Russia - History Made to Order
Paul Greenberg

At the outset of the great break-up of the Soviet Union, many of us hoped Russia would emerge as a free country, if not an ally then a friend. Looking back, any outcome so idyllic was about as realistic as Russia's becoming something other than Russia. Instead, the new Russia that emerged looks a lot like an old one, specifically the tsarist one.

Obama's Missile Defense Concession Holds Opportunity for European Security
Paul J. Saunders

It's a concession, but it could present an opportunity as well. While the move highlights the unhappy geography and tough political choices facing Central European leaders, it could also create an important opportunity to strengthen European security. The administration would do well to use this chance to try to encourage new and different relationships between the former Soviet bloc and Russia.

Working Together, Brazil, Russia, China and India Increase Leverage
Ian Bremmer

In 2003, a report authored by Goldman Sachs economists popularized the term BRICs -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- to describe a whole new category of emerging-market powerhouse. The report argued that with sound political leadership and relative international stability, the BRIC economies would together outpace the original G6 industrialized nations in dollar terms by 2040 -- a fundamental shift in the global balance of power. Since then, these four countries have assumed ever-greater importance in the international investment community's collective imagination.

Obama's Balancing Act With Russian Relations
by Joshua Kucera

Does President Obama's "reset" of Russian relations mean that Washington will sell out its allies in the region? But Biden's trip gave political leaders in Kiev and Tbilisi reasons for concern.

Heart of the Future Between Russia & United States
by Robert C. Koehler

Last week's announcement from Moscow, of a new treaty between the U.S. and Russia to begin cutting their nuclear stockpiles by a quarter to a third, is indeed "modest" and perhaps downright "disappointing" in its tentativeness, as critics have pointed out. Even so, the heart of the future beats here.

The West's Reckless Approach to Relations with Russia
by Wiliam Pfaff

The failure last week of Russian talks with the European Union on energy supplies to Europe is one more occasion for Russian-Western tension.

 

Moving pictures
The second international MUSEEK music video festival kicks off in the city on Friday and runs through Nov 13. The name of the festival, MUSEEK, is derived from the words “music” and “seek,” because its aim is that each spectator will be able to discover various music styles as well as recognize that music video is a form of art.

A complex legacy
The Days of Knut Hamsun in St. Petersburg are set to enable city residents to get acquainted with the legacy of one of the most controversial writers in the history of Norway.

chernov’s choice
The Paper Chase, a Dallas, Texas-based alternative rock band, will perform at A2 on Sunday. Formed in 1998 by producer-engineer John Congleton (vocals, guitar, programming), the band (sometimes spelled “the pAper chAse”) is known for its concept albums.

Italian Judge Convicts 23 Defendants In CIA Case
MILAN — An Italian judge found 23 Americans and two Italians guilty Wednesday in the kidnapping of an Egyptian terror suspect, delivering the first legal convictions anywhere in the world against people involved in the CIA’s extraordinary renditions program.

Hunting Tourists and Pensioners
At their latest training exercises, Russian riot police learned how to disperse a protest staged by disgruntled pensioners.

Missile Defense Could Be the Silver Bullet
In the eyes of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the “resetting” of U.S.-Russian relations became a reality only six weeks ago, when U.

Naftogaz Says It Plans to Pay Gas Bill for October on Time
MOSCOW — Naftogaz Ukrainy will pay a $470 million gas bill to Russia on time, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yury Prodan said Wednesday, easing concerns that the state energy company might miss its payment for October supplies.

Deputy Finance Minister Pankin: Government May Sell Less Debt
MOSCOW — The government may sell “considerably” less debt than the $18 billion that it previously announced, given the current price of oil, Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin said Tuesday.

AvtoVAZ Gets Extra $2Bln in State Aid
MOSCOW — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that the government would provide another 55 billion rubles ($2 billion) to support near-bankrupt carmaker AvtoVAZ and to settle its debts.

General Motors Ends Opel Talks, Surprises Russia
General Motors abruptly ended negotiations on the sale of its European unit, Opel, to a consortium of Magna and Sberbank, scuttling a deal that the Russian government hoped would help rescue its auto industry and further integrate its economy with the West.

H&M Opens With Big Ad Spend
H&M retail chain has spent hundreds of thousands of euros promoting its first store in St. Petersburg. The advertising market has not seen campaigns on such a large scale for more than a year.

Swedes Give Approval to Nord Stream Pipeline Construction
STOCKHOLM — Sweden became the second country to grant final approval for Gazprom’s Nord Stream natural- gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, ending almost two years of Swedish opposition and wrangling over the energy project.

Medvedev Goes After Gangsters
MOSCOW — President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a tough anti-gangster law under which so-called thieves-in-law, or traditionalist gangster leaders, could be jailed just for admitting their roles.

Poll: Generation Gap Exists in Russia, East Europe
WASHINGTON — Twenty years after the fall of the Iron Curtain, a sharp generational schism has formed in how people in Europe’s former communist countries view the shift to democracy and capitalism, a survey has found.

Antifascists Beaten, Then Arrested
Four antifascist activists were detained by the police after being beaten by nationalists at a “Russian March” rally in St.

Two Suspects in Killings Of Lawyer, Journalist Arrested
MOSCOW — Investigators said Thursday they have detained two suspects in the killings of a human rights lawyer and a journalist who were shot in central Moscow in January.

Medical Stocks Depleted on Fears of Increase in Swine Flu
As the number of confirmed A H1N1 flu cases in St. Petersburg reached more than 150 people on Thursday and seasonal flu and cold viruses continued to spread, feverish purchasing of anti-flu medicine led to a deficit in local drugstores.

Police Come Out In Force for Unity Day
MOSCOW — President Dmitry Medvedev trumpeted ethnic diversity during the People’s Unity Day holiday on Wednesday, as tens of thousands of police officers hit the streets of major cities to make sure that fights didn’t break out between rallying youths.

Red Tape Increasing Despite Promises
MOSCOW — For being just a small strip of gray paper, a foreigner’s registration can become quite a bureaucratic nightmare — especially when you lose it.

Sochi: Olympian Dreams on the Shores of the Black Sea
Although often referred to as Russia’s Cote d’Azur, don’t come to Sochi expecting to find the French Riviera. You’ll soon realize your mistake when you land at the airport, which, despite preparations for the Olympics, remains something of an embarrassment.

Tower of London Beafeaters Face Bullying Allegations
LONDON — If the charges are true, it’s time to add bullying to the litany of foul deeds committed at the notorious Tower of London, where three English queens were executed centuries ago.

Rival Somali Groups Fight Over British Couple
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Rival pirates and militia groups have fought for control over a British couple held hostage for more than a week, an Islamic militia commander and a local elder said Monday.

Ford Posts Unexpected Profit Of $1 Billion
DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford, the only Detroit automaker to dodge direct government aid and bankruptcy court, surprised investors with net income of nearly $1 billion in the third quarter and forecast a “solidly profitable” 2011.

Election Commission Declares Karzai Winner
KABUL — Afghanistan’s election commission proclaimed President Hamid Karzai the victor of the country’s tumultuous ballot Monday, canceling a planned runoff and ending a political crisis two and a half months after a fraud-marred first round.

Smart Is the New Strong
I am sitting in the Akademiya Cafe reading a newspaper and sipping a cappuccino, which I would give the title of “Best in Moscow” if I still practiced the fattening profession of food critic.

The St. Petersburg Times
Issue #1524 (86), Friday, November 6, 2009

 

Georgian opposition marks anniversary of dispersed protests
Georgian opposition leaders are holding a demonstration to mark the second anniversary of mass protests, which were dispersed by President Saakashvili and led to early elections.

Russia-EU relations the cornerstone of overall European development – Medvedev
As Germany is preparing to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, President Dmitry Medvedev has talked to Der Spiegel magazine about the significance this event had had for the whole Europe.

WWII tanks in the heart of Moscow
November 7 marks the 68th anniversary of the unique 1941 military parade in Moscow, when marching through Red Square, Soviet soldiers went straight on the front line.

Soyuz launchers gain a foothold at main European space port
A pair of Russian Soyuz rockets is on its way to South America, and Moscow says the project in French Guiana will help double the number of civilian satellites in orbit in just five years.

Germany’s sovereignty restricted by US and allies, insider’s book claims
The former head of the West German Military Intelligence has issued a book revealing secret details of a 1949 US-German treaty, alleging America and its allies have been deliberately suppressing the nation’s sovereignty.

Russo-Georgian relations warmed up by Orthodox faith
While in the secular world the gap between Russia’s and Georgia’s leaders is growing, religiously Georgia and Russia move closer together.

Eleven feared dead following a plane crash in Russia’s Far East
Eleven people are believed to have been killed when a Russian long-range anti-submarine aircraft, a Tu-142, crashed in the Tatar Strait in Russia’s Far East.

“The stimulus package hasn’t done the job”
The US unemployment rate has passed10% for the first time in 26 years as some 190,000 jobs were lost just in October. Business consultant Gerald Celente, who had forecasted this, expects more job losses.

Those killed in the shootouts also are victims of US wars – journalist
Aaron Glantz from New America Media, a coalition of ethnic media, told RT that those killed in the Florida massacre should be counted as victims of the US's overseas wars.

“Prayer should be included in the health insurance”
A provision in the massive health care reform bill would have the US government reimbursing Christian Science practitioners for prayer treatments. Los Angeles Times contributor Kim Geiger shares her insights with RT.

Poland denies seeking US military help against Russia
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky has not called on Washington to place US troops in Poland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims. Further, it is demanding a retraction of earlier news reports by Russian media.

US in state of shock after 2 gun attacks in 2 days
A gunman has killed at least one person and wounded five others at a business center in Orlando, Florida, just one day after another gun attack at Fort Hood, Texas left 13 dead and 30 wounded.

Business ties hold awkward relationship in place
The business relationship between Russia and Britain has returned to the spotlight with high level visits in both directions, including Finance Minister, Alexei Kudrin’s London trip to promote a Russian Eurobond issue.

Fall of Berlin Wall – “triumph of capitalism”
The collapse of the Berlin Wall did unite East and West Germany, but still hasn’t overcome all sorts of social divisions between two parts of the country, Adrian Pabst from Kent University told RT.

Washing line wars
Diverging laws, firms going bust, appeals to the White House to dry clothes outside, and washing line users being labeled as “scum”: Is America actually ready to lead the way in the global fight against climate change?

RT
RT

 

Wary View of Democracy in Eastern Bloc
A poll shows Ukrainians becoming more pro-Russian.

Nations of the East Agree to Unite
Asia made good progress toward creating an Asian trading community at the latest Asian summit.

Russia-China Relations Reaching New Highs
Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing reveals Russia and China to be on the fast track to allegiance.

Iran Close to Building Nuke, Say Press Leaks
Iran could be close to creating a fully functioning nuclear missile—with Russia’s help.

EU Report Condemns Georgia
Europe’s report on the 2008 Georgia war legitimizes Russia’s actions, giving further proof of a German-Russian deal.

Iran Nuclear Crisis Will Not Be Solved by the UN
Russia will make sure the UN is a lame duck, leaving only one other major player left to solve the issue.

Russia and India Committed to Strategic Partnership

Japan Wants East Asian Community
Japan’s new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is pushing for an East Asian community. This will mark a new phase for Asia.

China and Russia Undermining U.S. Power
The giants of the East are positioned to upset U.S. sanctions on Iran by supplying Tehran with gasoline.

America's Fatal European Policy
The current American administration has just enacted its most disastrous foreign-policy decision to date.

Venezuela Recognizes Pro-Russian Breakaway Provinces of Georgia
Russian influence expands in America’s backyard.

World Leaders Believed German Reunification Would Lead to World War III
Documents released leading up to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall contain a powerful warning for us today.

The World Shakes, America Slumbers
America’s wispy presence at this week’s 70th-anniversary commemoration of the start of World War II did not go unnoticed.

Russia Reacts to Japanese Elections

Russian Investors Save German Shipyard
The German-Russian relationship strengthens.

Russia's Ghost Ship Reemerges
The missing freighter has been located, but we’re still searching for the truth.

Russia Woos Ukraine's People
The Kremlin’s gentle takeover

Russia Is Stirring. Time to Watch Germany
Russia’s war against Georgia August last year taught us that it is unlikely the Kremlin will create a crisis without first consulting Berlin.

Russia Plays Hardball With America
Two Russian subs sighted off America’s East Coast serve as a reminder of just how Russia views the current U.S. administration.

Russia Returns to America's Back Door
As the struggling U.S. administration thrashes around to save a sinking U.S. ship, an old enemy sails up to its back door.

World Prepares to Dump the Dollar
American economists think the world can’t afford to let go of the dollar’s reserve currency status. The world is about to teach them differently.

Russia Reaffirms Commitment to Deploy Missiles
Russia isn’t backing away from its opposition to the U.S.-planned missile shield in Eastern Europe.

Vladimir Putin 1, Barack Obama 0
Time will prove that Mr. Obama failed in his attempt this week to “push the reset button” with Russia.

Is Another Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Imminent?
History shows that budding relations between Russia and Germany are a sure sign of conflict.

A New Alternative to Treasury Bonds?
Brazil, Russia, India and China to buy IMF bonds

theTrumpet.com: Russia
theTrumpet.com -- Understand your world.

 

Tourism trends in Ukraine
Theoretically with national currency devaluation demand for Ukraine as for a touristy place should have gone up. But on the other hand the Ukrainian tourism market is not fully formed and has chaotic character. The countryside still depends on its own infrastructure which needs modernization and the devaluation itself did not...

New procedure for electing head of state
The chairwoman of the parliamentary group of the PCRM said the project is obscure. I think it was adopted in order to delay the election of the head of state Maria Postoiko said. The Parliament Thursday passed amendments to the procedure for electing the President of Moldova in first reading...

Belarus-Russia forum called by Putin
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday will hold a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Russian-Belarusian Union State. Taking part the meeting will be Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky State Secretary of the Union State Pavel Borodin and heads of the relevant ministries and departments of the...

90 projects on show at investment forum
More than 90 investment projects will be presented at the Belarusian investment and economic forum in Minsk on 12-13 November First Deputy Economy Minister of Belarus Piotr Zhabko told a press conference BelTA has learnt. He underlined that they are only those projects that will be showcased during the forum;...

Gas market framework
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at its sitting on 14 October 2009 approved a draft law On the Fundamentals for functioning of the natural gas market and submitted it to the Verkhovna Rada Parliament of Ukraine. The document was registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on October 22...

IMFs assistance of $590 million
The Premier said the Moldovan authorities explained that the reestablishment of the relations with the foreign donors is a vital necessity for Moldova. The Government of Moldova and the mission of the International Monetary Fund IMF which had been in Chisinau between 13-28 October reached a preliminary agreement on a...

Putin Vanhanen discuss Nord Stream
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on 25 October after talks with his Finnish counterpart Matti Vanhanen that he hopes the Nord Stream gas pipeline will be built on schedule. Nord Stream will be built within the time frame set before and we thank our Finish colleagues for that Putin...

Russia India China to cooperate against terrorism
Russia India and China agreed on 27 October to enhance cooperation in combating terrorism and expressed concern at the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. A joint communique issued after a meeting in Bangalore of the foreign ministers of the three countries said among the topics they discussed were the global...

BAA sells off Londons Gatwick airport
British airports operators BAA unveiled a deal on 21 October for the sale of Londons Gatwick airport to a US-based investment fund for GBP 1.5 billion $2.4 billion DPA reported. The agreement with Global Infrastructure Partners GIP came a year after BAAs Spanish owner Ferrovial put Gatwick up for sale...

Cadbury figures could make Kraft work
Cadbury has beaten sales forecasts and raised targets in a bumper third-quarter trading report. The figures may put pressure on US group Kraft to come up with a bigger bid to win its takeover battle RTE Ireland reported on 21 October. The UK confectionery group said its underlying sales rose...

Qatar sale fuels Sainsbury talk
Qatar has sold a GBP 1.4 billion stake in British bank Barclays fuelling market expectations that it will use a big profit to make a move on UK food retailer Sainsbury RTE Ireland reported on October 20. Qatar owns 26 percent of Sainsbury and the retailers shares jumped by a...

China ready to turn on $1 bln tap
The Chinese Ambassador to Moldova Shi Longzhuang said during his meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat here on 23 October that the credit for $1 billion is close to confirmed. The diplomat spoke out for broadening cooperation between the two nations and said his country had provided assistance worth 5...

IMF gives Belarus 700 million dollars praises Lukashenko
The International Monetary Fund IMF loaned Belarus 700 million dollars with fund managers praising the planning skills of the countrys authoritarian leader Aleksander Lukashenko the Belapan news agency reported on 22 October as cited by Deutsche Presse Agentur dpa . The IMF credit was the second tranche of a total...

Lukashenko says EU pressure on Belarus doesnt work
A European Union campaign to push for reforms in Belarus government will not produce results Belorussian President Aleksander Lukashenko said on 19 October. Pressuring any sovereign nation is a foolish idea and to pressure a country in the very heart of Europe is senseless Lukashenko said. Sanctions wont have any...

Moldovas output drops
The Moldovan transport companies cargoes constituted 40.8% against the same period of 2008. The Moldovan output in January-September constituted 16. 321 billion lei $1.47 billion - 75.7% against the same period of 2008. According to the National Bureau for Statistics this slippage was caused by a 32.4% decrease in the...

Volkswagen launches plant in Kaluga Region
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inspected on 20 October a Volkswagen plant in the Kaluga Region southwest of Moscow. His visit came on the day that the German automaker launched the assembly of complete knock-down kits. Putin arrived at the factory in a Volkswagen car. He was met by the...

Medvedev Tadic agree on several projects
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Belgrade on 20 October with several major projects in the energy sector to demonstrate Moscows economic support and interests in fellow Christian Orthodox nation Serbia. After meeting with Serbian President Boris Tadic Medvedev said that the two leaders agreed on several projects that will...

Ukraine should be a neutral state says Yanukovich
Former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich announced his candidacy for the Ukrainian Presidency on 23 October saying the ex- Soviet republic should remain neutral between Russia and western nations. ldquo;I will give Ukraine a new foreign policy: Ukraine will be an unaligned state rdquo; Yanukovich said. Reconciliation with Russia and improved...

Blatter praises Russian World Cup bid in Putin meeting
World football supremo Joseph Blatter met with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on 15 October with news reports quoting him as saying that he has a lot of sympathy for Russiarsquo;s 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid. Russia unveiled the bid two weeks ago pledging full government support and to...

Baltics push for EU debate on Molotov-Ribbentrop pact
The Baltic states pushed on 14 October for an international debate on the notorious 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - which handed the region to Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union - as they held a conference at the European Parliament in Brussels. ldquo;In Poland we used to say that World War...

Group slams Siberian nuke storage
A Russian environmentalist group on 16 October criticized the way nuclear waste from Germany was being stored in the open air in restricted military areas in Siberia and appealed for awareness of the issue in Germany. Vladim Slivyak head of the Ecodefense environmental group said that barrels of nuclear wastes...

Euro 2012: Final match?
IN OCTOBER experts from UEFA will pay one more visit to check Ukrainian cities. Ivan Fedorov deputy director of Euro 2012 in Ukraine said that on 15 October experts would visit Ukrainian stadiums and on 26 October the airports. He added that there were no doubts that Euro 2012 would...

Moldova lowest salary
ALMOST a third of Moldovan workers and employees receive a salary lower than the minimum subsistence level. Moldovas minimum salary is the lowest in Europe - around €0.21 per hour it was concluded during a round table discussion dedicated to the situation of the labour market organized by the National Trade...

Party membership means punishment
BELARUSIAN soldiers have been told that they must suspend their membership in political parties while serving in the military RFE/RLs Belarus Service reports. Belarusian Defence Minister Leanid Maltsau said in Minsk on 8 October that any soldier who continues his or her political activities while in the ranks of the...

Solanas Ukraine statement raises Kiev questions
THE statement made by EU High Representative Javier Solana on Ukraine during his speech at Harvard University Kennedy School in New York more than a week ago has raised questions and even anger in Kiev. Local media quoted Solana as saying that he did not see any membership prospective for...

Renault to help finance troubled automaker AvtoVAZ
FRENCH auto giant Renault is willing to invest in troubled Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ in which it has a stake Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on 6 October. Renault confirmed yesterday that it was prepared to invest in the development of AvtoVAZ including the provision of the most...

Economy shrinks at slowest rate in nine months
RUSSIAS economy contracted in September at the slowest monthly pace in 2009 London-based VTB Capital announced in a report. Gross domestic product GDP shrank 2.1% in August from the same month last year after a 3.9% contraction in July. The economy shrank an annual 4.1% in the third quarter compared...

Medvedev warns of fatal oil dependence
RUSSIA must move beyond its dependence on oil exports and reorient its economy around technology President Dmitry Medvedev said on 6 October in a speech at a nanotechnology forum in Moscow. Our post-crisis economy should be based on knowledge and innovative technologies not on Russias potential in raw materials no...

Washington reassures Moscow on missile-shield plan
THE US on 9 October sought to reassure Russia that Washington had no plans to deploy radars or weaponry in Ukraine as part of its new missile- defence plan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier described a recent US suggestion that portions of an European anti-missile radar system might be based...

Ukraine is looking to Turkmenistan
BOGDAN Sokolovskyi the Presidents Representative on International Questions of Energy Security in Ukraine said that the expected price of natural imported gas for 2010 would be near $300. The average annual price for the next year will depend on the oil price in the international market and real volumes supply. To...

China offers Moldovan army about half a million euros
At present a commission of the National Army develops a list of needs. The Ministries of Defence from Chisinau and Beijing signed an agreement by means of which China would provide a non-reimbursable support to Moldova of about 500 000 euros. The agreement was concluded in Beijing in time of...

Russia Belarus talk cooperation
Russian and Belarusian presidents will meet during the final stage of military drills in the Belarusian city of Baranovichi to discuss trade and military ties reported Ria Novosti 2 October. Dmitry Medvedev and Alexander Lukashenko will attend the final stage of the large-scale joint military exercises Zapad West 2009 which started...

Ghimpu to be appointed Central Bank President
Victoriabank Vice-President Corneliu Ghimpu will come to head the National Bank of Moldova NBM . After a Government meeting today journalists asked Prime Minister Vlad Filat if it is true that the National Bank is going to be headed by Corneliu Ghimpu Speaker Mihai Ghimpus nephew. Filat said Only please...

Belarus to receive part of EIBs 25 mln for SME loans
The European Investment Bank is launching a lending facility via other financial institutions for small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs in Belarus as well as the other countries known as the EUs eastern neighbours. EIB President Philippe Maystadt announced the decision on 30 September ahead of the International Monetary Fund and...

Economic recovery plan set in place
The Government worked out the institutional framework for formulating the economic recovery plan. The Government worked out the institutional framework for formulating the economic recovery plan and approved a relevant decision at its Thursdays meeting Info-Prim Neo reports. Last weekend the new executive pledged to devise a program of immediate...

State to decrease stake in companies
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told investors on 29 September that he would reduce the states ownership of companies over the coming years to allow for better growth. We have to reflect on perfecting cooperation with foreign investors Putin told Russian and foreign investors at a Moscow business forum intended...

Medvedev examines newest energy-saving technologies
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Moscows Kurchatov Nuclear Research Institute on 30 September to chair a joint meeting of the commission on the modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy and the Presidium of the presidents Council on Science Technology and Education Itar-Tass reported. Institute Director Mikhail Kovalchuk took...

EDF mulls South Stream stake
French power company Electricite de France SA EDF has just announced on 30 September that it may be acquiring a minority holding in Russian gas monopoly Gazproms South Stream gas pipeline project news agencies reported. Some reports have indicated that the EDF stake could possibly be as much as 10%...

Daimler moves to strengthen position in truck market
German vehicle group Daimler AG said on October 1 it had moved to boost its market presence in Russia with its Mercedes-Benz trucks offshoot and Russian truck maker Kamaz planning to forge a joint venture Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa reported. Kamaz and Mercedes-Benz trucks signed a letter of intent to create...

Putin to visit China on October 12-14
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit China from October 12-14 to meet Chinese leaders and attend a Central Asian security summit Chinas Foreign Ministry said on 29 September. Putins visit was timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia and with a council...

Waiting for kick-off
UEFAs Head of Stadium Securit Mark Timmer y has assessed the level of Ukrainian system of security and has offered his thoughts concerning the appropriate basic level achieved in the country. The final version of the agreement on the adaptation of all UEFAs requirements should arrive no later than 1...

World Bank:Russia may join Moldova bailout
A World Bank official says that Russia might work with the International Monetary Fund IMF the European Union and other international donors to help Moldova out of its economic crisis RFE/RLs Moldovan Service reports. Melanie Marlett the World Banks country manager for Moldova said she held good discussions on the issue...

International press call for Belarusian freedoms
On 25 September a group of international media and press freedom organizations called on Belarus authorities to bring the countrys media environment into accordance with international standards following the visit of a joint delegation to Minsk on 20-24 September. The group welcomes recent changes and recognizes that pressure on media...

Ukraine subsidiary to RI gets part of €150 million
Austrian Raiffeisen International RI has been given a €150 million Euro credit line from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD RI officials said on 23 September The Austrian Times reported. RI said that its subsidiaries in Ukraine Russia and Romania would draw on the line of credit as...

Trading house to open in Armenia
The Belarusian Trading House is expected to open in Armenia said the Armenian Ambassador to Belarus Oleg Yesayan toreporters in Minsk on 18 September. According to the diplomat at present the sides are discussing an opportunity to open the trading house in Armenia. Oleg Yesayan also said that there are...

Government gets thumbs up from EU Presidency
The European Union welcomes the appointment of a government in Moldova said the office of the Swedish Presidency of the European Council on 25 September following the repeat parliamentary elections on 29 July. The Council added that the EU notes with satisfaction all political contributions to the democratic process following...

Russia and Switzerland sign Visa and asylum seekers accords
During the first of the two-day visit to Switzerland Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed with Swiss officials various accords including agreements on visa regulations for diplomats and issues pertaining to asylum seekers. There were also talks of possible free-trade deals further down the line as well as some backing from...

Medvedev Hu reaffirm strategic partnership
Russia President Dmitry Medvedev met his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao separately on the sidelines of 64th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly in New York US news agencies reported. They exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common interests. During talks with Medvedev Hu said he hopes the...

Medvedev: No rift with Putin
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev moved to quash speculation of a rift with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on 20 September telling CNN that the pair worked very well together. Putin who served the full permitted two terms as president before stepping down last year to become prime minister has recently stoked...

AvtoVAZ to cut one-quarter of its workforce
Russias biggest carmaker AvtoVAZ said that it will cut one-quarter of its workforce at its Tolyatti production plant as sales drop news agencies reported. Annual production will probably fall to 500 000 vehicles the Togliatti-based carmaker announced. Last year AvtoVAZ manufactured around 920 000 vehicles. The job cuts include 5...

Russia News - New Europe News
Russia News - New Europe News: The European News Source.

 

Putin Vanhanen discuss Nord Stream
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on 25 October after talks with his Finnish counterpart Matti Vanhanen that he hopes the Nord Stream gas pipeline will be built on schedule. Nord Stream will be built within the time frame set before and we thank our Finish colleagues for that Putin...

Russia India China to cooperate against terrorism
Russia India and China agreed on 27 October to enhance cooperation in combating terrorism and expressed concern at the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. A joint communique issued after a meeting in Bangalore of the foreign ministers of the three countries said among the topics they discussed were the global...

Volkswagen launches plant in Kaluga Region
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inspected on 20 October a Volkswagen plant in the Kaluga Region southwest of Moscow. His visit came on the day that the German automaker launched the assembly of complete knock-down kits. Putin arrived at the factory in a Volkswagen car. He was met by the...

Medvedev Tadic agree on several projects
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Belgrade on 20 October with several major projects in the energy sector to demonstrate Moscows economic support and interests in fellow Christian Orthodox nation Serbia. After meeting with Serbian President Boris Tadic Medvedev said that the two leaders agreed on several projects that will...

Ukraine should be a neutral state says Yanukovich
Former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich announced his candidacy for the Ukrainian Presidency on 23 October saying the ex- Soviet republic should remain neutral between Russia and western nations. ldquo;I will give Ukraine a new foreign policy: Ukraine will be an unaligned state rdquo; Yanukovich said. Reconciliation with Russia and improved...

Blatter praises Russian World Cup bid in Putin meeting
World football supremo Joseph Blatter met with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on 15 October with news reports quoting him as saying that he has a lot of sympathy for Russiarsquo;s 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid. Russia unveiled the bid two weeks ago pledging full government support and to...

Baltics push for EU debate on Molotov-Ribbentrop pact
The Baltic states pushed on 14 October for an international debate on the notorious 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - which handed the region to Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union - as they held a conference at the European Parliament in Brussels. ldquo;In Poland we used to say that World War...

Group slams Siberian nuke storage
A Russian environmentalist group on 16 October criticized the way nuclear waste from Germany was being stored in the open air in restricted military areas in Siberia and appealed for awareness of the issue in Germany. Vladim Slivyak head of the Ecodefense environmental group said that barrels of nuclear wastes...

Renault to help finance troubled automaker AvtoVAZ
FRENCH auto giant Renault is willing to invest in troubled Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ in which it has a stake Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on 6 October. Renault confirmed yesterday that it was prepared to invest in the development of AvtoVAZ including the provision of the most...

Economy shrinks at slowest rate in nine months
RUSSIAS economy contracted in September at the slowest monthly pace in 2009 London-based VTB Capital announced in a report. Gross domestic product GDP shrank 2.1% in August from the same month last year after a 3.9% contraction in July. The economy shrank an annual 4.1% in the third quarter compared...

Medvedev warns of fatal oil dependence
RUSSIA must move beyond its dependence on oil exports and reorient its economy around technology President Dmitry Medvedev said on 6 October in a speech at a nanotechnology forum in Moscow. Our post-crisis economy should be based on knowledge and innovative technologies not on Russias potential in raw materials no...

Washington reassures Moscow on missile-shield plan
THE US on 9 October sought to reassure Russia that Washington had no plans to deploy radars or weaponry in Ukraine as part of its new missile- defence plan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier described a recent US suggestion that portions of an European anti-missile radar system might be based...

State to decrease stake in companies
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told investors on 29 September that he would reduce the states ownership of companies over the coming years to allow for better growth. We have to reflect on perfecting cooperation with foreign investors Putin told Russian and foreign investors at a Moscow business forum intended...

Medvedev examines newest energy-saving technologies
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Moscows Kurchatov Nuclear Research Institute on 30 September to chair a joint meeting of the commission on the modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy and the Presidium of the presidents Council on Science Technology and Education Itar-Tass reported. Institute Director Mikhail Kovalchuk took...

EDF mulls South Stream stake
French power company Electricite de France SA EDF has just announced on 30 September that it may be acquiring a minority holding in Russian gas monopoly Gazproms South Stream gas pipeline project news agencies reported. Some reports have indicated that the EDF stake could possibly be as much as 10%...

Daimler moves to strengthen position in truck market
German vehicle group Daimler AG said on October 1 it had moved to boost its market presence in Russia with its Mercedes-Benz trucks offshoot and Russian truck maker Kamaz planning to forge a joint venture Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa reported. Kamaz and Mercedes-Benz trucks signed a letter of intent to create...

Putin to visit China on October 12-14
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit China from October 12-14 to meet Chinese leaders and attend a Central Asian security summit Chinas Foreign Ministry said on 29 September. Putins visit was timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia and with a council...

Russia and Switzerland sign Visa and asylum seekers accords
During the first of the two-day visit to Switzerland Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed with Swiss officials various accords including agreements on visa regulations for diplomats and issues pertaining to asylum seekers. There were also talks of possible free-trade deals further down the line as well as some backing from...

Medvedev Hu reaffirm strategic partnership
Russia President Dmitry Medvedev met his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao separately on the sidelines of 64th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly in New York US news agencies reported. They exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common interests. During talks with Medvedev Hu said he hopes the...

Medvedev: No rift with Putin
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev moved to quash speculation of a rift with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on 20 September telling CNN that the pair worked very well together. Putin who served the full permitted two terms as president before stepping down last year to become prime minister has recently stoked...

AvtoVAZ to cut one-quarter of its workforce
Russias biggest carmaker AvtoVAZ said that it will cut one-quarter of its workforce at its Tolyatti production plant as sales drop news agencies reported. Annual production will probably fall to 500 000 vehicles the Togliatti-based carmaker announced. Last year AvtoVAZ manufactured around 920 000 vehicles. The job cuts include 5...

Russia drops plans for missiles on Polish border
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has confirmed that Russia will not place short-range missiles near its border with Poland Interfax reported on 26 September. The Kremlin chief was speaking after the G20 summit innbsp; Pittsburgh. He said there was no longer a need for Russia to deploy Iskander missiles in the...

Writers and intellectuals urge Europe to stand up for Georgia
A group of European intellectuals and former politicians including former Czech president Vaclav Havel urged Europe on 22 September to back Georgia in its territorial conflict with Russia. The signatories including French philosophers Bernard-Henri Levy and Andre Glucksmann made the call in an open letter as a European Union commission...

Putins energy D-Day
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia would welcome international oil and gas firms to join local companies to develop the energy-rich Arctic peninsula of Yamal in the latest sign Moscow is seeking to bolster foreign investment and expertise. In return Russia hopes its energy companies will move downstream gaining more...

MEPs address human right situation in Russia
In an urgent resolution adopted on September 17 in Strasbourg members of the European Parliament want Russia to shed light on the murders of four human rights campaigners Stanislav Markelov Natalia Estemirova Zarema Sadulayeva and Alik Dzhabrailov. Parliament urged the Russian authorities ldquo;to investigate swiftly thoroughly and effectivelyrdquo; the murders...

Putin calls on Washington to lift trade barriers
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on September 18 challenged Washington to cancel all existing restrictions on trade with Russia and give the go-ahead to World Trade Organization membership for Russia Belarus and Kazakhstan news agencies reported. I very much hope that this right and brave decision will be followed up...

Aeroflot Gaz to cut thousands of jobs
Russias largest airline Aeroflot is to cut up to 6 000 jobs because of falling passenger numbers news agencies reported on September 17. Over the next half year alone 2 000 of Aeroflots 15 000 employees are to go said Interfax quoting company statements. In its first half-year report the...

Bulgaria mulls selling Belene stake to Russia
Russias Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko arrived in Bulgaria on September 18 to discuss the possible sale of the planned Belene nuclear power plant as the Balkan country is fishing for investors for its majority stake. Bulgarias new government is considering selling part of its stake in the four billion-euro nuclear power...

Russia Venezuela boost energy military ties
During the visit of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to Moscow Russia and Venezuela signed on September 10 a package of deals including one to develop the Latin American countrys Orinoco oil belt with estimated reserves of 235 billion barrels of heavy oil RIA Novosti reported. Venezuelas state oil firm PDVSA...

Khordorkovsky resigned to life imprisonment
Mikhail Khordorkovsky expects to be jailed for life when his second trial ends the former Russian oil tycoon told the German news magazine Focus. They will attempt to keep me in prison for the rest of my life the former head of the now disbanded oil concern YUKOS said in...

Russian market faces a tougher autumn
Russias equity markets have been amongst the best performing in the world year-to-date Uralsib investor bank in Moscow said in a report. This is partly because valuations fell too far at the end of last year as investors feared a near-catastrophic scenario and also because of the recovery in the...

Saudis close to signing major arms deal with Russia
Saudi Arabia is close to signing a deal with Russian to buy arms worth USD two billion Interfax quoted a defense industry source as saying recently. The prospective purchase includes 150 helicopters more than 150 tanks and air defense systems the source said. If it comes off it would make...

Rosneft announces revenue decline confident for 2009
Russias number one oil producer Rosneft reported a 48.8 percent decline in revenue for the first half of 2009 though second-quarter results improved. Rosneft announced its revenue in the first half of 2009 fell USD 19.2 billion a 48.8 percent decline from the first half of 2008. The company blamed...

Russia India discuss trade nuclear cooperation
India and Russia on September 3 agreed to enhance the bilateral ties in spheres like trade peaceful use of nuclear energy and military-technical cooperation and vowed to tackle the menace of terrorism jointly. Visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil held wide-ranging talks with her Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and both agreed...

Borisovs Blind Mans Bluff with Putin
Bulgaria attended the celebrations in Polandrsquo;s Gdansk on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II but Sofiarsquo;s focus was on the meeting between Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Borisov had a 30-40-minute talk with Putin on September 1 on...

Russia and Mongolia plan closer cooperation
Russia and Mongolia signed a series of agreements on the development of a strategic partnership during a two-day visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the capital Ulaanbaatar ending on August 26. Medvedev met with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj Prime Minister Sanjaagiin Bayar and Speaker of Parliament Damdin Demberel. Regional security...

Russia files charges against Arctic Sea pirates
Russia has filed charges against eight men suspected of hijacking the Finnish freighter Arctic Sea which disappeared on a journey to North Africa in July. The men who were detained last month face charges of piracy and hostage-taking Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa quoted chief Russian investigator Vladimir Markin as saying. One...

Bank lending conditions remain tough
Conditions for Russian banks remain tough the chairman of the second largest private lender in Russia MDM Bank Oleg Vyugin was quoted as saying by the press. Russias economy shrank more than 10 percent in the first half of 2009 as lending by state banks failed to offset the contraction...

Russia says recognition of South Ossetia Abkhazia legitimate
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on August 26 hailed the first anniversary of the independence of the breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and said Moscows recognition of the two was absolutely legitimate. In remarks reported by Interfax Medvedev appealed to other countries to follow up with recognition and...

Russia remains invisible to most international funds
The latest fund flow data shows that Russia remains invisible to most international funds. Two weeks ago Russia funds reported outflows of USD four million practically no more than a rounding error Chris Weafer chief strategist at Moscows Uralsib bank wrote in a note to investors on August 24. There...

Putin says aviation industry vital for Russias future
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin opened the International Aviation and Space Show on August 18 declaring that the aviation industry was vital for Russias future. The International Aviation and Space Shows opening has been overshadowed by a collision on August 16 of two air force stunt jets which killed the...

Russian investor to buy German shipyard
Igor Yusufov a former Russian energy minister and current board member of state gas giant Gazprom is to buy bankrupt German shipbuilding firm Wadan Yards the Berlin government announced on August 14 Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa reported. Wadan Yards based in the Baltic ports of Waremuende and Wismar makes ferries freight...

Merkel and Medvedev focus on business Chechnya
German Chancellor Angela Merkel mixed business with displeasure at human rights abuses in Chechnya on August 14 as she met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The murder of three human rights activists in the Russian republic of Chechnya in the last month was...

Medvedev to see Merkel in Munich after G8
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev is to represent Russia this week at a round of talks near Munich with German Chancellor Angela Merkel a Berlin spokesman said on July 8. The annual talks between key cabinet ministers will come right after US President Barack Obamas inaugural trip this week to Moscow...

Evraz set to issue USD 600 mln in Eurobonds
Russian metals giant Evraz Group SA intends to issue Eurobonds worth USD 600 million with maturity in 2014 and place American Depositary Receipts ADRs for new shares worth USD 300 million RIA-Novosti quoted the company as saying on July 8. The bonds will carry quarterly coupons of 6.75-7.25 percent per...

Sibir Energy unit office raided by police
Russian law enforcement agencies on July 8 conducted a search at a subsidiary of London-listed oil firm Sibir Energy Plc the company said in a statement. The investigation took place at the office of subsidiary Magma Oil Company and was aimed at another Sibir subsidiary Moscow Oil and Gas Company...

Obama wants more trade between US Russia
US President Barack Obama called for more business deals between US and Russian companies. We want Russia to be selling us goods and we want Russia to be buying from us Obama told an economic forum on the historic Red Square on July 7 wrapping up a two-day summit with...

Russia again mulls joining WTO on its own
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on July 10 at the G8 summit in the Italian town of Lrsquo;Aquila that plans to join the World Trade Organization as a three-way customs union including Kazakhstan and Belarus could be ldquo;problematic.ldquo; He said it would be simpler for Moscow to join on its...

EU-Russia research cooperation could further improve
EU-Russia cooperation works well and Russian partnersrsquo; contribution to EU-funded projects is highly appreciated by EU partners. Nevertheless much needs to be done to boost Russian participation in the EU framework programmes and to integrate them fully into the European Research Area ERA a new report from the EU-funded RUSERA...

A Cold Day for Georgia: NATO-Russia warm up relations in Corfu
NATO and Russian diplomats were set to disagree on Georgia but nevertheless break a long standoff and restart bilateral cooperation on a number of issues during their meeting NATO spokesman James Appathurai told New Europe on June 27 telephonically from the Greek island of Corfu where the ministers and diplomats...

Russia News - New Europe News
Russia News - New Europe News: The European News Source.

 

Darren Eliot: Russia rises again on world stage
There is a buzz surrounding Russian hockey like never before, at least not since pre-Glasnost days. Much of the anticipation has to do with Russia winning the World Championships in successive seasons heading into an Olympic campaign. So much of their promise comes from the talent level of their young core, many of whom have little if any knowledge of how it used to be.

Russia settles suit against U.S. bank for a pittance
A bizarre and troubling civil racketeering case filed against the Bank of New York Mellon by the Russian customs service -- ostensibly brought under U.S. law but filed in a Moscow court -- may be coming to an unexpectedly rational end.

Medvedev: U.S. blocking Russia's WTO entry
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday accused the United States of "blocking" Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization.

20 killed in Russia as truck plows into bus
At least 20 people were killed and 40 injured Friday as a result of a major road accident in southern Russia, officials said.

Gas pipe deal aims to end Russia's monopoly
Officials from six countries gathered Monday in Turkey and signed a deal to build a U.S.-backed pipeline, aimed at breaking Russia's near-monopoly on natural gas supplies to Europe.

Russia allows U.S. weapons shipments to Afghanistan
Russia will allow the United States to ship weapons across its territory to Afghanistan, Kremlin spokesman Alex Pavlov said Friday.

Russia vetoes U.N. mission in Georgia
The rift between Russia and Western powers over Georgia burst back into full view on the U.N. Security Council when Russia vetoed a resolution that would have extended the U.N. observer mission in Georgia.

Russia's bleak picture of health
In Russia, a country often associated with consumption of mass amounts of vodka, men have an average life expectancy of just 60 years -- one of the lowest in Europe.

Q&A: The return of the Russian superpower?
From the uncertainty that followed the breakup of the Soviet Union, a newly invigorated Russia has emerged, displaying unprecedented political, military and economic confidence that has, at times, put it on a collision course with the West.

Snapshots of Russia by train
In a special report for CNN's Eye on Russia week, Moscow Correspondent Matthew Chance travels across the vast country from the northern port of Murmansk in the Arctic to the southern city of Sochi on the Black Sea. Here Chance recalls some highlights from his epic journey.

Eye on Russia: Opportunity and Influence
CNN wants to hear from viewers in both English and Russian for its weeklong focus on modern Russia.

Russia edges US to reach worlds final
The United States lost to Russia 3-2 in the semifinals of the world hockey championships Friday, beaten on a power-play goal with less than two minutes left.

Canada attacks Russia for expulsion of diplomats
Canada will ask the Russian ambassador to explain why two Canadians who worked at the NATO Information Office in Moscow had their diplomatic accreditation revoked, Canada's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Georgia foils mutiny at military base ahead of training activities
Georgian authorities foiled an attempted army mutiny that they believe was designed to disrupt planned NATO exercises in the former Soviet republic, the country's interior ministry said Tuesday.

Report: Russia detains 29 suspected pirates
Russian authorities detained 29 suspected Somali pirates in waters off the Horn of Africa, a Russian state-run news agency reported Wednesday.

Russia advances at World Championships
Defending champion Russia got the win it wanted and the tough match it needed with a 4-2 victory over Switzerland on Tuesday at the ice hockey world championship.

Russia declares end to Chechnya 'operation'
Russia declared an end Thursday to its 10-year anti-terror "operation" in the autonomous republic of Chechnya.

Russia to build 6 nuclear subs with cruise missiles
Russia will build at least six nuclear-powered submarines with long-range cruise missiles for its navy, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry told the Itar-Tass news agency.

Russia ready to help bring peace to Afghanistan
Russia said Friday it is ready to help normalize the situation in Afghanistan, where U.S.-led forces are battling the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban for control of the country.

Report: Russian bank hostages freed
A police operation freed five bank employees who had been taken hostage in central Russia, a regional governor told state TV.

Bank of New York in settlement talks with Russia
The good news is that a Moscow judge adjourned Tuesday's scheduled pretrial hearing in Russia's dubious $22.5 billion suit against the Bank of New York Mellon to allow the parties to pursue settlement talks. The agency bringing the suit, the Russian Federal Customs Service, had requested the talks in a short letter that the bank's lawyers received Friday.

Google's Russian threat
Arkady Volozh, CEO of Yandex, Russia's largest online-search company, is playing with a set of nesting dolls (for real!). Instead of the traditional folk decoration, though, these figurines are outfitted with the names of Internet companies doing business in Russia. The first and biggest doll has Yandex emblazoned on its belly in bold red and black letters. A smaller doll bears the Google logo, followed by one representing Rambler, Russia's other homegrown search engine. "We were charitable with these dolls," Volozh says. "If we had been honest, we would have left the second doll blank and made Google third. We're that much bigger than them."

Deaths rise in Russia nursing home fire
The death toll in a nursing home fire in northwestern Russia rose to 23 Sunday, as rescue workers discovered more bodies in the ruins, officials said.

U.S. can't confirm report on Russia easing missile stance
The United States cannot confirm a media report that Russia will not follow through on its threat to deploy missiles near Poland in response to a U.S. plan to place a missile defense system in the eastern European country, a state department spokesman said Wednesday.

Report: Russia to build naval base in rebel region
Russia will begin the construction of a new naval base this year in Georgia's pro-Russian separatist region of Abkhazia, according to a Russian media report Monday.

Security cameras film Russian killings
Russian investigators have no suspects in Monday's killings of a prominent human rights lawyer and a journalist despite round-the-clock efforts to find the gunman, officials said Wednesday.

Russia resumes gas flow to Europe
Russian energy giant Gazprom resumed pumping natural gas to Europe via Ukraine Tuesday, nearly two weeks after the flow was cut off, a Gazprom spokesman told CNN.

Human rights lawyer, journalist killed in Russia
A masked man shot and killed on Monday a Russian human rights lawyer known for his work on abuses by the Russian military in the breakaway region of Chechnya, Russian media reported.

Reports: Russia to open gas flow to Europe
Russia's Gazprom planned to resume gas supplies to Europe Tuesday, with lines to be reopened by 7 a.m. GMT (2 a.m. ET), Russian media quoted a Gazprom official as saying.

Russia, Ukraine agree to resume gas flow
The prime ministers of Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement early Sunday morning to resume gas supplies to Europe by early next week.

Russia: Gas flow to resume within days
Gas will resume flowing "in the next few days," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told reporters following summit talks in Moscow aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute between Ukraine and Russia which has left many parts of Europe without natural gas.

Russia invites Europe to weekend gas talks
Russia is hoping for wide participation at talks this weekend in Moscow to resolve a gas dispute that has left parts of Europe stuck in the cold, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

EU leaders slam 'brutal' gas stoppage
Frustrated European Union leaders lashed out Wednesday at Russian and Ukrainian energy companies whose dispute over natural gas has stopped supplies to Europe for the past week.

Russia to restore gas supply to Europe
Russia will start pumping natural gas to Europe again Tuesday after an interruption of nearly a week, energy giant Gazprom's deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said Monday.

Russia to turn gas back on
Russia said Monday it would restore gas supplies to Europe after Ukraine, which has been engaged in a dispute with Russia, dropped conditions that had angered Moscow.

Russia backs off deal with Ukraine
Just as millions of Europeans struggling through cold winter temperatures thought a resolution had been reached in the Russia-Ukraine natural gas standoff, Russia said it will not proceed on a deal.

Russia, Ukraine to allow gas monitors
The European Union, Russia and Ukraine have agreed on allowing a team of independent investigators to monitor inflowing gas pipelines from Russia into Ukrainian territory to help end a dispute that has left millions short of gas supplies.

Ukraine, Russia cut off gas to Europe
Ukraine and Russia said the supply of natural gas to Europe was completely shut off Wednesday, but each side blamed the other for the cut-off, which comes as Europe faces a wave of freezing temperatures.

Oil caught in tug-of-war
Oil prices fluctuated wildly Tuesday then settled slightly lower after a handful of dismal economic reports countered signs that OPEC nations were starting to comply with planned output cuts.

Oil jumps 3.9% on supply worries
Oil prices rose nearly 4% on the first trading day of 2009, as fighting in the Middle East and Russia's energy dispute with Ukraine raised concerns about future supply disruptions.

12 dead in Russian mine blast
Twelve people were killed and six were injured in an explosion at an open-cast mine in Russia's northwest Murmansk region, a local emergency official said Friday.

U.S., Russia snub cluster bomb ban
The United States and Russia were absent Wednesday as representatives from countries from around the world gathered to sign a treaty banning the use of cluster bombs.

Blast kills 3 outside Russia subway station
Three people were killed when a car blew up near a subway station in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, on Tuesday, authorities said.

Magnitude 7.0 quake rocks Russia's far east
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's far east Monday evening, seismologists reported, but there was no immediate report of damage in the remote area.

Experts say overcrowding behind deadly sub accident
Naval experts have said overcrowding may have been behind an accident on a new Russian nuclear submarine that killed 20 people, agencies have reported.

20 killed on sub were poisoned
An accident that killed 20 people on a new Russian nuclear submarine was caused by a malfunctioning fire safety system that spewed out chemicals, according to an initial investigation, officials said Sunday.

Russia slams U.S., threatens missile deployment
Just hours after U.S. President-elect Barack Obama delivered his victory speech, Russia's leader delivered a scathing rebuke of U.S. policy and reminded Obama of some of the major foreign policy challenges he will face in office.

Bailout Could Turn Tables on Russia's Oligarchs
They amassed some of the world's biggest fortunes in the wild privatizations of Russia's post-Soviet chaos and the oil boom that followed. Now some of Russia's richest men are facing the choice of losing some of their empires or pleading at the Kremlin's doors for a bailout.

The case for emerging markets
Are emerging markets a bargain right now? The instinct is right, as developing-country indexes have taken a serious thumping this year. Year-to-date, Argentina's main index is down 51%. China's is down 63%. Russia is down 68%. Overall, the MSvCI Emerging Markets index is down 52% year-to-date, versus *just* a 34% drop for the S&P 500.

Russia, Iran, Qatar Discuss Gas Cartel
Iran, Russia and Qatar discussed the formation of an OPEC-style cartel among some of the largest natural gas producing nations on Tuesday

World Court to Rule on Georgia-Russia Case
The International Court of Justice plans to rule on whether to order Russia to take immediate steps to halt what Georgia calls ethnic cleansing in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia

Russia: Rights lawyer in possible poison attempt
A prominent Russian human rights lawyer says she and her children are ill after a suspicious substance was found in their car in France.

Somalia asks Russia for help with pirates
The Somali government has asked Russia to intervene against pirates who have seized a Ukrainian cargo ship, the Somali ambassador to Russia said Wednesday.

Just how scary is Russia?
The Cold War was supposed to be history, a topic today's twentysomethings know about only from the classroom, not from doing duck-and-cover drills in elementary school, as their parents did. In the 17 years that have passed since the demise of the Soviet Union, any threat Russia posed had pretty much been relegated to defaulting on its debt.

Russian ships to visit Venezuela; naval exercises possible
Russia announced Monday it might hold joint military maneuvers with Venezuela in the Caribbean, and the United States said it is scrapping a once ballyhooed deal with Moscow on nuclear technology.

Russia agrees Georgia withdrawal deadline
Moscow has agreed to withdraw its forces from Georgia outside of its two breakaway provinces within one month, the presidents of Russia and France said Monday following the latest efforts to end the region's territorial crisis.

Russia to Keep Troops in Georgia
Russia said that it will station troops in two Georgian breakaway provinces for the foreseeable future

Russia to Send Ships, Planes to Venezuela
Russia's plan to deploy ships and warplanes to the Caribbean for joint military exercises with Venezuela is allowing President Hugo Chavez to capitalize on tensions between Moscow and the U.S. and showcase a growing military alliance

U.S. risks Russia row with Ukraine NATO backing
The United States has backed Ukraine's bid for NATO membership a day after similarly supporting Georgia, in a move which may further stoke tensions with Russia.

Cheney bashes Russia for 'brutality' in Georgia
Vice President Dick Cheney harshly criticized Russia's military incursion into Georgia on Saturday, calling the action "an affront to civilized standards."

U.S. may pull nuclear deal to punish Russia, source says
The Bush administration is poised to withdraw an agreement with Russia on nuclear trade as punishment for Russia's military action last month against U.S. ally Georgia, a State Department source said Friday.

Russia weighs response to NATO ships
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says it is weighing its options following the arrival of more NATO vessels in the Black Sea, according to reports.

Russia's MegaFon to Sell iPhone
MegaFon, Russia's third-largest mobile phone company, said Tuesday it will start selling Apple's iPhone 3G in Russia later this year

Putin Vows 'Answer' to NATO Ships
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia will respond calmly to an increase in NATO ships in the Black Sea in the aftermath of the short war with Georgia

Analysis: Can Europe stand firm against Russia?
Europe and Russia, says the EU's current chairman Nicolas Sarkozy, are at a crossroads. Heading for a 'crucial' meeting with Moscow's leaders on September 8, he said at the Brussels emergency summit that Russia had to decide whether it wanted isolation or co-operation with its 27 neighbors.

Russia Blocking Georgian Homes
Russian troops remaining in Georgian territory are effectively preventing Georgians from returning to their homes

Transcript: CNN interview with Vladimir Putin
CNN's Matthew Chance interviewed Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

Zakaria: Russia overplayed hand in Georgia
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to benefit one of its presidential candidates.

Georgia Ends Diplomacy with Russia
Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Moscow on Friday to protest the presence of Russian troops on its territory

The New Gambit: Moscow's View
A Putin insider explains Russia's new assertiveness as a reaction both to Western provocation and U.S. politics

Analysis: Is Ukraine the next domino?
Western politicians are currently scrambling for air tickets to Kiev. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband rushed to Ukraine soon after Russia announced its recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will follow.

The New (Old) Russian Imperialism
Moscow's hard line on the separatist provinces of Georgia suggests its adventurism is far from over, but it may find the next episodes messier

Russia Flexes Its Muscles in Mideast
The re-emerging Cold War tensions are spreading, as Russia agrees to strengthen military ties with Syria

Analysis: A new Cold War -- or more hot air?
It was against the terms of the Russia/Georgia cease-fire, brokered by France's President Nicolas Sarkozy. It was directly in contravention of the request not to do it from President George W. Bush of the United States. But Russia's President Dimitri Medvedev has gone and done it anyway. He has made Russia the first country to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia condemned for recognizing rebel regions
Western nations and organizations Tuesday condemned Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway regions in Georgia.

US 'Appalled' at Russian Rebel Tie
The United States said Russia is behaving "appallingly" by granting formal diplomatic recognition Tuesday to two breakaway Georgian provinces

Russia Recognizes Georgian Rebels
President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia has recognized the independence of the breakaway Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia

Russia Recognizes Georgian Regions
Russia's parliament voted unanimously Monday to urge the president to recognize the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions, stoking further tensions between Moscow and the small Caucasus nation's Western allies

Bush warns Moscow over breakaway autonomy
U.S. President George W. Bush has urged Russia not to recognize the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, saying he was "deeply concerned" by the Russian parliament's move toward recognition.

Supply worries nudge oil higher
Oil prices rose slightly Monday as a flat U.S. dollar countered worries that tensions with Russia could interrupt the flow of crude between Europe and Asia.

Huge fire as Georgian train hits landmine
A train carrying fuel hit a mine and burst into flames near the Georgian city of Gori Sunday morning, according to an Interior Ministry spokesman.

Russia: We've completed pullback
Russia said Friday that its forces have withdrawn from Georgia into South Ossetia, fulfilling its end of the cease-fire agreement reached last weekend.

Tbilisi: Russian troops hold Georgian checkpoints
Most Russian troops have withdrawn from eastern and western Georgia, but they still maintain some checkpoints in the country, a spokesman for Georgia's Interior Ministry said Saturday.

Georgia-Russia conflict brings back Cold War memories
For some Americans, the recent fighting between Georgia and Russia has recalled days of the Iron Curtain, bomb shelters and hiding under desks. Those Cold War memories are especially intense for some iReporters, U.S. veterans who served under the constant threat of nuclear war.

Oil Jumps $5 on US-Russia Conflict, Sliding Dollar
Oil prices shot up more than $5 a barrel Thursday, rising to the highest level in over two weeks as escalating tensions with Russia stoked fears of supply disruptions to the West

Russia Blocks Georgia's Main Port
Russian forces blocked the only land entrance to Georgia's main port city

Russia to Cut Military Ties with NATO
Russia has informed Norway that it plans to suspend all military ties with NATO, Norway's Defense Ministry said Wednesday

Breakaway region asks Russia to recognize independence
One of Georgia's breakaway regions has asked Russia to recognize independence, according to a report by the Russian news agency Interfax.

NATO: Russia not honoring cease-fire terms
NATO has accused Russia of failing to honor the full terms of the cease-fire agreement brokered by the European Union last week aimed at ending the fighting in Georgia.

Wounded NATO Grapples with Russia
Reeling after Moscow's Georgia offensive, the Atlantic Alliance is split over how to relate to Russia's resurgence

Rice, Allies to Discuss Russian Response
The U.S. will argue at a NATO ministers meeting for a unified response to punish Russia for invading Georgia, even as officials say Moscow has positioned missile launchers in the separatist South Ossetia province

Lawmaker hints at long stay in Georgia, despite cease-fire
Though Russia says it will begin pulling back its troops from Georgia on Monday, it's unclear how long the redeployment will take, and a Russian lawmaker has compared the situation to the U.S. presence in Iraq.

Russia To Begin Pullout Monday
Russia's president said troops would begin pulling out of Georgia on Monday

Georgia signs cease-fire with Russia
A grim Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Friday that he signed a cease-fire agreement that requires the immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces from Georgian soil.

Samantha Power: A Question of Honor
Russia's assault on Georgia was wrong -- but predictable. How humiliation can shape national interest

Staring Down the Russians
Zbigniew Brzezinski says the West must show Moscow it won't tolerate any attempt to reassert control over Georgia

U.S. hopes to limit Russia's role in Georgia
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is taking a cease-fire document to Tbilisi, Georgia, that would limit the role of Russian troops there in the peace agreement reached this week, a senior State Department official said.

Experts: Reliance on Russia makes NASA weak
Experts are growing increasingly concerned that the United States will have to rely entirely upon Russia to take astronauts to and from the international space station for at least five years.

Gates Dials Down Russia Rhetoric
After Bush's tough talk, his Defense Secretary makes clear that military confrontation isn't an option

Russia's Tight Hold on Georgia
Moscow's troops were supposed to turn over territory to Georgia a day ago but they are still holding on to critical areas

Russia: News & Videos about Russia - CNN.com
Find stories, videos, and photos about Russia from CNN.com.

 

Man Admits to Murder of Lawyer in Moscow
The man suspected of murdering a prominent human rights lawyer and a journalist last January said he committed the crime out of “personal enmity.”

Two Held in Killings of Russian Lawyer, Reporter
A Moscow court on Thursday reviewed charges against two suspects in the January assassination of the human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and the reporter Anastasia Baburova.

Russian Reports Tie Nationalists to 2 Killings
Two people have been arrested in the killings of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova, who were gunned down in central Moscow in January, Russian news services reported late on Wednesday.

Russians Comment on Ways to Curb the Use of Alcohol
Readers of The Times’s Russian-language blog offered their ideas, sometimes pessimistic.

Mixed Signals From West About Trusting Russia
On the one hand, a report said NATO allies refused to tell the Russians of their strategy about a secret Iranian nuclear site. But the Russian Navy indicated France was set to sell it an advanced assault ship.

Russia Tries, Once Again, to Rein in Vodka Habit
President Dmitri A. Medvedev wants Russia to deal with its ruinous penchant for the bottle.

Ex-Spy Killed in Russia
Gunmen shot dead Shabtai von Kalmanovic, a former K.G.B. agent turned basketball entrepreneur, on Monday, law enforcement officials said.

Russian Airplane Crashes in Siberia, Killing Crew of 11
The accident was the second in less than a month involving an Il-76 cargo plane, the mainstay of the Soviet and Russian Air Force since the 1970s.

Major University in Russia Eases Fears on Rules
St. Petersburg State University stated last week that researchers would not have to submit to an export-control screening before publishing their work overseas.

Don’t Gloss Over Stalin’s Crimes, Medvedev Says
On a day when Russia honors the memory of victims of repression, President Dmitri A. Medvedev warned against losing a sense of horror over Stalin’s purges.

Russia Is Urged to Switch Its Approach to Curbing Spread of H.I.V.
Experts at a regional AIDS conference in Moscow said the abstinence-based strategy should be replaced by programs like needle exchanges for addicts.

Russian Professors Chafe at Scholarly Screening
State university professors have to submit their work to administrators for permission before publishing it abroad or presenting it at overseas conferences.

A Hypnotizing Hunt Leaves Russians Bewildered
It’s mushroom-hunting season and that means dozens of Russians become so hypnotized that they get hopelessly lost in forests.

In Moscow, Lenin Lights the Way to Angry Debate
A dispute over the restoration of verses praising Stalin and Lenin in a Moscow metro station has highlighted the depth of confusion in Russia over how to deal with Soviet history.

Russian Oil Surges After Break With OPEC
The OPEC members have cut oil production in a slumping economy, but Russia has increased output, profits and share prices.

NYT > Russia
Broad and multi-faceted coverage of Russia, updated by The Times's Moscow bureau; multimedia; travel; descriptions of Russian industry, and archival articles published in The New York Times.

 

GORKI, MOSCOW REGION. Following the meeting with Minister of Healthcare and Social Development Tatyana Golikova Dmitry Medvedev instructed Prosecutor General Yury Chaika to monitor developments on the pharmaceuticals market.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

GORKI, MOSCOW REGION. With Healthcare and Social Development Minister Tatyana Golikova.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

GORKI, MOSCOW REGION. Meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

GORKI, MOSCOW REGION. With Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

GORKI, MOSCOW REGION. With Minister of Healthcare and Social Development Tatyana Golikova.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. With Governor of Lipetsk Region Oleg Korolev.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. With Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Yury Trutnev.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. With Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. Meeting with members of the Board of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Federal Assembly (Parliament).

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. At a meeting with members of the Board of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Federal Assembly (Parliament). On the left –Federation Council Chairman Sergei Mironov.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. At a meeting with members of the Board of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Federal Assembly (Parliament).

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. At a meeting with members of the Board of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Federal Assembly (Parliament). On the left – Federation Council Chairman Sergei Mironov.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. Russian state decorations award ceremony. Hermann Parzinger, president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation in Germany, received the Order of Friendship.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. Russian state decorations award ceremony. Mikhail Shemyakin, member of the New York Academy of Sciences, received the Order of Friendship.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. Russian state decorations award ceremony. Sergei Kivalov, chairman of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Justice, received the Order of Friendship.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. Russian state decorations award ceremony. Michael George Charles Franklin Windsor, Prince of Kent, second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, received the Order of Friendship.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW. Russian state decorations award ceremony. Helene Carrere d’Encausse, permanent secretary of the Academie Francaise, received the Order of Honour.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

MANEZH CENTRAL EXHIBITION HALL, MOSCOW.Visiting the Orthodox Russia – National Unity Day exhibition.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

MANEZH CENTRAL EXHIBITION HALL, MOSCOW. Visiting the Orthodox Russia – National Unity Day exhibition with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Kirill.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

MANEZH CENTRAL EXHIBITION HALL, MOSCOW. Visiting the Orthodox Russia – National Unity Day exhibition with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

SUZDAL, VLADIMIR REGION. Visiting the Spaso-Yevfimiyev Monastery. Laying flowers at Dmitry Pozharsky’s grave.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

SUZDAL, VLADIMIR REGION. At the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the Spaso-Yevfimiyev Monastery.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

SUZDAL, VLADIMIR REGION. At the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the Spaso-Yevfimiyev Monastery.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

SUZDAL, VLADIMIR REGION. At the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the Spaso-Yevfimiyev Monastery.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

SUZDAL, VLADIMIR REGION. Visiting the memorial chapel honouring Dmitry Pozharsky. With Archbishop Yevlogy of Vladimir and Suzdal.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

SUZDAL, VLADIMIR REGION. Speaking at the ceremony unveiling the memorial chapel honouring Dmitry Pozharsky at the Spaso-Yevfimiyev Monastery.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

SUZDAL, VLADIMIR REGION. Ceremony unveiling the memorial chapel honouring Dmitry Pozharsky at the Spaso-Yevfimiyev Monastery.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

SUZDAL, VLADIMIR REGION. Visiting the Spaso-Yevfimiyev Monastery. With Archbishop Yevlogy of Vladimir and Suzdal.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

MOSCOW. With Chairman of the Prosecutor General\'s Office Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

MOSCOW. At a meeting on the safety of social services facilities.

Photo: the Presidential Press and Information Office

Kremlin.Ru: Photo Chronicle
Photos from the Russian Presidential Press Service published on the official presidential website (last 30 photos)

 

Sikachi-Alyan Village
There are not many traditional villages and tribes left in Russia as modernization has inevitably forced change on them or younger generations have moved away to find jobs and prosperity in the cities. Fortunately some have survived, and approximately forty kilometers from Khabarovsk is a small village by the name of Sikachi-Alyan. This picturesque destination in Russia has gained fame for the breathtaking landscapes that surround it, and for the ancient petroglyphs that tell the history of Sikchi-Alyan. It is here that visitors to Russia will discover the tranquil way of life of the Nanai.

Tolbachik Volcanic Massif
Rising up from the diverse Russian landscape is a fascinating volcanic massif. Located in the eastern region of Russia, in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Tolbachik still amazes and interests visitors, even though it has been lying dormant for over thirty years. Tolbachik consists of two volcanic peaks, each with its own unique features and characteristics. This magnificent massif and its interesting surrounding areas are frequently visited by tour groups and tourists and it is easy to see why, due to its beauty and silent form of danger that brings a little adventure to the site.

Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka
The greater part of Russia is still, in many respects, unknown and unexplored. The territory is vast and was virtually inaccessible for hundreds of years. In recent years, the creation of vast national parks in the area have helped us to become aware of just how special the natural treasures found in this part of Russia are. The Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka is one of those precious natural treasures.

The Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture in Moscow
Art and culture lovers visiting Russia should make sure that they don’t miss the Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture (GCCC) when touring Moscow. This fantastic venue offers visitors a chance to soak in local contemporary culture at an appealing and fashionable venue.

Travel to Salekhard
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live on the polar circle, the best way to find out would be to visit the Russian town of Salekhard. This frosty administrative center not only serves the surrounding region but is a relatively interesting tourist destination due to its unique location – even if visitors don’t usually stay too long. Salekhard in Russia is believed to be the only town in the world that is located on the Polar circle.

Putyatin Island : Nature At Its Unspoiled Best
Russia is such a vast country that it would likely take more than a lifetime to explore its abundant natural beauty, discover its rich cultural heritage and learn about its extensive and fascinating history. Bearing this in mind, many who visit Russia choose which aspect of the country they would like to focus on and this helps them decide where to visit. For those who appreciate the rugged natural beauty of Russia, there are a myriad of destination choices to consider, including the charming Putyatin Island.

Russian Tourism - The Sky is Not the Limit
With the global economic crisis leaving no country untouched, Russia has made some adjustments to visa requirements in an effort to soften the blow to its vibrant tourism industry. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin recently signed a resolution, to come into effect 20 May 2009, which allows foreign tourists arriving in Russia by ferry to remain in the country for a maximum of three days without a visa. This three day free visa concession already applies to passengers arriving by cruise ship.

Abakan – A Fascinating South Siberian City
Located in the majestic Altai-Sayan Mountains in the middle of Russia, the city of Abakan has a recorded history going back more than four thousand years and visitors to this lovely city will find evidence of that rich history all around them. Abakan is the capital city of Russia’s Khakassia Republic in South Siberia and is an important stop-over point on the Abakan-Taishet railway line which is connected to the renowned Trans-Siberian Railway.

Experience the Adventure of a Horse Riding Holiday in Russia
Many westerners tend to think of Moscow and St. Petersburg as being Russia, and while it’s true that these ancient cities have much to offer, especially with regard to fascinating history and magnificent architecture, Russia is a vast country of indescribable beauty which is just waiting to be discovered by the more adventurous traveler. There can be no better way to explore the less traveled regions of this great country than on horseback and there are countless options available for those who would like to experience a horse riding holiday in Russia.

Dogs, a Sled and Snow Equals an Adventure
Well known as “Man’s Best Friend”, dogs not only make exceptional companions, but they can also assist humans in a variety of tasks. In the colder parts of the world dogs have been used to pull sleds, thus providing a convenient means of transport. Dog sledding is still a very important mode of transport today and it has now become an enjoyable adventure activity for tourists.

Russia.com
Your Russia blog

 

US Embassy in Russia Sends Special Agents to Illegal Rallies in Moscow?
Every act of the “dissenters” is a revelation. For instance, on October 31st, during an unauthorized rally organized by “The Other Russia” on Triumfalnaya Square in Moscow, police arrested Robert Bond, Second Secretary, Vice-Consul of the Embassy of the United States of America. Bond was released after his documents were checked, but some questions remain unanswered. What was the diplomat doing at the illegal rally?

There Was No Sex in USSR Indeed
The word 'sex' was used in the articles about the vices of capitalistic society and, at times, in translated literature. It was not typical for conversational speech. Sexual freedom was considered destructive for family values. The government designed various administrative barriers to prevent sex outside of wedlock. People who were not officially married could not share a room in a hotel, or stay overnight in a students' dorm

USSR Still Respected Internationally for Its Bombs and Guns
Mikhail Kalashnikov, who is going to celebrate the 90th anniversary soon, is not just a renowned designer, engineer, etc, etc. Kalashnikov is not just the world-known assault rifle. Kalashnikov is a symbol, or a brand, like they say nowadays. To put it in a nutshell, Kalashnikov is a Soviet brand that survived the Soviet era. Which other brands survived the period of the Soviet power?

Pravda.Ru - Analitics
Pravda.Ru

 

Armenian president to visit to Russia's Kaliningrad
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will pay a brief working visit to Kaliningrad, Russia's exclave on the Baltic Sea, on November 11, an Armenian presidential spokesman said on Saturday.

Six dead as car plunges off bridge in north Russia
Six people died on Saturday when their vehicle crashed off a bridge in north Russia, an emergency services spokesman said.

Iran sanctions likely if no progress on nuclear issue - Medvedev
Further sanctions against Tehran cannot be ruled out if no progress is made on Iran's nuclear issue, the Russian president said on Saturday.

Russian soldiers to get free cigarettes for next two years
Russian soldiers will continue to receive free cigarettes from military warehouses for two more years, a Defense Ministry official said on Saturday.

Ukraine gas problems linked to presidential polls - Medvedev
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has linked Ukrainian problems with payment for Russian gas deliveries to the country's presidential polls, due to take place in January.

Medvedev says not all hopes realized after fall of Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall was a positive event, but not all the hopes that arose after it came down were realized, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told German media.

Bus drivers cause over 200 deaths in Russia between Jan.-Sept.
Over 200 people died in the first 9 months of 2009 in accidents caused by bus drivers across Russia, the head of the country's traffic police said on Saturday.

Two dead in fire in northwest Moscow
Two people died in a fire in a residential building in northwest Moscow on Saturday, an emergency services spokesman said.

Crew of crashed Russian Tu-142 did not use life raft - source
There is no indication that the crew of a Russian military Tu-142 plane that crashed late on Friday made use of emergency equipment, a highly-placed Air Force source told RIA Novosti on Saturday.

Moscow golden youth bombers were 'fed up with everything'
Two young Muscovites from well-off families who detonated a small explosive device in a cafe in the Russian capital in late October have told investigators they were "fed up with everything."

Moscow golden youth bombers were 'fed up with everything'
Two young Muscovites from well-off families who detonated a small explosive device in a cafe in the Russian capital in late October have told investigators they were "fed up with everything."

Russian WWII tanks to take part in march on Moscow's Red Square
Two famed WWII T-34 tanks will take part in a march on Moscow's Red Square on Saturday to commemorate the legendary military parade of 1941 and in honor of the country's World War II effort.

Russian WWII tanks to march on Moscow's Red Square
Two famed WWII T-34 tanks will take part in a festive march on Moscow's Red Square on Saturday to commemorate the legendary military parade of 1941 and in honor of the country's World War II effort.

The crash of a Tu-142 military plane

Russia's Pacific Fleet suspends flights of its naval planes
The Russian Pacific Fleet suspended on Saturday all flights of its naval aviation following the crash of a Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance plane in Russia's Far East.

Eleven people missing in Russian military plane crash
There were 11 people on board the Pacific Fleet's Tu-142 plane that has crashed off Russia's Pacific coast.

Russian military plane crashes in Far East
A Tu-142M3 reconnaissance plane from Russia's Pacific Fleet has crashed in the Tatar Strait in Russia's Far East.

Gorbachev wasted possible gains from Berlin Wall's fall - experts
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev wasted the historic opportunity offered by the fall of the Berlin Wall, failing to reap any reward for the momentous event, Russian political commentators said on Friday.

Lenin statue in western Russia vandalized with orange paint
A monument to Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin has been daubed with orange paint in the Russian Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, a spokesman for the city's administration told RIA Novosti on Friday.

Europe still divided 20 years after Berlin Wall fell - Russian MP
Europe's dividing lines survive even 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Russia's PACE delegation head said on Friday.

Fare dodgers in Russia's Altai detained with 60 fir trees
Transport police in Siberia's Altai Territory detained three fare dodgers carrying 60 fir trees in a electric train, a police spokesman said on Friday.

Moscow urges calm over North Korea's plutonium weaponizing
North Korea's weaponizing of plutonium at its Yongbyon reactor should not be 'dramatized,' a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday

Ukraine paid in full for Russian gas in October - Tymoshenko
Ukraine's Naftogaz has paid Gazprom in full for Russian gas deliveries in October, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said on Friday.

Russia's swine flu death toll rises to 19
Russia's swine flu death toll has risen to 19, the country's sanitary and consumer rights watchdog said on its website on Friday.

Moscow expects positive Iran response to fuel deal soon
Moscow expects Tehran to accept the UN-sponsored nuclear fuel deal soon, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday.

RIA Novosti
RIA Novosti

 

Medvedev Maintains Putins Policies, Little has Changed
Most of Putin’s foreign policies remain the same a year+ Medvedev has taken over as President. After President Dmitry Medvedev was elected last year, then-President Vladimir Putin made a rather telling promise about his chosen successor. “Medvedev is no less a Russian nationalist than I am, in the positive sense of the word, and I do not [...]

Somali Pirates Capture UK Ship with Ukrainian Crew
The UK-owned bulk carrier Ariana was sailing under the Maltese flag, and Somali pirates captured the vessel with 24 Ukrainian crew onboard. Vasily Kirilitch, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry press secretary, confirmed to Interfax that all the sailors are Ukrainian nationals. He said the country’s embassies were instructed to “take prompt measures to set constant contact with ship-owner, [...]

NATO Expelled Two Russian Diplomats Accused of Spying
By Tom Forrest – A NATO diplomat claims the Russians were expelled over the case of Herman Simm, who was jailed for treason for handing over over 1,900 pages of information to Russia’s Intelligence Service. Two Russian diplomats Victor Kochukov and Vasily Chizhov have lost their accreditation to NATO”S headquarters in Brussels. It is not clear [...]

Latvia wants to Collect $200 Billion from Russia
Latvia is a former Soviet republic, and has calculated the damage that Latvia suffered from the Soviet occupation after WWII. It has been 48 years and Latvia claims Russia owes Latvia $200 billion. The amount includes Latvia’s costs for the loss of its independence, the export of the population, the environmental damages and even [...]

Is the USA Violating the Rights of Foreign Nationals?
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Russian Defense Spending will Increase by 8% in 2010
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Russian Culture: At A Glance
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President of Ingushetia Survived the Attack
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USA Cancels Missile Defense System Russia Condemned as a Threat
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Deadly Flowers
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Russian Spy, World and Russian News
Russian Spy covering news and analysis on politics, business, culture and sport in Russia and the World, CIS and former Soviet Union

 

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Capital: Moscow

Russia, also the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country extending over much of northern Eurasia. It is a semi-presidential republic comprising 84 federal subjects. Russia shares land borders with the following countries (counter-clockwise from northwest to southeast): Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast), Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and North Korea. It is also close to the U.S. state of Alaska, Sweden and Japan across relatively small stretches of water (the Bering Strait, the Baltic Sea, and La P�rouse Strait, respectively).

At 17,075,400 square kilometres (6,592,800 sq mi), Russia is by far the largest country in the world, covering more than an eighth of the Earth�s land area; with 142 million people, it is the ninth largest by population. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and 40% of Europe, spanning 11 time zones and incorporating a great range of environments and landforms. Russia has the world's largest mineral and energy resources, and is considered an energy superpower. It contains approximately one-quarter of the world's unfrozen fresh water and has the world's largest forest reserves.

The nation's history began with that of the East Slavs. The Slavs emerged as a recognizable group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD. Founded and ruled by Vikings and their descendants, the first East Slavic state, Kievan Rus', arose in the 9th century and adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire in 988, beginning the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures that defined Russian culture for the next millennium. Kievan Rus' ultimately disintegrated and the Russian lands were divided. The most powerful successor state to Kievan Rus' was Moscow, which gradually came to dominate the cultural and political legacy of Kievan Rus'. By the 18th century, the Grand Duchy of Moscow had expanded through conquest, annexation and exploration to become the huge Russian Empire, stretching from Poland eastward to the Pacific Ocean.

Russia established worldwide power and influence from the times of the Russian Empire to being the preeminent constituent of the Soviet Union, the world's first and largest Communist state, and can boast a long tradition of excellence in every aspect of the arts and sciences. The Russian Federation was founded following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, but is recognized as the continuing legal personality of the Soviet Union. Russia is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a leading member of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the G8. It is one of the five recognized nuclear weapons states and possesses the world's largest stockpile of weapons of mass destruction.

 

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia