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Eastern Ukraine Assassination Attempt: Power Struggle or Provocation?

On Aug. 6 an explosion went off near the car of Igor Plotnitsky, the leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) in eastern Ukraine....

What Does Brexit Mean for Russia?

52 percent of British people voted to leave the EU on Thursday and the result has already led to Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation and a free...

Putin Mulls Sale of Rosneft Stakes to Chinese, Indian Companies

Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering selling a 19.5 percent stake in the Rosneft oil giant to companies in India and China to cover Russia's...

Russian Activists Plan Rally for Orlando Shooting Victims

Activists have appealed to Moscow City Hall for permission to hold a rally for the victims of the homophobic mass-shooting at an Orlando gay bar.

SPIEF Day One: Highlights

The first day of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum kicked off on Thursday, with 10,000 visitors joining political and business leaders at Russia's...

Sports Minister Says Russian Football Fans Could Clash Again 'If Provoked'

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko says that he can't exclude further violence from Russian football fans in France due to the “numerous provocations”...

French Police Crack Down On Russian Football Fans After Marseille Violence

Russian football fans are facing police checks and a UEFA investigation after violent clashes with English supporters during the country's opening Euro...

Putin Urges Global Authorities to Ensure Freedom Of Information

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged governments around the world to protect the freedom of the press, the TASS news agency reported Tuesday.

U.S., Ukraine and Turkey Named as Russia's Main Enemies – Poll

Russian citizens have named the United States, Ukraine and Turkey as the country's greatest enemies, according to a poll by the independent Levada Center...

Putin Recommends Chaika For Reappointment as Prosecutor General

Russian President Vladimir Putin has recommended that Yury Chaika serve another five-year term as Prosecutor General, the RIA news agency reported.

Russian Journalist Shlosberg to Receive First Nemtsov Prize

Russian journalist and politician Lev Shlosberg has been awarded the inaugural Boris Nemtsov Foundation prize for “defending the values of freedom and...

Rockstars, Politicians and Military Bands: Russia's Potential Candidates for the 2017 Eurovision

Russian politicians have never before expressed so much indignation about the result of the Eurovision song contest- or at least they haven’t since 2014...

Crimea Sees Sharp Drop in Russian Tourists

Russians are losing interest in traveling to Crimea, as the demand for flights to Simferopol among tourists has declined by more than 25 percent this year...

Russia Convenes Presidential Council to Boost Economy

Stuck in a second year of recession and facing a long period of economic stagnation, Russian officials are searching hard for ways to stimulate...

Panama Papers Link More Than 6,000 Russians to Offshore Companies

More than 6,000 Russian individuals and legal entities own or manage offshore companies, according to data published online by the International Consortium...

Britain and Russia in Diplomatic Spat Over Palmyra Concert

A performance by a Russian orchestra in the ruins of Palmyra in Syria on Thursday resulted in an exchange of caustic remarks between Moscow and British...

Human Rights Event Attacked in Moscow

Guests at an event organized by Russia's leading human rights group Memorial have been attacked by nationalist activists, the organization's executive...

Interpol to Reconsider Its Position on Khodorkovsky – Russian Prosecutor General

Interpol is ready to reconsider its refusal to put former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky on the international wanted list on condition that Russia...

Putin's National Guard May Gain Right to Shoot at Crowds

The newly created National Guard could be given the power to shoot into crowds of people under proposals from State Duma deputies.

Russia's Top Cop Wants Internet Censorship to Fight U.S. 'Info War'

The head of Russia's Investigative Committee has proposed a range of measures to give a “strong, appropriate and balanced response” to the information...

Five Rapid Results from Putin's Call-in Marathon

For hapless officials across Russia, President Putin's annual call-in marathon is a wake-up call like no other.

Former Finance Minister in Line for Top Position at Putin’s Think Tank

Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin has been offered a senior position at Russia's main think tank on economic policy and may participate in the development...

'Look, There's Jackie Chan': Russian Media Responds to Panama Allegations

The release of leaked data from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca has been greeted with a varied, but largely muted response by Russian media.

U.S. Not Interested in Exchanging Savchenko for Russian Arms Dealer Bout

President Vladimir Putin might like to trade convicted Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko for Russian nationals imprisoned in the United States, but such...

Putin and Kerry Discuss Syria, Ukraine, Savchenko at Moscow Meeting

Despite the fact that progress remains slow on some of the key conflicts between Russia and the U.S., talks between Putin and U.S. Secretary of State John...

Kerry: 'Productive' Talks With Russian Foreign Minister in Moscow

Following negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Twitter that talks had been “productive...

War of Words: Russia Responds to Terrorism in Brussels

On Tuesday morning, two explosions, carried out by a suicide bomber, occurred near the check-in desks for American Airlines at Zaventem Airport in Brussels...

Experts Say Weather, Not Glitch, Likely Cause of FlyDubai Crash

Officials have yet to identify the cause of FlyDubai Flight FZ981's crash at Rostov-on-Don airpor on Saturday, but preliminary reports indicate either...

EU Calls Upon UN Countries to Impose Sanctions Against Russia

On the second anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, the EU has once again condemned Moscow's actions and called upon the countries...

Critique of Chechnya Provokes Attack on Chief of Russian Anti-Torture NGO

Head of the Committee Against Torture NGO Igor Kalyapin could have avoided an attack in the Chechen capital of Grozny if he had come to the Russian...

Russia May Label Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation 'Foreign Agent'

The All-Russian Interethnic Union of Youth has filed a request with the Russian Justice Ministry that they add the Anti-Corruption Foundation NGO to its...

Kadyrov Spokesman Criticizes Russian Opposition Politician Over Report

Alvi Karimov, spokesman for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, has filed a request to open a criminal case against opposition leader Ilya Yashin over his damning...

Former Putin Aide Involved in Fight Before Mysterious Death - Reports

The mysterious death of Mikhail Lesin, former presidential aide and media tycoon, took a new turn on Thursday when U.S. forensic specialists reported...

Kremlin Reacts to Attack on Journalists in Ingushetia

An attack on a group of journalists and human rights activists at the border of Russian Republics of Ingushetia and Chechnya on Wednesday has prompted...

35 Supporters of Ukrainian Pilot Savchenko Detained in Moscow

A total of 35 participants at a rally in support of Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko have been detained at Triumfalnaya Ploshchad in central Moscow...

Muscovites Gather Near Metro Station to Mourn Slain 4-Year Old Girl

Several dozen Moscow residents gathered Tuesday evening near the Oktyabrskoye Pole metro station to mourn the death of a 4-year old girl allegedly killed...

Center for Refugee Children Evicted from Moscow Premises

Moscow authorities have evicted the Center for the Adaptation and Training of Refugee Children after its managing organization was declared a foreign agent...

Displaced Tenants to Reassess Moscow Rental Market

As Muscovites were recovering from the shock of the sudden demolition of street retail properties, the retail property market attempted to assess...

Moscow Authorities Approve March in Honor of Slain Kremlin Critic Nemtsov

Moscow City Hall has approved a rally to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov, opposition party member Konstantin...

Russian Students Call on UN to Stop Obama's "Aggression" (Video)

Students at several Russian universities have released a video message in which they call on the UN to stop the “aggression” of U.S. President and...

Moscow Mayor Accuses Kiosks of Illegally Obtained Property Rights

The owners of the street shopping pavilions subject to demolition have no right to hide behind ownership rights that have been obtained illegally, Moscow...

Moscow City Hall Set to Extend Bulldozing Plan

The wave of demolitions that swept through the Russian capital on Monday night is only the beginning of a crackdown that could see more than 200 structures...

Number of Russians Disapproving Food Ban Doubles Over 1.5 Years — Poll

The number of Russian citizens who do not approve of the introduction of the food embargo has doubled over the past one and a half years, the RIA Novosti...

Russia's Prosecutor General Blames Browder for Corruption Accusations

Russia's Prosecutor General Yury Chaika has accused a British-American investor and the U.S. secret services of being behind a film that alleges extensive...

How Moscow's Italian Chefs Battle Sanctions and Recession

Restaurants suffering from sanctions and double-digit inflation turn to local produce.

Pobeda's Cheap Flights to Europe Take Off

Russia's only low-cost airline is hoping to take the place of foreign carriers that have been leaving the Russian market.

Russian Budget Airline Pobeda's Deal With Belarus Fails to Take Off

Russia's only budget airline, Pobeda, will not be sending flights to Belarus yet due to the countries’ failure to reach an agreement on tariffs and air...

A Moscow Tour Guide: What it Takes to be Number 1

Moscow tour guide Felix Maltsev, named one of the world's best tour guides by the British newspaper The Guardian, always starts his tour with a joke...

Moscow Court Orders Torrents Site Rutracker.org Blocked for Good

Moscow City Court has ordered the permanent shutdown of Rutracker.org, the world's largest Russian-language torrents website, the RIA Novosti news agency...

Foreign IT Companies Threaten to Quit Russia Over Restrictive Legislation

Major foreign IT companies could suspend their investment in Russia or withdraw from the country altogether over restrictions in the Russian market, the...

Moscow Mobile Operators Prepare for New Competitor Tele2

Mobile operators are offering better conditions to their users in Moscow before a competitor, Tele2, enters the market on Oct. 22.

Foreign Investment in Russian Commercial Property Hits 7-Year High

Foreign investment in Russian commercial property has hit a seven-year high as the weak ruble has made the market more attractive for international companies...

Transaero Faces New Lawsuits After Deal With Aeroflot Fails

Russia's second-largest airline, Transaero, is facing new claims from its creditors following the failure of takeover deal that would have saved it from...

Russia's Biggest Casino Opens in Far East

The first casino in the far eastern gambling oasis billed as the next Macao has opened its doors to its first clients, the regional government said in...

Russian Government Cracks Down on Counterfeit Alcohol

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a crackdown on counterfeit alcohol products and equipment for their production, in a bid to tackle a rising...

First Moscow Parking Lot Equipped With Electric Car Charger

The first electric car charging point has been installed in a parking lot in Moscow in the latest step by the city's authorities to stimulate an eco-friendly...

Danish Publisher Quits Russian Magazine Business Due to Media Ownership Law

Denmark's Egmont Media Group will transfer its Russian magazine business to a local company, becoming the latest publisher forced to restructure by a law...

Fake Cheese Floods Russian Stores

A little over a year after Russia banned imports of high-quality European dairy products, the country's agricultural watchdog has said that almost 80 percent...

Russians Start Filing for Bankruptcy as New Law Enters Force

Russian courts received their first personal bankruptcy petitions on Thursday, as the country's first ever law allowing individuals to declare themselves...

Chaos Feared as Millions of Russians Gain Right to Go Bankrupt

From Oct. 1, for the first time in the country's history, millions of Russians who cannot pay back their debts will be able to file for bankruptcy...

CTC Media Sells Russian Television Stations to Billionaire Usmanov

Russian billionaire Usmanov will take control of four television stations after a law restricting foreign participation in Russian media forced their owner...

More Foreign Retailers Coming to Russia Despite Economic Crisis

A dramatic decline in consumer spending in recession-hit Russia has not scared foreign retailers away from starting new business in the country, research...

Russia to Get Single Agency to Oversee Copyright

Russia will get a single federal agency to regulate intellectual property rights, sweeping away the more than 20 different government departments that...

Shipping Container Movie Theaters to Tackle Russian Cinema Shortage

Russia's Teterin Film company will launch a chain of budget movie theaters made out of cargo containers, its chief executive told The Moscow Times.

Apartment Sales in Moscow Down 40 Percent as Demand Plummets

Russia's recession has collapsed the capital's housing market, with apartment sales in Moscow falling by 38 percent over June-August compared to the same...

Russian Firm Plans Local Version of Bitcoin Digital Currency

A leading Russian payment services provider is developing the country's first virtual currency — the bitruble.

German Publisher of Forbes Exits Russia Over Media Ownership Law

German publishing house Axel Springer has left the Russian market due to the legislation limiting foreign ownership of the country's media outlets, the...

Moscow Gets First Big Carsharing System to Tackle Traffic Jams

A government-backed carsharing service launched in Moscow last week in the latest effort by City Hall to ease the capital's infamous traffic jams...

Foreign Publishers Quit Russia Over Media Ownership Law

Major foreign media holdings are leaving the Russian market due to legislation passed last year limiting foreign ownership of Russian media.

Global Automakers Launch Exports From Russia Over Ruble Devaluation

Global automakers have started to export cars and auto parts manufactured in Russia after the cost of their production dropped due to the ruble's devaluation...

Euroshop to Become First Foreign Fixed-Price Chain in Russia

Euroshop, a major German fixed-price retail chain, is entering the Russian market as the country's economic downturn stimulates demand for low-price stores...

Sales of Warehouse Property in Russia Boom as Prices Drop

Sales of warehouse properties in Russia are flourishing due to falling prices and increasing demand from discount retailers actively developing their...

Russian Trade Ministry Seeks to Ban Dollar Leases

Russia's Trade and Industry Ministry has prepared legislation that would ban the use of foreign currencies in commercial lease deals, the Vedomosti...

Russian Gas Stations Ordered to Provide Chargers for Electric Cars

Gas stations all across Russia have been ordered to adapt their facilities to provide chargers for the country's electric vehicles — which number just...

Russia Bans Bulgarian Food Imports After Falsified Certificates

Russia has banned imports of all agricultural produce from Bulgaria as of Sept. 1 over forged certificates from the EU country, Russia's agriculture watchdog...

Apple Gets Damages From Russian Companies Selling Counterfeit Goods

U.S. technology giant Apple will receive 1.7 million rubles ($25,000) from four Russian companies that were selling fake products under Apple's brand name...

Clothing Prices in Russia to Rise 20 Percent as Ruble Drops

Clothing and footwear prices in Russia could rise by up to 20 percent starting from September due to the rapid ruble devaluation, according to a study...

Preparing a Child for a School Year Gets Too Expensive For Russian Parents

As Russian children get ready to start a new school year this week, their parents have to cough up a record amount of money to equip them with everything...

Discovery Finds Local Partner to Stay in the Russian Market

U.S. media giant Discovery Communications will set up a joint venture with a Russian media holding, which will allow it to maintain its presence on the...

Wine Prices to Rise in Russia Over Ruble Crisis

The prices of both foreign and domestic wines are set to rise in Russia in the coming weeks because of the weakening ruble.

Foreign Detergent Producers Ask Russian Watchdog to Explain Claims

Foreign manufacturers of household chemicals that have been removed from sale by Russia's consumer rights watchdog have asked the agency to clarify...

Economic Crisis Empties Moscow Central Streets

Even though Moscow retail property owners are increasingly willing to offer favorable lease terms to clients, Moscow's central streets continue to lose...

McDonald's Signs Major Franchising Deal to Expand to Russia's Siberia

U.S. fast food giant McDonald's will significantly expand its chain in Russia's remote Siberian regions after the company signed the first big franchising...

Wife of Moscow's Former Mayor Retains Richest Russian Woman Title

The wife of former Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov, and Russia's only female billionaire, Yelena Baturina topped an annual list of the country's 50 richest women...

Import Substitution Failing On All Fronts, Except Food — Moody's

The Russian government's drive to substitute imports of foreign goods in all key sectors of the economy is failing, with the exception of food production...

France's Auchan Targeted in Food Checks Campaign

Nationwide inspections of the French grocery retailer Auchan launched late last month by a government watchdog have evolved into a high-profile vilification...

Foreign Airlines Quit Russian Market Amid Falling Demand

International airlines are curtailing their activity in Russia as the ruble's sharp devaluation and the country's economic downturn have significantly...

Orthodox Church Calls for Alternative Financial System in Russia

As the Russian economy reels from low oil prices and Western sanctions, the country is seeing rising interest in unorthodox financial solutions, most...

Russian Concerns Over Safety of Palm Oil Prompt Legislative Action

The destruction of banned food imports may be dominating the headlines in Russia, but the debate over another controversial issue — that of palm...

Steven Seagal in Russia to Assess Diamond Producer Alrosa

Steven Seagal, a Hollywood actor often seen in the company of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is visiting Russia's far eastern republic of Sakha in the...

Russia Starts Destroying Confiscated Food Before New Law Comes Into Force

The first batch of sanctioned pork was destroyed in the southern Russian city of Samara three days before the presidential decree ordering the destruction...

Russians Come Up With Alternative Uses for Confiscated Food Items

A controversial presidential decree ordering the destruction of any embargoed Western food discovered being smuggled into the country comes into effect...

Russian Food Prices Stabilize After Months of Racing Inflation

After a year of skyrocketing food prices that have forced many Russians to spend less on what they eat, the cost of many categories of food has...

Crisis Strikes Russia's Traditional Craft Industries

Russia is in danger of losing its traditional folk crafts as enterprises across the country struggle with low profitability, high taxes and a shortage...

Russia's Book Industry Shrinks as Russians Stop Reading

More Russian bookshops are facing closure every year, shaking the publishing industry and threatening writing as a profession.

Russia's Gazprom Sees Gas Output Fall to Record Lows as Demand Slumps

Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom faces a record drop in gas production amid a decline in domestic and export demand and growing competition from other...

Massive Investment to Transform Russia's Legendary Mosfilm Movie Studio

Russia's largest film studio, Mosfilm, has secured a major investment aimed at bringing back its glory days after near collapse in the 1990s.

Despite Crisis, Moscow Beats Out Paris as Europe's Largest Shopping Center Market

Moscow has overtaken Paris to become the European capital with the most shopping center space, even as a recession forces Russians to cut back on consumer...

Russia's Ban on Drift Net Fishing Good for the Environment, Bad for Japan

After years of fierce debate, Russian President Vladimir Putin last week banned the ecologically destructive practice of drift net fishing in the area...

What Does Greece's 'No' Vote Mean for Russia?

As EU leaders gather Tuesday to seek an answer to Greece's sweeping rejection of international bailout terms, Russia —the EU's third-largest trading...