Russia

Georgia nabs Russian 'spy ring,' angering Moscow

Georgia on Friday accused 13 people, including four Russians, of spying for Russia after a four-year investigation.
At Khodorkovsky trial, defiant ex-oil tycoon lashes out at Russia

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, faces at least seven additional years in prison on charges he stole millions of tons of oil while running Yukos oil company.
More turf wars for Japan after Russia's Medvedev visits disputed Kuril Islands

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited the Kuril Islands Monday, ruffling Japan, which also claims what it calls the Northern Territories. Japan has recently sparred with China over disputed islands.
Russia to drop Microsoft in quest for 'national' operating system

Russia says it hopes to switch all government and school computers from Microsoft's operating system to the open source Linux by the end of the year.
In Russia, the price of bribes rise as its corruption rating slides

Russia ranked 154th on the annual Corruption Perceptions Index of 178 countries, sliding down eight spots from last year. A promised 'war on corruption' isn't yielding fruit.
WikiLeaks ready to drop a bombshell on Russia. But will Russians get to read about it?

WikiLeaks is about to release documents on Russia, but the tightly-controlled Russian media is unlikely to report them the way Western media attacked the documents about Afghanistan and Iraq
Terrorism & Security
Iran loads fuel rods into Bushehr nuclear power plant

Loading fuel roads into the Bushehr power plant marks the end of long delays in bringing online the center of Iran’s nuclear power program.
With Ukraine's blessing, Russia to beef up its Black Sea Fleet

Moscow's upgrade to its Black Sea Fleet – headquartered with Ukraine's blessing at Sevastopol – could make waves around the Black Sea, where NATO has a strong presence.
Global News Blog
Russian spies given top honors; Anna Chapman launches iPhone app

Russian spies deported from the United States earlier this year, including Anna Chapman, have received top honors from President Dmitry Medvedev.
Chechen parliament attack a threat to Kremlin strongman

A major militant attack on the Chechen parliament is raising doubts about Kremlin-backed Ramzan Kadyrov's boasts that he's pacified Chechnya.
Facing a rising China, Russia looks to boost Europe ties

The leaders of France, Germany, and Russia will meet this week in Deauville, France, as a first step toward fostering closer ties.
Gorbachev says Russia faces mass unrest if it doesn't democratize

Gorbachev criticized the system of strong and centralized state power restored by Mr. Putin, who came to power aiming to reverse a decade of economic slump, social collapse, and political drift.
Schwarzenegger adds muscle to Medvedev's vision for Russian Silicon Valley

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived in Russia this week along with executives from Google, Microsoft, and Oracle to give a boost to Russia's burgeoning tech sector.
Anna Chapman, glamorous Russian spy, bids farewell to astronauts

Anna Chapman, the Russian spy deported from the US, is living the life of a celebrity at home, defying espionage convention and casting doubt over whether she was ever a real spy.
How arms deals are shaping the Mideast

A record U.S. arms deal with Saudi Arabia is part of an effort to put pressure on Iran, partly by strengthening alliances with oil-rich neighbors also concerned by Iran's rise.
Why Russia's Medvedev is lashing out at Belarus's Lukashenko

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev slammed 'Europe's last dictator,' Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko, this past week for his increasingly anti-Russian rhetoric.
Russian weapons dealer Viktor Bout stalls extradition to US

Viktor Bout has stalled his extradition to the US. But the delay may be short-lived in the case of the 'Merchant of Death,' accused of supplying dictators and warlords with weapons.
Moscow ex-mayor starting movement to promote more democracy

Moscow ex-mayor Yury Luzhkov, dismissed last week by President Medvedev, says he is going to launch a political movement to counter an antidemocratic drift. Many activists are skeptical of Luzhkov's pro-democracy credentials.
Ukraine court reverses Orange Revolution, hands president more power

Ukraine's Constitutional Court essentially nullified the amendments that paved the way for greater democracy after the Orange Revolution, giving the pro-Russia president greater powers.
In shift, Kremlin reopens cases of Russian reporters' unsolved murders

The announcement came during the Kremlin's meeting today with the Committee to Protect Journalists. Rights groups have been pressing to address major unsolved murders, such as the slaying of Anna Politkovskaya.
Mayor Luzhkov ouster: sign of crack in Putin-Medvedev unity?

Russian President Medvedev's scorching dismissal of Moscow Mayor Luzhkov could be opening shot in a bureaucratic battle between Putin and Medevev over who will be the establishment candidate for president.
Russia's Putin says he wants peaceful division of Arctic

At a conference that included the US, Canada, Denmark, and Norway, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the area should be a 'zone of peace.' But Russia is bolstering its claim to a large tract of the Arctic seabed.
Why Russia is cutting off major arms sales to Iran

Russia, a major global arms dealer, decided Wednesday to nix a controversial arms sale that would have given Iran missiles.
Why Russia wants 'Enemy No. 1' Akhmed Zakayev back

Russia considers Chechen separatist Akhmed Zakayev, picked up in Warsaw today under an international arrest warrant, as 'Enemy No. 1.'
Moscow becoming election battleground for Putin, Medvedev

Moscow is becoming heated ahead of the 2012 presidential elections. Efforts to undermine the Moscow mayor politically signals a struggle to control the city's electoral votes, an important political chip.