Business Watch
Some 56 per cent of Russians still regret the dissolution of the Soviet Union, according to a poll published on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the first Socialist state.
A Russian court has acquitted the former deputy chief of the prison where lawyer Sergey Magnitsky died. A judge ruled there was not enough evidence Dmitry Kratov was guilty of negligence.
As Russia readies to ban foreign property for state officials, some parliamentarians suggested making all children of officials who study abroad return to Russia after their education is complete.
By William Dunkerley
The facts said one thing. The media told a different story. And Russian president Vladimir Putin lost another skirmish with his enemies in the process. This drama unfolded in the London coroner's court on December 13. The 2006 death of reputed former spy Alexander Litvinenko was the subject. When the hearing was over, media headlines cried out:
--Russia Implicated in Litvinenko Death (The Moscow Times)
--British evidence 'shows Russia involved' (The Guardian)
--Russian state involved in ex-KGB agent Litvinenko's death (CNN)
Police have broken up a demonstration by gay rights activists as they started kissing in the street near the Parliament building despite sub zero temperatures. The protesters oppose the nationwide ban on gay propaganda that will be soon put on vote.
The Russian presidential human rights council on Tuesday demanded that Syrian militants immediately release Ukrainian journalist Ankhar Kochneva.