Russian authorities shut down leading human rights group - BBC News

Russian authorities shut down leading human rights group – BBC News

Russia’s Supreme Court has ordered the closure of Memorial, the country’s most prominent human rights group, which chronicled Stalin-era purges and was a symbol of democratic change after the fall of the Soviet Union. The ban follows a wider crackdown…

Putin’s party heads for re-election with critics banned and claims of voting fraud - BBC News

Putin’s party heads for re-election with critics banned and claims of voting fraud – BBC News

Votes are being counted in Russia after three days of polling in parliamentary elections. As expected exit polls are predicting a win for President Putin’s United Russia party. Few critics of the Kremlin were allowed to run and there are…