November 19:
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexei II, has called upon President Vladimir Putin to create a public council to oversee society’s morals. “I think that our society today needs a public council for issues of morality that would assume corresponding regulatory functions,” the patriarch said. According to NEWSru.com, Putin responded only with a promise of government financial and other support for Orthodox television and radio programs, but added that he highly values the Russian Orthodox Church’s ambition to bring back “ideals and values that for many centuries have been spiritual reference points for us.” Putin said he also welcomes the church’s aim to “foster patriotism based on serving the Motherland and the public good.”
November 20:
President Putin has warned that Russia will react to what he characterizes as a NATO military build-up on its borders, NTV reports. “In violation of previously reached agreements, certain states and nation-members of the NATO alliance are increasing their military resources near our borders,” Putin told Defense Ministry officials. “At the same time, Russian proposals concerning the creation of a single ABM system [in Europe] with equal access... for all participants unfortunately remain unanswered so far. Naturally, we cannot allow ourselves to remain indifferent to obvious ‘muscle flexing.’” Putin called Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty an “appropriate” response.
Reuters reports that Russia’s Supreme Court has rejected a suit filed by the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) charging that Vladimir Putin’s registration as a United Russia party candidate in the State Duma election violated Russia’s constitution and should be canceled. The SPS charged that Putin repeatedly violated election law and used his presidential post to put “administrative pressure” on the SPS. Putin heads United Russia’s federal list of candidates for the Duma election, which is scheduled for December 2nd.
November 21:
President Putin has accused members the political opposition of colluding with foreigners to undermine Russia, Novye Izvestia reports. “Those who are against us don’t want our plan to be accomplished, because they have completely different aims, completely different plans for Russia,” Putin told 5,000 supporters at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. “And unfortunately, there are also those inside the country who beg like jackals at foreign embassies [and] diplomatic representation offices, counting on the support of foreign foundations and governments and not on the support of their own people.” He also charged that “some parties” have candidates and financial backers who were in power in the 1990s and want to “restore an oligarchic regime based on corruption and lies.”
November 23:
President Putin has met with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz for talks expected to pave the way for the first purchase of Russian weapons by the kingdom, Agence France-Presse reports. Greeting the crown prince at the Kremlin, Putin said discussions would address a range of international issues, while the prince described Russia as a “friend.” A Russian diplomat said in Riyadh earlier this week that he expected the talks in Moscow to produce a “framework agreement for military cooperation” that would open the way for Saudi Arabia to buy Russian arms.
November 24:
A lawyer for relatives of deceased dissident Russian security service officer Alexander Litvinenko has told the New York Times that an unidentified technical expert said in court testimony that it was “highly likely” the polonium 210 used to poison Litvinenko came from the Avangard nuclear plant in the closed city of Sarov, located 250 miles east of Moscow. Litvinenko died in London on November 23, 2006.
Want these sent to your inbox?
Subscribe