Russia's Press Freedom Index dropsJanuary 26, 2012 - 18:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - International media freedom monitor Reporters Without Borders has downgraded Russia in its annual Press Freedom Index, to 142nd from 140th place. “In Russia the media freedom pano¬rama continues to be gloomy… The unprecedented demonstrations in December 2011 augur a period of uncertainty – while some newsrooms seem to be becoming more outspoken, the state’s repressive apparatus has so far been able to cope with the unrest,” the Paris-based organization said on its web site, according to RIA Novosti. Last month's rallies against suspected vote fraud in favor of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party at the December 4 parliamentary polls drew tens of thousands of protesters in Moscow and across Russia. State-run TV channels initially gave only limited coverage of the rallies, and subsequently edited out any direct criticism of Putin at the protests. The United States also fell in the Reporters Without Borders ranking from 47th to 27th position for the crackdown on protesters at the Occupy Wall Street rallies last year. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |