Worldcrunch
Russia has good reason to be concerned about asteroids. The country had two near misses in the 20th century century alone. Efforts to better prepare the nation for such an event, however, are unlikely to be effective unless Russia first builds better tele
A law introduced in the Russian Parliament this week aims to punish “homosexual propaganda” aimed at children. Critics are worried this is just another way to outlaw homosexuality.
History tells us that purges, show trials and other sadistic state policies were integral to the birth and expansion of the Soviet Union. But a new book focuses on how Stalin helped form the unique “boot and leather jacket-wearing” character of the Bolshe
Vladimir Putin rival Prokhorov is keen to launch a new political party. Consolidating support from the recent election, in which he finished an impressive third, the businessman billionaire is first going straight to the people to help him find a name for
Vladimir Putin’s victory in the presidential elections has not deterred opponents, some of whom have also faced arrests by authorities. And now, as plans begin for the next major rally, on May 5, protest organizers say they will ignore government
If you like Banksy, the now rich and famous UK street artist and activist, you’ll love P183, the Russian graffiti and guerrilla artist. A member of no party, whose identity remains a mystery, P183 is emblematic of the country’s growing a
While some cities take a bigger-is-better approach to high-rise construction, Moscow is looking to curb enthusiasm for skyscrapers in much the same way as Saint Petersburg. Proposed regulations would impose a 75-meter height limit for most of the historic
Analysis: With his victory on Sunday, Vladimir Putin returns to the Kremlin with a renewed mandate and promises of major reforms. But a growing mass of disaffected Russians may be bound to push the incoming president out of office no matter what he does.
Analysis: Though opponents are still questioning the legitimacy of Vladimir Putin’s win in Sunday’s presidential race, one Russian political observer charts the course of his sudden unpopularity last year to an election campaign that saw
Op-Ed: A few years ago, even if its people didn’t realize it at the time, Russia was poised for a new wave of civil action. Though Sunday’s elections may not bring new faces, the nation is forever changed.
Analysis: Vladimir Putin remains the overwhelming favorite Sunday to return to the Kremlin as Russia’s president, following a term as prime minister. Still, with opposition to Putin growing, it was a memorable campaign — even before it began.
While commentators debate who stood to gain from an alleged plot to kill Putin just days before the presidential election, there is reputed evidence going back several months that might connect the dots.
Alarmed by reports of fraud during last year’s parliamentary elections, a group of computer-savvy Russians prepared for the upcoming presidential election by creating a virtual monitoring site. The platform has already caught the attention of Mikhail Prok
Russia won’t be joining the “Friends of Syria” group for its upcoming summit in Tunisia. Why? Because Moscow sees it as a repeat of the ‘Contact Group on Libya,’ which helped lay the groundwork for foreign military intervention.
Overly reliant on commodities and energy exports, and grossly out of balance on the agricultural front, Russia’s Soviet-era economy was doomed to collapse, argues Hungarian historian György Dalos. It didn’t help that the USSR kept boosting alcoho
As the Russian presidential elections approach, there is still little doubt Vladimir Putin will win. Billionaire and basketball team owner Mikhail Prokhorov, however, continues to keep his hat in the ring. Why? Russia’s Kommersant offers a few explanation
Vladimir Putin is still the man to beat in Russia’s upcoming presidential election, thanks in large part to support from rural working-class voters. As urban protesters take to the streets, Putin heads off to chat up miners and laborers in far-off provinc
The 80-year-old former Soviet leader says Vladimir Putin’s best days are behind him. Putin, Russia’s current prime minister, is hoping to regain the presidency in next month’s election.
In Moscow, thousands braved the cold Saturday in marches both for and against Vladimir Putin. Russia’s state-run TV channels made a point of downplaying the latter. Still, there are real signs of change in how the channels cover Russia’s growing
Analysis: Longstanding diplomatic and business ties with Damascus, and memories of the West’s about-face on Libya are among the key reasons Russia won’t give in on a UN resolution on Syria. But from Moscow, there’s also Vladimir
As the New Year vacation closes and presidential election nears, Russia’s attention is turning to the planned anti-Putin demonstration on Feb. 4. But with protesters spanning the spectrum from extreme left to Neo-Nazis, some wonder if opposition unity is
The recent drowning of a toddler in Bryansk has turned national attention to the city’s decrepit sewer system. But Russia’s infrastructure problems are nationwide. At least 10 cave-ins – like the one that killed 18-month-old Kiril Didenko – have
Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov outlines to Kommersant his presidential program, titled a “Real Future.” He wants to cut the presidential term to four years, privatize industry and foster a free press. Are they just words?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would veto any UN Security Council resolution targeting Syrian President Assad’s regime, especially any military strikes. It is the latest sign of deep-seated Russian tensions with the West over Syria. An
For the first time in modern history, Russia is turning to foreign weapons manufacturers to boost its military arsenal. Russia’s armed forces have already signed contracts with Italy and France.
Op-Ed: As the winter presidential campaign sets to heat up, Vladimir Putin has laid out a campaign platform that is intended to neither inspire nor enrage. So lacking in ambition, his list of promises even includes goals that have already been achieved.
Analysis: In the aftermath of his party’s poor showing in parliamentary elections, Vladimir Putin is focused now on his race to return to the Russian presidency. Though he is still strongly positioned, Putin now faces a new dynamic where he can &
A program started in 2006 offers benefits to lure back home the Russians who left as the Soviet Union was crumbling. But the price to get the top qualified emigres to return is apparently more than Moscow can afford.
Analysis: After Vladimir Putin’s ruling party lost major ground in Russia’s recent parliamentary elections, opposition parties have done little to take advantage of the momentum. Why? They’re “spooked” by their own success.
A presidential committee studying Mikhail Khodorkovsy’s second conviction found no evidence of a crime by the onetime billionaire oil baron and Vladimir Putin opponent. With a touch of absurdism, experts ask if someone can be convicted for someth
Russian billionaire and New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has thrown his hat in the ring for next spring’s presidential election. Is it the most serious challenge to Vladimir Putin’s cake walk back to the Kremlin or a bit of Russia
Filmmaker Stanislav Govorukhin, who has also served for six years in Parliament, has been plucked to lead Putin’s campaign to return to the Russian presidency. It may be an attempt by Putin to shine a tarnished image. But who will really be pulli
Following his United Russia’s narrow parliamentary victory, Putin responds to allegations of voter fraud, which have led to demonstrations and hundreds of arrests. Amongst party loyalists, the Russian leader stands his ground with a mix of imperi
News that Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party won 53% of the seats in parliamentary elections sparked protests in both Moscow and St. Petersburg. Unsure they can sustain a mass movement now, organizers have their sights set on Putin’s upcoming r
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia won slightly less than 50% of the vote in the State Duma elections, which coincided with an unprecedented series of threats against media and hacker episodes against websites of many liberal outlets,
A visit inside a Tajik village that has sent nearly all of its men to work in Russia. These are the people affected when President Dmitry Medvedev talks about restricting Tajik guest workers in Russia.
Jailed Russian oil baron Mikhail Khodorkovsky isn’t going to be released anytime soon. In Russia, a new documentary about his life is struggling to see the light of day as well. “Khodorkovsky” is set for release Dec. 1 — but virtually no cinemas
Typically mild-mannered, Russian President Dimitri Medvedev let loose in a nationally televised speech against American and NATO plans for a missile defense system. His probable successor, Vladimir Putin, may even boycott the next NATO summit in Chicago n
The Russian Space Agency’s most recent “sputnik” is looking grim. The unmanned spacecraft was supposed to reach Phobos, one of Mars’ moons. Though the probe’s signal was picked up Wednesday after vanishing for two weeks
Not for the first time, Russian scientists are taking their considerable knowledge and moving abroad. Some of the brainy emigrants cite funding problems and Russian red tape as reasons to move. For others, heading West is simply a lifestyle choice.