Russian Adoption Ban Proposal Draws Criticism
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — Russian lawmakers still appear prepared to introduce a measure that would cut off adoptions of children from Russia to the United States, even as criticism of the move mounts from unexpected corners.Russia’s…
Anti-Putin Protesters Lay Flowers for Stalin’s Victims
NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — With hundreds of police looking on, Russian opposition activists staged an unauthorized protest against President Vladimir Putin in downtown Moscow on Saturday, defying threats of arrest in an event that …
Russia Walking Back Syria Assessment
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — Russia’s Foreign Ministry Friday walked back an assessment on Thursday by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who suggested that the Syrian rebels might win as President Assad loses his grip on power. …
In Face of Crackdown, Some Russian Protesters Growing Weary
Moscow protest in December 2011. (Harry Engels/Getty Images)(MOSCOW) — Protestors opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin have been denied permission to march through Moscow on Saturday, prompting defiance from some, but hopelessness in many others….
Russia Acknowledges Syrian President May Fall
Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — For the first time, Syria’s most powerful ally is acknowledging that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is cracking under the force of a strong rebellion.Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s top envoy for Midd…
One Year After Protest, Russians See Little Change in Corruption
Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Alyona Bykova still remembers the excitement she felt attending one of the first massive opposition rallies in Moscow last December.”There was a very happy feeling because there were really nice people all around…
Putin Warns Against Foreign Meddling, Domestic Corruption
ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned against foreign meddling in his country’s internal affairs and offered guidelines to fight rampant government corruption. His comments came du…
Russia Says It Will Not Seek Syrian President’s Ouster
ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — If Secretary of State Hillary Clinton thought her meeting last week in Ireland with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss ways to resolve the civil war in Syria would prompt Moscow to push for S…
Russian Beauty Queen Slams Homeland’s Corruption
TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images(NOVOSIBIRSK, Russia) — A Russian beauty queen is standing by her controversial withering public criticism of corruption in her country during this year’s Miss Earth competition.”I wrote it from the bottom of my heart, from …
Iraq Reneges on Huge Arms Deal with Russia
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(BAGHDAD) — Iraq might be playing one important ally off another as it tries to stock up its military arsenal.By all signs, Baghdad had a deal with Moscow last month to purchase $4.2 billion worth of weapons that included helicop…
Russian President Vladimir Putin Dumps Defense Chief
ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — While America was electing its leader Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was struggling to keep his leadership intact.Putin had to do some head swapping after firing Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov…
Kremlin Cheers Obama’s Re-Election
Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory note to President Obama, his spokesman said.
The Kremlin says they’ll make the text public once Obama has received it. Putin is also ex…
Russia Still Resistant to Transitional Government in Syria
ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images(CAIRO) — Russia continues to be a thorn in the side of those seeking a quick resolution to the ongoing conflict in Syria.After talks with the Arab League and Egyptian leaders in Cairo Monday, Russian Foreign Minister…
Putin Denies Bird Stunt Postponed Work Activities
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — A spokesman for Vladimir Putin has confirmed that the Russian president suffered a “muscle strain” before attending a summit of world leaders in September, but denied that the injury has caused him t…
Russia Takes Swipe at US Democracy Ahead of Election
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — Moscow’s Foreign Ministry took a shot at American democracy on Wednesday.“The #US lectures the world on democracy and human rights, but looks only to its own laws when flaws in its voting system are pointed…
Russia Takes Swipe at US Democracy Ahead of Election
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — Moscow’s Foreign Ministry took a shot at American democracy on Wednesday.“The #US lectures the world on democracy and human rights, but looks only to its own laws when flaws in its voting system are pointed…
Russia Calls for Greater Access to Its Children Adopted into US Families
MAXIM MARMUR/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russian authorities have reiterated their demand for full access to Russian children adopted by American families. They cite authority to do so enshrined in a new adoption agreement with the United States,…
Russia Calls for Greater Access to Its Children Adopted into US Families
MAXIM MARMUR/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Russian authorities have reiterated their demand for full access to Russian children adopted by American families. They cite authority to do so enshrined in a new adoption agreement with the United States,…
Could Election Day Be Postponed After Superstorm?
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Superstorm Sandy has given rise to suspensions in campaigning by both President Obama and GOP contender Mitt Romney, but could it actually delay Election Day?In theory, yes, but in all likelihood, no.The Constituti…
Groups Hope to Stop Halloween Celebrations in Southern Russia
Jupiterimages/Thinkstock(MOSCOW) — While many in the U.S. bemoan what they see as a war on Christmas, in Russia a very different holiday is under attack: Halloween. There, some don’t see it as the holiday of tricks and treats, but as a sin…