More on Russia's Political Culture

Why I read the CSM at the end, I don't know, but as per usual, they have two very excellent stories relating to my previous post. The first is on Anna Politkovskaya, who was putting together a story on torture tactics used by the Russians in Chechnya before becoming the 13th journalist assassinated since Putin came to office. The second is an excellent synopsis of Russia's growing anti-minority lobby that is attempting to create a 'Russia for Russians.' It notes that in late August anti-minority riots broke out in the northern town of Kondopoga killing three people and forcing hundreds of Caucasians (in this case, people from the Caucuses, which includes Georgia) to flee for their lives. In a set of depressing numbers, 57% of Russians surveyed thought that similar riots could break out in their towns, and 52% supported the idea of making Russia 'the Russian people's state.'