Рубрика: English

The Russian Justice Ministry has prepared an official letter requesting that the United States hand over pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence, within the 1983 convention on exchange of convicts.

The majority caucus United Russia party has announced plans to launch a special council that would filter populist and “fake” initiatives as well as bills that replicate existing laws.

Senator Aleksey Pushkov has sharply criticized the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for passing an anti-Russian resolution, adding that the members of this body should understand that without Russia it would remain flawed.

According to the latest poll, only about a quarter of Russians express definite trust in state structures and public institutions. However, citizens’ trust in military and security services remains high.

Fifty percent of Russian citizens consider budget allocations for defense a major priority and think development of the weapons industry can bring positive changes in the national economy as a whole, according to the latest research.

A State Duma lawmaker representing parliamentary majority party United Russia has prepared a draft law introducing criminal responsibility for promises, proposals and requests of bribery.

The share of the Russian population which claims to feel ethnic tensions in the areas where they live is now 18 percent – the lowest since 2005, when researchers first addressed the issue, reports the independent public opinion center Levada.

A recent military exercise in southern Russia saw the first real-time test of the state management system that allows the Defense Ministry to assume direct control over municipal and regional authorities, police, state security and emergency services.

Mikhail Gorbachev has called the current state of relations between Russia and US the “collapse of mutual trust” and urged the sides to resume dialogue and push towards demilitarization and complete nuclear disarmament.

Moscow expects explanations from Washington concerning the reasons behind the recent detention of two Russian citizens and will undertake own steps to clarify details of this case, the Foreign Ministry’s human rights advocate says.