Most readers of this blog are used to occasional coverage of freedom of press issues in Russia, and discussions of the impact on civil society and democracy when the state targets journalists with impunity. As I announced yesterday in a blog post, I recently starting working a pro-bono case representing Singapore's leading opposition party, and it is in this area of freedom of press that we can observe some of the strongest parallel trends in both countries. According to a study by watchdog reporters without borders, Russia ranked a dismal 144 in the Freedom of Press Index - which is below scores awarded to Yemen and Afghanistan. Singapore ranked only slightly better at 141. Whereas government critical journalists in Russia, from Anna Politkovskaya to Ivan Safronov to Magomed Yevloyev, tend to find themselves killed in mysterious circumstances, ...

[Editor's note: Andrei Novikov is a Russian journalist, who at one point was subjected to involuntary psychiatric confinement after publishing articles critical of local government. His case first rose to international attention on this blog and was supported by Reporters without Borders. From time to time, he contributes opinion essays to us.] THEY HAVEN’T KILLED YOU YET…. To the memory of Anna Politkovskaya Andrei Novikov Independent Political Columnist I proposed holding a rally in memory of Anna Politkovskaya in the city of Rybinsk. They shoved my proposal away. I proposed having at least a minute of silence in memory of Anna Politkovskaya. Then they told me: “We’re not interested in politics!”. Then I told them literally the following: "When they kill you, you’ll get interested in politics instantly." Then those who aren’t interested in politics ...

[Editor's note: Andrei Novikov is a Russian journalist, who at one point was subjected to involuntary psychiatric confinement after publishing articles critical of local government. His case first rose to international attention on this blog and was supported by Reporters without Borders. From time to time, he contributes opinion essays to us. Below he explores some of the tricky issues of the ceasefire agreement between Russia and Georgia.] A GAME OF BILLIARDS IN THE BLACK SEA? The Medvedev- Sarkozy plan may collapse… By Andrei Novikov, Independent Journalist The war in Georgia is turning more and more into a war around Georgia, a gradual internationalization of the conflict is taking place. America is getting good and ready very slowly, and will be getting good and ready for another year yet. The real outcome of Russia’s ...