The BOBs – Deutsche Welle Blog Awards starts online voting. It is open up to April 11, and winners will be named on April 12, 2011. A number of Russian blogs and online communities, including those fighting for FOI and other democratic freedoms and human rights, compete for the awards.

We present a research by two IIFD trainees: Michael S. Goecken, London School of Economics, and Loren J. Thomas, New York University School of Law. The paper shows illustrative cases when information access right was succeffully implemented to solve many problems of different kinds. International experience from the United Kingdom to India is covered.

Our congratulations for everyone on the International Right To Know Day.

The Institute for Information Freedom Development has developed a guidebook “Access to Information in Russian Federation”. It contains clear and thorough explanations how to defend one’s right to access to information owned and disposed by government bodies and their subordinate entities.

The Supreme Court will erase personal data from decisions already placed at its official website. Is discontent of court case parties real or just formal reason for this?

It is a common opinion that requests for information to government bodies are quite useless since no reply will come. This is wrong. Laws support applicants’ rights, though official structures often unwillingly provide unpleasant information. For example, the IIFD’s request on food quality tests has lately been replied.

On June 11, the State Duma adopted, and on June 23, the Council of Federation approved amendments to the federal law on the procedure for reviewing citizens’ applications.

On June 17, the Frunzensky district court of St.-Petersburg satisfied the IIFD claim and obliged the Ministry for Industry and Trade to open free access via its official website to two license registers concerning pyrotechics.

Perm: A citizen requested from the local administration of the Leninsky district housing information directly touching value of his living apartment and life quality of his neigbors.

On June 3, IIFD experts assisted by the Regional Press Institute held in St.-Petersburg a seminar on access to official information. The event attracted interest of not only media but also lawyers, state officials, and researchers.