The Guardian is reporting that the emails detail conversations between Vasily Yakemenko, the Kremlin’s Federal Youth Agency head, and its spokeswoman, Kristina Potupchik. The emails talk of payments to journalists and bloggers.

The Guardian contacted Potupchik for comment who only said, “I will not comment on illegal actions.”

The current leader of Nashi, Nikita Borovikov, said that the group is used to its email getting hacked every few years, and the news of this potential hack doesn’t surprise him. He says that he is a “law-abiding person, and have nothing to fear of hiding.”

The emails detail a period between November 2010 and December 2011 where the group, funded by the Kremlin, attacked enemies and paid for positive reports while reasserting Putin’s popularity.

The emails detail the group’s attempt at boosting pro-Putin coverage on the Internet. They claim that the group hires pro-Putin bloggers and commenters to leave hundreds of comments on press articles that are critical of the Kremlin. It goes on to say that some of these people are paid upwards of $19,000 to improve Putin’s online image.

One email suggested that the group was going to spend about $335,000 to buy a series of articles about its annual Seliger summer camp in two popular Russian tabloids. The tabloids denied any such action and said that their journalists were not paid money for their articles.

Other tabloids said that the news that they were bought and paid for to run stories on a pro-Putin event doesn’t interest them.

The emails point out that Nashi manipulates YouTube viewcounts and ratings and has anti-Putin videos bombarded with “dislikes.”

The emails also point out that Nashi pays particular attention to an anti-Putin blogger named Navalny. They talk about various things they can do to discredit the blogger such as dressing up as him and begging in front of the U.S. embassy.

The hackers told a Russian Web site on Monday that they had been planning the attack since last year “as a sign of protest against the government’s actions in the public Internet sphere.”

As the Guardian points out, these leaks could not have come at a worse time as anti-Putin sentiment is rising in Russia. Thousands of Russians turned out last Saturday at the Kremlin to protest Putin and his bid for the presidency.

According to the leaked emails, Nashi went into high gear looking for ways to counter the protests. Borovikov allegedly said that they need to keep up the pro-Kremlin rhetoric or the country will see a revolution like the 2004 Orange Revolution in the Ukraine.

It remains to be seen if the leaked emails will have any effect. The attitude being displayed by the those in power in Nashi seem to indicate that it’s business as usual for them.

The Next Web is reporting that Russian mobile carrier MegaFon not only has unlimited data, but they encourage their users to download as much as they can. They even offer prizes for those who downloaded the most data over a given period of time.

Between November 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012, MegaFon customers who bought a 3G moden were asked to download as much data as they could. The person who performed the herculean task was rewarded a $5,000 holiday overseas trip.

The winner downloaded a whopping 419GB of 3G data in one week. He won the contest, but MegaFon used the event to showcase their data network.

The company covers 80 percent of north-Western Russia with its 3G service. According to the company, the second and third place winners come from small Russian towns. MegaFon used this to flaunt their ability to offer 21Mbps download speeds in rural areas.

This is the kind of unlimited data plans that need to happen in the U.S. Our Internet infrastructure is so pathetically behind every other country now that it’s kind of embarrassing. It would go a long way to give users unlimited data again. The majority of users would still use the same amount of data like always while still allowing those who need to download a lot the ability to without data throttling or extra charges.

Yandex is using maps from NAVTEQ from around the world, including in Europe, North America, Australia and developed countries in Asia. The maps include roadways, traffic networks and buildings.

Maria Orlova, head of production and quality control on the Yandex.Maps service, says, “Our users have already appreciated high-quality detailed maps of Russia and Ukraine with the search function and other useful features such as routing, traffic information, satellite images and panoramic views. We continue to enhance our map services for Belarus and Kazakhstan.”

Yandex has actually already been using NAVTEQ maps for Turkey at yandex.com.tr. The company also partners with other map providers to license content for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. In 2010, the company purchased GIS Technologies for city maps.

“NAVTEQ’s content will help us make Yandex.Maps a comprehensive, all-purpose mapping service that can answer users’ questions about countries throughout the world,” she adds.

Yandex says it will gradually add content to both its desktop version and mobile app to support all major platforms.

There’s an API available for sites to utilize, and embed maps.

SC Magazine is reporting that cyber criminals have opened an online store selling Web traffic by hijacking other Web site’s traffic. The shop injects hidden integrated frames into pages of legitimate Web sites to redirect visitors to the buyer’s URL.

Integrated frames split pages into parts that are used to embed windows from another Web site. When an iframe’s height and width is set to zero, it becomes invisible.

Customers can purchase 1000 visitors through the online store for an average of $4.

Regional traffic prices do vary with 1000 Dutch visitors costing $18 while 1000 visitors from Australia is only $8. One thousand visitors from the U.S. is only $12.

The shop will also purchase redirected traffic from others. Sellers can inject their own iframes and sell the resulting traffic to the shop.

The operator said that the service does not record any IPs, no one will ban your account and they don’t care what you’re promoting.

The shop can adjust prices automatically based on supply and demand.

The site was originally created for personal use but was opened for public use after the realisation that money could be had.

There are “legal” options to buy Web traffic, but what this shop offers is definitely illegal. If you want to increase your Web traffic, use the old fashioned method of promoting via social media like Facebook and Twitter.

Anonymous couldn’t care less and threw caution to the wind by announcing Anonyupload today. The site is billed as being, “100% Free – No Advertising – 100% Anonymous.”

They are asking for help from users, however, to help them buy server and disk space. They also want to ensure the quality of the service, safety of the users and rapid transfer. The main reason behind the new service is the “sharing of knowledge and culture free and accessible for all.”

They also send a special thanks to Kim DotCom, founder of MegaUpload. They say, “Thank you mister Dotcom for the service for several years. We hope you’ll release as soon as possible.”

For those worried about the safety of the site, they claim that their infrastructure is set outside of U.S. jurisdiction in Russia.

They hope to launch the service within three days.

I don’t think anybody expected this, but we should have seen it coming. Anonymous is becoming more than just an activist group. They are slowly emerging as a brand that is inseparable from the Internet and has become a part of it.

Russian publication RBC daily is reporting that the much anticipated iPhone 5 could hit the shelves in their country in November.

Apparently, the Russian handset retailers are in direct negotiations with Apple to speed up shipments of Apple devices to the country. This comes from two sources inside the mobile “retail market.”

Generally, iPhones have been appearing in Russia long after they launch in the U.S. and Europe – up to 6 months in most cases. Russian retailers obviously want to eliminate some of that delay. Here is an explanation of the situation, courtesy of RBC (note: the original page is in Russian, so this is a Google translate version)

Russian operators are negotiating with Apple to supply the iPhone 5, told RBC daily two sources for cellular retail market. According to them, this time mobile companies are trying to achieve the optimal term supply pipes from the American manufacturer. “In general, official aids on the shelves of Russian stores, usually appearing only six months after the official release, that is after premieres not only in the U.S. and Europe. Russian operators want to speed up delivery times “, – says one of the RBC daily. According to preliminary unofficial data, iPhone 5 in Russia may appear as early as November.

“To reduce delivery times operators have long wanted. Indeed, because of delays in Russia, there are many “gray” pipes. And this essentially takes the income of MTS and “VimpelCom” who are forced to wait for official release in Russia “, – says head of research Dennis Agency Telecomdaily pieces. In his view, to include Russia in the list of countries receiving iPhone immediately after the premiere of a new vehicle in the U.S., is quite real. “For Apple this is quite large, important market.”

It seems like service providers are a little miffed that they are unable to sell the actual handsets to customers, only the service to customers who have acquired the handsets through other means.

One of those providers mentioned, VimpelCom, told RBC that yes, they are in negotiations with Apple for expedited supply.

This is important to American and European customers because it implies an earlier release date than November for them. If the Russians project November, that’s more evidence to suggest a September/October release here. And as we know, that speculation has been flying around all week.

Still sick of iPhone 5 rumors? Check out this uber-creepy case for your existing iPhone 3Gs or 4. It will definitely help cure the rumor fatigue.

[Hat Tip to TNW]

The Cathedral, which sits in Moscow’s Red Square, has been part of the Kremlin and Red Square UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. It was begun in 1555 at the behest of Ivan the Terrible and completed in 1561, and is celebrating its 450th anniversary.

Here’s how it is described on its official site, saintbasil.ru -

It is for nearly 450 years now that this architectural ensemble of inimitable beauty and grandeur has been filling our hearts with joy, excitement and pride.

The Cathedral of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God upon the Moat was built in fulfillment of a vow made by Czar Ivan the Terrible before his campaign against Kazan in 1552 and with the blessing of Metropolitan Makary. The cathedral was constructed under the supervision of Russian master builders Postnik and Barma in 1555-1561. Uniquely conceived by Metropolitan Makary, the cathedral was to epitomize the image of the Holy City of Jerusalem.

As a result, its nine churches, most of which were consecrated in memory of major events of the victorious Kazan campaign, were built on a single foundation.

It has been secularized and now operates as a state museum.

Here’s a photo from Wikipedia -

And here’s an awesome Lego version -

Also, here’s some YouTube video from inside the cathedral -

What do you think of today’s St. Basil’s Google Doodle? How does it rate in comparison to other recent Google Doodles? Let us know what you think.

None of my fascination with the term ever tempted me to play, however, as I really do have the worst luck ever – just ask my Tuesday poker group.  But what if all you had to lose was your virtual life?  On Facebook?  Would you try it for the rush?  What if surviving the game meant you could win a free vacation?

A video has begun to circulate around the interwebs from Berlin, Germany division of The Miami Ad School.  It is a spec promotion involving guns, vodka and Facebook.  The spec promotion offers people the chance to win a 7 day trip to Russia courtesy of Russian Standard vodka.

The catch is that to be entered to do so, you must participate in a game of online Russian Roulette with your Facebook life on the line.  To play, you turn your Facebook password over and one by one you and your friends pull the virtual trigger.  Losers will be “killed” online, as thier Facebook accounts will be deleted.

But alas, it is only a thought.  But it may be one that we see materialize in the future.

This Facebook Russian Roulette business would have been brutal back when Facebook was just for college kids and it required your valid .edu email address to register.  Losing this game would have seriously killed your virtual self.  Now, the dead would be able to resurrect their accounts, but they would have to start all over.  So while not devastating, it sure would be a pain in the ass.

For the social media addicted, however, losing this game of online Russian Roulette might prompt them to try out the real thing.

But no doubt, if this concept becomes a reality, it will draw massive attention on Facebook.  And why shouldn’t it?  People love a rush.  And these days possibly losing your Facebook profile, if for only a little while, could prove to be quite a rush.

[ via PSFK]

Skype, Gmail Ban

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) is set to propose a ban on the popular sites Skype, Hotmail and Gmail.  The FSB is concerned that since the services use foreign made encryption technology, their large use poses a security risk.

The FSB is an organization shrouded in secrecy.  Implemented as an successor to the KGB, the organization controls homeland security, counter-intelligence and surveillance.  Some have accused the FSB of human rights violations as well as conspiring to limit dissent within the country.  As the Agence France Presse (AFP) reports, the FSB has a large mount of power, but stays clear of most public scrutiny including their budget.

According to AFP, the FSB is “increasingly concerned” that “uncontrolled usage of these services may lead to a massive threat to Russia’s security.”  The FSB also was quoted as saying the services are often used by extremist organizations because control of the traffic is through servers outside Russia.

LiveJournal Russia attack

Last Wednesday, the Cyrillic wing of the LiveJournal service was hit with an attack that crippled it for days.  LiveJournal.ru, which serves over 4 million users, was flooded by requests from malware infested computers and taken down for hours.  Similar attacks followed, up until it was reported to have recovered on Tuesday.

Now, the Moscow Times is reporting that many are blaming the Russian government for the attacks.  “The reason for attack is more than clear in this case – someone wants LiveJournal to disappear as a platform,” said Ilya Dronov, development director with the site’s owner, SUP.

LiveJournal Russia is where most of the uncensored political discussion occurs in the country.  Dronov thinks that individual bloggers were targeted, possibly critics of the Kremlin.  But LiveJournal management says that the entirety of the site was a target.

Up to now, Russia has been able to avoid the total internet crackdown that is in effect in China.  No telling how long and to what degree internet freedom will survive in the country.

According to a new Reuters article, Sechin said, "Look what they have done in Egypt, those highly-placed managers of Google, what manipulations of the energy of the people took place there."

Assuming that quote’s completely accurate (and translation issues or some other small misunderstanding could come into play), Sechin’s drawn some interesting conclusions.  First, consider the words "they" and "managers," implying that Ghonim wasn’t acting alone.

Then there’s the term "manipulations" to consider, since it has some pretty unpleasant connotations.

This might cause more than a few problems for Google.  The Russian government isn’t known for tolerating rabble-rousers, and Google’s already had trouble competing with local search company Yandex.  Negative PR or a formal penalty of some sort wouldn’t help.

Sechin has a bit of evidence on his side, too.  The official Google Twitter account has at least twice tweeted in support of Ghonim, and Eric Schmidt’s also indicated a certain level of approval.