Want a Dangerous Job? Try Human Rights Activist in Russia.

President Dmitry Medvedev had promised to make the job of a human rights worker in Russia safer, yeah right. This occupation has become increasingly dangerous, making it necessary to have Western protection for these people.

The government seems to have taken the approach that money solves all problems. Lyudmila Alexeyeva, chair of Moscow Helsinki Group, told a European Union conference in Moscow that Russia has taken the approach of paying compensation to victims and rarly takes action to prevent future situations. Currently the most protection that these people receive is from parts of the media.

Ella Pamfilova, the presidential human rights commissioner, told the conference that a lack of functioning democratic institutions and widespread corruption are two factors that have hindered any progress in increasing the safety of these workers and journalists.

To look at a list of journalists killed in Russia check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_Russia

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/human-rights-activists-seek-western-protection/402427.html

The Silicon Valley in Russia

Above: The Moscow School of Management Skolkovo.

The President Dimitri Medvedev announced on Thursday that Russia's Silicon Valley will be located in Skolkovo, which is located in a region of Moscow. Skolkovo hosts the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo; one of the top business schools in Russia. This area is considered a prestigious area and was formerly home to the billionaire, Roman Abramovich.

President Medvedev commented, "I made the decision — we will build this center where we have already laid the groundwork for doing it quickly. Speed matters, so we will build it in Skolkovo."

The building of this project will begin as early as this year and will have five of the "presidential" priorities for modernization: energy, IT, telecommunications, biotechnology, and nuclear technology.

Critics of this project say that building this high-tech center from scratch is a waste of resources. Especially when past technology centers have all the necessary infrastructure and are underused or not utilized at all.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/skolkovo-designated-silicon-valley-location/402114.html

Medvedev Visits France with Hopes to Srenghten Political Ties

The president of Russia, Dmitri A. Medvedev, arrived in Paris on Monday with warships, natural gas, and a special relationship with Europe on his mind. The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, greeted him warmly on the start of what will be a three-day visit, intended to enhance the prestige of both men, profit their companies and remind French voters that Mr. Sarkozy’s foreign policy is not beholden to Washington.
Despite open American criticism from the Obama administration and from Congress, as well as from European Union allies in the Baltics, Mr. Sarkozy announced that France had entered “exclusive negotiations” to sell four Mistral-class amphibious assault ships to Russia.
The Russian naval commander has said that with the Mistral, which can carry helicopters or tanks, Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia would have been much faster. The arms sale would be the largest by a North Atlantic Treaty Organization country to Russia.
But in a joint news conference with Mr. Medvedev on Monday evening, Mr. Sarkozy said that Russia was “a partner,” no longer an enemy, and that it was “time to turn the page” on the cold war.
Mr. Medvedev called the deal “a symbol of trust between our two countries” and pressed for “Russia and France to be partners on European security.”

Will Russia's new "partner" prove to be a postive force in the years to come, or will the alliance suffer from resentments from the Cold War. Thoughts?

Jury Trials and Terrorists

A 2008 amendment keeps terrorists from being able to receive a jury trial, which is believed by human rights activists and lawyers to be the fairest form of trial. The 2008 amendment banned people suspected of terrorism and espionage to be tried by a jury. On Tuesday the Constitutional Court started a hearing case that reviews this amendment.

"The plaintiffs claim that the right to a jury trial is fixed by the Constitution, which guarantees equality of rights and freedoms," the Constitutional Court said in a statement. “They believe that the ban on jury trials for terrorism charges violates the Constitution.”

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/ban-on-jury-trials-to-be-considered-by-courts/400801.html