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Articles by Roland Oliphant

Ministry Says Bison Killed to 'Discredit Park Management'

The European bison killed by an apparent overdose of amphetamines and caffeine may have been the victim of a hit to discredit the nature reserve's...

Mysterious Bison Death Fuels Corruption Row

An adult female European Bison turned around and leisurely defecated in the direction of a group of tourists from Moscow.

Truck Traffic Restrictions to Bring Questions and Costs

A plan to ban heavy trucks from the Moscow Ring Road during daylight hours could cause massive traffic jams in the Moscow region, increase the cost...

NSCP Management Vows Not to Be Distracted by Shareholder Dispute

The embattled management of Russia's largest Black Sea port has insisted that it will press ahead with ambitious growth plans despite calls for a change...

Relatives of Dead to Sue Russian Railways Over Dangerous Crossing

Bereaved relatives are preparing a class action suit against Russian Railways over dozens of deaths at a railway crossing in the Moscow region.

Less Booze, More Comfort For Travelers Using New Vnukovo Terminal

A complete ban on alcohol sales at airports and on board aircraft could make air travel more expensive, a Moscow airport executive said Wednesday...

Heaviest Snowfall in a Century Hits Moscow

The heaviest snowfall in a century brought Moscow and the surrounding region to a near standstill and left hundreds of people without power, officials...

Employment Dispute Highlights Shortage of Skilled Pilots

An employment dispute between Russia's largest airline and an outspoken union leader has highlighted a sharpening confrontation between pilots and Russia's...

Aeroflot Plans Lawsuit Sue Over Boeing 777-ER Delay

Aeroflot could sue the Federal Civil Aviation Agency for hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages after the national carrier's newest airliner...

Church Seeks to Restrict Access to Solovki

Access to the Solovetsky islands, home to one of Russia's most important monasteries, could be restricted in a bid to preserve the archipelago's...

Thais Rail Against Russian-Owned Businesses

Hundreds of protesters on the Thai island of Phuket, a popular destination for Russian tourists, on Monday expressed displeasure with "Russian-owned"...

City to Landscape Vacant Lots

Residents of several city neighborhoods may soon enjoy new parkland thanks to City Hall's decision to landscape and plant greenery on disused construction...

Skolkovo Graduate Plans Recycling Revolution in Primorye

The Primorye region, well-known as a refuge for endangered species like Amur tigers and leopards, might become a mecca for ecofriendly business under...

Tetra Pak Promotes Sustainable Forestry

Nikolai Zinovyev thinks you have to be slightly crazy to be a wildlife photographer.

Russia to Submit Arctic Claims by Year's End

The federal government will submit its final Arctic territorial claims with the United Nations by the end of the year, the country's leading Arctic...

$3.3Bln to Clean Up Soviet Pollution

The government is preparing to allocate 100 billion rubles ($3.3 billion) to clean up pollution left over by Soviet-era industry.

Report Says $30Bln in Annual Infrastructure Savings Possible

Russia could save more than $30 billion a year out of the $1.5 trillion it has earmarked for infrastructure spending by 2030 through simple efficiencies...

Ministers Offered WTO Training

Government ministers were offered a free crash course in WTO rules after one of the country's most senior financiers savaged officials for failing...

Aeroflot, Transaero Undeterred by Dreamliner Woes

The global grounding of Boeing's flagship 787 Dreamliner has not deterred Russian airlines from buying the aircraft, the country's two largest airlines...

'Living' Resources to Get Consolidated Ministry

Environmentalists have cautiously welcomed plans to create a new ministry to run the country's fisheries, forestry and hunting sectors, but warned...

State Finds Cure for Hangover

The Health Ministry's chief narcologist, Yevgeny Bryun, warned Monday that it would take a month for many Russians to recover from the excesses of New...

History Repeated Itself as Farce in 2012

Two hundred years ago this month, the miserable shreds of Napoleon's Grande Armee shuffled out of Russian territory, thanking their lucky stars they had...

Scramble for the Arctic to Dominate Environmental Agenda

2012 saw the climate-change-fueled dash for the Arctic’s riches dominate the environmental agenda.

Vnukovo Airport Launches $1.4Bln Terminal

The authorities might have deemed Christ the Savior Cathedral as inappropriate for a Pussy Riot performance, but they have chosen it as the venue to celebrate...

Magnitsky Act Sparks Russian Fury

Russia will impose a visa ban on U.S. citizens accused of human rights abuses in response to the "absurd" trade and human rights bill passed by the...

Russia Likely to Soften Emissions Targets

Russia is expected to announce targets of cutting its carbon emissions to between 15 and 25 percent below 1990 levels when chief negotiator Alexander...

Forest Workers Getting Pay Raises, but Tasks Remain Daunting

Forestry workers can expect a pay raise next year as the government seeks to get a grip on the endemic wildfire problem and widespread illegal logging...

Q&A: Economist Wermuth Keeps Shepherding Progress

After nearly two decades in and out of Russia, Jochen Wermuth no longer pretends to be a disinterested observer.

British Want to Up Exports to Russia as Europe Slows

British officials are hoping to capitalize on the success of the London Olympics by selling their event expertise to the organizers of the Sochi...

Official Says Rate of Road Construction Extremely Slow

It will take 1,000 years to build a decent road network at current rates of construction, a top official has said.

Medvedev Motorist 'Megafine' Spurs Disdain

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was showered by a wave of ridicule and negative public sentiment on Monday following a weekend tirade against bad driving...

Ambitious Wind Farm Plan Unveiled

A scheme to build massive wind farms in Russia's Arctic northwest and sell the resulting electricity to Europe could kick-start the country's renewable...

Russia's Miss Earth Contestant Speaks Her Mind

Russia's delegate to the Miss Earth beauty pageant this week made international waves with an essay eviscerating her home country as a "beggar" and a...

Magnitsky Act 'Law by New Year'

U.S. President Barack Obama could sign the Magnitsky act into law by the end of this year, backers of the bill have said.

Russian Railways Fined Over Freight Services

The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service has hit Russian Railways with a 2.2 billion ruble ($69 million) fine following complaints from businesses reliant on...

Professionals, Activists Question Duty-Free Ban

Aviation professionals and consumer rights activists have reacted with bemusement to plans to ban passengers from carrying duty-free alcohol on board...

Muscovites Getting Used to Paid Parking

Yelena, a freelance consultant who lives in central Moscow, was trying to get the hang of the city's first automated paid-parking system. And it...

Wine Importers Battle Advertising Ban, Import Tariffs

Censorship is often imposed for malicious reasons — a crackdown on political enemies, thought control or social engineering.

Richard Branson Invests in Russian Green Growth

British tycoon Richard Branson and Rusnano chief Anatoly Chubais have launched a $200 million investment fund to back green growth and energy-efficiency...

New Putin Limo Unveiled

After six full years of development, President Vladimir Putin finally has a car more beautiful than U.S. President Barack Obama's.

Aeroflot Could Create Budget Carrier Within A Year

Aeroflot could start a low-cost airline in less than a year and is also willing to sacrifice its monopoly on more than 30 international routes.

Government to Crack Down on Animal Trafficking

Legislation to criminalize trafficking in endangered species or their body parts could be put before parliament as early as next summer, Deputy Natural...

Bill Allowing Foreign Pilots Is in the Works

The Transportation Ministry is drawing up a bill to allow Russian airlines to employ foreign pilots in a bid to tackle a chronic shortage of qualified...

Rosneft Deal Yields Individual Riches and Fearsome Bears

Rosneft’s acquisition of TNK-BP has reportedly made Viktor Vekselberg Russia’s wealthiest man and gives the state back control of the oil industry...

$61 Billion Deal Makes Rosneft the Largest Publicly Traded Oil Firm

Rosneft chief Igor Sechin proclaimed the “third-largest deal” in history as the state-owned oil firm put together a $61 billion scheme that will see...

New Tiger Reserve Opened as State Unveils $11Bln Environmental Program

Environmentalists have welcomed the creation of a new nature reserve for Amur tigers in the Russian Far East as a key step toward preserving the species...

Medvedev Mulls Ending Kyoto Role

President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a review of Russia's involvement in the Kyoto Protocol, raising the possibility that the country could finally...

Business Lobbying for Kyoto Emissions Role

Representatives of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Economic Development Ministry and state-owned banks VTB and Sberbank...

Medvedev Declares War on Smoking

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev launched a “war on smoking” Tuesday and promised a British-style smoking ban in the highest-profile attack by a government...

Onishchenko: Kefir and Cars Don't Mix

Drivers who think they scrupulously avoid a drink before getting behind the wheel may nonetheless be endangering the lives of others — if they have...

Carlsberg to Invest $32M in Green Projects

Carlsberg Group, the nation's largest beer producer with its Baltika brand, plans to invest a billion rubles ($32 million) in environmental protection...

Ministry Mulls Hiring Foreign Pilots

The Transportation Ministry is considering throwing the doors open to foreign airline pilots in a bid to tackle a growing shortage of qualified...

Kiosk Owners Want Putin to Halt Tobacco and Beer Bans

The Coalition of Kiosk Owners said Wednesday that it would submit a 165,000-signature petition to President Vladimir Putin this week to halt pending...

Altai and Chechnya 'Greenest Economies' in New Integrated Index

The Altai republic and Chechnya have the cleanest economies in Russia.

Roads to Take Precedence Over Homes

City Hall will give priority to road-building over new home construction in the expanded Moscow.

Gazprom Neft Delays Arctic Drilling for Safety Reasons

Gazprom Neft has delayed the start of oil operations at its offshore Prirazlomnoye oil field due to safety concerns.

Russian Railways Moves Closer to French Logistics Purchase

Russian Railways has entered into exclusive negotiations to buy PSA Peugeot-Citroen's GEFCO logistics holding, after the French carmaker identified...

Mitvol Accuses Kremlin of Ruining His Campaign

Khimki mayoral candidate Oleg Mitvol has accused the Kremlin of undermining his campaign in the Moscow region town.

Environment Ministry Calls Meeting over Murmansk National Park

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has called an emergency meeting after environmentalists walked out of a working group meant to resolve...

Investment Planned to Boost Rail Passenger Growth

Russian Railways will invest in a massive overhaul of its passenger services in the next 15 years as it battles to stave off increasing competition from...

Government Mulls Railways Subsidies Increase

The government may double subsidies to Russian Railways next year in a bid to stave off reductions of passenger services.

Russia Mulls Internal Carbon Trading

President Vladimir Putin could make an announcement on an internal carbon trading system by the end of the month.

Kremlin Challenges EU on Gas Prices

The Kremlin raised the stakes in a standoff between Gazprom and EU antitrust authorities on Tuesday, making it illegal for Gazprom to trade with...

Khimki Toll Road to Open in 2014

The controversial Moscow to St. Petersburg toll road will open to traffic in 2014 "regardless" of developments on parallel Leningradskoye Shosse...

AvtoVAZ Counting on Energy Efficiency

AvtoVAZ expects to save up to 300 million rubles ($9.4 million) through energy efficiency measures in 2012.

Arctic Clean-Up Goal on Target

Over 100 personnel plus equipment and vehicles have been deployed to clear Cold War-era military and industrial waste from the Franz Josef archipelago...

Lada Counts on Foreign Designer to Compete With Imports

Strong and soft. Light and dark. Robust but elegant. The Lada of the future is a creature of carefully chosen contrasts, with a lovely line and lots...

Gazprom Puts Shtokman and Partners on the Shelf

Development of the vast Shtokman gas field will be put on hold indefinitely until a more cost-effective plan can be worked out.

Greenpeace Ends Standoff With Gazprom

Greenpeace activists have left the vicinity of the Prirazlomnaya oil rig, bringing to an end a five-day standoff at Gazprom’s pioneering ice-class oil...

Greenpeace Moves Protest from Arctic Rig to Ship

Greenpeace activists chained themselves to the anchor chain of the arctic rig support vessel Anna Akhmatova on Monday.

Gazprom Says No Disruption After Greenpeace Raid

A team of Greenpeace International activists abandoned an occupation of Gazprom's Prirazlomnaya oil platform after complaining of being bombarded by ice-cold...

Report: No High-Speed Rail Lines for World Cup

Russia might abandon plans to build high-speed rail lines for the 2018 World Cup.

Business Fights Back Against Kremlin War on Vice

With World Trade Organization membership taking effect this week, lovers of high-end imported spirits are in for a treat: Tariffs on whiskies, cognacs...

Russian Railways Threatens Commuter Train Cancellations

Russian Railways will slash local passenger services across several regions of the country because of funding shortfalls.

Gazprom Vague on Oil Spill Response Plan

Gazprom Neft Shelf, the Gazprom subsidiary behind the Prirazlomnaya oil platform, rejected claims by environmental groups that the rig poses a threat...

Greenpeace Vessel Hails Prirazlomnaya Platform

Kumi Naido, executive director of Greenpeace International, will be in Moscow on Monday to spearhead a campaign against Russia’s drive for oil and gas...

Despite Chilly Reception, Greenpeace Vessel Nearing Arctic Oil Platform

Visible from the deck of a Greenpeace vessel in the Barents Sea is the drilling tower of Russia’s first Arctic oil rig, a flagship for the country's...

Cossacks, Activists Unite Against $6Bln Mining Project

Environmental activists hope growing discontent will persuade President Vladimir Putin to block Ural Metal and Mining Company's plans to extract $6...

Murmansk Poised for Risky Renaissance

With their strangely elegant keel-less black hulls supporting the bulky but streamlined superstructure, there is something ineffably spine-tingling about...

Leopards Returning to North Caucasus

Leopards may be reintroduced to the North Caucasus by next year.

Marooned Firefighters Pray for Rain

A team of firefighters marooned in a burning forest hundreds of kilometers from help have been told to stay put in case they walk into a "ring...

Russia to Donate Tigers to South Korea

Russian conservation specialists will go to South Korea to aid efforts to reintroduce Siberian tigers, which were wiped out on the Korean peninsula...

Duma Makes Car Ownership Simpler, More Expensive

Drivers will find that servicing their cars is simpler but buying a new one is slightly more expensive.

Wild Pigs Bear Sobering Message About Forests

The four wild boars that wandered into Krylatskoye on the city’s western flank not long ago were bearing a message: Something is not right with the Moscow...

Nod to Levitin Brings Airport Merger Closer

Former Transportation Minister Igor Levitin will oversee the merger of Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports.

Baikal Paper Plant Faces Closure

Managers at the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper mill are drawing up plans for closure if the controversial factory does not win a renewal of its license to release...

Luxury Car Market Booming

Appetite for luxury cars in Russia is such that the country could "easily" be on course to become one of the biggest markets for Rolls Royce.

Norilsk Abandons Voronezh Nickel Deposits

Norilsk Nickel will not challenge the outcome of a tender it lost to develop nickel and copper deposits in the Voronezh region because of opposition...

Arctic Park to Get Visitor Centers

At their simplest, they are Quonset huts filled with stuffed specimens of the local wildlife. At their best, visitor centers at national parks can...

European Parliament Scrutinizes Khimki Road

Members of the European Parliament have announced moves to pressure French civil engineering company Vinci to quit the project to build the controversial...

Navalny Elected to Aeroflot Board

Alexei Navalny, the bane of both the Kremlin and state corporations, found himself elected to the board of state-owned Aeroflot on Monday — and immediately...

Hazy Forecast for Russia's Global Green Agenda

President Vladimir Putin has apparently pulled out of the global sustainable-development summit in Rio de Janeiro that starts Thursday, dealing a further...

Waste-Processing Bill Debated

Legislation proposed by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry would oblige manufacturers and importers to pay for processing waste from their...

Size of Burning Forest Territory Exceeds 2010 Disaster

The Siberian wildfires that killed eight people last week are spiraling out of control and could be more disastrous than the fires of 2010.

Overall Exports and Vehicle Imports Up

Car imports surged 16 percent in the first four months of this year, according to customs service figures, reflecting continued recovery in the auto...

Demand for Environmental Engineers Not Translating Into Jobs

Graduates of Russia's environmental science faculties are struggling to find employment in their sphere despite a global trend toward demand for their...

Americans See WTO Boosting Energy-Efficiency Market

The United States has become the latest foreign government to join a rush to stake out claims in Russia’s nascent energy-efficiency market.

Scientists, Military Return to Arctic

Both scientists and soldiers will be heading to Russia's most northerly outposts this summer as the country reinforces both its military and scientific...

Russians Push 'Land Bridge,' New Line to Vienna

A new wide-gauge railway line to Vienna could be a key part of Russian plans to build a Eurasian “land bridge” between China and Europe.

Russian Railways in Smoking Crackdown, Privatization Freeze

Smokers will find train journeys longer and a tad more frustrating as traditional indulgence of the habit is phased out on Russian Railways' passenger...

Rogozin Orders Investigation of Plane Builders

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has ordered prosecutors to investigate the "illegal" privatization of property assets belonging to the Yakovlev...

Cigarettes and Alcohol Occupy Pushkin Square

The movement that gave us rallying cries like "for fair elections" and "Putin thief!" may have found a new slogan to add to their repertoire: "cigarettes...

Tabloid: Superjet Downed by U.S. Industrial Sabotage

A tabloid claims that Russian intelligence agencies are investigating the possibility that the U.S. military may have brought down the Sukhoi Superjet...

Entrepreneur Brings Holidays on Wheels to Russia

When Yury Yelashkin first encountered a camper van on holiday in Germany, it seemed like a somewhat alien concept.

Newsmaker: Businessman Sokolov Takes Over Transportation Helm

The new transportation minister, Leningrad native Maxim Sokolov, 44, is a near contemporary of Dmitry Medvedev — the prime minister is just three...

Newsmaker: Oilman Donskoi Likely To Keep Resource Policy

Environmentalists responded with stoicism to the appointment of career oil man Sergei Donskoi as the new natural resources and environment minister...

"Green Filter" to Weed Out Bad Laws

Federation Council lawmakers may introduce a "green filter" to weed out draft bills that could damage the environment.

Dreamliner Starts Flights From Domodedovo

Russians headed to Japan are now able to enjoy the novelty of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner.

Russians Consuming Faster Than Earth Can Supply

If everyone lived like Russians, humanity would need 2 1/2 planet Earths to sustain consumption, though this profligacy is dwarfed by the American lifestyle...

Leningradka-MKAD Junction Ready By New Year

The first part of a new intersection at the notorious bottleneck where Leningradskoye Shosse and the Moscow Ring Road meet should be open by the end...

Bodies, No Survivors Spotted at Superjet Crash


Search and rescue helicopters and volunteers struggling through thick forest and mountainous terrain spotted bodies but no survivors on the Indonesian...

Moscow Airport Merger Envisioned on Paper

The long-discussed merger of Moscow's three airports is back on the agenda after a Transportation Ministry working group drafted a document that stated...

Medvedev Signs Off on Ecology Policy

Activists, journalists and private citizens could find it easier to access information about the environmental records of businesses and government...

Fierce Winds Feed Flames in Zabaikalsky Fires

Firefighters battled adverse weather conditions Friday as they struggled to control wildfires on the Mongolian border.

Q&A: Delta Air Lines Is a Business and a Bridge for Tarasov

As the son of a military pilot, air travel is in Leonid Tarasov's blood. He flew just two weeks after being born, back to his father's garrison in Ukraine...

Saving Forests is a Matter of Politics

Later this month, the small Moscow region town of Mozhaisk will witness the birth of a new political party.

Air Crash Calls Minister's Future into Question

"Minister of Catastrophe!" screams the Internet petition established within hours of Monday morning's tragedy in Tyumen.

Rosinter Signed as First McDonald's Franchise

Shares in restaurant group Rosinter surged on the back of unconfirmed reports that it has won the first-ever franchise to run McDonald's restaurants...

Medvedev Acts on Arrest of Activist

President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday ordered prosecutors to examine the case of Suren Gazaryan, the environmentalist arrested in the Krasnodar region...

FBI Looking at Murdoch in Moscow

U.S. investigators have opened a Russian front in the wide-ranging investigation into Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. media empire.

Domodedovo Tender Remains Anonymous

The deadline for bids to take over Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport passed with no revelations of who is in the race.

Siemens to Focus on Support Systems

Siemens is more interested in supporting projects on the new Moscow to St. Petersburg high-speed rail link than on the actual construction.

French Firm Taking Over at Tomsk Grid

French firm ERDF takes over management of the Tomsk Grid Company, or TRK, Tuesday in the first exercise in handing Russia’s electricity companies to...

Transaero Adding Vnukovo to Destinations

Transaero Airlines has set up a third base of operations in Moscow at Vnukovo Airport, southwest of the city.

To Avoid Revealing Income, 2 Universities Find a Very Old Loophole

Constitutional lawyers could be in for a headache: It turns out that institutions founded prior to 1991 may be exempt from President Dmitry Medvedev's...

Trade War Over EU Airport Fees Averted

Russia may impose limitations on European airlines flying over Siberia in retaliation for the European Union's plans to levy fees on carbon emissions...

The Luxury of Putin’s Tax Not Yet Defined

The infamous opulence of the Russian rich has come under fire from an unlikely source — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Draft Environmental Policy Gets Approval

Environmental considerations could become central to the government's decision-making process under a new policy approved by the Cabinet on Thursday...

New Traffic Reduction Measures in Works

Drivers groups have reacted with anger to a radical Transportation Ministry plan that proposes making driving more expensive in a bid to lower the burden...

Navalny Nominated For Aeroflot Board

Anti-corruption blogger and opposition leader Alexei Navalny could become a member of the board of Aeroflot after he was nominated to the position...

Aeroflot Countering Bribery Allegations

Aeroflot said it will file a countersuit for slander and defamation against a U.S. tour company that has accused the airline of bribery and extortion...

Sheremetyevo Soaring After Revamp

Sheremetyevo management hailed a 150 percent profit jump as proof the airport's extensive regeneration is paying off.

Urals Plant Makes New Electric Train

Ural Locomotives, the Sverdlovsk region-based joint venture between the Sinara Group and Siemens, announced plans to develop a new urban express train...

Sechin Pushes to Privatize Novorossiisk Port

Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin asked the government to sell its stake in Novorossiisk Commercial Sea Port directly to state-owned oil firm Rosneft...

VimpelCom to Boost Service at Rally

Besides the bitter cold, demonstrators and observers at Saturday's opposition rally could once again be facing quality issues with telecommunication...

First Electric Cars Take to the Road

The little boy was walking home from school when he spotted the bubble-shaped silver vehicle in the courtyard.

Customs Union Clashes Over Booze

Lawmakers in Moscow have expressed alarm at Customs Union rules that could lift a Russia-wide ban on reusing bottles for vodka and other drinks.

Obama May Push for Jackson-Vanik Repeal

U.S. President Barack Obama called on lawmakers to approve "permanent normal trade relations" with Russia on Tuesday, in the latest hint that his administration...

Mezentsev Wants Specific Timeline for Mill Closure

The governor of the Irkutsk region called for a "real deadline" for the closure of the controversial Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill.

Rublyovka Express Coming

A high-speed commuter service to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's local station is part of a package of measures to upgrade Moscow's rail system.

Metro to Try Wi-Fi in Motion

Passengers on the Moscow metro will soon be able to check the news, plot twitter revolutions and download e-mails as they travel, if the latest plans...

Joy Riders Prefer Taking Spins in VAZ, Japanese Cars

Drivers of Japanese cars and Ladas might want to invest in some extra security measures.

Vekselberg's Renova Mulls Domodedovo Bid

Viktor Vekselburg's Renova group may buy Domodedovo Airport, the oligarch has said. Vekselberg confirmed to reporters that the group, in which he holds...

Rosatom to Send Spent Fuel to Siberia

Plans to transfer thousands of tons of spent nuclear fuel from Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors to a new storage facility in Siberia have been attacked...

New Car Market Coming Back Fast

Russia's new car market will rise to 4 million in annual sales by the middle years of the current decade.

Airlines Facing Big Emissions Tax Bills

Aeroflot could face millions of dollars in extra operating costs this year if Russian airlines cannot find a way around paying new carbon fees on European...

New Rules May Mean Easier Car Certificate

It is traditional to give up bad habits at the beginning of the year, and in seasonal spirit, the Interior Ministry has promised that the traffic...

Mobile Networks Overloading at Rallies

It has been jokingly dubbed the "iPad uprising," but it is no exaggeration to say December's protests have been highly reliant on modern communications...

Plans for Park Raise Concern

Cycling paths, barbecue areas and extreme sports facilities are part of the city's plans for its largest park. But environmentalists have attacked the...

Medvedev Promises Belated Reforms

President Dmitry Medvedev used his final presidential address to promise a slew of radical political reforms including a return to gubernatorial elections...

Ecologists to Challenge Kyoto Refusal

Environmentalists and business associations have both attacked the government's decision to stay out of the second period of the Kyoto Protocol and promised...

No Blacklist for Road Contractors

Federal Road Agency chief Anatoly Chabunin has conceded corruption is a problem in road building, but said a blacklist of unscrupulous contractors...

Fall of Tariffs Doesn't Disturb Plane Makers

Russia's largest plane builder has dismissed concerns that domestic aviation could suffer from the loss of protective tariffs thanks to the country's...

Medvedev May Use Fund to Build Roads

President Dmitry Medvedev may raid a "rainy day" fund set aside for pensions in a bid to meet commitments to build new rail and road links, including...

Siluanov Confirmed As Finance Minister

President Dmitry Medvedev has confirmed Anton Siluanov as finance minister — a sign, some analysts say, that the career economist will remain in the...

Q&A: Boeing Chief Rejects Cold War Mentality

Becoming one of the many taxi drivers with a Ph.D. was not what Sergei Kravchenko wanted to do 20 years ago. Today he is in charge of Boeing's largest...

Prokhorov Finding Support Among Businesspeople

Russian businessmen and foreign investors have cautiously welcomed the return of oligarchs to Russian politics — even if they're not quite sure what...

A Rocky Start for Limonov’s Bid for Presidency

Radical writer and former National Bolshevik leader Eduard Limonov will submit an application to become a presidential candidate by next week, despite...

Election Protests Liveblog

The meeting on Bolotnaya Ploshchad has ended and the tens of thousands of protesters have gone home. Read our liveblog to revisit how events unfolded.

Siberian Snow Leopards Photographed for the First Time

A Russian-Mongolian expedition has captured the first-ever photographs of snow leopards in a remote part of the Altai Mountains.

Modern Bazaar Opens in Mytishchi

Moscow food shoppers have traditionally walked a fine line between price and quality. But the owners of a new, brightly lit, hangar-sized space in the...

Antonov Out on Bail, Might Seek Asylum

Vladimir Antonov, the businessman accused of an asset-stripping operation that is the alleged cause of the collapse of two major Baltic banks, was released...

$100,000 Needed to Help Track Walruses

Environmentalists will ask oil and gas companies to help fund an "ambitious and expensive" plan to tag and trace endangered Atlantic walruses in the...

Brussels to Link Moscow and Africa

Waffle munchers, beer enthusiasts and the occasional diplomatic mission to or from the European Union or NATO will be pleased to hear that connections...

Limited Turnout for Forest Auctions

The first auction of leases for forest land in the Moscow region since 2007 ended in disappointment, with fewer than half of the plots being taken and...

Russia Intransigent on Kyoto Protocol Extension

Russia's chief climate negotiator said the country will "never" sign up to extend the Kyoto Protocol for a second implementation period, casting further...

Banks Fund Study on Gas Flaring

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank have allocated 1 million euros ($1.37 million) to commission a study of gas...

Vladivostok Open Skies Policy a First

Vladivostok Airport is set to reposition itself as a major international hub for the Pacific rim after launching the country's first ever "open skies"...

UN Report Says Slash Fossil Fuel Subsidies

A report presented in Moscow by the United Nations Development Program warns that industrial pollution and environmental degradation may slow human...

Caterpillar Places Long Bet on Mining Boom

U.S. engineering giant Caterpillar launched in-country production of mining trucks in a bid to capitalize on a boom in metals and mining across the former...

Chain Has the Right Idea But Wrong Bag

A rare move to introduce European-style "green retailing" by a Moscow supermarket ran into trouble Wednesday after environmentalists criticized claims...

Report: Russia Lags in Carbon Disclosure

Russia could have one of the most carbon-intensive economies or the least — but it is almost impossible to tell, because Russian companies reveal...

Singapore Bets on Krasnodar Hub

The company that operates Singapore's main airport will help Oleg Deripaska's Basic Element Holding create a new air transport hub in the south of Russia...

Lisin Wins Freight One Auction Unchallenged With $4.2Bln Bid

Billionaire Vladimir Lisin's Independent Transport Company brushed aside competition from Gennady Timchenko's Transoil to take control of the Freight...

Ministries Differ on Airline Minimums

Small and midsized airlines may have won a stay of execution after the Economic Development Ministry shot down plans to close airlines with fewer...

Russia Showing Average Inequality

Income inequality in Russia is in line with international standards in terms of GDP per capita, according to a research note from Renaissance Capital...

Police Cameras Bring Fines and Trust

Motorists groups and police have welcomed the planned installation of video recording equipment in traffic police vehicles as a means of protecting themselves...

Transparency Prerequisite to Green Responsibility

A lack of transparency in some companies and poor legislation are hampering efforts to push Russian firms to account for their impact on the environment...

Lending Cash to Save Energy in Rostov

Anatoly Antonenko is happy. For two months earlier this summer, workmen made life difficult for the residents of his 13-floor apartment building in the...

$620M Earmarked for Environmental Cleanup Program

Lake Baikal, the Franz Josef Archipelago and Wrangel Island will be the first nature reserves to benefit from a 20 billion ruble ($620 million) environmental...

Russia's "Apple Generation" Mourns Steve Jobs

Mourners laid flowers at Apple stores across the country Thursday in a tribute to company founder Steve Jobs, who died late Wednesday night after a battle...

Counting the Cost of Russia's Melting Permafrost

Take a shovel anywhere in two-thirds of Russia's vast expanses, dig more than a meter into the ground, and you're likely to hit something rock-like...

News Analysis: Kremlin Not Hardening Policy With Syria Veto

Russia supported new UN sanctions on Iran. It abstained from a vote on a Libya no-fly zone. And it firmly vetoed a Western-backed condemnation of the...

Avianova Will Make Final Flights Sunday

The troubled Avianova airline will make its last flights Sunday, before closing shop forever, acting general director Konstantin Teterin told journalists...

Avianova Fails, But Acrimony Will Run On in Court

Accounting firm KPMG has been drawn into the storm of acrimony surrounding the demise of budget airline Avianova after former managers at the airline accused...

Gazprom Vows to Fully Comply in EU Raids

Gazprom promised to "fully comply" with European Commission antitrust investigators as raids of the company's European offices in several EU countries...

$3.9Bln Plan to Turn Domodedovo Into 'Aerotropolis'

An ambitious 10-year airport development plan with a third runway, hotels and upgraded rail and road links could see the rise of a de facto new city on...

Skolkovo Innovation Hub to Lead in Green Construction

President Dmitry Medvedev's flagship project, the Skolkovo innovation hub, could become a standard-bearer for sustainable construction under a recently...

Ports Not Competing Over New Railway Link

Alexander Goloviznin, deputy general director of the Ust Luga port in the Leningrad region, denied that there was a conflict of interests over the planned...

Arctic Conference to Focus on Opportunities for Oil and Gas Extraction

On Aug. 20, the Vladimir Tikhonov, a tanker owned by Sovcomflot, set out from Murmansk with a cargo of more than 120,000 tons of gas condensate...

Moscow Region Forests Are Facing More Auctions

The Federal Forestry Agency has announced plans on its web site for the first auction of leases on forestland in the Moscow region since a scandal-ridden...

Aviation Safety Cultural, Not Technological

A series of disasters in domestic aviation is the result of systemic shortcomings in the industry, and cutting the number of airlines will make no difference...

Moscow Driving Not as Bad as Mexico

Stressed Moscow drivers might want to spare a thought for their peers in Mexico City and Beijing, after a survey revealed that there are much worse places...

T-50 Fighter Aborts Takeoff During MAKS Demonstration

Dark clouds gathered over the T-50, Russia’s first stealth fighter, on Sunday when a test pilot abruptly aborted takeoff of the plane during a demonstration...

What It’s Like to Fly in a Superjet

"Ladies and gentlemen please fasten your seat belts, make sure that your seats are in the full upright position and pay attention as our cabin crew...

Putin Disrupts, But Air Show Goes On

A policeman politely raised his arms and shook his head as a group of suited men wearing exhibitor badges strolled toward the pavilions where their...

Air Show Hawks T-50s and Superjets

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is expected at the MAKS air show on Wednesday to watch the public debut of Russia's first stealth fighter. Organizer...

Floating Nuke Plant Seized in Bankruptcy

The fallout from the collapse of the International Industrial Bank last fall has led a court to impound the world's first floating nuclear power...

Sea Mining Decision Heralds New Era

A UN decision allowing Russia to prospect for precious metals on the Atlantic seabed opens new frontiers for the country's mineral extraction businesses...

Russian Railways to Sell Freight One

Russian Railways hopes to complete the share sale of its Freight One cargo subsidiary this year, company president Vladimir Yakunin said Friday.