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Moscow’s Afghan community centers around a cluster of gray tower blocks that make up the Soviet-era Sevastopol Hotel

Russia Orders U.S. Embassy Staff Cuts in Sanctions Retaliation

Russia has ordered the United States to reduce its diplomatic and technical staff at its Embassy in Moscow and diplomatic missions in other Russian cities in response to a U.S. Senate vote to impose tougher sanctions.

Majority of Young Russians Watch Kremlin-Funded News

State-run television is the principal source of news for a majority of young Russians, the independent Russian television channel Dozhd reported Friday.

Putin Vows to Retaliate After U.S. Senate Sanctions Vote

The U.S. Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a bill calling for tougher economic sanctions against Russia

Russian Draft Dodgers Banned From Public Sector Jobs for 10 Years

An earlier version of the law passed in 2013 imposed a lifetime ban on draft dodgers.

Medvedev Calls Saakashvili’s Loss of Ukrainian Citizenship ‘Tragicomedy’

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev described the former Odessa governor being stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship as “tragicomedy” in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Abramovich Personally Intervened for ‘Nureyev’ Ballet to Be Performed This Year — Report

The ballet might still premiere this year after billionaire Roman Abramovich intervened, Kommersant reports

The Weekend in Moscow: Afisha Picnic

This weekend in Moscow the weather will be hot and mostly sunny, just in time for the capital’s most famous music festival — the Afisha Picnic.

Russia Extends Syrian Airbase Lease by 49 Years

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed an agreement with Syria which will give the Russian military access to an airbase on the Mediterranean for another half a century

Russia Could Expel U.S. Diplomats in Response to Fresh Sanctions

Moscow has threatened far-reaching countermeasures on the U.S. if new sanctions are implemented

This Russian Ad Claims Merkel’s Biggest Rival is Actually a Window Repair Expert

The ad was published back in April, but had gone unnoticed by media until now.

European Court Orders Russia to Pay $7,000 to Nemtsov Murder Accomplice

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered the Russian government to pay 6,000 euros in compensation to one of the men convicted in the murder of Russian politician, Boris Nemtsov

Family of Swedish Diplomat Wallenberg Sue FSB Over His Disappearance

“We are fighting for the right for free access to government information, including, political repression in the U.S.S.R.”

Descendants of Swedish Diplomat Who Mysteriously Disappeared Sue FSB

“We are fighting for the right for free access to government information, including, political repression in the U.S.S.R.”

Arts & CultureBy admin July 25, 2017

¡Salud! to the Mexican-American Wine Revolution

Ceja Vineyards breathes new life into Napa Valley’s wine industry

Russian Officials Play Down Siemens Pullout

Dvorkovich said Siemens had not suspended Russian deliveries entirely, only those to “state companies.”

First Monument to Ivan the Terrible Erected in Moscow

A monument to Ivan the Terrible has been erected in Moscow, the Russian Military-Historical Society announced on its website on Wednesday

Moscow Hears Political Saber Rattling in Fresh U.S. Sanctions Vote

Top Russian officials on Wednesday slammed a U.S. House of Representatives vote in favor of fresh sanctions

Moscow Hears Political Saber Rattling in Fresh Sanctions Vote

Top Russian officials on Wednesday slammed a U.S. House of Representatives vote in favor of fresh sanctions

EU Scraps ‘Judo’ From Decision to Blacklist Putin Ally Rotenberg

In an amendment published online, the EU described Arkady Rotenberg as “a prominent Russian businessman who has close personal ties to President Putin.”

Capitalizing on a Socialist System (Op-ed)

In Russia, business thrives on the backs of people receiving old Soviet services

More Rich Russians Are Declaring Foreign Bank Accounts

The number of wealthy Russians declaring foreign assets has spiked in recent months, the RBC news outlet reported citing research conducted by real estate broker Tranio and British company Adam Smith Conferences

Inmates at Urals Prison Go On Hunger Strike

Inmates at a prison in the Urals have gone on a hunger strike, with some demanding visitation rights for multiple wives and English-language conversation.

Arts & CultureBy admin July 25, 2017

What Kind of Footage Do Historical Colorists Like Best?

According to the historians and art directors from Composite Films who worked meticulously on America in Color, these were some of their favorite subjects

Facing Scrutiny for FSB Ties, Kaspersky Lab Offers Free Antivirus to the World

Kaspersky Lab has launched a worldwide roll-out of a free antivirus program

Movie Putin Lands on Hollywood’s Cutting-Room Floor

Vladimir Putin is having a tough time staying in the movies. Actually, it is not the Russian president himself. It’s his film character.

U.S. Declassifies Interviews With KGB Officer on JFK Assassin

Yuri Nosenko claims to have been the officer in charge of a KGB file on Lee Harvey Oswald.

Drawing Competition to Honor FSB Won’t Accept ‘Bloody’ Art

Organizers of a children’s drawing competition to mark the centenary of Russia’s security services have warned participants against submitting “bloody” pictures.

Russia Holds Joint Naval Exercises With China in Baltic Sea

Russia and China are holding their first joint naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, in a signal that the countries are bolstering military ties

Delta Says Security, Not Crimea, Reason to Remove Russian Man From Flight

“Time to go home after 22 years of living here”

Russian Senator Says U.S. Sanctions Bill Shows ‘Anti-Russian Hysteria’

The bill expands sanctions on Russian businesses for alleged meddling during the presidential elections in 2016

Russian Athletes Told to Put Anthem Ringtone on Silent

Russian athletes won’t be allowed to display any signs that associate them with their home country.

Turkey Says Purchase of Russian Missiles ‘Not a Concern’ for U.S.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said there is no reason for the United States to worry following reports that Turkey is negotiating the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems.

Tatarstan, the Last Region to Lose Its Special Status Under Putin

Kazan looks on as a deal granting it special status expires

Since Import Ban, Russia Has Destroyed More Than 16,000 Tons of Food

Over the past two years, the Russian authorities have destroyed more than 16,600 tons of food.

Head of Russian State Pollster Sued for Calling Anti-Kremlin Protesters ‘Scum’

The head of the state-backed pollster VTsIOM, Valery Fyodorov, is being sued for comments he made during an interview.

Arts & CultureBy admin July 24, 2017

Why Hospitals Started Displaying Newborn Babies Through Windows

How peering at babies through glass became a feel-good staple of American maternity wards

A Moscow Weekend Getaway to Jerusalem

If you’re looking to escape the roar of Moscow for the Russian countryside and fresh air, the town of Istra might be the place for you. It’s home to a magnificent monastery, and was inspiration to writers and artists.

Young Men Detained For Criticizing Kadyrov in Online Messenger

Around 10 young men were arrested in Chechnya for allegedly criticizing the republic’s leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, in online messengers.

Gogol Falls Off Central Moscow Landmark

A sculpture of Russian writer Nikolai Gogol has fallen from a building in central Moscow famous for its stucco depictions of Russian literary figures

In Siemens Turbines Scandal, Russia Has Most to Lose (Op-ed)

The Kremlin has deprived the whole country of fully functioning turbines by transferring them to Crimea secretly

Charges Dropped Against Activist for ‘Non-Compliance’ With Foreign Agents Law

Valentina Cherevatenko, head of the “Women of the Don” NGO in southern Russia, was the first person to be prosecuted under the law.

Remains of WWII Soviet Soldiers Discovered on Kuril Islands

The remains of 47 Soviet soldiers and three Japanese soldiers have been found on Shumshu Island, the northernmost point in the Pacific Kuril Island chain.

How the Gulag Lives On in Russia’s Prison Economy (Op-ed)

In Russia, running a prison is a business

Arts & CultureBy admin July 23, 2017

Three Generations of Inuit Women Defy Exploitation by Visualizing Resilience and Love

A grandmother, a mother and a daughter, all took up pen and ink to tell their stories

Math Lecturer Dmitry Bogatov Placed Under House Arrest

The Memorial human rights NGO has named Bogatov a political prisoner.

Math Professor Dmitry Bogatov Placed Under House Arrest

The Memorial human rights NGO has named Bogatov a political prisoner.

Russians at Youth Forum Complain of Expensive Condoms

Participants of an educational youth forum in the Vladimir region have complained to the head of Russia’s consumer watchdog about the excessively high cost of condoms

Metro Bombing Suspects Allege ‘Russian Guantanamo’ Near Moscow

Abror Azimov has said men who introduced themselves as retired FSB officers subjected him to electric shocks and fake drowning.

Russia’s HIV Rates Highest in Three Siberian Cities

The Siberian cities of Kemerovo, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk have highest rates of the HIV virus in Russia, according to the chief of Russia’s health watchdog.

Arts & CultureBy admin July 23, 2017

Jackie Kennedy Was the Undisputed Style Icon of her Era

To Jackie Kennedy, appearance was everything

Young Russians Show Their Love for New York

Relations between Russia and the U.S. may be bad, but that hasn’t stopped young people from wearing New York-themed apparel. Shirts and hats with “Yankees” or “Brooklyn” can be seen from Moscow to Novosibirsk.

Muscovites Hesitant to Protest Housing Demolition Scheme, Poll Finds

One-third of Muscovites who voted against the controversial housing demolition program would participate in protests against the scheme, according to a poll published by independent pollster the Levada Center.

Russians Rally Against Internet Crackdown

Protesters took to the streets in central Moscow on Sunday to demonstrate against government’s crackdown on internet.

NewsBy admin July 21, 2017

Most Requests to Remove Online Content Come From Russia, Google Says

The Russian government asks Google to remove online content more often than all other governments combined.

Weekend in Moscow: Markets, Art and Hopscotch

This weekend, Moscow is going back to its ancient tradition of the weekend market – only now with haute couture and food trucks. Street art and street games round out the weekend.

Russia’s Biggest Air Show

Russia’s biennial International Air and Space Salon — known as MAKS, its Russian acronym — launched on Tuesday and will run through Sunday.

Putin Answers Kids’ Questions Ahead of Election Year (Live Blog)

The president will be answering questions from students and children across the country.

Let the Campaigns Begin! Putin and Navalny Tussle for Media Attention

“It is a politically hot summer in Moscow, despite the weather”

50 Shades of Russian Flirtation

In a shop I saw a charming guy sweet-talking the saleswoman. He looked pleased with himself, she smiled in spite of herself, and I understood everything — except what she said.