The State of Affairs in Russia

[jimmy olsen]

  I think we would have noticed if the US tested a nuclear bomb.

Calling the test of a bomb without a warhead, a nuclear bomb test is silly even by Russian standards.

[Syt]

http://rt.com/politics/273523-russia-court-rights-constitution/

Constitutional Court rules Russian law above European HR Court decisions

The Supreme Russian Court has established that no international treaty or convention has precedence over national sovereignty, and decisions by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) should be upheld only when they don't contradict basic Russian law.

"The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as well as legal positions of the ECHR that are based on it cannot cancel the priority of the Constitution," Judge Sergey Mavrin said at Tuesday's session of the Russian Constitutional Court. "All decisions of the ECHR must be executed only with consideration to the Russian Constitution's supremacy. As an exception, Russia can refuse to fulfill the imposed obligations when such a refusal is the only way to prevent the violation of the basic law," the judge added.

In late 2013 the Russian Constitutional Court ruled that it had the right to decide on the execution of contradictory ECHR decisions in Russia. The Tuesday decision expanded the supremacy of the Constitutional Court over foreign courts and international treaties, and established the priority of the Russian Constitution in general.

The Tuesday court ruling was a reply to a group of State Duma deputies, representing all four parliamentary caucuses, who contested a number of Russian laws that, in their view, ordered Russian courts and state agencies to unconditionally execute all orders of the ECHR, even if such orders contradict the Constitution.

MP Aleksandr Tarnavskiy (Fair Russia) said that lawmakers who requested clarification suspected that a number of ECHR decisions were passed in order to dilute the boundaries of Russia's sovereignty as a state, based on the priority of the Constitution as well as the priority of Russia's Constitutional Court as a sole body of state power that has the right to perform constitutional supervision.

After Judge Mavrin announced the court ruling on Tuesday he told reporters that there was a possibility the Constitutional Court would investigate the Yukos case, but only it is brought in front of the court by the plaintiffs. The comment apparently concerned the ECHR's ruling in July 2014 that ordered Russia to pay $2.5 billion in compensation and legal expenses to former shareholders of the oil giant Yukos dissolved in 2007 after its top managers and key owners were jailed for tax evasion.

Later in the day the press service of the Russian Justice Ministry circulated a statement saying that all of the ministry's actions connected with the ECHR's ruling on the 'Yukos vs. Russia' case would be based on the ruling establishing the priority of the Russian Constitution.

Earlier this year the head of Russia's top law enforcement agency – Chairman of the Investigative Committee Aleksandr Bastrykin – suggested changing the Constitution in order to end the precedence of international laws. Bastrykin claimed that the principle of the superiority of international law over domestic had been added to Russian legislation in 1993 due to the strong backing of US advisors and called this move a possible act of legislative sabotage against Russia.

Bastrykin emphasized that despite imposing the supremacy of international law on Russia, the United States itself was not following this principle in their legal system. He added that the primacy of international law was not recognized as valid or was only partially implemented in the United Kingdom and some other countries that use the Anglo-Saxon (precedent) legal system. Nations such as Brazil and India simply consider national law as taking precedent.

The top Russian investigator suggested eliminating the principle that makes international law an integral part of the Russian legal system and introducing the priority of the national law into the Constitution.

[Martinus]

I don't think the court is wrong per se - very few countries recognise primacy of international treaties over constitution. But, of course, in Russia, this will be used instrumentally.

[Tonitrus]

We're one of those countries. 

I always thought Article VI was interesting...does it mean we could sign a treaty that has about as much legal power as a constitutional amendment?

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

[The Minsky Moment]

No. Article VI just means that state law is subordinate to federal law, including treaties. 

The Constitution trumps all.  A treaty that violates the Constitution will not be enforced by the courts. 

[Syt]

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/news/article/novaya-gazeta-could-face-closure-after-second-government-warning/525909.html

Novaya Gazeta Could Face Closure After Second Government Warning

One of Russia's last independent newspapers, the Novaya Gazeta weekly, plans to appeal in court the second government warning it has received within a year — which crosses the threshold that allows the authorities to shut it down.

Media watchdog Roskomnadzor issued the latest warning for an expletive that supposedly appeared in an excerpt from literary fiction the newspaper published, the agency said in a statement Monday evening.

Several letters in the expletive were replaced with asterisks when Novaya Gazeta published the excerpt from a new novel by Vasily Avchenko, an author and the weekly's correspondent in the Far East, earlier this summer.

But Roskomnadzor spokesman Vadim Ampelonsky insisted that the offensive word "could clearly be read," Lenizdat.ru news portal reported.

Following Roskomnadzor's warning, the newspaper replaced the word — which generally means "inattentiveness" — with a similarly sounding synonym in brackets on its website.

A law signed by President Vladimir Putin this spring bans the use of several crude expletives in the media an in arts, including literature.

The ban affected Russia's Oscar-nominated film Leviathan — a tale about a provincial man's fight against a corrupt mayor and church officials — which struggled to obtain a screening permit in the country. The Culture Ministry finally rated the film as only acceptable for adult audiences, and ordered that its expletives be bleeped out.

Novaya Gazeta's editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov said his newspaper will contest the latest warning in court, arguing that literary works should be permitted some leeway, Interfax reported.

"We believe that in works of literature — we are not speaking about journalistic creations here — various deviations from the general norm are possible," Muratov was quoted as saying.

"If you read that text you will see that it is absolutely beautiful literature," Muratov said, adding that Roskomnadzor's warning serves as an "advertisement" for Avchenko's novel about the Sea of Japan and Russians living on its shores.

The book, entitled "Crystal in a Clear Setting," has been shortlisted for this year's National Bestseller award.

But Novaya Gazeta could face a shutdown by the government since it has received two warnings within a year.

Roskomnadzor's spokesman maintained, however, that his agency has not decided to start the procedure just yet, Interfax reported.

"Despite the fact that we do indeed have the right to turn to court with the demand that Novaya Gazeta's registration be terminated, we, as a controlling organ, naturally always use our rights sensibly," Ampelonstky was quoted as saying.

"In any event, the decision to turn to court has not been made," he added, Interfax reported.

The previous warning, which Novaya Gazeta received last October, was for an article by columnist and Ekho Moskvy radio host Yulia Latynina titled "If we are not the West, then who are we?" The media watchdog agency deemed her article "extremist."

I'm glad that Russia has these laws to protect the children and the general public from decadent filth and surreptitious ideas.

[celedhring]

Leviathan is a fantastic film. Given its content I'm pretty sure that the expletives were just an excuse to try to block its release.

[Syt]

https://www.rt.com/politics/310468-french-mps-to-make-historical/

France.

French MPs to make historical visit to reunited Crimea

A delegation of French lawmakers is coming to Russia to pay a visit to the Crimea – the first such visit since the region's accession to the Russian Federation in March 2014.

The head of the mission, MP Thierry Mariani said in an interview with Russian business daily Kommersant that it will consist of nine members of the French National Assembly and one senator. Eight members of the delegation represented the center-left "The Republicans" party, led by Nicolas Sarkozy and two more represented centrists and leftists.

The French politicians are expected to arrive in Moscow on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, they will meet State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin and after the meeting will travel to the Crimean towns of Sevastopol and Yalta. The lawmakers plan to meet the head of the Crimean government Sergey Aksyonov and Sevastopol Governor Sergey Menyailo, and with ordinary citizens. In addition, the politicians plan to visit the French cultural center in Sevastopol and the French memorial cemetery that dates back to the Crimean war of 1854-55.

Mariani told Russian reporters the mission consisted of two types of lawmakers – some wanted to assess the situation on the Crimean peninsula after personally witnessing it and others – like himself – already recognized the reunification of Crimea and Russia as a historical fact, confirmed by a valid referendum.

"A part of us are confident that the reunification was logical – it is useless to struggle with history," Kommersant quoted the French MP as saying. "Another important thing is that it is the first really meaningful delegation of members from France's traditional political forces and otherwise. For example, the National Front," Thierry added.

The lawmaker said the visit had not been coordinated with the French authorities, but added the French Foreign Ministry had warned the participants it wouldn't support the idea.

On Wednesday, the French Foreign Ministry released a statement in which it called the trip a private initiative, saying it was a violation of international law and expressed regret over this fact.

In the Kommersant interview, Mariani confirmed the visit was planned as a private initiative and said French lawmakers were free to make such decisions. He also said the invitation from the Russian side was made by the Russian Peace Foundation, chaired by MP Leonid Slutskiy. Additional support came from the "Franco-Russian Dialogue association" and the State Duma through inter-parliamentary contacts.

In April, a delegation of 20 French lawmakers headed by Thierry Mariani paid a visit to Moscow on Sergey Naryshkin's invitation. During this visit all its members criticized EU sanctions against Russia. In particular, Mariani called the restrictions "silly and not yielding any positive results."

French lawmakers said the April visit was a friendship gesture and spoke of similar signals coming from other European governments, who are seeking to mend ties with Russia.

[Admiral Yi]

On Wednesday, the French Foreign Ministry released a statement in which it called the trip a private initiative, saying it was a violation of international law and expressed regret over this fact.

[Valmy]

Why is it a violation of international law? The Crimea bit?

[The Brain]

Why is it a violation of international law? The Crimea bit?

It's a Crimea.

[Duque de Bragança]

https://www.rt.com/politics/310468-french-mps-to-make-historical/

France.

French MPs to make historical visit to reunited Crimea

A delegation of French lawmakers is coming to Russia to pay a visit to the Crimea – the first such visit since the region's accession to the Russian Federation in March 2014.

The head of the mission, MP Thierry Mariani said in an interview with Russian business daily Kommersant that it will consist of nine members of the French National Assembly and one senator. Eight members of the delegation represented the center-left "The Republicans" party, led by Nicolas Sarkozy and two more represented centrists and leftists.

The French politicians are expected to arrive in Moscow on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, they will meet State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin and after the meeting will travel to the Crimean towns of Sevastopol and Yalta. The lawmakers plan to meet the head of the Crimean government Sergey Aksyonov and Sevastopol Governor Sergey Menyailo, and with ordinary citizens. In addition, the politicians plan to visit the French cultural center in Sevastopol and the French memorial cemetery that dates back to the Crimean war of 1854-55.

Mariani told Russian reporters the mission consisted of two types of lawmakers – some wanted to assess the situation on the Crimean peninsula after personally witnessing it and others – like himself – already recognized the reunification of Crimea and Russia as a historical fact, confirmed by a valid referendum.

"A part of us are confident that the reunification was logical – it is useless to struggle with history," Kommersant quoted the French MP as saying. "Another important thing is that it is the first really meaningful delegation of members from France's traditional political forces and otherwise. For example, the National Front," Thierry added.

The lawmaker said the visit had not been coordinated with the French authorities, but added the French Foreign Ministry had warned the participants it wouldn't support the idea.

On Wednesday, the French Foreign Ministry released a statement in which it called the trip a private initiative, saying it was a violation of international law and expressed regret over this fact.

In the Kommersant interview, Mariani confirmed the visit was planned as a private initiative and said French lawmakers were free to make such decisions. He also said the invitation from the Russian side was made by the Russian Peace Foundation, chaired by MP Leonid Slutskiy. Additional support came from the "Franco-Russian Dialogue association" and the State Duma through inter-parliamentary contacts.

In April, a delegation of 20 French lawmakers headed by Thierry Mariani paid a visit to Moscow on Sergey Naryshkin's invitation. During this visit all its members criticized EU sanctions against Russia. In particular, Mariani called the restrictions "silly and not yielding any positive results."

French lawmakers said the April visit was a friendship gesture and spoke of similar signals coming from other European governments, who are seeking to mend ties with Russia.

RT should hire a proofreader because les Républicains is no centre-left party. Mariani is famous for being a tough talking guy but very short on delivery.
Some members of this band claimed they were going to Crimea to check the sorry state of French military cemetery in Crimea, due to the sanctions of course.

It's not like a German, even a neo-Austrian, can complain given the extreme dependency of both Germany and Austria on Gazprom. 

[Valmy]

RT should hire a proofreader because les Républicains is no centre-left party.

Yeah I raised my eye-brow at that but I have not been there for 15 years so I thought maybe they went mainstream

Maybe they meant centre-left by Putin standards.

[Syt]

That will solve everything. Finally, impartial ratings from a non-political source!

http://www.rt.com/business/310645-russia-rating-agency-bank/

Russia's rating agency to start by year end – Central Bank

The Russian rating agency is expected to start work in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Central Bank of Russia said, adding that its initial capital would be about $52 million.
"... credit rating agencies are one of the most important elements of the financial market infrastructure. Their activities must be stable to various factors, including geopolitical risks," the CBR said in a statement Friday.

"Russian market needs a strong credit rating agency with a high level of corporate governance and professional competence," the statement said. It added that the new agency will have to meet the interests of the economy and have a good reputation for both Russian and foreign investors.

The agency will be headed by Ekaterina Trofimova, the vice president of major Russian state-owned bank Gazprombank.

Currently Russia has a number of local rating agencies that are not internationally recognized. The list includes RusRating, Expert RA, the National rating agency and AK&M.

Last Tuesday President Putin signed a law regulating the activity of ratings agencies in Russia, as discontent over 'politicized' actions of the Western 'Big Three' – S&P, Moody's and Fitch – has grown.

[Syt]

http://money.cnn.com/2015/07/24/news/russia-putin-layoffs/?sr=cnnifb

Russian austerity: Putin fires 110,000 officials

This is what belt-tightening looks like in Russia: Vladimir Putin has fired 110,000 government officials at a stroke.

The Russian president signed a decree last week limiting the number of staff employed by the Interior Ministry to just over one million. That requires massive layoffs that will bring total headcount down by 10%.

Administrative staff will bear the brunt of the cuts at the ministry, which controls the Russian police, paramilitary security forces and the road traffic safety agency.

Russia is slashing government spending by 10% across the board this year as it suffers its worst economic crisis in years.

The double whammy of tumbling oil prices and Western sanctions, imposed on Russia over its involvement in the crisis in Ukraine, has hit hard.

The economy shrank by 2.2% in the first quarter. The IMF expects it to contract by 3.8% this year, and by more than 1% in 2016.

Putin took a pay cut of 10% in March, shortly after demanding every government department -- except defense -- reduce spending.

Officials figures show unemployment rose to 5.4% in June, compared to 4.8% a year ago.