Topic: Russian KGB

Featured

10 novels to watch for in 2012

Here are 10 must-read novels coming at you in early 2012.

All Content

Russia arrests US diplomat accused of spying

A young US diplomat at the embassy in Moscow was arrested by Russian authorities on allegations he was spying and seeking to induce a senior Russian official into betraying his country for cash.
Russia steps up pressure with 'foreign agent' campaign

The Russian government's list is growing of NGOs being targeted for receiving some foreign funds. No major NGOs have agreed to the label, suggesting a wave of shutdowns may be looming.
Cover Story Boston bombing reveals a new American maturity toward insecurity

The post-9/11 'new normal' has evolved: The tactical and emotional responses to the Boston Marathon bombings show what experts call a national maturity toward terrorism that echoes longer experience with such crises in England, Spain, Russia, Japan, and Israel.
Global News Blog Not so KGB cool: Putin blows top at his cabinet in new video

The Russian president is known for being unflappable, but a leaked video shows him shouting and cursing at his cabinet ministers over their 'extremely low' quality of work.
Redoine Faid's brazen escape and other notorious prison breaks

Redoine Faid escapes: It wasn't the first time that Faid, an armed robber being held in the death of a police officer, had gone on the lam. Here are a few other notorious prison escapes.
Is Putin trading his own party for a new power base?

With his United Russia party's popularity diminishing, Putin appears to be reorganizing his political power with the Popular Front, an East German-style, extra-political body.
An echo of Soviet-era censorship and meddling in Latvia?

The prosecution and brief institutionalization of a muckraking journalist, and a proposal to rein in academic freedom, stir memories of Latvia under Soviet rule.
In blow to inquest, key suspect in Russian spy murder refuses to cooperate

Andrei Lugovoi, who is now an elected official in Russia, says he won't talk even by video to British investigators about the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in London just over six years ago.
Culture Cafe 'The Americans': Was the series premiere worth watching?

'The Americans' follows two KGB agents posing as a married couple in suburban America in the 1980s. 'The Americans' stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys.
'Red October' malware found snooping on Russian state networks

Russian Internet security firm Kaspersky Labs reports that the newly discovered 'Red October' malware has infected servers worldwide, but Russia and other former Soviet states are the worst hit.
Mariah Carey on 'Idol' and more: A preview of winter TV

Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj come to 'American Idol,' 'Downton Abbey' returns for a new season and other TV shows to check out this winter.
Opposition vows a continued campaign against Putin in spring

On Saturday, about 2,000 people turned out for an unauthorized rally to protest Russian President Vladimir Putin's 13-year rule. Opposition leaders say they are also preparing for action in the spring.
Germany's Merkel pays Putin a prickly visit

Despite the strong economic ties between Germany and Russia, the country's relations have been strained as of late over the Kremlin's recent apparent political crackdowns.
Putin warns of growing terror risks as Kremlin arrests opposition leader

Putin says Russia faces real security threats in coming years as it hosts the World Cup and Olympics, but may also be conflating opposition leaders like Sergei Udaltsov with terrorists.
Focus Vladimir Putin 2.0: A harder, eastward-looking presidency

Vladimir Putin, once again in the Kremlin's top post, faces a far more divided Russia than he did during his first stint, and he's taking a more authoritarian line to match.
In Kremlin's crosshairs? Russian tycoon Lebedev charged with hooliganism

Alexander Lebedev, who has been an outspoken critic of the Pussy Riot verdict, could face up to five years in prison for punching a fellow tycoon on Russian television last year.
Russian NGOs in panic mode over proposed 'high treason' law

Russia's new definition of high treason, which is likely to pass, could apply to any behavior that undermines 'constitutional order, sovereignty, and territorial and state integrity' in authorities' eyes.
Russian Duma expels anti-Putin lawmaker. Sign of a coming crackdown?

Russia's legislative body ousted dissident lawmaker Gennady Gudkov today, just a day before thousands of Russians are expected to take to the streets to protest against Vladimir Putin's rule.
Russian band Pussy Riot sentenced to two years in prison (+video)

The judge in Moscow said the three women were blasphemers who had deliberately offended Russian Orthodox believers by storming the altar of a cathedral in Feburary. President Putin's opponents portray the trial as part of a wider crackdown to crush their protest movement.
Russian feminist band Pussy Riot found guilty of hooliganism

The sentence has yet to be issued, the verdict is spoken: The three Russian women are guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. Pussy Riot had stormed the altar of Moscow's cathedral in February. The charges raised concern abroad about freedom of speech in Russia.
Global News Blog Teddy bear air drop still roils in Belarus

Belorussians have been put on trial for complicity in last month's teddy bear air drop by two Swedes protesting Belarus's poor human rights and democracy record.
Opinion Vladimir Putin's karate chop to Russian liberties

In less than 100 days since he returned to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin has further curbed Russian civil liberties and dissenters. But this is risky. As political dialogue no longer becomes an option, radicals on both sides are emboldened and the threshold for violence is lowered.
Russian punk rockers challenge close church-Putin ties (+video)

The punk rock group, Pussy Riot, goes on trial in what is seen as a test of how Russian leader Vladimir Putin will handled political dissent. The three women say the Russian Orthodox Church is backing Putin.
KGB vs. KGB: Putin's crackdown extends to old comrades

Arrests and intimidation of political opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin have been on the upswing recently, extending even to a former KGB comrade of the Russian leader.
Anti-Putin protesters march in Moscow in defiance of intimidation (+video)

Thousands marched in Moscow in defiance of police raids on opposition leaders' homes and new fines for public disorder. 'All power to the people!' changed Russian protesters.