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Articles by Yekaterina Kravtsova

New U.S. Sanctions Target Putin's Allies

The U.S. on Monday expanded its blacklist of Russian officials and companies to face sanctions over Moscow's “illegitimate and unlawful actions” in...

Separatists in Donetsk Give Khodorkovsky the Boot

Insurgents in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk occupying the local city hall on Sunday denied entry to former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky...

Vkontakte Founder Flees Russia, Claims Persecution

Pavel Durov, the founder of Russia’s largest social networking website, fled the country on Tuesday, a day after he said he was forced out as the company’s...

Putin Signs Law Easing Citizenship Procedure

President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Monday simplifying procedures for obtaining citizenship for Russian speakers living outside the country and those...

Fatal Shootout Torpedoes Geneva Deal

The killing of at least one man at a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian separatists outside the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk on Sunday has...

West and Russia Agree on Steps to Ease Ukraine Tensions

After seven hours of talks in Geneva on Thursday, Russia, the U.S., the European Union and Ukraine reached a deal on a joint plan to ease tensions...

Russia's Top Diplomatic School in Turmoil Over Crimea Annexation

Russia's top university for aspiring diplomats, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, makes a show of being a worldly place.

Crimea Annexation Spurs Some Russians to Emigrate

National polls appear to show widespread support among Russians for the government's seizure and annexation of the Crimean peninsula last month. But...

Observers Say Russia Had Crimea Plan for Years

As fallout from Russia's annexation of Crimea continues to build with economic sanctions and diplomatic spats, speculation has grown over whether the Kremlin's...

Putin's Crimea Move Cripples Opposition

During his triumphant speech on Crimea's annexation earlier this week, President Vladimir Putin stressed that his policy was supported by an "absolute...

Lavrov and Kerry Fail to Reach Agreement on Ukraine

Two days before Crimea is set to vote on whether to split from Ukraine and join Russia, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his U.S. and British...

Crimea Vote Galvanizes Separatists in Russia

For separatist groups in Dagestan, Tatarstan and other regions of Russia, the Kremlin's support of a referendum on independence in Ukraine's Crimea...

Muscovites Rally For and Against Kremlin Actions in Ukraine

As temperatures in Moscow reached a record high on Monday, hundreds of people rushed to one of the city's central squares to express clashing opinions...

Avalanche Warnings and Red Tape Threaten Sochi's Legacy Ski Resorts

As the most expensive Winter Olympics in history fade into memory, the Kremlin hopes that the ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana will live on as a lasting...

Activists Say No Flood of Refugees Observed

The Federal Migration Service's recent announcement that an unprecedented number of Ukrainian citizens have rushed to Russia to seek asylum amid an escalating...

Sochi Ready for Tourists After Games End

With the end of the Olympics, the number of volunteers and Russian sports fans in Sochi has fallen, but crowds of foreign visitors still flooded...

Sochi Notebook: Russian Fans Marvel at New Facilities

Even with the tens of thousands of sports fans who have come to Sochi for the Winter Games from around the world, Russian visitors predominate at the...

Sochi Notebook: Ticket Scalpers Given Free Rein Outside Olympic Park

Olympic Park admission tickets cost 200 rubles ($5.60), but with all tickets for the last three days already sold, scalpers have gained an opportunity...

Former Anarchists Make Sochi Environment Their Cause

On a hill covered by blooming mimosa bushes in the small village of Verkhneye Vesyoloye, residents enjoy a splendid view of the Olympic Park and its...

Sochi Notebook: Medal-Flavored Champagne Anyone?

SOCHI — After the official medals ceremony each night, Russian athletes tend to celebrate their victories in a narrow circle — but in accordance...

Sochi Notebook: Medal-Flavored Champagne Anyone?

SOCHI — After the official medals ceremony each night, Russian athletes tend to celebrate their victories in a narrow circle — but in accordance...

Olympic Games Putting Strain on Sochi Museum

With the Winter Olympic Games under way in Sochi, sports have taken over the city completely, and even the Fine Arts Museum is hosting exhibitions...

Sochi Notebook: 'Tolerance House' Offers No Solace for Gays

Walking one day through central Sochi I saw a sign for "Tolerance House." My first thought was that it was a place for gay Olympic visitors. But gays...

Sochi's 'Tolerance House' Offers no Solace for Gays

Walking one day through central Sochi I saw a sign for "Tolerance House." My first thought was that it was a place for gay Olympic visitors. But gays...

Sochi Notebook: Want to Ski? Only One Resort Is Open

If you are inspired by the Winter Games and want to try skiing or snowboarding yourself in Sochi, you have only one choice: the Mountain Carousel, or Gornaya...

Sochi Security Gets High Marks

Security concerns over terrorist attacks have declined since the Sochi Winter Olympics kicked off over the weekend, and visitors say they have not been...

Want to Ski? Only One Resort Is Open

If you are inspired by the Winter Games and want to try skiing or snowboarding yourself in Sochi, you have only one choice: the Mountain Carousel...

Cheers and Jeers From Sochi Residents for Opening Ceremony

The Olympic opening ceremony marked a particularly special occasion for Sochi residents, who have spent the past 6 1/2 years experiencing the excitement...

What to Do If You Get Sick in Sochi

More than 1,000 doctors from Russia's regions have been sent to Sochi for the Olympic period, with more than 250 million rubles allocated for providing...

Sochi Notebook: The Old Man and the Hill

One particularly picturesque hill in central Sochi is being transformed into the new Svetlana district, an area being built up with prestigious apartment...

The Old Man and the Hill

One particularly picturesque hill in central Sochi is being transformed into the new Svetlana district, an area being built up with prestigious apartment...

An Unexpected Irish Pub

Tucked among a variety of places offering Caucasus food and drinking traditions is an unexpected find: an Irish pub. Harat's, part of a chain of 24...

With Sochi Locked Down, Worries Arise of an Attack Elsewhere

Amid unprecedented security measures by the authorities to secure Sochi for the Winter Olympics, observers have expressed concerns that other cities...

Flying to the Games, With a Few Snags Along the Way

While fastening my seatbelt on a plane to Sochi, with the pilot announcing that he would be getting us there in two hours and that it is 30 degrees...

Putin Rebukes EU Actions in Ukraine

At the EU-Russia summit in Brussels on Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin promised that Russia would not interfere in the political conflict raging...

Navalny Publishes Sochi Corruption Report

Whistleblower and opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Monday published an investigation into the construction of Olympic facilities in Sochi that...

Follow Yekaterina's Sochi Notebook Starting Feb. 3

You can follow Yekaterina Kravtsova's Sochi notebook starting Feb. 3. In the meantime, read some of her previous articles on Sochi.

Lebedev to Walk Free After 10 Years

The Supreme Court has reduce the sentence of former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky's business partner Platon Lebedev and immediately release him, but critics...

Olympic Teams Prepare for Possible Security Crisis in Sochi

Amid heightened concerns about security at the upcoming Sochi Winter Games, Russia has introduced extensive safeguards that observers say are close to those...

U.S.-Russian Sochi Cooperation 'Subject to Mistrust'

As the U.S. expressed concern over the safety of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi and offered to send its own warships to assist in case...

EU Links Easing of Visas to Russia's Rights Record

An official from the European Union spoke out about several concerns over Russia during a visit to Moscow on Friday, warning that plans for a visa-free...

'Not a Single Complaint' About Sochi Preparations

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak has said that there had been no misuse of funds allocated for the upcoming 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, with only...

Putin Appoints Belykh Acting Kirov Governor

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday appointed Nikita Belykh acting governor of the Kirov region until the next elections in September, thereby renewing...

Lavrov and Kerry Meet Ahead of Syria Talks

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Paris on Monday with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the long-awaited Syrian peace conference...

7 Greenpeace Activists Allowed to Leave Russia

As the last Greenpeace activist detained in the Arctic 30 protest received notification Thursday that he was cleared of all charges under a recently passed...

Russia Builds Up Arctic Forces as Resource Fight Intensifies

As nations around the world begin to clamor for territory in the resource-rich Arctic, Russia is rapidly building up its military presence in the...

New Suspect in Bolotnoye Case Pleads Guilty

The Zamoskvoretsky District Court began hearings Tuesday against a previously unheard-of suspect in the so-called Bolotnoye case who pleaded guilty...

German Role Seen as Pivotal in Khodorkovsky Release

After former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky walked free on Friday after more than 10 years in prison, he spent less than 24 hours in his home country...

Putin Says He Has Never Met Snowden

During his annual press conference on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin said he had never met former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden...

Moscow's Largest Gay Club Comes Under Attack, Director Says

The head of Moscow's biggest gay club has asked President Vladimir Putin to take measures to protect the club from repeated attacks, which he says...

Putin's Speech Omits Anticipated Bombshell

Perhaps the biggest surprise about President Vladimir Putin's speech was that it contained no surprises. Expectations were high in the hours before the annual...

Putin Lays Out Illegal Migration Agenda During Annual Address

President Vladimir Putin touched upon the burning topic of illegal migration and Russia's relations with former Soviet republics during his State of the...

Russia-EU Tug of War Over Ukraine Escalates

As pro-European protesters continue to face off against riot police on Kiev's central square, a related confrontation between Western governments and Russia...

Prosecutor General's Office Hints at New Charges for Khodorkovsky

Jailed oil tycoon and former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is set to be freed next year, may face new criminal charges, the Deputy Prosecutor...

Q&A: Discipline Brings Healthy Success to MDMG Head

As any woman and some men know, giving birth is a traumatic experience. Which is why patients checking into one of MD Medical Group's 14 clinics for prenatal...

Lavrov Slams NATO Response to Ukraine

At a meeting with NATO counterparts on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov slammed NATO's response to recent protests in Ukraine and said...

European Bodies Express Support for Ukraine Protesters

NATO and European politicians have expressed their support for Ukrainian anti-government protesters, disputing a statement by President Vladimir Putin...

Greenpeace Ship Photographer Says He Has No Regrets

Freelance photographer Denis Sinyakov has worked in war zones around the world, from Afghanistan to South Ossetia to Israel. He never expected that...

Delays Beset Politkovskaya Case

Seven years and 51 days have passed since journalist Anna Politkovskaya was killed in her apartment building in central Moscow, but so far only one...

Greenpeace Rebuffs Talk of Arctic Protest Conspiracy

In early October, Rosneft head Igor Sechin made a brief, enigmatic comment suggesting that there was more than meets the eye behind a Greenpeace protest...

Skolkovo Warned Over Potential $4Bln in Misspending

Fraudulent schemes used during the creation of state-owned innovation hub Skolkovo have created the potential for misspending almost $4 billion in state...

Putin Pledges $1.5Bln Energy Investment in Ecuador

Russia will invest up to $1.5 billion into energy projects in Ecuador, President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday, with oil and gas exploitation and power...

Russians See Greenpeace Protest as a Foreign Plot

State pollster VTsIOM released survey results Monday regarding last month's Greenpeace protest in the Arctic that indicate more than a third of Russians...

10 Years on, Khodorkovsky's Arrest Called a Turning Point in History

When Vladimir Pereverzin woke up Oct. 25, 2003, he had no reason to suspect that there would be anything unusual about the day. But when he clicked...

Gazprom's Bric-a-Brac Rig Called a Risk to the Arctic

Gazprom's Prirazlomnaya platform, the advance guard of the coming expansion of Russia's state energy corporations into the Arctic, is a cobbled together...

11 Nobel Peace Prize Winners Urge Putin to Free Greenpeace Activists

International pressure on Russia over the arrest of Greenpeace activists mounts as the Nobel Peace Prize winners press President Vladimir Putin to drop...

Ex-Convicts Regain Right to Run in Elections

The Constitutional Court has ruled to allow people previously convicted of "serious and very serious crimes" to run for public office, in a move...

Russia's Syria Ties Boost Humanitarian Aid, Red Cross Says

Russia's close relations with the Syrian government are helping to boost humanitarian aid to the country's residents and refugees by establishing...

Russian Diplomats Evacuated From Libya (Video)

Russia evacuated its diplomats from Libya on Thursday after an armed group stormed the Russian Embassy in Tripoli and clashed with government security...

14 Greenpeace Activists Face Piracy Charges

At least 14 crew members of a Greenpeace ship, the Arctic Sunrise, who took part in a protest near a Russian oil platform in the Arctic were hit...

Naryshkin Challenges PACE Criticism of Russia's Laws

After the Council of Europe issued a damning report calling Russia's legislation repressive and its justice system politically motivated, the Russian...

Dutch Journalist Says Denied Entry for Sochi Reporting

An award-winning Dutch photojournalist who has been working in Russia's turbulent North Caucasus region for five years, has been refused a Russian...

Greenpeace Vows to Appeal Activists' Detention

Lawyers for the more than 20 detained Greenpeace activists who took part in a protest near a Russian oil platform in the Arctic earlier this month have...

Russia Pushes for Further Arctic Exploitation

The time for an industrial breakthrough has come in the Arctic, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday at the International Arctic Forum in Salekhard...

Merkel's Re-Election Called Good for Russia

The victory of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party in the country's general elections  Sunday is expected to secure the stability...

U.S.-Visa Applicants Bury iPads, Hide Belongings Due to New Embassy Rules

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has introduced new safety rules for its visitors, and they seem to have taken many visa applicants by surprise.

McCain Slams Putin in Pravda Op-Ed

U.S. Senator John McCain responded Thursday to President Vladimir Putin's op-ed in The New York Times by publishing a sharp rebuke of the Russian leader...

Business Ombudsman Proposes Amnesty for Migrants

Amid rising anti-migrant sentiment and calls to introduce strict rules for migrants from Central Asian countries, business ombudsman Boris Titov has...

U.S.-Russia Deal on Syria Gets Off to Wobbly Start

Two days after reaching a lauded agreement on resolving the Syria conflict, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry...

Sobyanin Wins, Vote Count Contested

The acting head of Moscow is declared the victor in the mayoral vote, but leading challenger Alexei Navalny demands a recount.

Navalny Confident in 2nd Round of Election

Opposition leader and mayoral candidate Alexei Navalny responded to the news of his defeat in the elections on Sunday with reassurances that there...

Gay Rights Issue Winds Up on G20 Agenda

President Vladimir Putin will likely find himself responding to Western criticism of Russia's anti-gay propaganda law at the G20 Summit in St. Petersburg...

Syria Expected to Hijack G20 Agenda

Six leaders of guest countries and eight heads of the largest international financial bodies will join them. As part of the official agenda approved by...

Gay Expats Experience Hardships, and Joys, of Russia

John, a 31-year-old American lawyer, said that when his family and friends first found out he was coming to live in Russia, they immediately assumed...

Russia to Send Ships to Mediterranean

Russia announced  Thursday plans to increase its Navy presence in the Mediterranean as ships from the U.S., Britain and France stood by to await...

Syria Peace Talks Derailed as Talk of Intervention Intensifies

The Syrian opposition on Monday ruled out any chance of peace talks next month as President Vladimir Putin and UK Prime Minister David Cameron discussed...

Navalny Faces New Pressure as Mayoral Race Heats Up

The mayoral campaign of opposition leader Alexei Navalny faced a new wave of pressure by authorities Thursday as the Moscow Elections Commission...

Navalny's Campaign Relies on Innovation

Widely considered the one contender adding intrigue to the mayoral race, the activist's campaign does things a bit differently.

Golos Reborn in Time for Election Day

Sitting in a tiny room that serves as a temporary office for elections watchdog Golos, Grigory Melkonyants, a senior member of the now defunct organization...

As Mayoral Vote Approaches, Parties 'Imitate' Political Activity

The Communist Party has filed a request to several government agencies asking them to check whether ruling party United Russia had received foreign...

Apartment Raid Leaves Navalny Supporters Baffled

Supporters of mayoral hopeful Alexei Navalny on Wednesday were struggling to find answers over an incident that took place Tuesday evening that saw...

Seliger Urges Patriotism, Not Politics

When the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi announced its closure last year, it seemed the days were numbered for the Seliger camp, where the gathering...

Little Progress Expected at U.S.-Russia Talks

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu are set to meet Friday with their U.S. counterparts in Washington to discuss arms...

Top Cops 'Protected' Traffickers, Interior Ministry Says

Two high-ranking police officers and a Federal Migration Service official were involved in a criminal scheme that brought illegal immigrants to Russia...

Sentence Reduced In Yukos Case

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to cut the sentence of former oil tycoon and Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev by...

'Migrant Camp' Inspires New Facilities

The human rights council calls conditions at a camp with hundreds of immigrants "inhumane" as authorities promise to set up more.

Sochi Athletes Not Exempt From Gay Law

Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Thursday that Russia's legislation against "gay propaganda" would apply to athletes and visitors of the Olympic Games...

Urlashov Faces More Charges

Investigators said Wednesday that they were preparing a new criminal case against former Yaroslavl Mayor Yevgeny Urlashov, who was arrested on attempted...

Group Debate Irks Mayoral Candidates

Moscow's election committee announced Tuesday that debates for the Sept. 8 mayoral election will be held with the participation of all six candidates...

Court Finds Violations in Khodorkovsky Case

The European Court of Human Rights issued a ruling Thursday saying the prosecution of former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon...

Detentions Intensify Fears Over Gay Rights

Concerns are mounting over the impact Russia's recently passed "gay propaganda" law may have on this winter's games in Sochi — for tourists, athletes...

Tomsk Mayor Quits Amid Conflict With Governor

The mayor of the western Siberian city of Tomsk announced Monday that he was quitting his post after months of open hostilities with the Tomsk region governor...

Western Governments Express Outrage Over Navalny Verdict

Representatives of the United States, Germany and other Western governments Thursday sharply condemned the conviction of opposition leader Alexei Navalny...

Academy of Sciences Reform to Boost Apartment Supply

The large-scale reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences, announced by the Cabinet late last month, is likely to influence Moscow's real estate market...

Court Finds Magnitsky and Browder Guilty

Moscow's Tverskoi District Court on Thursday found late Hermitage Fund lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and the fund's head, William Browder, guilty of tax evasion...

LDPR Furious Over Beating of Lawmaker

A State Duma deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party was severely beaten after being involved in a traffic dispute with two unidentified assailants during...

Dagestani Journalist Gunned Down

A prominent Dagestani journalist was gunned down Tuesday morning near the capital of Makhachkala, likely because of his critical writing on a range of...

Putin's Initiative to Merge Courts Faces Scrutiny

President Vladimir Putin's announcement of his initiative to combine the Supreme Court and the Supreme Arbitration Court into a single body has been...

Amnesty Plan Could See Thousands Freed

Thousands of jailed businessmen are expected to be freed this summer as part of the amnesty plan approved by President Vladimir Putin and set for review...

Taking Stock of Putin's Promises at Last Forum

Vladimir Putin took the stage to speak at last year's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum as president for a third time, having been inaugurated...

Business Climate Hindering Far East Investment

The government's initiative to attract 25 billion rubles ($781 million) of investment to the Far East by 2025 will fail if the business climate for private...

Guelman Says Fired for Controversial Sochi Exhibit

Marat Guelman, a prominent art gallery owner and the director of the Perm Museum of Contemporary Art, says he has been fired for showcasing an exhibition...

Tense Talks Expected at G8 Summit

The G8 summit opened Monday at the remote Lough Erne resort in Northern Ireland with "hard talks" expected in the late evening between the Russian...

Activists Fear Repercussions of 'Blasphemy Bill'

The bill protecting "believers' feelings," which rights activists and analysts have called a "step back" for Russia, a legal "Pandora's Box" and a...

'Blasphemy Bill' Passes Duma Unanimously

A bill protecting religious sentiment is passed as activists call it a "step back."

Court Extends Detentions as Bolotnoye Trial Begins

The trial against 12 people charged with violence against police and participation in alleged mass riots in the so-called Bolotnoye case - a case observers...

Smoking Ban Met With Skepticism

The new anti-smoking law that came into force last week and is seen by the government as a measure to fight population decline has been met more...

Suspects in Politkovskaya Murder Demand Jury Trial

The first preliminary hearing was held Monday in the trial of five men accused in the murder of investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya, with lawyers...

In Surprise Ruling, Court Frees Businessman Kozlov

Moscow's top court ruled Friday to free businessman Alexei Kozlov, who was jailed in 2008 on charges of fraud and attempted money laundering, accusations...

Suspicions Grow of 3rd Case Against Khodorkovsky

The abrupt flight from Russia of liberal economist Sergei Guriev after he was interrogated in connection with the case against tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky...

Paid Parking in City Center to Start June 1

Parking within Moscow's Boulevard Ring will be paid starting Jun. 1, a move that authorities hope will help reduce the number of cars in the city center...

Why Navalny Will Most Likely Be Convicted

The odds are stacked against Navalny no matter whether the case is politically motivated. The fact is only 0.01 percent of defendants are acquitted.

Booted U.S. Lawyer Backed Magnitsky

The lack of an official explanation for the abrupt expulsion from Russia of U.S. lawyer and former Justice Department official Thomas Firestone earlier...

Investigators to Open Case Against Ponomaryov

Investigators intend to open a criminal case against State Duma Deputy Ilya Ponomaryov as part of an investigation into embezzlement at Skolkovo,...

Gay Rights Rally Shot Down for 3rd Time This Month

With a recent survey showing intolerance toward gays is growing, activists warn that bans on gay rights rallies will damage social stability.

Putin's Patriotism: Duma May Make Criticism of WWII Illegal

The State Duma has ordered an evaluation of a comment made by opposition politician Leonid Gozman in which he compared a Soviet intelligence agency...

Medvedev Vows to Revamp Legal System

The Russian government will take a number of steps to make the country's legal system suitable for new entrepreneurs by making the rules of doing...

Opposition Deputy Faces Growing Pressure Over Alleged Misconduct

Pressure mounted Tuesday on opposition State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomaryov ahead of the scheduled airing of a program on state TV implying that he met...

2 Militant Nationalists Arrested for Killings

Two members of a militant nationalist group that has been implicated in a number of high-profile killings, including those of a prominent judge and an...

Investigative Committee, Surkov Trade Barbs Over Skolkovo

An investigation into the embezzlement of budget funds from state-owned innovation hub Skolkovo has led to a public spat between the agency conducting...

Opposition Rallies Despite Tragedy

Thousands of opposition protesters rallied peacefully on Moscow's Bolotnaya Ploshchad on Monday evening in a show of support for the stuttering protest...

Hopes Are High for May 6 Protest

The opposition is gearing up for a major anti-Kremlin rally on Monday to mark the one-year anniversary of the protest on Bolotnaya Ploshchad that...

Debate Rages Over State History Textbooks

As part of his effort to promote patriotism among younger generations of Russians, President Vladimir Putin has proposed creating a single set of history...

Witnesses in Magnitsky Trial Questioned Over Illegal Tax Breaks

At the latest hearing of the tax evasion trial of Sergei Magnitsky and William Browder, two disabled men from Kalmykia who'd supposedly worked for Hermitage...

Washington Publishes Magnitsky Blacklist

The U.S. government on Friday released the long-awaited public portion of the Magnitsky blacklist, naming 18 Russians implicated in human rights abuses...

Council of Europe Official Slams 'Foreign Agent' Law

The Council of Europe's human rights commissioner, Nils Muiznieks, on Thursday sharply criticized a Russian law requiring certain nongovernmental organizations...

Education Minister Faces Calls to Resign

A wave of criticism toward the state of the education system may lead to the dismissal of Education and Science Minister Dmitry Livanov.

Documentary Series Shows 'Hairs and Wrinkles' of Opposition Leaders

Anti-Kremlin leader Alexei Navalny walks methodically past a crowd of protesters standing behind metal barricades on Bolotnaya Ploshchad, heading for a...

U.S. Magnitsky List Near-Finalized

The U.S. government is expected this week to finalize the list of Russian officials to be punished for suspected human rights abuses under the Magnitsky...

Lawyer for Magnitsky Requests to Be Removed From Case

A lawyer appointed by the state to represent Sergei Magnitsky in a tax evasion case said at a hearing Friday that his participation in the posthumous...

Moscow Traffic Ranked World's Worst

Moscow has finally taken first place in an international rating, but it's in a category the authorities would like to be excluded from.

Guard Who Killed Prisoner in Altai Walks Free

A top guard at a prison in Altai was given a three-year suspended sentence Wednesday after the court found him guilty of beating a prisoner to death...

Courts and Prisons the Focus of Human Rights Complaints

Unfair court judgments, poor prison conditions and abuse of authority by law enforcement officials were among the main complaints received by Kremlin...

Traffic Law Enforcement Disparity 'Destabilizes' Society

In a meeting with traffic police on Friday, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said the preferential treatement given to certain "categories of people"...

Magnitsky Used Illegal Tax Scheme, Former Co-Worker Says

A former co-worker of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky testified Wednesday in the posthumous trial of Magnitsky on tax evasion charges, saying the deceased...

United Russia Veteran Appointed Acting Vladimir Governor

President Vladimir Putin appointed Federation Council Senator Svetlana Orlova acting governor of the Vladimir region on Monday, replacing the country's...

Posthumous Trial of Magnitsky Opens

Moscow's Tverskoi District Court began proceedings in the posthumous tax evasion trial against deceased lawyer Sergei Magnitsky on Friday.

Former 'Provocateur' Blames Police for Bolotnaya Clashes

A man professing to be a former government operative has said that police officials, including the former interior minister, were involved in organizing...

Ethics Commission Tells Gudkov to Quit Duma

The Duma's ethics commission on Wednesday advised Deputy Dmitry Gudkov to quit over a speech critical of Russian authorities that he delivered in the...

Investigators Close Case Into Magnitsky's Death

Investigators said Tuesday that they had closed the case into the 2009 death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, whose name is attached to a U.S. law that...

Ethics Commission to Assess Gudkov's U.S. Visit

Four State Duma deputies asked the assembly's ethics commission on Friday to evaluate former Just Russia Deputy Dmitry Gudkov's speech that he gave...

Gennady Gudkov Says He'd Make Own Party

A day after the Just Russia party ousted two of its most prominent members, Gennady Gudkov and his son, Dmitry, the elder Gudkov said Thursday that...

Police Break Up Women's Day Rallies

Three opposition rallies in support of women's rights were held around town on Friday, International Women's Day. Two of the events ended in a wave...

State Urged to Change Policy on Ethnic Minorities

Lawmakers, ministers and representatives of 40 ethnic groups from the far north, Far East and Siberia said Tuesday that the state should change its...

Wave of Resignations Foreseen in Duma

The resignation of senior United Russia lawmaker Vladimir Pekhtin following accusations from opposition leader Alexei Navalny that he owned undeclared...

Pekhtin Quits Duma Amid Scandal

United Russia co-founder Vladimir Pekhtin, who until last week had headed the State Duma's Credentials and Ethics Commission, relinquished his parliamentary...

Magnitsky Hearing Put Off for 2 Weeks

The opening of a tax evasion trial against deceased whistle-blowing lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and business associate Bill Browder, who founded what was...

Britain OKs First Russian Extradition in Decade

British authorities have agreed for the first time in more than a decade to extradite a Russian citizen seeking asylum. The 32-year-old former St. Petersburg...

Death Penalty Debate Reignited by Killings of Young Girls

The recent brutal killings of two adolescent girls in Irkutsk and Tatarstan has reignited a debate over whether the country should reinstate the death...

Former Colonel Gets 13 Years for Planning Coup

Former military intelligence Сolonel Vladimir Kvachkov, once a suspect in an assassination attempt on Rusnano chief Anatoly Chubais, was sentenced...

Navalny Ally's Apartment Raided

Investigators on Thursday raided the apartment of Vladimir Ashurkov, director of the Foundation for Fighting Corruption and an anti-Kremlin activist...

Belykh Faces Ouster by Regional Lawmakers

Nikita Belykh, the liberal governor of the Kirov region and a former opposition leader, is facing a new wave of pressure from opponents after 19 regional...

U.S., Russia to Resume Arms Reduction Talks

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov this weekend in Munich to resume arms-reduction talks, as the two-decade...

Moscow Nixes U.S. Anti-Crime Agreement

Moscow canceled a bilateral crime-fighting agreement with Washington because the “material aid” it had been established to provide is no longer needed...

Teacher Says He Was Fired for Taking Part in Gay Protest

A Moscow schoolteacher said he was fired for participating in a gay rights protest outside the State Duma on Friday, highlighting the sensitive nature...

Deputies Shelve Bill Targeting Foreigners on State TV

Lawmakers on Monday said they would shelve a bill blocking foreigners from working in state television if they made remarks "discrediting" Russia or...

'We Live in Russia, Not Sodom and Gomorrah'

State Duma lawmakers easily approve legislation banning "gay propoganda" in a first reading, voting 388-1.

Party Conflict Highlights Divisions in Opposition

The social-democratic Just Russia party issued an ultimatum Thursday to four members who are leaders in the anti-Kremlin protest movement, warning...

Robbery Case Against Razvozzhayev Dropped

A robbery charge against opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev based on an incident 15 years ago was dropped because the statute of limitations ran...

Gay-Rights Demonstration Turns Violent

A demonstration outside the State Duma on Tuesday ended in fisticuffs as Orthodox activists clashed with opponents of a bill targeting lesbian, gay...

Razvozzhayev's Siberian Jailing Upheld in Moscow Courtroom

The Moscow City Court on Monday upheld a decision to keep opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev in a Siberian pretrial jail until April 1.

Duma Stalls on Petition Opposing Anti-Magnitsky Law

A State Duma committee on Monday discussed an online petition opposing the "Anti-Magnitsky Law" passed late last year, but it appeared to delay until...

Thousands March to Protest U.S. Adoption Ban

Thousands of people thronged central Moscow on Sunday in a march protesting a ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian orphans, in one of the largest opposition...

Navalny Hit With 3rd Criminal Case

A third criminal investigation was opened against opposition leader and anti-corruption lawyer Alexei Navalny on Monday, with the Investigative Committee...

City Approves London-Like Speakers' Corners

City Hall on Wednesday designated two places in Moscow as rally sites that do not require preliminary approval from authorities.

Exile Chichvarkin Does Branding for Wine and Politics

Oxford Street is illuminated by colorful Christmas decorations as cheerful crowds shop furiously. But a few miles away, in the prestigious Mayfair neighborhood...

Duma Passes U.S. Adoption Ban

The State Duma gives its final approval of a ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian kids. But the bill still has to pass two more hurdles.

Putin Hints He Can't Ban U.S. Adoptions

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signaled that a proposed ban on U.S. adoptions could not come into force for at least a year because of Russia's...

U.K. Property Tax Targets Wealthy Russians

The British government has introduced tax rules that will hit foreign
owners and buyers of high-value residential properties in the country, with...

Opposition Council Seeks Purpose

"Who is in favor of fair courts? Seems like no one wants fair courts. How about early elections? Don't you want early elections?" former chess champion...

After Rash of Accidents, Authorities Target Driving Schools

Major traffic accidents are no rarity on Moscow's roads, but a string of particularly horrific crashes in recent months have forced authorities to search...

Investigators: Razvozzhayev Stole 500 Fur Hats

Opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev, jailed after a national television show accused him of plotting to destabilize Russia, was charged on Wednesday...

Dozens Rally for Jailed Opposition Activists

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Investigative Committee headquarters on Thursday and demanded that opposition activists Leonid Razvozzhayev and...

Kremlin Silent as Magnitsky Bill Heads to House

The Kremlin remained silent Wednesday after U.S. lawmakers moved to advance a bill to punish Russian officials for human rights violations.

Putin's Human Rights Council Gets 39 New Members

President Vladimir Putin's human rights council gained 39 new members on Monday as its total membership count rose from 40 to 62 in a reshuffle that...

Grocery Store Slavery Case Opened

The Investigative Committee said Tuesday that it had opened a criminal case into allegations that Uzbek nationals were held captive at a Moscow grocery...

Activists Say Migrants Were Held as Slaves in Grocery Store

Federal investigators have opened an inquiry in response to a complaint from two women that they were held in the basement of a Moscow shop against...

Muscovites Rally Against Repression

More than 500 people gathered on downtown Moscow's New Pushkin Square on Tuesday, the official "Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions...

Ukraine Confirms Razvozzhayev Was Abducted

A Ukrainian Interior Ministry spokesman said Thursday that Russian opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev was abducted last week in Kiev, likely not...

Opposition Riot 'Conspirator' Alleges Police Torture

An opposition activist shown on national TV plotting with a Georgian power broker to cause "mass riots in Moscow" has turned himself in to police...

UN Agency Says Opposition Activist Disappeared While Seeking Asylum

The United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday that detained opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev mysteriously disappeared after seeking assistance...

Cyberattacks Disrupt Opposition's Election

Nearly 60,000 opposition supporters cast online votes for a “shadow government” amid a weekend of hacker attacks that opposition leaders blamed on...

Amid Crackdown, Opposition Debates to Determine Leadership

At midnight, the halls of the independent Dozhd TV station were dark and empty, with only the "on air" sign lit up in red indicating that the channel still...

Foreign Ministry Disapproves of Metro Station Name

The Foreign Ministry has weighed in on a subject not typically within its purview: the naming of a metro station.

Group of Disabled People Barred From Boarding Flight

A group of people in wheelchairs were blocked from boarding an Air Berlin flight to Germany at Domodedovo Airport early Monday due to an airline policy...

Treason Bill Gains Momentum

The State Duma tentatively approved a bill on Friday to broaden the legal definition of high treason, seen by human rights groups as part of a...

Redevelopment Proposal Draws Criticism in St. Pete

The program for the preservation of St. Petersburg's historical center will be completely revised, according to a spokesman of the Committee for Economic...

Silver Age Cafe 'Stray Dog' Born Again in St. Pete

The legendary St. Petersburg cafe Stray Dog, once the haunt of Silver Age writers such as Vladimir Mayakovsky and Anna Akhmatova, is celebrating its...

Faberge Museum to Open in Hermitage

The State Hermitage Museum will pay tribute to Carl Faberge, one of the most famous jewelers of all time in 2014 by opening a Carl Faberge Museum...

St. Pete Human Show Astonishes

Russia's first open anatomic exhibition, "The Human Body," celebrated its anniversary last week. The results are astonishing considering it has only been...