Controversial new treason law in Russia

A few days after promising to review treason law, Russian president Vladimir Putin (photo, from dailymail.co.uk) has signed it. The law which expands the definition of treason went into effect on Wednesday.

According to critics this new law may be used to stifle dissent.

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Thousands gather for anti-Putin rally in Moscow

The first major protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin in three months took place on Saturday in Moscow. (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk)

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters have marched through the capital to say that December’s parliamentary elections were fraudulent and dispute Mr Putin’s re-election in March.

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Hundreds arrested after anti-Putin rally

Late on Monday several thousand people took to the streets in central Moscow to protest against alleged fraud in Sunday’s parliamentary elections (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk).

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Putin ready to return as president in 2012

For the presidential election next year, the current Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has proposed his prime minister, Vladimir Putin, which brought a heavy round of applause. On Saturday in front of the ruling United Russia party’s annual congress, the two men (photo, from lemonde.fr) ended speculations by backing one another to switch roles.

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Russian president wants ministers to leave boardrooms

The practice of Russian ministers acting as regulators and company directors, has been singled out by president Dmitry Medvedev (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk).

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Russian and Italian PM joke about ruling until age 120

Responding to Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s offer at an informal meeting in Russia, Vladimir Putin has joked that he and Berlusconi could stay in their jobs until the age of 120.(photo, from bbcimg.co.uk)

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Russia’s ban on grain exports starts

Following a severe drought and a series of wildfires devastated crops, Russia has imposed a ban on grain exports. (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk)

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Pro-Moscow candidate to win Ukraine presidential election

Ukrainian electoral officials said Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Moscow candidate (photo, from aljazeera.net), will win a narrow victory in the presidential election.

With more than 98% of votes counted, Mr Yanukovych had a 2.7% lead over his rival, PM Yulia Tymoshenko, media said.

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Russia stops gas supply to Ukraine

All gas supplies to Ukraine from Russia have stopped after the collapse of talks to end a row over unpaid bills and prices.

The taps have been turned off at 0700 GMT, said Gazprom, Russia’s gas giant, when its contract to supply Ukraine ended.

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New development in the Politkovskaya trial

Amid deepening controversy, judge Yevgeny Zubov has suspended the trial of three men suspected of involvement in the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya (photo).

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