Setbacks for democrats and multi-culturalists

State obstruction will keep the Russian democratic party of the ballot this year. They were required to collect two million signatures, which they did, but since a portion were scanned and not originals--something they had to restort to to meet the dealine--their entire petition was discarded. Putin's party will benefit as a result: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/yavlinsky-says-yabloko-is-in-the-right/452038.html

This is a good editorial from "The Moscow Times" which discusses lack of ideas on ethnic policy. The 20% of the population that is non-native Russian will have to wait for new policies.: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/putins-nationality-dilemma/451918.html