Drawing a screen around the realities of life for gay Russians, President Vladimir Putin and the organizers of the Sochi Winter Olympic games are presenting a decidedly friendly face to international visitors. Elena Vlasenko reports
Media will face increased restrictions in the build up to the Winter Games in Sochi as Russian president Vladimir Putin tries to rehabilitate a damaged domestic reputation
Radio Liberty adviser describes “Kafkaesque” intrigues behind his exclusion from Russia. Padraig Reidy reports
Athletes have used the Olympics to deliver political messages in the past, writes Milana Knezevic
Today’s surprise announcement out of Russia: The Russian government was shuttering external-facing news agencies Ria Novosti and Voice of Russia. But inside Russia, a growing web of cross ownership colours the way Russians view their neighbours. Olga Khvostunova explains in her report for Interpreter Magazine
Andrei Soldatov looks at the websites authorities have been censoring over the past months
Here are a few cases that show just how empty Putin’s promises are
A Russian court pulled the license of Rosbalt Information Agency after warnings over the use of “obscene” videos in its reports, Andrei Aliaksandrau reports
Greenpeace prosecutions show the lengths the Russian president will go to to protect his oligarch friends, says Elena Vlasenko
The major news in internet censorship in summer 2013 in Russia is a new law on copyright covering film, television and video productions. Andrei Soldatov reports