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CD Land plans to resell the brand to companies that would manufacture Zhdun trinkets for eager Russian buyers.

An Illustrated Guide to U.S. – Russian Historic Encounters

Ahead of U.S. President Trump’s hotly anticipated meeting with Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Hamburg Friday, The Moscow Times presents an illustrated history of historic meetings between U.S. and Russian leaders.

AFK Sistema Shares to Remain Under Arrest

A Russian court on Thursday ordered assets belonging to three AFK Sistema companies remain frozen

Tips for President Trump Ahead of His First Meeting With Putin

How should the U.S. president approach his first face-to-face with Putin? Five experts weigh in from Washington.

Ringleader of Russian ‘Humpty Dumpty’ Hackers Sentenced

A Moscow court sentenced the ringleader of the Shaltai Boltai hackers group to two years in prison on Thursday.

Tunnel Vision: Exploring Moscow’s Secret Underworld

A tour of the Neglinnaya River takes you into a labyrinth deep under the city and (almost) all the way to the Kremlin.

Bad Weather Blamed for Moscow’s Summer Sadness

An unusually cold summer is partially responsible for a spike in Muscovites calling in for psychological help

Police ‘Seize’ Navalny’s Headquarters in Moscow

Police have reportedly blocked access to opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s Moscow offices and are searching the premises

United Russia Party Sees Approval Ratings Rise

The number of Russians who would vote for United Russia in parliamentary elections increased from 55 to 63 percent compared to June 2016

Russian Embassy Accuses Washington of Kidnapping

The Russian Embassy to the United States has accused Washington of “kidnapping” a Russian man accused of cyber-fraud.

Eclectic Escapes: 7 Day Trip Destinations a Stone’s Throw from Moscow

There’s a wealth of day-trip destinations on Moscow’s doorstep. Culture vultures should head for the artists’ estates of Abramtsevo and Polenovo, while history buffs will be fascinated by Sergiev Posad and Borodino.

Putin Likely to Run as Independent in 2018 Election

President Vladimir Putin will likely run as an independent candidate in presidential elections next year, RBC reports.

Germany’s Siemens Could Have Breached EU’s Crimea Sanctions

In an apparent breach of EU sanctions, electricity turbines made by Germany’s flagship firm Siemens have been delivered to power plants in Crimea, Reuters reports.

Germany’s Siemens Could Have Breached EU Sanctions Against Crimea

In an apparent breach of EU sanctions, electricity turbines made by Germany’s flagship firm Siemens have been delivered to power plants in Crimea, Reuters reports.

Arts & CultureBy admin July 4, 2017

How Spam Went from Canned Necessity to American Icon

Out-of-the-can branding helped transform World War II’s rations into a beloved household staple

‘Mad Men’ Director’s New Series ‘Romanoffs’ to Tell Story of Heirs to Russia’s Throne

Matthew Weiner’s latest project will be an 8-part dramatization of the lives of descendants of the Russian royal family.

Russia’s Unstoppable Desire For Change

In Russia, the regime only grows heavier. It steadily increases its presence in the social space. But simultaneously, the regime erodes. It provokes repudiation. And a new generation is now taking the stage.

Going Down in Flames

Incompetence, neglect and rash reforms are undermining  Moscow firefighters’ ability to tackle major fires.

The Moscow Times Closes Print Edition

Dutch businessman Derk Sauer announced in June that The Moscow Times brand would be moved to a charitable foundation in partnership with the publication’s current owner, Demyan Kudryavtsev.

On the Cheap and for the Elite: Great Power as the New Legitimacy

Russia’s foreign policy reinvented itself in mid-2012 after Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency. His third term has been almost entirely consumed by a foreign agenda with only residual attention to domestic issues.

Russian State TV Discovered Using Twitter Bots to Pose as Viewers

Channel One talk show “Vremya Pokazhet” promised viewers that their tweets could be featured on screen. But most of the onscreen messages appear to have come from bots.

Reasons to be cheerful, 1, 2, 3: What Lies Ahead for Russian Politics

The Moscow Times’ long-time columnist takes a look into the crystal ball of Russia’s political future.

Free Spirit

Born to a French father and Russian mother, Cecile Plaige grew up in Paris. After pursuing competitive figure skating in Moscow as a teenager, she made an acting career as a “foreigner” in Russian cinema.

Russia May Delay New Surveillance Legislation Until 2023

The measures, which were introduced last year as part of a controversial new anti-terror law, were due to come into force in 2018.

New Law Simplifying Alcohol Sales Comes Into Effect

Starting July 4, Russian retailers can now accept drivers licenses and Fan IDs from individuals who wish to purchase alcohol.

High on Moscow Hills: Why Russia Is Losing the War on Drugs

As a new, anonymous online marketplaces for drugs emerge, Russian law enforcement is struggling to cope.

Arts & CultureBy admin July 2, 2017

The Hirshhorn Transforms Into a One-Day Soundscape

For one day, the museum will add an interactive soundscape to the works of visual art on display

NewsBy admin July 2, 2017

Summer Reading: 7 New Books on Russia, Past and Present

With 2017 marking the centennial of the Russian Revolution, The Moscow Times has collected a list of seven influential new books about Russian history – both modern and old − by authors from Britain, the U.S. and Russia.

Portrait of a young woman with feather hat

Over 200,000 people visit Russia’s Hermitage Museum exhibition in Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was among the exhibition’s high-ranking guests More than 200,000 people visited an exhibition organized by Russia’s State Hermitage Museum in Tokyo’s Mori art gallery between March and June, Hermitage Museum Deputy Director Georgy Vilinbakhov told TASS on Friday. “In Tokyo, the ‘Old Masters from the State Hermitage Museum’ exhibition, organized…

Moscow International Film Festival 2017 visited by over 33,000 spectators

The festival program featured 406 full-length and short-length films from 64 countries this year More than 33,000 spectators visited the shows of the 39th Moscow International Film Festival that closed on Thursday, the president of the festival, the Russian film director and producer Nikita Mikhalkov told reporters. He told a news briefing the festival program…

Russian opera star Hvorostovsky cancels Vienna season concerts

Russian opera singer Dmitry Hvorostovsky, who is fighting a brain tumor, has canceled his concerts in the new season of the Vienna State Opera in 2017-2018 for health reasons Renowned Russian opera singer Dmitry Hvorostovsky, who is fighting a brain tumor, has canceled his concerts in the new season of the Vienna State Opera in…

Samantha Smith: 10-year-old Goodwill Ambassador that embraced warmth during the Cold War

US schoolgirl Samantha Smith, who became a symbol of public diplomacy in the Cold War, was born on June 29, 1972 Samantha Smith, the famed pupil-peace activist from the US, would have celebrated her 45th birthday today. In the early 1980s, this 10-year-old American schoolgirl soared to fame by becoming a symbol of public diplomacy…

Average life expectancy in Russia up to 71.9 years in 2016 – Izvestia

According the official statistics, life expectancy for men in 2016 was 66.5 years, and for women – 77 years Average life expectancy in Russia went up to 71.9 years in 2016, the Izvestia daily said on Thursday citing Russia’s state statistics authority Rosstat. According the official statistics, life expectancy for men in 2016 was 66.5…

Unique buildings by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright

In honor of the 150th anniversary of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s birth, a major retrospective exhibition is underway in New York’s Museum of Modern Art Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the most innovative and renowned architects of the 20th century. A major exhibition examining the drawings and models of legendary American architect who…

the St. Isaac Cathedral over to the Russian Orthodox Church

St. Petersburg City Assembly votes against referendum on St. Isaac’s Cathedral issue

In January, St. Petersburg’s municipal authorities announced their decision to hand the St. Isaac Cathedral over to the Russian Orthodox Church The St. Petersburg City Assembly has voted against holding a citywide referendum on the handover of St. Isaac’s Cathedral to the Russian Orthodox Church, a TASS correspondent reported from the Mariinsky Palace, the Assembly’s…

Charlie Chaplin’s grandson to perform at Moscow’s International Chekhov Festival

In addition to being a clown, acrobat and mime, he is a dancer and poet, and a regular at the Chekhov festival The grandson of the legendary comic actor Charlie Chaplin, James Thierree is among the headline acts at the International Chekhov Theater Festival, the festival’s press service told TASS. James Thierree is practically a…

Russian PM to attend memorial ceremony for Helmut Kohl in Strasbourg

Former Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl died on June 16 aged 87 Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will represent Russia at the European-wide memorial ceremony for former Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl, the Russian government’s press service said. “Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will take part in the memorial ceremony for the former Chancellor of…

Moscow theater to present Il Trovatore with audio description for visually impaired

On June 27, the Moscow-based Helikon Opera company presents its last premiere of the season, Verdi’s Il Trovatore On Tuesday, June 27, the Moscow-based Helikon Opera company presents its last premiere of the season, Verdi’s Il Trovatore. At the show on July 4, the visually impaired guests of the theater will have an opportunity to…

Arts & CultureBy admin June 29, 2017

Step Right Up to the Big Top Circus Tent at the 50th Annual Folklife Festival

The day the circus rolled into Washington, D.C., and other tales from the Smithsonian’s hot summer party on the National Mall

Arts & CultureBy admin June 29, 2017

Why This Composer Made Melodies Out of Mountainsides

This forgotten Armenian musicologist literally drew the landscapes into his folksong scores

At Least 2 Dead in Biggest Storm to Hit Moscow in 90 Years

Multiple flights were delayed or canceled at several Moscow airports, while the Moscow Central Circle railway line also stopped working due to fallen trees.

Butler: Sicilian at Your Service

This new Ginza Project establishment focuses on seafood classics from southern Italy.

More Moscow Weather Drama

Moscow was battered by storms for the second time in less than a month on Friday. While many Muscovites were left trapped in their offices, some grabbed their smartphones to capture the deluge on camera.

Arts & CultureBy admin June 29, 2017

The Whimsical, Chameleon-like Figure Behind the Myth of Sylvia Plath

Today, visions of a life marred by mental illness endure, but the author had a light side—and a knack for savvy image control

Putin visits Crimean youth camp Artek

Artek head Alexei Kasprzhak told the president about the work to restore the camp in 2015 and 2016, as well as plans for the development of the complex Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the children’s camp Artek in Crimea ahead of the Samantha’s Smile holiday session on Saturday. Telling the president about the world’s largest…

another, NewsBy Павел Федоров June 29, 2017

Russian composer Eduard Artemyev, film director Nikita Mikhalkov to get Shostakovich Prize

Russian composer and film director will recieve the award from violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet A gala ceremony of awarding the Dmitry Shostakovich will take place in Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Concert Hall on Saturday. This year, the awardees are composer Eduard Artemyev and film director Nikita Mikhalkov, the press service of the latter said. They will…

Putin to visit Crimea, to take part in opening session at Artek summer camp

Putin will be familiarized with the results of overhaul of the camp’s staff facilities and will have a tour of the construction site of Solnechny Camp, the Kremlin press service said President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Crimea and the international summer camp for children Artek located there. In Artek, he will take part…

Russia may ease visa regime for foreign students

Currently, a foreign student may initially apply only for a three-month student visa in his home country The Russian Science and Education Ministry has prepared a bill to ease visa requirements for foreign students of Russian universities in a bid to promote Russian higher education. Currently, a foreign student may initially apply only for a…

Russian official praises Austria’s respect for Soviet military monuments

The obelisk to Soviet prisoners of war, who died in Vienna from 1941 through 1945 was unveiled at Vienna’s central cemetery on June 22, the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow in Russia Installation of a new monument to Soviet soldiers of the World War II era has set an unprecedented instance or favorable treatment of…

Putin praises Moscow International Film Festival

The Moscow International Film Festival that opened for the 39th time on Thursday is one of the most prestigious events in the world Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday sent congratulations to the participants and guests of the 39th Moscow International Film Festival. He stressed a special status of the event, the Kremlin press service…

First days of Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War in pictures

The Great Patriotic War began at 4 am on June 22, 1941, when Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union June 22 will forever be imprinted into the hearts of Russians, as the Day of Remembrance and Grief in Russia as the Great Patriotic War (World War II) began at 4am this day in 1941, when…

Poll reveals every second Russian sees no real external military threat

More than one third of Russians consider the the country’s army to be the best in the world About half of Russians see no real threat of a military attack against the country and note the growing combat capabilities of the Russian armed forces, a poll conducted by the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center has…

Jury to deliver verdict on Nemtsov murder case on June 27

Boris Nemtsov was gunned down in downtown Moscow on February 27, 2015 The jury will retire to the consultation room on June 27 to reach a verdict on five defendants on the Boris Nemtsov murder case, the chief judge of the Moscow District Military Court said. “Now I address you with the jury instructions. I…

Je Suis Malobrodsky: Theater, Politics and Russian Scandal

This incident is a continuation of a late May attempt to attack Gogol Center’s prominent artistic director Kirill Serbrennikov. Watch this case. Its repercussions may go far beyond the stages of Russia’s theaters.

The Hacker Hunters Chasing Russian Shadows

U.S. investigators are stepping up the fight against Russian cybercriminals. But are they going after the right guys?

Socialism in Color: Aristarkh Lentulov at the Bakhrushin

A comprehensive retrospective of Aristarkh Lentulov, one of the most important figures in the Russian avant-garde movement, opened at the Bakhrushin State Central Theater Museum a week ago.