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Articles by Alexander Bratersky

Music Not Music: The Wonder of the Zikr Duo

Keep your eye out for this one-of-a-kind musical group.

Rock Legend Vladimir Kuzmin Plays Crocus City Hall

You can see this Russia legend perform on Thurs. Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at Crocus City Hall in a concert dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the group “Dinamik”...

Tchaikovsky and Russian Toys in Klin

Just a short drive from Moscow, this small, cozy city is filled with the sounds of music and the tapping of little hammers at the Christmas tree ornament...

The Tall Brothers Circus Takes Moscow By Stilts

Catch the Tall Brothers (Vysokiye Bratya) circus group — a circus, theater and street art troupe all combined into one.

Iggy Pop Takes Moscow

The legendary punk musician Iggy Pop is performing in Moscow this week as part of the world tour for his Post Pop Depression album.

A Tribute to Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Human Rights Veteran Turned 90

The veteran human rights defender turns 90.

Remembering Soviet Rock Martyr Viktor Tsoi 24 Years After His Death

On the 24th anniversary of the death of Soviet rock legend Viktor Tsoi, we take a look back at arguably one of the most mysterious figures in the...

Viktoria Belova Teaches American Singing for Slavs

A former actress turned singer, Viktoria Belova is known to many in Russia as a voice coach who teaches Russian beginners to sing better. Her secret...

Government to Establish Airfield to Boost Arctic Presence

The Defense Ministry will establish a permanent airfield in the Arctic as part of Russia's plan to boost its presence in the oil- and gas-rich Arctic...

'Alterum' Dance Troupe to Conquer Middle East

In the mid 1990s, Alexei Chernov was a street dancer whose break dance group "Da Boogie Crew" was so popular that it was shown on MTV Russia and performed...

California Clinic Has Russian Flavor

Before his emigration from the Soviet Union in 1985, Oleg Vidov was a successful actor, most famous for starring in the lead role of a brave romantic...

A Just Russia Pushes Anti-Nepotism Legislation

The left-leaning Just Russia party wants to prohibit state officials from hiring close relatives to directly subordinate positions in state or municipal...

Russian Alexei Guskov to Play Pope John Paul II

The relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church might be strained, but the choice of a Russian actor to portray the late...

Putin Orders to Proceed With Academy of Science Reforms

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ruled out postponing reforms to the Russian Academy of Sciences that are fiercely opposed by many researchers...

Business Amnesty Bill Approved

The State Duma on Tuesday passed in the third and final reading the long-awaited economic crimes amnesty bill, which will free several thousand businessmen...

Shipbuilder Opposes Foreign Purchases

A senior United Ship Building Corporation official said Russia should not buy ships abroad, while the company recently completed assembly of a Mistral...

Legendary Soviet Record Label Goes Online

The state-owned Melodiya label, once the Soviet Union's record monopoly, has started to sell its music collection online, Vedomosti reported Thursday...

Amnesty Plan for Businessmen Submitted to Parliament

The long-awaited amnesty plan for economic crimes was submitted to the State Duma on Tuesday after its revised version was approved by President Vladimir...

Poet and Free-Market Liberal Ulyukayev Takes Over as Economy Minister

The newly appointed Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Monday that his main task was to prevent a recession, while Prime Minister Dmitry...

Opposition Lawmakers Slam WTO Effect

Opposition lawmakers and businessmen said at a panel Thursday that Russia had lost billions of dollars due to cuts in import tariffs after its accession...

Developers Set Up Lobby to Promote Their Interests

Russian property developers have created a lobbying group to promote their interests on the government level, the first attempt to unite their efforts...

Dvorkovich Sees Possibility of Guriev Return

Some see the meeting of the deputy prime minister and the economist, who chatted like "old friends" as a sign of government support.

Mistral and Gorshkov Projects Back on Track

The United Ship Building Corporation has accelerated work on two of its international military-related projects, company sources told Interfax Wednesday...

Bill Restricting Employee Leasing to Hit Businesses Hard

Amendments to the Labor Code restricting employee leasing might hit hard Russian companies and Western firms working in the country and deprive the budget...

Bloggers Claim Photos Show Yakunin Mansion

Bloggers have published pictures of a luxury mansion, believed to be owned by Vladimir Yakunin, the head of Russian Railways and a powerful member of President...

Even in Zimbabwe, It's All About Having the Right Partner

For some, Robert Mugabe is the authoritarian anathema who leads Zimbabwe, the mineral rich state in Africa, but for Russian businessman Alexander...

New Academy of Science President Pledges Reforms

The newly elected head of the Russian Academy of Sciences said his organization could contribute to the country's innovation policy, and he supported the...

Head of Major College Reportedly Emigrates Under Pressure

A minister said Wednesday that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's Open Government would continue to work with prominent liberal economist Sergei Guriyev...

Fresh US-Russian Translation Examines TV Attitudes

Russian television has often been labeled a Kremlin propaganda tool by its critics, with the intelligence of many who take it at face value being...

Government Offers Tax Incentives for Grants

With some experts complaining about the decreasing quality of higher education, the government is planning to provide tax incentives for grants given to...

Top Judge Proposes Jury Trials for Arbitration Courts

Supreme Arbitration Court head Anton Ivanov on Monday proposed introducing jury trials in arbitration court hearings, a move that could make the court...

Q&A: Anti-Drug Crusader Roizman Wears Many Hats

Dressed in a beat-up denim jacket and with three days worth of stubble on his cheeks, Yevgeny Roizman, 50, looked like an 80s rocker being interviewed...

Putin Says Amnesty Plan for Businessmen Needs Refining

President Vladimir Putin, who was expected during a meeting with more than a hundred entrepreneurs on Thursday to give a nod to the State Duma to draft...

Rogozin Says Defense Ministry Won't Be Stripped of Pricing Function

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday that the Defense Ministry would bear responsibility for the pricing of military equipment, despite...

Dvorkovich Upbeat on His, and Russia's, Future

In an attempt to squash media reports and assure investors, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said Tuesday that he had no plans to leave government...

New Publisher Named to The Moscow Times

Ekaterina Movsumova has been selected as the new publisher of The Moscow Times, replacing Ekaterina Son, the paper's parent company Sanoma Independent...

Soviet Rock's Shadowy Undertones Endure

During the mid 1980s, Konstantin Kinchev, a charismatic rocker, pitched his voice against the Soviet system, only to be labeled as a "fascist" by the...

Rosbank Bribery Scandal Highlights Need for Ethics Enforcement

A bribery scandal at French lender Societe Generale's Russian entity Rosbank shows that stricter measures should be implemented by both Western and Russian...

Private Operator Seeks to Improve Commuter Rail Services

Mikhail Khromov has an issue with hares. They make him very angry.

Deputy Prime Minister Surkov Steps Down

The Kremlin portrayed the ouster as a Cabinet casualty in its drive to ensure that ministers fulfill Putin's orders. But a friend said Surkov quit because...

Play Joins Politics in Animated Meeting

When political protests and calls for changes become a trend in a country, even a cartoon starts to critique social injustice.

Unauthorized Sidewalk Advertising Outlawed

President Vladimir Putin signed legislation outlawing unauthorized sidewalk ads, closing the door on the dirt-cheap advertising opportunity, according...

5 Facts About Vladislav Surkov

While Surkov has taken some credit for his behind-the-scenes wizardry, he remains very much a man in the shadows.

Moscow Skies Will Be All Abuzz

Federal aviation officials have opened the skies above the city of Moscow for transit of aircraft, but experts said the altitude threshold is too...

State Firm to Target Central Asia

A government commission agreed to establish a state corporation to turn locals away from drug smuggling by developing economic projects in Central Asia...

Putin Promises Local Planes, Foreign Pilots

Despite opposition from trade unions, Putin said foreigners would be allowed to become civilian pilots, citing a lack of specialists.

Stunning New Film Maps Soviet Sport Star's Rise

While many recent attempts by Russian filmmakers to create a patriotic blockbuster have largely failed, a new biopic dedicated to Soviet hockey master...

Sobyanin Says Investment in City Economy Hits Pre-Crisis Level

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Tuesday that investment into the city's economy reached the pre-crisis level, citing commercial real estate as an example...

Report on Defense Sector Corruption Labeled "Too Harsh"

A Public Chamber report targeting corruption in Russia's defense industry was labeled "too harsh" by defense executives, but they admitted that the sector...

Morsi Seeks Union With Kremlin, Fails to Get Loan

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that he wanted to create a strong political union with him, he but failed...

Water Supply Systems' Foreign Control Questioned

Foreign companies should not be allowed to control local water supply systems, a State Duma official said at a meeting Thursday of industry experts...

Noda Finds Warm Welcome in Philippines

When Andrei Zaitsev arrived to the Philippines early last year, he was met with a tropical cyclone and falling palm trees.

Police Detain Ex-CEO of Kalashnikov Maker

The former head of Izhmash, which makes the Kalashnikov assault rifle among other weapons, was detained in Izhevsk and whisked to Moscow to face charges...

Song and Dance Patch Up Georgian-Russian Relations

As Russia's relationship with Georgia warms up after the new Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili assumed power in Tbilisi, Moscow will host its...

Train Trips to Domodedovo Canceled

A driver lost control of his MAN truck at 12:15 a.m. on Kashirskoye Shosse, slamming into pillars of a railway bridge.

Corruption Market Estimated at a Whopping $300Bln

The corruption market in Russia is estimated at $300 billion a year, with most of this money circulating in the public finance, state property and natural...

Putin Visits Germany as Criticism Mounts

President Vladimir Putin visited Germany on Sunday as local activists planned protests against Russian probes into nongovernmental organizations.

Sberbank Expands Its Defense Industry Loan Portfolio to $14.6Bln

The nation's biggest lender, Sberbank, said Thursday that it had increased its loan portfolio to the defense industry to almost 500 billion rubles,...

Minister Says Tender Bill to Eliminate Kickbacks

New legislation on procurement will allow the government to eliminate kickbacks, Economic Development Minister Andrei Belousov said.

Moscow Leads in Procurement Transparency

Moscow Deputy Mayor Andrei Sharonov said Monday that the city's experience in conducting procurement tenders should be taken as an example for the...

Sequel on Vampires Puts Spotlight on Kremlin Opposition

A mysterious, politically savvy fiction writer has released a new book that critics already herald as a national blockbuster.

BIE Delegation Assesses Yekaterinburg's EXPO 2020 Bid

A delegation of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) visited Yekaterinburg late last week to evaluate the country's chances to host EXPO...

Sukhoi to Open $100M Service Center in Malaysia

The Sukhoi corporation signed a $100 million contract with Kuala Lumpur to service to the country's fleet of its jets, in an effort to leverage...

Zhukovsky Election to Affect Local Aircraft Industry

Sunday's mayoral election in Zhukovsky, known as the birthplace of Russian aviation, will not only become a test for the ruling United Russia party...

Fallout From Crisis Felt on Cypriot Property Market

As Cyprus is struggling through its financial crisis, the turmoil might affect the island's real estate market, known as a major investment destination...

Berezovsky, Putin and an Absence of Respect

Boris Berezovsky would probably heap all of his ill fortunes at the feet of Vladimir Putin, the man whom he helped make Russia's president but then...

After Kremlin Talks, China's Leader Takes Dig at U.S.

In a veiled criticism of the U.S., new Chinese President Xi Jinping has denounced foreign governments that meddle in the domestic affairs of other...

Shoigu Wants Military to Focus on Core Competencies

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the military should finally rid itself of "non-relevant functions," during a high-level meeting on Wednesday.

Rogozin Asks Seagal to Lobby for Arms Sales

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin asked American action film star Steven Seagal to lobby for easing restrictions on the sale of Russian sporting...

Controversial Legacy for 'Uncle Styopa' Author

For some he was an author of the Soviet national anthem, which he rewrote several times to please the ruling authorities; for others a beloved children's...

US Scraps Missile Defense Opposed by Kremlin

Newly appointed U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the U.S. would scrap part of its European missile defense shield, which has faced the biggest...

Senator Confirms Plans for Mediterranean Naval Force

Russia plans to keep a regular force of naval ships in the Mediterranean Sea to defend its interests in the region, the head of the Federation...

Up to 200 Foreign Pilots Could Fly Domestic Skies

Transportation Minister Maxim Sokolov has called on Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to speed up legislation that would allow foreign pilots to work in Russian...

Titov Seeks Changes to Pretrial Detention Rules

The case of an entrepreneur who spent five years behind bars before even being sentenced will be used by the business ombudsman to reduce the maximum...

Kremlin to Protect Venezuelan Interests Even If Opposition Wins

Russian ties with Venezuela will not remain as close as under late President Hugo Chavez, but the Kremlin will be able to protect its interests even...

Female Leaders Manage Mentalities

Yelena Andreyeva wears two hats. Most of the time, she is the head of Bastion, one of the country's leading private security agencies, which she founded...

Putin Reaches Out After Death of 'Close Friend' Chavez

Signaling an eagerness to maintain cozy ties with Venezuela, President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called for even stronger relations and praised...

Kremlin Writes Off Most of Cuba's $30Bln Debt

The deal foresees Cuba getting several Russian-made passenger jets worth $650 million for its Cubana airline.

Blind Lawmaker Praises New Law Requiring Firms to Hire the Disabled

Oleg Smolin, a State Duma deputy with the Communist Party, praised a law that entered into force Monday and requires companies to hire disabled people...

Putin Awards a Crooner who Represents His Electoral Base

When a picture of a bespectacled man with a goatee, standing alongside the country’s President Vladimir Putin with a placard “Honored Artist of Russia”...

Q&A: Igor Butman's Tune Mixes Loyalty and Service

The homegrown jazz legend has played with some of the greatest stars, and knows his fame allows him to speak his mind.

Medvedev to See Glonass, Not Carnival, in Brazil

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev missed Brazil's world-famous Carnival, but he'll tout Russia's answer to the U.S. GPS navigation system and discuss weapons...

Medvedev Cuts Red Tape to Boost Investment in Regions

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered the government to find ways to reduce bureaucratic obstacles to regional investment amid a drive to boost...

G20 Leaders Pledge to Avoid Currency Wars

Leaders of the Group of 20 said Saturday that global economic growth remains weak despite government measures, but they agreed to avoid currency wars...

Industrial Park Unveiled in Tatarstan

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov unveiled a new industrial park in Russia's most booming special economic zone, which has generated $1 billion...

Russian Arms Sales Double as Sales to Syria Continue

Russia sold twice as many weapons abroad in 2012 as in the previous year. It now has a portfolio of $37 billion in foreign orders and continues to sell...

St. Petersburg Tops Public-Private Partnership Ranking

St. Petersburg has left Moscow far behind in terms of public-private partnership development, according to the first rankings that analyze the multibillion-dollar...

Gazprom Co-Founder Rem Vyakhirev Dead at 78

Rem Vyakhirev, the charismatic co-founder of Gazprom who successfully fought attempts to reform the gas monopoly, died in Moscow, the state controlled...

Presidents Agree to End Baikonur Dispute

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, said Friday that they had agreed to end their dispute over the Baikonur...

Lovers Abroad Boost Local Flower Sales

The country's florists are readying to cash in on the approaching Valentine's Day celebration, while foreign romantics are frantically searching for ways...

Rogozin Proposes Defense Partnership With Brazil

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday that Russia would be interested in starting a long-term military partnership with Brazil, following...

Watchdog Revokes Red Wings' License

The country's aviation watchdog revoked the license of Red Wings Airlines, controlled by billionaire Alexander Lebedev, weeks after one of its Russian-made...

Workers Appeal to Ombudsman Over Back Wages

Amid a rising number of strikes nationwide, workers at metro-railcar producer Vagonmash appealed to the St. Petersburg human rights ombudsman to demand...

Titov Laments Status of Small Businesses

More then 40 percent of Russian businessmen have moved into the shadows since the government increased social taxes in 2011, business ombudsman Boris...

Sechin to Visit Venezuela Amid Speculation About Chavez's Health

Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin is expected to visit Venezuela on Wednesday in a mission that might be used to secure the company's oil contracts in the...

Regional Development Ministry Poised to Expand Control

Regional Development Minister Igor Slyunyayev unveiled plans Tuesday to reform his ministry, which might become a locomotive for long-promised government...

Vysotsky's Iconic Status Endures for 75th Birthday

Russian and foreign fans celebrate what would have been the late singer’s 75th, with concerts, exhibitions and monuments.

Defense Industry Plans 'Crisis' Shopping Abroad

A senior official on the government's defense industry commission, which is chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, has called on industry...

City Has New Plans to Battle Jams

The Moscow government will spend an additional 67 billion ($2.2 billion) in 2013 to ease traffic congestion, city transportation chief Maxim Liksutov...

Deputies Ask That Chess Master Karpov Be Investigated as Foreign Agent

Chess champion Anatoly Karpov proposed the exclusion of an article from the anti-smoking bill being considered by the Duma.

Duma Deputy and Bikers Take Plunge for Epiphany

Konstantin Subbotin, a State Duma deputy from the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, peeled his clothes off late Friday night and jumped into an...

Left-Wing Economist to Draft Government Strategy

A left-wing economist who advocated firing Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will help draft the government crisis strategy in case of economic turmoil...

State Recommends Schoolchildren Watch 100 Films

The government unveils a list of recommended films for school children that it hopes will help to bring different generations closer together.

Billionaire Mulls Running for Moscow Region Governor

Billionaire Gleb Fetisov is considering running in the Moscow region gubernatorial election in September, representing the pro-Kremlin Green Alliance...

Finance Watchdog to Probe Gazprom

The Audit Chamber will conduct a "thorough probe" into Gazprom's spending for the first time in five years, Sergei Stepashin, head of the public...

Ryazan Region Reportedly Heading to Bankruptcy

The impoverished Ryazan region is reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy amid speculation about the governor's health prompted by his political opponents...

More Stars Expected to Bid for Russian Citizenship

When President Vladimir Putin gave Russian citizenship to French actor Gerard Depardieu, the story became the biggest Internet hit and a subject of political...

Depardieu Might Avoid Paying Taxes in Russia

Gerard Depardieu, a French actor turned Russian citizen, might avoid paying taxes in Russia if he resides in the country only occasionally, tax experts...

Adoption Ban Passes Unanimously

The Federation Council unanimously passed legislation on Wednesday to ban U.S. adoptions of Russian children. The bill only needs President Vladimir...

Poor State of Housing Services Could Be Next Rallying Point

Calls for honest elections and President Vladimir Putin's removal might attract the urban middle class to rallies, but it is rusty pipes and the poor...

2 Mistrals' Construction Delayed

The Defense Ministry has postponed from 2013 to 2016 the construction of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers ordered from France last year, RIA-Novosti...

Khodorkovsky to Walk Free in 2014

In what might signal a sharp change in fortunes for Mikhail Khodorkovsky, President Vladimir Putin wished the jailed oil tycoon well on Thursday...

Bill Seeks to End Election of Governors

A bill that could once again abolish direct gubernatorial elections, which were reinstated this year, was submitted to the State Duma on Tuesday by members...

Putin Endorses Eased Citizenship Requirements

President Vladimir Putin in his state-of-the-nation address Wednesday called for legislative amendments simplifying the process of obtaining Russian...

Putin Says Anti-Corruption Efforts Must Be Consistent

President Vladimir Putin spoke to supporters Monday about the recent wave of high-profile official corruption cases, saying they are not a "show-off...

Medvedev Defends Foreign-Agent Law

In a live television interview, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expressed support for a range of legislation that critics say is part of a crackdown...

New York Times' Friedman Raps Russian Foreign Policy

Russia has continually failed to adequately present its foreign policy agenda in Washington, award-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman said...

After Year of Protests, Activists Founding Political Parties

Activists who took part in large-scale protests against the Kremlin over the last year are putting their hopes in new political parties that could...

Magnitsky, the Accidental Symbol of Global Injustice

Magnitsky’s life reveals a man who was in many ways ordinary and felt compelled to fight a state machine he had trusted his whole career.

Duma Passes Bill Requiring Officials to Declare Expenses

The State Duma on Friday passed anti-corruption legislation requiring government officials to prove the legality of their spending and the spending...

Shoigu Visits China at Key Moment

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met with outgoing Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation and potential...

With Anti-Corruption Drive, Kremlin Adopts Navalny Tactic

When President Vladimir Putin was asked in an interview last month about anti-corruption lawyer Alexei Navalny, he indicated that he thought opposition...

Treason Law Expanded Despite Putin's Pledge

Amendments expanding the legal definition of treason came into effect Wednesday despite a presidential pledge two days before that the clause would...

$470M in APEC Funds Were Misused, Audit Chamber Says

Billions of rubles allocated for infrastructure projects ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Vladivostok were misused.

Shoigu Inherits Armed Forces at Crossroads

When Sergei Shoigu took the reins of the Defense Ministry on Thursday, he officially inherited a military at a crossroads, torn between tradition and the...

Amid Defense Ministry Shakeup, Corruption Case Grows

Sergei Shoigu officially took over his new defense minister duties Wednesday, receiving the so-called nuclear briefcase, while prosecutors announced new...

Shoigu Seen as Ideal Fit to Head Defense Ministry

Sergei Shoigu said he was surprised by his appointment to replace Anatoly Serdyukov as defense minister, but his combination of popularity among the public...

Nationalists Hold Annual Russian March

Nationalists walked along a downtown embankment Sunday shouting anti-Kremlin slogans in the annual Russian March, which was beset by low turnout and occasionally...

Before Putin, a String of Unhealthy Russian Leaders

Vladimir Putin's healthy image is a stark contrast to that of several Russian and Soviet leaders before him, from Leonid Brezhnev to Putin's predecessor...

Senators Pass Treason Bill Affecting International NGOs

The Federation Council on Wednesday passed amendments to the law on treason that could make it possible for law enforcement officials to target people...

Putin Fires 5 Senior Police Officials

Five senior police officials were fired by President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in what appears to be the continuation of a reshuffle started by Interior...

Grass-Roots Movement Opposes Paid Parking

Angry downtown residents have started a campaign against the Moscow city government's plans to introduce paid parking at the end of this week.

Prokhorov Trades Business for Politics

Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov announced at a weekend congress of his new Civic Platform party that he is quitting business to enter politics full time...

United Russia Deputy Stomps on White Ribbon

State Duma deputies are distancing themselves from the anti-Kremlin opposition after a United Russia member publicly denounced as traitors those who wear...

$95.5M Fraud Case Seen as Damaging to Defense Minister

A fraud case at Oboronservis, a holding company that manages state suppliers to the armed forces, could tarnish the image of Anatoly Serdyukov, the powerful...

Report Shows Plunging Support for Putin – and Protest Leaders

Russians view the ruling elite as aggressive and predatory and believe that revolution is one of the only realistic ways to change the government, according...

Foreign Ministry Slams U.S. on Human Rights

A senior Foreign Ministry official harshly criticized United States authorities Monday for alleged human rights abuses while presenting a report on human...

Sobchak's Mother to Lose Senate Seat

Lyudmila Narusova, mother of socialite-turned-opposition activist Ksenia Sobchak, is likely to lose her seat in the upper house of parliament.

Veteran Group Chaif, Shakhrin Rock On

Vladimir Shakhrin, the lead singer of Chaif, one of the country's best-known bands, was a construction worker in the 1980s in Sverdlovsk when the band...

Public TV Chief Promises Unbiased Coverage

The head of Russia's first public television channel said Thursday that its coverage would be free from political bias but also would not become a voice...

Putin Fires Minister in Medvedev's Cabinet

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday fired Regional Development Minister Oleg Govorun, whom he had publicly chided a month earlier, and appointed former...

Cruiser That Played Role in Bolshevik Coup Decommissioned

A legendary naval cruiser that played a symbolic role in the Bolshevik coup of 1917 was officially retired from military service Tuesday.

United Russia Deputy Suspected of Unlawful Business Activity

The Investigative Committee said Monday that it suspects a United Russia deputy of involvement in unlawful business activity, a month after an opposition...

Putin Proclaims Renewed Mandate With United Russia Wins

President Vladimir Putin said Monday that voters had shown their trust in the way the authorities are governing by choosing United Russia candidates...

Opposition Likely to Lose Khimki Mayoral Race

As the mayoral election polls closed Sunday in this city of 200,000 just north of the capital, the Kremlin-backed incumbent was set to win.

Turkey Says Syria Plane Carried Russian Ammunition

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that a civilian plane headed to Syria grounded by Turkish fighter jets was carrying Russian-made...

Horse-Trading Positions Kremlin Allies to Win Gubernatorial Races

Three candidates running for mayor in the Moscow region town of Khimki announced Tuesday that they will withdraw from the high-profile race, one of dozens...

Opposition Expose Incites Investigation

Prosecutor General Yury Chaika has ordered an investigation into claims in a television expose that opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov received funding...

Foreign Ministry Plays Down U.S. Smuggling Arrests

The Foreign Ministry denied Thursday that 11 people accused in the U.S. of illegally exporting microelectronics to Russia are linked to Russian intelligence...

Aleshkovsky's Words of Wisdom Laced With Swears

Dissident writer Yuz Aleshkovsky demonstrated an uncanny ability to swear with impressive frequency while chatting to journalists at a book reading...

Rogozin's Rodina Party Reinstated

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin did not attend Saturday's reunification of his nationalist Rodina party, but the re-emergent bloc is likely to become...

Eccentric Deputy to Gain Duma Leadership Post

Alexei Mitrofanov, the flamboyant lawmaker and author, will likely be given a leadership position in the State Duma on Friday amid bribery allegations...

Duma Kicks Out Kremlin Critic

The State Duma voted Friday to strip prominent opposition figure Gennady Gudkov of his seat for engaging in unlawful entrepreneurship, marking the first...

2nd Spy Trial Starts for Defense Worker

A Russian defense company employee accused of espionage went on trial for a second time Wednesday in Sevastopol in a contentious case that could...

Gudkov Faces Duma Dismissal Friday

Kremlin critic Gennady Gudkov is widely expected to lose his State Duma seat in a vote on Friday due to evidence that he engaged in unlawful entrepreneurship...

Russia Finishes 2nd at Paralympics

The nation's Paralympic team came in second overall at the London games, faring better than their regular Olympic counterparts, who came in fourth...

Roundtable Reveals Continued Split in Opposition

An opposition roundtable intended to unite opponents of President Vladimir Putin went largely ignored by the younger leaders of the protest movement...

Putin Jokes About Orgy, But Slams Pussy Riot

In his first interview since his May inauguration, President Vladimir Putin joked about Pussy Riot's racy name and one member's scandalous orgy with...

Star NTV Reporter's 'Mockumentary' Sows Discord

NTV has rehired star television reporter Andrei Loshak, known for his objective coverage on the network, to host a "mockumentary" series that plays...

Channel Will Edit 'Simpsons' to Comply With Media Law

A day after reports surfaced that two classic Soviet cartoons could be edited to ensure that they do not run afoul of a new media law, a popular cartoon...

Wife of Opposition Activist Gets 8 Years on Drug Charges

A court in Smolensk has sentenced the wife of an opposition political activist to eight years in prison on drug-related charges, even though the prosecution...

Radical Party Nominates a Medvedev for Khimki Mayor

The far-left Other Russia party has nominated a stevedore with the same last name as the prime minister as its candidate for a closely watched mayoral...

Vandals Take Chainsaws to Orthodox Crosses

The Russian Orthodox Church is calling for the punishment of vandals who used chainsaws to topple at least four wooden crosses in two regions over...

Yabloko Backs Chirikova for Khimki Mayor

The pro-opposition Yabloko party said Thursday that it would back renowned environmental activist Yevgenia Chirikova's candidacy for Khimki mayor.

Report on Putin's 'Politburo 2.0' Sets Tongues Wagging

The Kremlin is grooming influential figures such as liberal-leaning former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin as possible leaders in case of a political...

Nashi Official Accuses Opposition Deputy of Tax Evasion

A leader of pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi has asked the Investigative Committee to conduct an inquiry into possible tax invasion by opposition State...

Opposition Remembers 1991 Coup Attempt

Opposition leaders on Sunday laid flowers at the memorial to the victims of the August 1991 coup attempt against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev...

Defense Ministry Wants to Keep TV Channel

The Defense Ministry does not want to honor an April presidential order to turn its Zvezda television channel into a public station.

Kremlin Behind Pussy Riot Trial. Or Is It the Church?

On Jan. 20, Federal Guard Service officers detained eight members of an obscure female punk band after they staged a daring performance in which they denounced...

Khimki's Controversial Mayor Quits

Former Khimki Mayor Vladimir Strelchenko, accused of organizing attacks on protesters of a pricey highway set to cut through Moscow region forestland...

Popular Actor Tapped to Revive Right Cause

A charismatic priest-turned-actor known for his eclectic political views was nominated to head the supreme council of the centrist Right Cause party in...

Surkov Tapped to Oversee Religious Issues

Vladislav Surkov, a deputy prime minister and a former Kremlin political power broker, has been appointed to oversee religious organizations, a move seen...

Russia Takes 4th in Gold-Medal Tally

Russia placed fourth in the total medal count at the London Games, its worst performance at a Summer Olympics since the Soviet Union began competing...

2 Defendants in Bolotnaya Case Released

Investigators have released two people believed to have taken part in clashes with riot police at a May 6 opposition rally, a move that comes shortly...

Court Cuts Prison Sentence of Khodorkovsky’s Partner

Platon Lebedev, the former business associate of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, is to be freed next March under a court ruling that one legal expert called “the...

Madonna Riding Virginal Russian Fitness Wave

About a hundred admirers greeted Madonna as she opened a branch of her branded gym in downtown Moscow, riding the wave of the country's more than...

Rocker Writes to Putin Over Corruption

Rock musician Andrei Makarevich, whose trademark song became an anthem for the budding democratic movement of the 1980s, has written an open letter to...

Duma Deputy Gudkov in More Hot Water

Investigators on Monday took a step toward charging opposition-minded State Duma Deputy Gennady Gudkov with breaking the law by actively managing business...

Pussy Riot Wonders If Putin's Words Will Help

Three members of Pussy Riot are wondering about their fate after President Putin said they "should not be judged too harshly" for performing an anti-Putin...

Justice Ministry Registers Opposition Parnas Party

Opposition leaders started drawing plans to participate in fall regional elections after the Justice Ministry registered their RPR-Parnas party Thursday...

Investigators Open New Inquiry Into Opposition-Minded Lawmaker

The Investigative Committee found itself in an awkward situation Wednesday when the man whose testimony it used to open an investigation into an opposition-minded...

Patriarch Plants Church Near FSB School

Highlighting vibrant ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the intelligence community, Patriarch Kirill oversaw the laying of the cornerstone...

Q&A: Alexeyeva Lives Golden Years and the Golden Rule

Moscow Helsinki Group head Lyudmila Alexeyeva shares why she got involved in human rights — and why she stays active at 85.

Presidential Term Limits May Be Extended

A senior State Duma deputy said the Constitution might be amended to allow the president to serve more than two consecutive terms, renewing speculation...

Analysis: Castro Reaches Out to Putin With Russia Visit

The eyes of Cuban leader Raul Castro might have begun to water when one journalist screamed “Viva la Cuba” while greeting him in Moscow, but President...

Minister Acknowledges Flood Mistakes

The Emergency Situations Ministry acknowledged that Krasnodar residents had not been properly warned of impending flooding and blamed regional authorities...

Muscovites Donate 20 Tons of Flood Aid, Including Vodka

Hundreds of Muscovites from all walks of life have brought food, medicine and other necessities to a drop-off point for people who lost everything...

Flood Disaster: 'Nobody Told Us Anything'

Flash floods swamped the southern Krasnodar region over the weekend after two months' average rain fell in a few hours, killing at least 153 people and...

Duma Lifts Communist's Immunity Over Police Brawl

The State Duma on Friday agreed to lift a Communist deputy's immunity from prosecution in connection with an investigation into whether he struck...

Ultranationalists on the Rise

As the opposition movement gains strength, the ultranationalist groups that have joined its ranks are drawing more attention from the public — as...

NGO Bill Debated on Eve of Duma Vote

Supporters and opponents of legislation to tighten the screws on foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations hotly debated the bill Thursday, the eve...

Rocker Spurns Capital for Vladivostok

Rock musician Ilya Lagutenko has announced the selling of his mansion in the Moscow region to build an eco-friendly residence in his native Vladivostok...

Britain Refuses to Cooperate in Browder Case

Investigators are ready to take their case against Hermitage Capital CEO Bill Browder to court — but the U.K. refuses to even notify the British...

Utilities Price Hike May Sow Discontent

Utilities bills, alcohol and tobacco prices and parking fines shot up Sunday under government initiatives that few doubt are unnecessary but hold the potential...

Under State Pressure, Deputy Sells Private Security Business

Gennady Gudkov, the opposition leader and State Duma deputy, said Thursday that he had been forced to sell his private security company "for a song"...

Putin Calls for Popular Vote for Senators

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday proposed that Federation Council senators be elected through a popular vote — but only after being nominated...

Pressure Grows With Magnitsky Video

Supporters of Sergei Magnitsky released a new video on Tuesday that offers more details about a purported organized crime group linked to the jail...

Putin Faces Challenge With New Egyptian Leader

President Vladimir Putin, traveling in Israel on Monday in a bid to revive ties with the Middle East, said that he hoped for a "constructive relationship"...

Newsmaker: Small Business Lobbyist Titov Named Ombudsman

Liberal entrepreneur Boris Titov will bring respect and experience to his new role as business ombudsman, analysts and fellow businessmen said.

Detention of Pussy Riot Rockers Extended 30 Days

A Moscow court on Wednesday ordered three members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot to remain in jail another month while they await trial on hooliganism...