towards migrant workers from Central Asia and the Caucasus.26  Five people disappeared in 2013 after an alleged abduction-style detention by security forces in Ingushetia and another incident occurred in Chechnya in early 2013.27 

Russia – Walk Free Foundation – Global Slavery Index 2014.

Vassily Sigarev, a Voice From Russia’s Rust Belt – NYTimes.com

Wrenching Tales From Russia’s Rust Belt

YEKATERINBURG, Russia — Before he began appearing at film festivals and collecting literary awards, when he was just another resourceful punk from Russia’s rust belt, Vassily Sigarev had a job delivering prostitutes to their customers in the concrete-slab housing blocks of Nizhny Tagil.

via Vassily Sigarev, a Voice From Russia’s Rust Belt – NYTimes.com.

Earthquake in Azerbaijan has no affect on energy and transport infrastructure’s operation – Trend

An earthquake in the north-west of Azerbaijan has not affected the work of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and South Caucasus gas pipeline, BP, which is operator of the pipelines, told Trend on Monday.

Also, the earthquake has not affected the operation of the railway and airport in Zagatala, which was confirmed by CJSC Azerbaijan Railways and CJSC Azerbaijan Airlines.

As SC Azerenergy (electricity production and distribution in Azerbaijan) told Trend, the earthquake in north-west of Azerbaijan has not affected electricity generation and supply to consumers.

“There are no problems in the process of electricity generation and distribution. SC provides electricity supply to customers,” Azerenergy said.

At present, Azerenergy employees are working on inspection and examination of all power facilities located in the northwestern part of the country.

via Earthquake in Azerbaijan has no affect on energy and transport infrastructure’s operation – Trend.

Russia Profile – Culture & Living – It Takes a Murder

The recent murder of a prominent Muslim activist has sent ripples of fear throughout Moscow’s Muslim community, offering a reminder that Russia remains plagued by ethnically motivated killings. Yet the slaying reveals several, perhaps borderline optimistic, forecasts for minority life in Moscow. Observers point to the marked decrease in hate crime, a result of better police work, and the outpouring of public grief, matched by the authorities’ sympathy, as signs that ethnic tensions in Russia may be less grim than they often seem.

Metin Mekhtiyev, a 33-year-old former manager at Moscow’s Islamic Cultural Center, was found stabbed to death early last week near the Belorussky train station, his face and neck brutally slashed. Investigators are treating the murder as a standard mugging, citing his stolen money and cell phone, yet Mekhtiyev’s friends and former colleagues disagree. They say Mekhtiyev’s was a clear-cut, ethnically motivated murder that bore all the hallmarks of a hate crime committed by ultranationalists.

via Russia Profile – Culture & Living – It Takes a Murder.

Public Television in Russia May End Up Satisfying No One | Features, Opinion & Analysis | RIA Novosti

President Dmitry Medvedev’s call for a new public television platform last December conjured visions of a Russian BBC for the country’s liberals. Yet worries are now growing that the president’s control over the new television station could prevent it from broadcasting opinions critical of the government. Medvedev has maintained that the new station will be the freest television channel in Russia. But like a number of other liberal initiatives that Medvedev has undertaken in the waning days of his presidency, the television station is increasingly being seen as a half-measure meant to mollify the public.

Medvedev signed a decree creating the new public station on Tuesday, saying it would likely be released by next January. Speaking at his “Open Government” initiative, Medvedev said that “measures have been taken to relieve needless government influence on the activities of this public institution.”

Now, controversy is centering on just how independent Russia’s public television will be.

via Public Television in Russia May End Up Satisfying No One | Features, Opinion & Analysis | RIA Novosti.