The latest: UN, White House Condemn Killings of Russian Hostages in Iraq

27.06.2006
UN, White House Condemn Killings of Russian Hostages in Iraq
The UN and the White House have condemned the executions of four Russian diplomats kidnapped by an al-Qaida-linked group in Iraq earlier this month.

27.06.2006
Russia to Pursue Extradition of Berezovsky, Zakayev from Britain
Russia’s new prosecutor general has said he would continue the Kremlin’s long-running battle to extradite some of its most wanted men from Britain to stand trial.

27.06.2006
Moscow Blames U.S. for Russian Hostages Death in Iraq
Russia intends to keep in contact with the coalition forces to determine their level of responsibility in the death of the Russian diplomats earlier kidnapped in Iraq.

27.06.2006
Russian Ivanov Defends His World Cup Refereeing after Storm of Criticism
Russian referee Valentin Ivanov, criticized after the stormy World Cup match between Portugal and Netherlands, said the game was the most difficult of his professional career.

27.06.2006
13 Russian Prosecutor General’s Deputies Resign
All 13 deputies of the Russian prosecutor general submitted their resignations on the first day in office of new Prosecutor General Yury Chaika.

27.06.2006
Putin Urges Talks on Replacement of Strategic Arms Treaty With U.S.
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday urged the United States to begin negotiations on a new weapons treaty to replace the key START agreement that expires in 2009.

27.06.2006
Russia’s Kuznetsova Celebrates Birthday by Advancing at Wimbledon
Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova celebrated her 21st birthday with a 6-3 6-2 win over Italian qualifier Romina Oprandi in the Wimbledon first round.

27.06.2006
Magazine Reveals Russia Funded Rallies in U.S. to Press Its Agenda
The Kremlin pays for the organization and participation in demonstrations and rallies in the U.S. which support the so-called war against terrorim in Chechnya, in order to form a positive attitude at home and abroad about what is going on in the breakaway Russian Caucasus republic.

27.06.2006
Russia Not to Join Ultimatums in Tackling Nonproliferation — Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would not endorse ultimatums in tackling nonproliferation problems.

27.06.2006
Russian Sub Sinks in the Pacific
A Russian submarine has sunk off the shores of Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka peninsula, no casualties reported.

27.06.2006
Kasyanov Urges Western Leaders to Protect Democracy in Russia
Western leaders should publicly criticize Russian democratic failings when they attend the G8 summit in St Petersburg next month, the Kremlin’s main opponent said yesterday.“The implementation of our constitution is unacceptable, dangerous, wrong. For politicians of other countries no more polite language should be found to express this idea,” Mikhail Kasyanov stressed.

27.06.2006
Jewish Leader Crosses Jordan
The 2nd International Conference of Nobel Prize winners, held in Petra, south Jordan, focused on global security issues and peaceful settlement in the Middle East. Alexander Machkevitch, chairman of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, attended the event where he represented Jewish groups active in post-Soviet nations.

27.06.2006
Sharapova May Face Sanctions as Wimbledon Cracks Down on Revealing Outfits
Wimbledon officials are threatening to ban players from the storied grass courts of the The All England Lawn Tennis Club for wearing outfits deemed too revealing. The warning is believed to be directed at Russian tennis stars Maria Sharapova, Tatiana Golovin and Maria Kirilenko.

27.06.2006
PACE Claims Russia Fails to Meet Obligations to Council of Europe
Russia is not fulfilling its obligations to the Council of Europe, the leader of a liberal group of delegates to the council’s Parliamentary Assembly said Monday.

27.06.2006
Russian Orthodox Church Blasts HR Groups for Political Engagement
The Moscow Patriarchate believes that human rights work in Russia has been compromised by the inability to discern real cases of human rights violations and the use of human rights for political purposes.

27.06.2006
U.S.’ Rice Heads to Pakistan, Russia
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will leave Washington for visits to Pakistan and Russia, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

27.06.2006
Russian Spaceship Brings 2.5 Tons of Food, Equipment, DVDs to ISS
A Russian cargo ship docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday, bringing fresh supplies of food and water, as well as books and DVDs, for the astronauts onboard the orbiting lab.

27.06.2006
Ukraine Beats Swiss on Penalties, Advances to Quarterfinals
Ukraine beat Switzerland 3-0 on penalties to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Monday after the teams played out a sterile scoreless draw.

27.06.2006
Maria Sharapova Set to Reclaim Wimbledon Title
Two years on, Maria Sharapova believes she can reclaim the Wimbledon title by rediscovering the fearless approach that brought her the title as a 17-year-old. Meanwhile, the Wimbledon tennis museum presented a new attraction — the Sharapova film, showing Maria play in slow motion.

27.06.2006
Jailed Yukos Founder Khodorkovsky Marks 43rd Birthday
The defense attorney for former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky met with her client in a Siberian prison Monday to congratulate him on his 43rd birthday and pass along greetings from friends.