The Russian Bear: No fags or fucking liberals

The Russian Bear is starting to look like a violent Mafia capitalist oligarchic pimp who uses its oil and gas the way a crack dealer does, crossed with a homophobic fascist. Not exactly the vodka drunk funny dancing bear we had hoped it had become.

Moscow bans 'satanic' gay parade
Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov has said he will never allow a gay rights parade in the Russian capital.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Luzhkov described such events as "satanic". Moscow banned a gay march in 2006, citing the threat of violence. People who ignored the ban were beaten up by counter-demonstrators and arrested. Gay activists say the ban breaches their fundamental human rights. They say they intend to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. "Last year, Moscow came under unprecedented pressure to sanction the gay parade, which cannot be called anything other than satanic," Mr Luzhkov said.

Russia's party barred from polls
One of Russia's leading liberal political parties, Yabloko, has been banned from local elections in the second biggest city, St Petersburg.
The city's electoral commission said too many signatures supporting the party's candidates had been invalid. Yabloko said the commission's decision was an attempt to muzzle the voice of the opposition to the pro-Kremlin municipal council. It said it would appeal. The elections are due to be held on 11 March.