Anyone casually familiar with Russia is aware of often reported police corruption. Even Russian media occasionally reported on it in the time between the fall of communism and the Putin era. Since Putin came to power, the Russian media has become monolithic, almost like in Soviet times. The difference between now and the Soviet era is the internet. As long as there are honest cops in Russia, a tiny number of them will speak out. The internet will give those few a platform to reach millions. So much for control of the media.

Maj. Alexey Dymovsky, a disgruntled officer from the southern port city of Novorossiisk, started the trend with two YouTube pleas in which he said his bosses forced him to falsely report that unsolved cases had been cracked.

He also said he divorced twice because his wives could not cope with his long hours and low pay.

“I am fighting for the truth,” he said, directly addressing Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. “I am a bit scared to address you and the whole country … but I can’t do it any other way.”

Dymovsky’s postings got 700,000 hits by Monday—the day when he was fired and threatened with a lawsuit for slander. However, the Interior Ministry ordered an investigation into his allegations, and Dymovsky’s example quickly found followers.

By Thursday night, three more YouTube pleas decried abuses, trumped-up convictions and corruption.

In two separate clips, ex-deputy prosecutor Grigory Chekalin and former police Maj. Mikhail Yevseyev claimed two innocent men were sentenced to life in prison for a 2005 arson in the northwestern city of Ukhta that killed 25. Yevseyev also alleged Ukhta police fabricated charges against local businessmen in return for bribes from their rivals. (Breitbart)

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One of the perks of being Vladimir Putin is getting a tour of the bottom of the world’s deepest lake. Exploring  Lake Baikal has been intensifying over the last few years as technology has made human presence at its bottom possible. Putin may have set a record for the deepest dive by a former head of state.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Saturday dived to the bottom of the world’s deepest lake aboard a mini-submarine, in a highly mediatized stunt unusual even by the standards of the Russian hardman.Putin, wearing special thermal blue overalls, was able to examine the unique flora and fauna of Lake Baikal in Siberia during his four-hour journey underwater aboard the Mir-1 submarine.

“I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life,” the prime minister, who served eight years as Russian president, told state television aboard the support ship after resurfacing. (Breitbart)

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Svetlana Zakharova was born in Lutsk, Ukraine, on 10 June 1979. At age six,  Svetlana’ mother to her learn folk dancing at a local studio. At age 10, Svetlana auditioned for and was accepted into the Kiev Choreographic School. Just four months later, however, her father’s reassignment in the army to East Germany forced Svetlana’s withdrawal from school. Six months later, her family returned to Ukraine and Svetlana auditioned again for the Kiev Choreographic School. She was readmitted and immediately joined the second class, under teacher Valeria Sulegina.

In 1996-1997, she debuted with the Mariinsky Ballet, appearing as Maria with Ruben Bobovnikov, in Rostislav Zakharov’s The Fountain of Bakhchisarai. In 2003-2004, she accepted a long-standing open offer with the Bolshoi, reportedly due to discontent with the Mariinsky^.

Today, Zakharova tours and guests with the world’s great ballet companies. She is highly regarded for her technical expertise and for her exceptionally high extensions, which invite comparisons with gymnasts.

Svetlana’s Official Site

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Pavel Smeyan was born in Moscow, Russia in 1957 and died of cancer in a hospital in Germany on 12 July 2009 . He was  of 52. While unknown in the west, Pavel was enormously popular in Russia.

Pavel graduated from the Gnesins’ State Institute of Music majoring in the saxophone. He played in various philharmonics, and worked in Rosconcert and the Lenkom Theatre. He dubbed and played roles and recorded songs for more than 20 movies and animations including Mary Poppins, Goodbye, There’s Good Weather in Deribasovskaya and It’s Raining Again in Brighton Beach. He sang in the famous rock operas The Star and Death of Joaquin Murrieta, Juno and Avos. His first songs first appeared on records of the Rock Atelier band in 1981. Later he released three music albums as a solo artist.

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In what seems to be a continuing trend, that may be accelerating from a bad economy, some Russian Oligarchs are running to the west to escape taxes and lawsuits.

Shalva Chigirinsky, a Russian businessman of Georgian origin, is hemmed on many sides by lawsuits these days, and the offices of an oil firm he controlled until recently were raided by law enforcement officers.

If reports of him having left for the US are true, Chigirinsky would join a growing list of oligarchs who have fled to the West in the face of legal problems.

Investigators descended on Oil Company Magma, a subsidiary of Sibir Energy, on August 8. According to a statement by Sibir Energy, investigators from the Interior Ministry were interested in the commercial activities of the Moscow Oil Company in 2002 and 2003 and the Moscow Oil and Gas Company in 2006. These companies were being run by Chigirinsky at the time.

Interfax reported that the inspection was related to suspected tax evasion, citing police sources.

Sibir Energy is also suing Chigirinsky. Until recently, he was a major shareholder of the company, and according to media reports, Sibir Energy is suing Chigirinsky over what it claims were unauthorized payments while he was directing the company, and has applied to the High Court of Justice in London. The claim currently stands at $328 million. (Moscow News)

There’s little doubt that many of these neo rich skirted laws on their way to making fortunes. Poorly written laws and random enforcement by a corrupt government can’t help either. If Mr. Chigirinsky is hoping to escape the latter here in the US, he may be disappointed. We have the same problem with our government, and it’s getting worse.

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Freed from the shackles of communism in the 1990s, Russia seemed to be entering an era of rebirth. But as is often the case in that country, history unfolded harshly. For the majority of Russians, the transition to a market system was painful and chaotic - and anything but democratic. Amid the confusion, a few shrewd and ruthless businessmen exploited the loopholes in the Soviet economy to make fast money, staving off a return to communist rule. Nicknamed the oligarchs, these men, all billionaires, manoeuvred their way into Russia’s political inner circle during glasnost, are credited with Boris Yeltsin’s re-election in 1996, and suspected of anointing Vladimir Putin in 1999. They’re powerful men with powerful enemies, and they continue to shape Russian society. Dizzying in its detail, The Rise and Fall of the Russian Oligarchs puts modern- day Russia into perspective. (Google)

The documentary is almost 2 hours in 2 parts Part 1 Part 2

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Elena Dementieva

Every summer, the Wimbledon tournament in UK takes place and the winners are commonly regarded as the top players in the sport. The top ten women’s seed rankings this year include five Russians. They are (1) (1) Dinara Safina,  (4) Elena Dementieva, (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova,  (7) Vera Zvonareva , (10) Nadia Petrova . Maria Sharapova, probably the best known player in the west is seeded 24. It was not so long ago that tennis was a relatively unknown sport in Russia. Times have certainly changed

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