The latest: Putin Orders to Find and Kill Iraqi Murderers of Russian Diplomats

28.06.2006
Putin Orders to Find and Kill Iraqi Murderers of Russian Diplomats
President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian special services to find and kill the criminals who had kidnapped and executed several Russian embassy staff in Iraq earlier this month.

28.06.2006
Russian Combat Jet Crashes on Training Flight, Pilot Killed
The pilot of an Su-25 Frogfoot close support aircraft died when his plane crashed in southwest Russia near the border with Ukraine, Russian Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky said Wednesday.

28.06.2006
Over 140 Youth Extremist Groups Operate in Russia — Interior Minister
Russia has more than 140 youth extremist groups with overall membership reaching 6,000, the country’s interior minister said Wednesday. “Youth groups have become more aggressive and better organized, and some of them are under the influence of criminal organizations,” Rashid Nurgaliyev stressed.

28.06.2006
Russia’s National Ideology Will Not Differ From European Traditions — Kremlin Official
Russia’s emerging national ideology would not differ much from European traditions, an influential presidential aide said Wednesday. “As far as the basics of a possible emerging national ideology are concerned, I think they are unlikely to drastically differ from the common European values and models,” he said.

28.06.2006
Organization Reports Human Rights Violations in Russia Ahead of G8 Summit
As the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg approaches, HRF urges world to leaders to set clear benchmarks for progress in Russia.

28.06.2006
Russian Diplomat Slams OSCE for Double-Standards, Inertia in Arms Control
Double standards are the main obstacle to strengthening military-political cooperation within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a Russian diplomat said Wednesday. Mikhail Ulyanov also slammed the world’s largest regional security body for lacking effort and initiative in the sphere of arms control.

28.06.2006
Most Russians Want Moratorium on Death Penalty Lifted — Official
One of Russia’s most senior politicians has said that unlike most in Russia, he strongly opposes the restoration of the death penalty.

28.06.2006
Prosecution Seeks Ban on Magazines Corrupting Russian Teens
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office is seeking to shut popular youth magazines that it argues is exploiting teen’s interest for sex and drugs.

28.06.2006
Russia Fails to Strip U.S. Cyclist Hamilton of Olympic Gold
The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected an appeal Tuesday by the Russian Olympic Committee to strip Hamilton of his time-trial gold medal due to a doping controversy and give it to silver medalist Vyacheslav Ekimov.

28.06.2006
Russian Editor Resigns as Article on Nazi Occupation Draws Criticism From Parliament
Editor-in-chief of the newspaper Parlamentskaya Gazeta (Parliamentary Newspaper) Pyotr Kotov will be relieved of his duties in connection with the publication of an article that was severely criticized by the leaders of both chambers of the Russian parliament.

28.06.2006
Condoleezza Rice Arrives in Moscow to Discuss Iran Nuclear Program, G8 Activity
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives Wednesday in Moscow for a G8 ministerial meeting, the U.S. Embassy in Russia said. In the Russian capital, Rice will discuss with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the development of the controversial Iranian nuclear program.

28.06.2006
7 Dead, 16 Wounded as Bus Overturns Near Moscow
Seven people were killed and 16 injured when a passenger bus fell into a ditch and overturned outside Moscow.

28.06.2006
Iran to Order More Nuclear Power Plants from Moscow
A senior Iranian official has voiced frustration at delays in construction of the Bushehr nuclear power station by Russia and said Iran hoped to order another two nuclear power stations from Moscow.

28.06.2006
Russian Reporters Awarded “Journalist Under Threat” Prize by Amnesty International
The human rights watchdog Amnesty International has presented two Russian human rights activists and journalists with an award for their work in Chechnya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus.

28.06.2006
Nationalistic Russian MP to Sue Germany for Father’s Death
Russian right-winger Vladimir Zhirinovsky says he plans to sue Germany for having killed his family during World War II.