Russia's Press Freedom Index dropsJanuary 26, 2012 - 18:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - International media freedom monitor Reporters Without Borders has downgraded Russia in its annual Press Freedom Index, to 142nd from 140th place. “In Russia the media freedom pano¬rama continues to be gloomy… The unprecedented demonstrations in December 2011 augur a period of uncertainty – while some newsrooms seem to be becoming more outspoken, the state’s repressive apparatus has so far been able to cope with the unrest,” the Paris-based organization said on its web site, according to RIA Novosti. Last month's rallies against suspected vote fraud in favor of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party at the December 4 parliamentary polls drew tens of thousands of protesters in Moscow and across Russia. State-run TV channels initially gave only limited coverage of the rallies, and subsequently edited out any direct criticism of Putin at the protests. The United States also fell in the Reporters Without Borders ranking from 47th to 27th position for the crackdown on protesters at the Occupy Wall Street rallies last year. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |