Russia

World News

Chechnya's Strongman Praises Putin, Threatens 'Traitors'

10:10am January 28, 2016

by Corey Flintoff

Ramzan Kadyrov is an aggressive supporter of Vladimir Putin, vilifying opponents of the Russian president as traitors and "Satans" who should be eliminated. But his bluster may provoke a backlash.

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Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian security agent, died in 2006 after drinking tea laced with the radioactive element polonium at a London hotel. A British inquiry found Thursday that his death was the work of the Russian security service.

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A Serious Charge Against Putin, But Little Threat Of Sanction

4:53pm January 21, 2016

by Greg Myre

A British inquiry found that the Russian president "probably" approved the poisoning of an ex-intelligence agent. But Britain imposed only light penalties against two Russian suspects.

Russian Orthodox believers swim in frigid water at a pond outside St. Petersburg in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Warmly dressed emergency medical technicians stand by in case anyone is overcome by the cold.

In Russia, Epiphany Comes With A Shockingly Cold Swim

2:35pm January 20, 2016

by Corey Flintoff

To celebrate the feast of Epiphany marking the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, thousands of Russian Orthodox faithful take a dip in icy waters. How does it feel? "Absolutely good," one man says.

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World Anti-Doping Agency Report Slams Track And Field's Governing Body

7:04pm January 14, 2016

by Laura Wagner

The latest WADA report finds that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), track and field's world governing body, helped organize and enable doping and corruption.

"I trust her, she is a very open person," Vladimir Putin said of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, seen here at last month's climate talks in Paris. But, he told the German daily Bild, "she is also subject to certain constraints and limitations."

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In Interview, A Confrontational Putin Takes On NATO

3:13pm January 11, 2016

by Corey Flintoff

"It is not borders and state territories that matter," Putin told the German tabloid Bild, "but people's fortunes."

Russians flocked to Egypt's Red Sea resorts, like the one shown here in Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov. 7. But after a Russian plane was blown up, Russians have been barred from going. Russian tourists have also stopped going to Turkey, which recently shot down a

World News

Russians Find Favored Holiday Destinations Suddenly Off Limits

5:16pm January 02, 2016

by Corey Flintoff

Russian tourists love the beaches of Egypt and Turkey. But the recent losses of a Russian civilian plane in Egypt and a military plane along the Turkish border have changed their plans.

The Rev. Vsevolod Chaplin, shown here in 2012, was dismissed with little explanation. The high-ranking religious conservative was known for making controversial statements about politics and public morals.

In Russia, A High-Ranking Orthodox Priest Is Sacked — And Hits Back

1:53pm December 26, 2015

by Corey Flintoff

Vsevolod Chaplin, a high-profile religious conservative, was dismissed with little explanation on Thursday. He says he was sacked because church authorities want to silence independent voices.

The two sides of a new 100-ruble banknote depict a memorial to sunken ships in the port of Sevastopol, the site of Russia's naval base, and the Swallow's Nest, a mock castle on a clifftop near Yalta.

Russia Marks Crimea Annexation With A Banknote Rapidly Losing Value

4:03pm December 23, 2015

by Corey Flintoff

The 100-ruble note is worth about half of what it was worth in February 2014, just before Russia seized the Black Sea peninsula. The ruble could depreciate even more in the coming year.

During a Dec. 5 protest against new highway fees in Moscow, a Russian Communist Party supporter stood in front of a banner with portraits of wealthy businessmen including billionaire Arkady Rotenberg, far left. Rotenberg's son, Igor Rotenberg, controls th

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In A Rare Protest, Russian Truckers Rally Against Putin's Highway Tax

10:55am December 23, 2015

by Corey Flintoff

Long-haul truck drivers are protesting new road fees they say will hurt their business. The drivers are part of the blue-collar workforce that normally gives President Putin his strongest support.

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The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing a peace process for Syria including a cease-fire and talks between the Damascus government and the opposition.

U.N. Passes Resolution Urging Political Settlement In Syria

6:10pm December 18, 2015

by Laura Wagner

The resolution does not explicitly address the contentious issue of Syrian President Bashar Assad's future in the government. It aims for an end to fighting and a focus on defeating ISIS.