By Anna M. Simmons
The conviction (click here) of five men for the contract-killing of the Kremlin critic has not revealed who ordered the hit
Russian lawmakers are expected to consider legislation (click here) Friday that could gag independent media coverage of the conflict in Ukraine and slap stiff penalties on foreigners, further increasing tensions between Moscow and the West.
One bill, which essentially amends the criminal code, would punish anyone who publishes what is deemed to be false information about Russia’s military operation in Ukraine with a 5-million-ruble fine, around $44,740, and up to 15 years in prison. Other amendments would impose tough sanctions against any foreign citizens considered to have violated the rights of Russians or committed crimes against them. The current law applies only to U.S. citizens....
Any unexplained death of a foreign national is suspicious, especially when Russia can be involved at all.
By Kevin Rawlenson
Mikhail Watford was born Mikhail Tolstosheya in Ukraine in 1955, in the country’s Soviet era.
A Ukraine-born oligarch (click here) has been found dead at his home in unexplained circumstances, Surrey police have said.
Officers are treating the death of 66-year-old Mikhail Watford, who made his fortune in oil and gas after the demise of the Soviet Union, as unexplained. But they said it was not thought to be suspicious.
The news comes as attention focuses on oligarchs in the UK who are thought to be members of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine....
