The latest: Sanctions Against Iran Futile

01.09.2006
Sanctions Against Iran Futile — Russian Senior Lawmaker
Possible sanctions against Iran, which has refused to halt uranium enrichment by a United Nations deadline, would be futile, a senior Russian lawmaker said Friday.

01.09.2006
Moscow Mayor Warns of Future Tensions With West
Moscow’s mayor warned Friday that Russia would have to brace itself for more tension with the West and that joining the World Trade Organization in the near future could be harmful for the Russian economy.

01.09.2006
Russia Regrets Iran’s Decision to Defy UN Deadline — Ministry
Russia said it “regrets” Iran’s decision not to halt uranium enrichment by the deadline set by the UN, the chief Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday. The response underscored Russia’s growing impatience with Iran, which is building an atomic power plant with Moscow’s help.

01.09.2006
Russian Military Helicopter Violates Lithuanian Air Space
A Russian military helicopter violated Lithuanian air space on Friday, the second such violation this summer. The violation was registered at 1155 local time (0855 GMT) in the district of Sakiai, close to the border of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The helicopter flew several dozen meters into Lithuanian territory at low altitude, the defense ministry said.

01.09.2006
At Least 80 Killed in Russian-made Plane Crash in Iran
A Russian-made plane with 147 people on board caught fire as it was landing Friday in Mashhad in northeastern Iran, killing 80 people, state TV reported.

01.09.2006
Russian Navy Gets New Stealth Warship
A modern stealth gunboat, which can be armed with various artillery systems previously used only on destroyers, was supplied to the Russian Navy in St. Petersburg Friday.

01.09.2006
Authorities Ban Expert’s Report on Beslan Crisis — HR Activist
The Russian Federal Security Service has obstinately advised not to distribute a special report on the Beslan tragedy made by a member of the commission for investigation of the hostage crisis and not to stage a mourning action on the second anniversary of the school siege, Alexander Bragin, a nongovernmental organization leader said, adding, “They threatened that otherwise police will then take care of me”.

01.09.2006
Russia’s Muslim Leaders Slam U.S. Domination
Officials and religious figures from Russia and more than a dozen Islamic countries gathered in the Volga city of Kazan in central Russia this week to attend a conference that organizers said was aimed at deepening their dialogue and defending a “multipolar” world in the face of U.S. power.

01.09.2006
Beslan School Siege: Two Years On Questions Remain
In September 2004, on the first day of class, Chechen militants took more than 1,200 hostages in a school in Beslan, Russia. After nearly three days, explosions and gunfire ripped through the school, leaving more than 300 hostages dead. Two years later, questions remain about what happened and why.

01.09.2006
Malkin’s Parents Fear Son’s Fans, Plan to Leave Hometown
Russian run-away hockey player Malkin’s parents, frightened by their son’s frenzied Russian fans and hopeless chiefs of the Mettalurg hockey team where Malkin played, are going to sell their house and leave their hometown of Magnitogorsk.

01.09.2006
Madonna Concert Ads Removed From Moscow Streets for Security Reasons
Moscow authorities demanded that cellular provider Vimpelcom remove the billboards featuring ads with the slogan: “Break your way to Madonna concert!” Officials said such advertising might cause unrest in the city.

01.09.2006
Russia Vexed by U.S. Senator Lugar’s Bitter Criticism
Moscow is surprised by the harshly critical statements made by U.S. Senator Richard Lugar about Russia earlier this week, as it considers Lugar to be a friend, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

01.09.2006
Two Years After Beslan Drama, Pain Only Gets Worse — Victims
Two years after the horrific school massacre that made their town a synonym of terror, the mothers of Beslan have issued a grim warning to senior Russian officials: don’t dare show up at the anniversary commemorations beginning Friday.

01.09.2006
Japanese Vessels’ Presence in Russia Waters Was Legal — Foreign Ministry
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the recent entry of 39 Japanese vessels into Russian waters, which it had protested earlier this week, actually was done legally. A ministry spokesman said Thursday that the vessels’ presence was legal under a 1981 agreement on harvesting seaweed.