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Articles by Ivan Nechepurenko

European Court Rules in Favor of Anti-Kremlin Protesters

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Russian state violated the European Convention on Human Rights with regard to protesters arrested in...

Russia Using Syria to Overshadow Ukraine, Analysts Say

The recent flood of media reports claiming that Russia is boosting its military presence in Syria has detracted international attention from the Ukraine...

Allegations of Russian Troops Reflect Battle Over Syria's Future

Russia is not planning a full-scale military invasion in Syria, but it will protect its main asset — the regime of President Bashar Assad — to the...

Russia's Regional Elections Marred by Pressure on Observers, Fraud

Multiple violations were registered by independent elections watchdogs during Sunday's regional elections across Russia.

'Sanctions Don't Matter' on Russian Market, Says Germany's BSH CEO

Despite Western sanctions and the economic decline in Russia, what matters for Germany's BSH, one of the largest home appliance producers in the world...

Lack of Manifestos Points to Political Complacency in Russian Regions — Experts

Only five acting governors taking part in elections in 21 Russian regions next week have published electoral manifestos, the Petersburg Politics think...

What Trump as U.S. President Would Mean for Russia

Donald Trump might hope that he will have a great relationship with President Putin if he gets elected into the White House, but the problem is that...

U.S. Is Immoral and Racist, Russians Say in Poll

Russians believe the United States is an immoral and unequal country where people are not warm to each other or are openly racist, a survey by the state-owned...

Putin's Judo Partner to Take Control of Russia's Biggest Airport

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday that will likely place Moscow's second-largest airport, Sheremetyevo, under the control of his businessman...

Security Council Head Orders 'Measures' Against Officials, Who Use WhatsApp, Google

The Secretary of Russia's Security Council Nikolai Patrushev has ordered heads of far eastern regions to “take measures” against government officials...

By Blocking Wikipedia, Russian Government Shows its Power Over Web

After blocking a Wikipedia article for less than than 18 hours, Roskomnadzor removed it from a list of banned webpages on Tuesday in a move that reflects...

Plan to Withdraw Police From Russia's Museums Sparks Fears

An announcement that Russian museums would no longer be guarded by police sparked concern that foreign museums could stop lending their national treasures...

Independent Elections Watchdog Expert Attacked in Moscow

An expert working for a prominent Russian elections watchdog that has been labeled a foreign agent by the Justice Ministry was attacked in a Moscow metro...

New Policy on Commemorating Victims of Repression At Odds With Actions

The government announced a new policy this week condemning attempts to justify mass Soviet repression, a move that appears to directly contradict official...

Russian Police Bust Underground Cheese Factory

Police officers have uncovered a vast illegal factory in the Moscow region that was making cheese using products that are banned from being imported into...

Head of Russia's Mighty Rail Monopoly Looks Set to Step Down

Vladimir Yakunin was nominated as a senator for the upper chamber of the Russian parliament Monday, a position that would oblige him to step down as head...

Attack on Exhibit Sparks Fears New Law Has Empowered Russian Marginals

As Russian lawmakers and Orthodox Church voiced dismay over an attack by activists, many observers said the state was to blame for giving people...

EU Visits to Crimea Reflect Democracy, Not Divisions Over Russia, Say Analysts

The current trend for delegations of European lawmakers visiting Crimea shows that opinion on Russia policy within the EU is far from unanimous, analysts...

Russian Officials Arrested for Murder, Financing Terrorism

A Moscow court ordered the head of a region in Russia's restive republic of Dagestan to remain under arrest Wednesday on suspicion of a catalog of crimes...

Elderly Russian Woman Suspected of Multiple Macabre Murders, Dismemberments

After a St. Petersburg pensioner was detained on suspicion of having dismembered an elderly acquaintance, she confessed that this was only the latest in...

Moscow, Kiev Grapple With Historic Ties to Prince Vladimir

Tuesday marked the passage of a millennium since the death of Vladimir the Great. Leaders of both Kiev and Moscow took advantage of the opportunity to...

Kremlin Set to Create Incubator for Patriotic Superstars – Report

Russia is reportedly to get its own incubator to harvest patriotic pop stars, if a former Soviet rock star gets his way.

Prosecutors in Russia's Far East Want Chinese Culture Center Shut Down

Prosecutors in Russia's far eastern city of Blagoveshchensk have asked the city court to shut down a local branch of the Confucius Institute, an organization...

How Russia's Most Notorious Artist Convinced His Interrogator to Switch Sides

When young investigator Pavel Yasman was tasked with interrogating Russian artist Pyotr Pavlensky, known for his shocking political protest stunts, he...

As Economic Crisis Starts to Bite, Shoplifting Surges in Russia

With real incomes sinking under the weight of Russia's economic crisis, shoplifting has been on the rise across the country, the Izvestia newspaper reported...

French Parliamentarians Head to Crimea for Controversial Visit

French members of parliament have inspired delight in Russia and provoked ire abroad with a planned visit to Crimea, where they are set to arrive Thursday...

Fearing Criminal Prosecution, Chubais Allies Flee Russia – Report

Several men with ties to post-Soviet market reformer and Rusnano founder Anatoly Chubais have fled the country amid mounting fears of a crackdown following...

Russian 'Miss Charming' Loses Title After Being Exposed as Neo-Nazi

After a series of social media postings exposed the Russian Football Premier League's newly crowned “Miss Charming” as a racist, organizers of the...

Divisions Revealed as Kremlin Critic Moves to Work for Ukraine Government

The outcry over prominent Russian Kremlin critic Maria Gaidar's decision to become a deputy to Mikheil Saakashvili, demonstrates the extent to which...

Russian Scientist Hounded by Officials After Buying Banned Substance

When young Russian scientist Dmitry Lopatin ordered a can of solvent from an online store in China last year for work on his design for a new kind...

Russian Scientist Hounded by Officials After Buying Banned Substance


When young Russian scientist Dmitry Lopatin ordered a can of solvent from an online store in China last year for work on his design for a new kind of...

Kremlin Human Rights Council Defends Crimean NGO Against 'Undesirables' List

Russia's Presidential Council for Human Rights has stood up for a small Crimean NGO that was last week included on a list of potential “undesirable organizations”...

Muslim Organization Claims Islamic State Actively Recruiting Fighters in Russia's Far East

Recruiters for feared terrorist organization the Islamic State are actively recruiting new members in Russia's Far East, a regional Muslim organization...

Russian Constitutional Court Determines Moscow Not Bound to All Human Rights Court Rulings

Moscow can refuse to comply with judgments handed down by the European Court of Human Rights in certain cases, Russia's Constitutional Court held Tuesday...

The Romanovs Will Not Reign Again; Russia Already Has Its Tsar – Experts

As calls continue to mount for the former imperial family to make a triumphant return to Russia, pundits told The Moscow Times this would never happen...

Putin Aide Urges Russians to Quit Facebook, Citing Free Speech Concerns

After Facebook blocked the accounts of several prominent Russians for their use of a divisive term for Ukrainians, an aide to President Putin advised...

Russian Senators Propose Ban of 12 Foreign NGOs, Reining In Civil Society

Russian senators released a list Wednesday of 12 foreign NGOs whose work they believe poses a threat to national security, and who should thus be...

Russian Elections Monitor Golos Sees Offices, Staff Homes Searched

A wave of dawn raids was carried out Tuesday at staff homes and the offices of Golos, a respected Russian election-monitoring NGO, as the official...

7 New Laws That Will Change the Face of Russia

Russian lawmakers have kept themselves very busy this year. Over the course of its spring session, which ended Friday, Russia's State Duma passed a total...

Promoters Drop Russian Rock Star for Waving Ukrainian Flag on Stage

After she waved a Ukrainian flag on stage Friday at a Tbilisi concert, Russian venues have shut their doors on beloved rock star Zemfira.

Attack on Chubais Ally Marks Death of Russian Meritocracy – Experts


The criminal case opened against the founder of Russia's key innovations project is directed against its current head Anatoly Chubais, and reflects Russia's...

Putin Urged to Repatriate Up to 40,000 Jews in Crimea

President Vladimir Putin should allow 40,000 Jews living abroad and other migrants who left Crimea before it was annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014...

Russia Only Has Itself to Blame for Lost Influence in Post-Soviet Sphere

As Russian officials blame Western NGOs for protests that have swept the Armenian capital in recent days, analysts argued that Moscow only has itself...

'Russian Kissinger' Yevgeny Primakov Dies at 85

Revered statesman Yevgeny Primakov, a former Russian prime minister who steered the country toward stability after its worst economic collapse in 1998...

'Russian Kissinger' Yevgeny Primakov Dies at 85

Revered statesman Yevgeny Primakov, a former Russian prime minister and foreign minister who steered the country toward stability after its worst economic...

Fears of Chinese Expansion Mar Budding Alliance With Russia

The image of Russia's increasingly friendly relations with China took a hit this week when a regional governor's stated intention to rent out swathes...

Conservative Activists Drive Popular Kubana Festival Out of Russia

One of Russia’s largest rock festivals will be transplanted to the Latvian capital of Riga in light of a recent determination by Kaliningrad regional...

Putin Offers Little Change at Russia's Top Economic Forum

More than a year into an economic firestorm that is pushing Russia into its first recession in six years, the plenary session of Russia's flagship...

Putin Offers No Change at Russia’s Flagship Economic Forum

President Vladimir Putin on Friday failed to announce any decisive action to spur Russia’s economy and ignored calls for comprehensive reform of the...

Lack of Action Questions Forum's Reform Agenda

Amid the grandiose, ambitious slogans of this year's International Economic Forum, which opened Thursday, the need to shift from defining problems...

Russia-China Alliance Could Launch New World Order

Amid the fanfare of Russia's Victory Day celebrations in May, President Putin held a round of talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, signing...

New $27 Million Museum Aims to Push Russian Art Into Global Limelight

As politicians and church leaders trumpet Russia's role as a guardian of conservative social values in a world drowning in obscenity, the country's...

Poll: Russians Dislike West About as Much as Westerners Dislike Russia

A staggering majority of Russians view the West negatively, and the feeling is mutual, a poll conducted by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center revealed...

Criminal Case Opened Against Opposition Lawmaker Ponomaryov

Russian federal investigators have launched a criminal case against opposition-minded State Duma Deputy Ilya Ponomaryov, who moved to the United States...

Beleaguered Russian Science Foundation Dynasty Delays Decision on Closure

Beleaguered science organization the Dynasty Foundation, which has been grappling in recent days with whether or not to shut its doors, announced that...

Sky News Denies Claim It Self-Censored Due to Putin Decree

Despite media claims to the contrary, Sky News did not postpone its report about Russian soldiers that allegedly perished in Ukraine, a spokesperson...

No Peaceful End in Sight for Ukraine, Analysts Say

Diplomacy will be essential to ending the ongoing Ukraine conflict, but more than a year into it the key stakeholders in the crisis lack the political...

Rare Russian Bastion of Independent Media Suffers Identity Crisis

As several top commentators publicly severed ties with Ekho Moskvy, experts speculated that the editorial policies of Russia's leading independent radio...

Longtime American Expat Denied Re-Entry to St. Petersburg

During a routine passport inspection at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport, a U.S. citizen who had lived in the city for more than two decades was informed...

Czech, Slovak Officials Angered by Russian Documentary on 1968 Invasion

Czech and Slovak officials have voiced anger over the way Russian state television depicted the 1968 Moscow-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in a recent...

Anarchist Russian Farmer to Defend His Village Currency in Court

Mikhail Shlyapnikov, a farmer in the isolated Russian village of Kolionovo, began printing kolions, exchange notes to be used by villagers instead...

Russian Oligarchs' Exes Battle for Former Husbands' Fortunes

As Russia's richest man, Vladimir Potanin, prepares to go to court over his ex-wife's divorce settlement, lawyers say there's no risk of her winning...

Soviet Tradition of Snitching Makes Comeback in Russia

Last week Anna Reshyotkina, editor-in-chief of a glossy magazine in Yekaterinburg, was unexpectedly summoned to the Prosecutor's Office for a 30-minute...

Putin Classifying Troop Losses Proves They're in Ukraine – Analysts

Legal amendments introduced Thursday that classify as state secrets any losses sustained during peacetime special operations are further confirmation of Russia's...

Risque Miss Russia Photo Shoot Prompts Prosecutorial Probe

Prosecutors in the Sverdlovsk region have launched an investigation after Miss Russia was pictured draped in material resembling the Russian flag on the...

Death of Novorossia: Why Kremlin Abandoned Ukraine Separatist Project

Standing in front of a small Moscow church last September, President Vladimir Putin told journalists that he had lit candles inside for people who had...

Russians Honor Deceased Poet Brodsky on His 75th Birthday

Sunday marked what would have been the 75th birthday of beloved poet Joseph Brodsky, Russia's most recent Nobel Prize winner in literature.

Independent Radio Station Ekho Moskvy's Founding Editor Quits Amid Scandal

The founding editor of Ekho Moskvy, Russia's leading talk-radio station, has resigned from his post citing the deterioration of journalistic standards...

Shoigu at 60: The Man Who Would Be Russia's King?

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, a close ally, friend and rumored potential successor of President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, turned 60...

Amid Heightened Scrutiny, Kadyrov Urges Chechen Men to Lock Up Their Wives

A member of the Presidential Human Rights Council called for a probe Wednesday into the recent scandal-mired wedding between a Chechen police chief...

Putin Calls for Purer Russian Language, Free of Foreign-Derived Words

President Vladimir Putin advocated the preservation of the Russian language on Tuesday, criticizing the use of foreign-based words online and on...

U.S. Man Sentenced for Rape of Adopted Russian Daughter

An American man received a three-year prison sentence and a seven-year suspended sentence in the American state of Georgia for the rape of his adopted...

Chechen Teen Bride Gripes to Prosecutors Over Media Firestorm

The 17-year-old bride has filed a complaint with Chechen prosecutors against the investigative reporter who first exposed the scandal on a national...

Freshly Emboldened Russia Poses 'Enduring Global Challenge' – NATO Military Chief

NATO must pursue a long-term policy that would deter a resurgent Russia, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander of U.S. European Command Philip...

Kerry Brings Cautious Signs of Russia Detente to NATO Meeting

After his visit to Sochi on Tuesday for talks with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry...

The Indelible Mark of World War II on Modern Russia

Victory Day hits a raw nerve among Russians, likely owing to the fact that the vast majority of Russian families have been acutely impacted by World...

Russia's Media Offensive Seen by the West as Real Threat

Western governments and institutions are scrambling to devise a commensurate response to Russia's state-run media offensive, analysts told The Moscow...

Russian Militant Loyal to Islamic State Killed in Dagestan

A Dagestani militant commander believed to have joined forces with terrorist organization the Islamic State has been killed by Russian security forces...

Russian Climbers Missing on Everest in Wake of Nepal's Deadly Earthquake

At least four Russian mountain climbers have been reported missing on Mount Everest following a major earthquake in Nepal that killed more than 2,350 people...

Kadyrov Authorizes His Police to Shoot Officers From Other Parts of Russia

Chechnya's notoriously outspoken leader Ramzan Kadyrov has told his top law enforcement officers they can open fire at officers from other parts of Russia...

Amnesty of Russian Prisoners Won't Include Corporate Raiding Victims

An amnesty bill that passed by the State Duma in its first reading Wednesday will exclude numerous entrepreneurs who were put behind bars as a result...

Russian Ultranationalists Get Life Sentences for Slew of Hate Killings

Three members of the Militant Organization of Russian Nationalists, whose members committed a series of shocking high-profile hate murders, were given...

Western Rejection Rains on Russia's Victory Day Parade

The Kremlin's iconic watchtower has been renovated especially for the occasion, but a host of world leaders have rejected invitations to Russia's...

Russian Problems Take Precedence Over Ukraine During Putin's Annual Show

The state of the Russian economy and the lives of ordinary people took precedence over foreign policy and the Ukraine crisis during President Vladimir...

Russian Release of 'Child 44' Canceled for Being 'Negative' About Soviet Union

A major Russian film distribution company has decided to cancel Russian showings of the British film "Child 44" that depicts a Soviet secret services...

Putin Prepares to Field Questions at Annual Call-In

President Vladimir Putin took a day off from public meetings Wednesday to prepare for his epic annual live call-in show Thursday.

Despite Confrontation, Russia Still Looks to West for Approval

Despite the ongoing confrontation with the West over Ukraine, Russian leaders still see it as the ultimate source of prestige and approval, analysts...

Hillary Clinton as U.S. President 'Wouldn't Fix' Russia-U.S. Relationship

Should Hillary Clinton — who once compared President Putin to Adolf Hitler — become the next U.S. president, no improvement should be expected in U...

European Opera Houses Weigh In on Russian Theater Scandal

The heads of leading German opera houses have spoken out in protest against the Russian culture minister's decision to fire a theater director over...

Analysts: To the Kremlin, Foreign Meddling a Greater Threat Than Graft

As far as the Kremlin is concerned, foreign meddling poses a greater threat to the country than corruption does, analysts said Wednesday.

Kremlin Reliance on the Russian Orthodox Church May Backfire, Analysts Say

While the Russian federal government's reliance on the Orthodox Church is a tool aimed at consolidating society, in using it the authorities risk...

Putin: Education Should Inspire Patriotic Fervor in Young Russians

President Putin has vowed to instruct the Education Ministry to shore up patriotism among Russia's youth by way of captivating curriculums and academic...

Putin Refused Poroshenko’s Offer to ‘Take Donbass’ — Forbes

President Putin in February turned down an offer from his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko to “take Donbass,” asking Poroshenko whether he was...

Moscow Clubs Refuse to Host Tribute Concert to Slain Russian Opposition Leader Nemtsov


Moscow clubs and concert venues have refused to host a concert in remembrance of the politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead in central Moscow at...

Russia Shouldn't Put All Its Middle East Eggs in Iran's Basket, Warn Experts


Siding with Iran completely significantly limits Moscow's options in future conflicts in the Middle East, analysts say.

Experts: Putin's New Ethnic Affairs Agency Aims to Thwart Political Threats


A government agency charged with maintaining interethnic and interfaith harmony in Russia is a bid to prevent foreign powers and internal opposition...

Fear Makes People Support Putin, But They Will Demand More – Experts


President Vladimir Putin's sky-high approval ratings are often puzzling to Western politicians and pundits. Some refuse to believe that the president's...

Cultural Figures Demand Minister's Sacking Over Opera Scandal


Leading cultural figures have called for the dismissal of Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, saying his position on a controversial opera production...

Amid Acts of Vandalism, Activists Appeal for Permanent Nemtsov Memorial

As opposition activists scramble to fix defilements to a memorial to Boris Nemtsov, city authorities are being urged to install a permanent memorial...

Russian Cultural Elite Wants Medinsky Fired for Interfering With Wagner Opera Production

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky fired on Sunday the director of a Novosibirsk opera house that for weeks has been embroiled in scandal over a production...

Putin Urges FSB: Harder, Faster, Stronger

Western governments will attempt to discredit and destabilize Russia, but their efforts will be futile, President Vladimir Putin told Russia's top security...

Massive Manhunt for Vladivostok Fugitive Ends in Suicide

A Vladivostok prisoner who had been on the lam since his violent escape earlier this week, terrorizing the city with a days-long crime spree, ended...

Wagner Opera Scandal Reflects Deep Divide in Russian Society

An avant-garde production of a Wagner opera that has seen Russian Orthodox activists declare war on the liberal intelligentsia is a sign of things...

Internal Rifts in Ukraine Play in Russia's Favor – Analysts

When the incoming Ukrainian government faced the threat of sweeping separatism in the country's eastern regions one year ago, pugnacious billionaire...

Four Russians Deported From Turkey for Alleged Attempt to Join Islamic State in Syria

Four Russians have been deported from Turkey after attempting to cross the Turkey-Syria border illegally in order to join the Islamic State terrorist...

Culture Ministry to Probe 'Blasphemous' Novosibirsk Opera

Russia's Culture Ministry announced plans Wednesday to launch a probe into a beleaguered Novosibirsk production of Richard Wagner's "Tannhauser," which...

Russia Will Overcome Post-Crimea Challenges, Putin Vows

With the Kremlin walls glowing crimson in the background Wednesday, Putin praised tens of thousands of adulating fans for their support of Russia's...

Predicting the Future With Russia's Economic Nostradamus

Mikhail Dmitriyev, president of the New Economic Growth consultancy, is often described as "Russia's top brain."

East Ukrainian War Refugees Seek Solace in Crimea

As Sergei Gabuyev watched a Donetsk street fight devolve into a sea of AK-47 fire in front of the city's central bus station one evening, he knew...

Putin's Rattling of the Nuclear Saber Shows Ukraine Is Non-Negotiable

The revelation Sunday that Putin had been prepared to bring nuclear weapons into a state of alert makes one thing clear: Russia won't give up on Ukraine...

Putin Mourns Death of Famed Writer Valentin Rasputin

President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to relatives and friends of Valentin Rasputin, a revered Russian writer who passed away Saturday...

Poroshenko Submits Resolution on Self-Governance in East Ukraine

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko submitted a draft resolution to parliament Saturday aiming to establish certain areas in the rebel-held east that...

Russia Gives Up On Burnishing Its Image in West

The "information war" against Russia makes any efforts to improve the country's image in the West futile, a Kremlin spokesman said Thursday.

Nemtsov Probe Exposes Widening Rift Between Kadyrov, FSB

The Boris Nemtsov murder investigation is the latest episode of an ongoing struggle between Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Russia's federal law...

Architect of Moscow's Face-Lift Sergei Kapkov Quits His Post

Sergei Kapkov, Moscow's culture head who changed the face of the Russian capital during the past four years, resigned from his post Tuesday.

Decoding the Political Game Behind the Nemtsov Murder Arrests

As the man suspected of having gunned down opposition leader Boris Nemtsov steps from the Kremlin allegedly confessed on Sunday, pundits agreed that...

One Year After the Annexation, Crimea Still Bracing for a Brighter Future

A year after Russia annexed their peninsula from Ukraine, Crimeans are overwhelmingly upbeat about their future.

Russian Students Say State Has Stopped Paying Their Stipends

More than 40 Russian universities have delayed stipend payments to their students since the beginning of the year, student rights ombudsman Artyom Khromov...

Feeding Trough Frenzy to Blame for Russian Governor's Arrest, Analysts Say

The governor of Russia's far eastern island of Sakhalin has been detained in connection with a bribery case and flown to Moscow where a court will consider...

No Answers as Thousands Pay Boris Nemtsov Last Respects

Thousands of Muscovites and international politicians flocked to the Sakharov human rights center in Moscow on Tuesday to pay their last respects...

Ukrainian Model Duritskaya Speaks Out on Nemtsov Murder

Anna Duritskaya, who was walking with opposition leader Nemtsov when he was shot dead on Friday evening, told media Monday that investigators are forcing...

Thousands March in Honor of Slain Opposition Activist Nemtsov (Video)

A sea of mourning Muscovites marched silently through downtown Moscow on Sunday in honor of Boris Nemtsov, one of Putin's most virulent critics, who was...

Analysts Blame Nemtsov's Death on Russia's 'Legitimized Hate'

Boris Nemtsov's death outside the Kremlin on Friday night reveals the deep sense of alienation between various political forces in Russia and shows...

Ousted Ukraine Officials Enjoy Life of Luxury in Moscow

One year ago, when Ukraine's beleaguered fourth President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev, he had limited options in terms of where he could seek refuge...

Debaltseve Was Fatal Flaw in Minsk Agreement on Ukraine

When the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France spent 17 hours last week negotiating an agreement aimed at stopping the fighting in eastern...

Russia Is Americans' Biggest Enemy, Poll Shows

In the eyes of Americans, Russia has surpassed North Korea as the main enemy of the United States, a new Gallup poll reveals.

Russia's Anti-Drugs Body Set for Chop Amid Narcotics Epidemic

The Russian government is likely to disband the Federal Drug Control Service, according to an official document obtained by The Moscow Times.

Minsk Talks Offer Cease-Fire, But No Peace

The 16-hour marathon of overnight talks resulted in an agreement to end fighting in Ukraine, but stopped short of offering a long-lasting solution...

Analysts: A Simple Cease-Fire Won't Bring Lasting Peace to Ukraine

With all eyes on Minsk as world leaders convened Wednesday night for key talks on the Ukraine crisis, analysts urged the imperative of a fundamental...

Why the Ukraine Crisis Hinges On the U.S. Election

The outcome of the Ukraine crisis talks in Minsk on Wednesday depends on whether the United States is prepared to exert enough influence on the...

How the U.S. Struggles to Crack the Putin Code

"Who is Mr. Putin?" The ongoing Ukraine conflict has breathed new life into a question that has long stumped Western policymakers and analysts.

Council of Europe Exit to Cut Russia Away From Europe

As Moscow considers cutting ties with the Council of Europe, much hangs in the balance: from the rights of ordinary Russians, to the future of regional...

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Shows Soft Side With New Set of Poetry

Aspiring poet Sergei Lavrov, who happens also to be Russia's foreign minister, released a series of poems Wednesday on the theme of emigration and the...

Fate of Russian Hostages in Sudan Hangs in the Balance

As news broke that two Russian nationals had been kidnapped in Sudan's Darfur region, experts diverged on Moscow's standard practice for recovering...

How Putin Managed to Dodge the Blame for Russia's Recession

The economy may be in serious trouble, but Russians continue to trust and support President Vladimir Putin, and analysts say this is because he represents...

Gorbachev Warns of Threat of 'Hot War' With U.S.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, warned that Russia and the United States may be teetering on the brink of a "hot war" in comments...

Russian Defense Ministry Releases Trove of Secret Auschwitz Documents

As the world reflected on the horrors of the Nazi regime on Tuesday — International Holocaust Remembrance Day — Russia seized the opportunity...

PACE Beefs Up Security After Attack on Russian Communists

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) implemented heightened security measures Tuesday after a pair of Ukrainian nationalist...

Holocaust Survivor Continues to Struggle in Russia

In March 1944, when the first Soviet liberator set foot on the grounds of Pechora — a Nazi death camp in Ukraine — 6-year-old survivor Aron Zusman...

Shelling of Mariupol Ups the Ante in Ukraine

As fire rained down on Ukraine's east over the weekend, Russian, Ukrainian, and Western leaders demonstrated a readiness to raise the stakes in a...

How Poland Kept Putin Away From the Auschwitz Memorial

As controversy runs rampant over President Vladimir Putin's anticipated absence from the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the ceremony...

Lavrov: Russia to Push Ukraine Agenda Until Bitter End

Russia is determined to play a leading role in the new multipolar world that the United States relentlessly opposes and will not give up on Ukraine...

Ten New Laws That Will Affect Your Life in Russia in 2015

New year, new you: An expression that has taken on a special meaning for those living in Russia, where a plethora of new laws entered into effect...

Russian Universities Hike Tuition Fees

Amid a currency crisis and spiraling inflation rates, some Russian universities have sought to cut losses by increasing tuition fees, sometimes by 30...

Analysts Predict a Russian Descent Into Madness

President Vladimir Putin cannot afford at this point to reform the political system he has built up, as doing so would undermine his grip on power...

Oil Price Drop Puts Russia's Arctic Drive in Question

While governors of Russia's Arctic regions agreed that the development of the Arctic would be the "next space program," there are fears that the recent...

Russian Prime Minister Scorns Fears, But Fails to Present Strategy at Economic Forum

While Medvedev radiated confidence that Russia would be able to make changes to its economy, members of his government indicated that they do not have...

Russia's Economic Crisis to Dominate Top-Level Gaidar Forum

Against the backdrop of a looming recession, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, other top government officials and international experts will gather at the...

2014: Epic Year for Russia's Foreign Affairs

A year that began in a flash of Olympic glitz and glory is ending on a much darker note, amid an economic meltdown aggravated by the tensest diplomatic...

Ex Finance Minister Kudrin Offers Gloomy Prediction for Russia

Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin predicted that the Russian economy will contract for the next two years and offered his own plan on how to alleviate...

2015 to Test Putin's Claim of Moral Superiority

Speaking to hundreds of journalists from across Russia and around the globe in Moscow last Thursday, President Vladimir Putin reiterated his stance...

Putin Confident Russia En Route to Recovery Without Reforms

Beaming confidence, Putin refrained from seizing the opportunity to announce any sweeping policy reforms with regard to Russia's economic crisis during...

Who Are the Winners of Russia's Ruble Meltdown?

The Russian ruble's spectacular falls this year have been relentlessly portrayed as bad news. But with the ruble now down some 45 percent against the U...

Ultraconservative Lawmaker Hunts for Teens at Gay Club

With the help of a local squad of riot police, controversial St. Petersburg lawmaker Vitaly Milonov fought his way into a local gay club as it hosted a...

Medvedev: In 2014, Crimean Annexation, Sochi Olympics Outshone Grim Economic Situation

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev struck an optimistic note throughout a 1 1/2-hour news conference Wednesday, drawing attention to what he viewed as Russia's...

Khodorkovsky Speech Aired in St. Pete Hotel Despite Chaos

It seems St. Petersburg authorities on Sunday did not want a Holiday Inn conference room to show a speech by one of President Putin's most prominent...

Putin Promises Controlled Freedom in Face of Western Containment

Putin told the nation on Thursday that Russia's ongoing clash with the West was inevitable and will only make the country stronger by mobilizing...

5 Questions for Russia's Putin Ahead of State of Nation Speech

Putin's annual state of the union address on Thursday takes place at a time of economic pain and international isolation unprecedented during the Russian...

Why Germany Is No Longer Russia's Best Western Friend

Germany has been Russia's key partner in Europe since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but there are signs that Berlin is prepared to change this...

Number of Russians With HIV to Reach 1 Million by 2016

Every day more than 200 new cases of HIV are registered in Russia, and by the end of 2015 the number of HIV-positive Russians will exceed 1 million...

4 Russian Journalists, Activist Seek Asylum in West, Citing Anti-LGBT Abuse

Three journalists and an LGBT activist have fled Russia in recent days, seeking asylum in Germany and the U.S. on the basis of alleged homophobic...

Iran Talks Show Why West Still Needs Russia

Monday's negotiations on Iran's nuclear program failed to yield a deal and resulted in Iran, Russia, the U.S., China, Britain and Germany setting...

Gorbachev on Russia and Ukraine: 'We Are One People' (Exclusive)

Many people who send letters to the first and last president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, still write on the envelope: "To the Secretary...

Putin's Early Departure From G20 Summit a 'Mistake'

Putin made an early departure Sunday from the two-day G20 Summit, after fielding an abundance of criticism from Western leaders over Russia's allegedly...

Senior Prosecutor Questioned Over Link to Motorway Murders

A top official in the Prosecutor General's Office has been suspended and questioned over his links to a series of motorway murders outside Moscow...

China Favored to Win U.S.-Russia Showdown

In what appears to have been an expertly crafted demonstration of Eastern diplomacy, Chinese President Xi Jinping walked into the APEC summit on Monday...

Q&A: Moscow's Hipster Culture Minister Defies Russia's Isolation (Video)

To anyone wandering around Moscow's giant Manezh exhibition hall during the city's first International Culture Forum this month, it was obvious where...

Russian Journalists Move to Riga to Escape Kremlin Control

Seven months ago, Lenta.ru was riding a wave of success as Russia's most-visited news website.

Putin's Glamour Deemed Threat to National Security

In 2009, during his stint as prime minister, President Vladimir Putin flirted with being a columnist at literary magazine Russky Pioner, famous for its...

Putin Immune to Economic Decline – So Far

Most of Russia's indicators of economic health have plummeted this year. Inflation last month was at its highest level in three years and the ruble...

In Russia, 'Lots of Scientists, Little Science'

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, five Russian scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics.

Drugs Kill Most Russians That Die Young

Drugs claim the lives of the overwhelming majority of Russians who die young, a leading official told a television interviewer Saturday.

How to Become a Russian Spy

When a young Vladimir Putin decided to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a spy, he headed to the local branch of the KGB in Soviet Leningrad...

'Same-Sex Adoption' Killed U.S.-Russian FLEX Exchange Program

The Russian government has reportedly decided to pull out of the FLEX student exchange program due to an alleged same-sex adoption of a Russian teen...

Kremlin Human Rights Council Slams Russia's New Foreign Media Bill

Citing legislative inconsistencies, the Presidential Council on Civil Society and Human Rights lambasted a recently passed bill that threatens to strictly...

Russian Activists Prevented From Leaving Country by Torn Passports

Five rights advocates were reportedly prevented from leaving Russia to attend a UN-organized conference taking place in New York this week.

Russia's Mikhail Khodorkovsky Gears Up for the Long Game

Former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky may well succeed in realizing his political ambition, politicians and analysts told The Moscow Times.

Khodorkovsky Declares Sudden Political Comeback


Former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky declared his ambition over the weekend to play a leading role in steering Russia down the path toward European-style...

Bill to Cut Foreign Stakes in Russian Media Sends Ripples Through Business World

A draft bill limiting foreign ownership of Russian media assets to 20 percent will reshape the market and damage both media freedom and the business...

Arrest of Russian Billionaire Shows Return of 'Predatory' Capitalism

The arrest of Vladimir Yevtushenkov will deal another blow to Russia's already decimated investment climate and is emblematic of the state's attitude...

Ukraine's Threat to Go Nuclear Is 'Hot Air'

It would take years, hundreds of millions of dollars and a willingness to become a global outcast for Ukraine to enact the possibility voiced Sunday...

Security Camera Captures Prominent Russian Lawyer's Cold-Blooded Murder

A lawyer made famous by her roster of Russian celebrity clients was murdered in front of her apartment building in central Moscow over the weekend...

Russian Foreign Ministry Slams French Court For Acquitting Topless Activists

Russia's Foreign Ministry blasted France for its "double standards" following a Parisian court's decision to release nine Femen activists who stormed...

Opportunities Presented by 9/11 Lost 13 Years On

Two hours after the first airliner flew into the World Trade Center towers in New York City 13 years ago, Vladimir Putin called George W. Bush to offer...

Russia Offered as a Conservative Bulwark Against Repugnant West

In choosing conservative values, Russia represents "the final hope" for the modern world, which has been corrupted by the Western debauchery of individualism...

Kiev Official Claims 'Kidnapped' Ukrainian Pilot on Hostage Swap List

A Ukrainian helicopter pilot who Moscow claims is a suspected accomplice to murder and Kiev claims was illegally smuggled to Russia by rebel forces...

MH17 Report Leaves Crucial Questions Unanswered

As pro-Russian separatists and official Kiev cobbled together a fragile cease-fire agreement last week, an international team of investigators put...

Putin Signs Order Reshuffling Powers Among Ministries

President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev agreed on a major reshuffling of government agencies on Monday.

Decrepit Historic Buildings Cast Shadow Over Moscow Day Festivities

Dozens of historic buildings have been demolished in Moscow since Mayor Sergei Sobyanin entered office in 2010, according to a list compiled by Arkhnadzor...

Putin and Poroshenko Take Step Towards Freezing Conflict in Ukraine's East

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed by phone on a "permanent cease-fire regime"...

Russian Cultural Figures Targeted as New Opposition

With Russia's political opposition either sidelined or splintered over Russian policy in Ukraine, dissenting cultural figures have become the new focus...

Decade After Beslan, Questions Remain Unanswered

The children who set off for their first day of school 10 years ago in the small Caucasus town of Beslan, North Ossetia will graduate from high...

NATO Expansion Plan Brings Back Iron Curtain Era

NATO will set up new bases in Eastern Europe in an attempt to deter President Vladimir Putin from meddling in the internal affairs of countries that...

Russia Claims Captured Soldiers Crossed Ukraine Border by Accident

The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that the ten Russian paratroopers captured by Ukrainian security services in the country's east are indeed Russian...

Ukraine Compromise on the Table in Minsk

After months of a bloody struggle over the fate of Ukraine, all sides in the conflict will attempt to initiate a tangible diplomatic resolution to the...

Public Spats Over Ukraine Reflect Lack of Unity in Russian Opposition

A public clash between a dissident politician and veteran rock musician this week over Russia's role in the Ukraine conflict reflects the broader...

'Putin's Italian Architect' Granted Russian Citizenship

President Vladimir Putin has issued a presidential order granting Russian citizenship to Italian architect Lanfranco Cirillo, who earlier confirmed he...

Dolgov: U.S. Should Worry About Human Rights in Ferguson First

Russia's Foreign Ministry lashed out this week at the U.S. over clashes between police and protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, saying the U.S. should...

Ukraine Resolution Depends on Fighting, Not Negotiations, Analysts Say

Fighting raged in eastern Ukraine on Monday even as diplomats said they had made progress in finding a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

Long Line for Ferry to Crimea Turns Deadly

A man died and a woman ended up in a hospital in separate incidents in the line for the ferry between the Krasnodar region and the recently annexed...