The latest: EU Urges Moscow to Lift Economic Sanctions Imposed on Georgia

03.10.2006
EU Urges Moscow to Lift Economic Sanctions Imposed on Georgia
The European Union urged Russia on Tuesday to lift an economic blockade it imposed on Georgia over a spying row or risk deepening the crisis between the ex-Soviet neighbors. Russia cut rail, air and postal links to Georgia in response to the arrest in Georgia of four Russian soldiers on spying charges.

03.10.2006
Russian, Syrian Crews Provided Hezbollah With Intelligence During War — Report
During the fighting in Lebanon, Hezbollah received direct intelligence support from Syria, using data collected by listening posts jointly manned by Russian and Syrian crews. Hezbollah was also fed intelligence from new listening posts built on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, which are operated jointly with Iran.

03.10.2006
Russia Ratifies International Convention Against Nuclear Terrorism
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill ratifying the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, a press release posted on the president’s official website

03.10.2006
First Plane With Russian Combat Engineers Arrives in Lebanon
A cargo plane with the first group of Russian combat engineers has arrived in Lebanon and started to offload equipment for a field camp, a senior military official said Tuesday.

03.10.2006
Russian Security Chief to Discuss Nuclear Problem in Tehran
The head of Russia’s Security Council was headed to Tehran Tuesday for talks with the top Iranian nuclear negotiator a day after the Russian and U.S. leaders discussed the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

03.10.2006
New Kazakh Bills Seen as Numismatic Rarity Because of Typo
In a hundred years or so the new bills issued by the National Bank of Kazakhstan are likely to become a numismatic rarity, the Vremya Novostei newspaper reports.

03.10.2006
Russia to Battle Argentina in Davis Cup Final in Moscow
The Davis Cup final between Russia and Argentina will take place in Moscow’s Olympic Stadium, subject to approval from the ITF event operations department.

03.10.2006
Russian Hackers Get Lengthy Prison Terms for Extorting Money from UK Online Casinos
Three Russian hackers accused of extorting $4 million from international Web companies have been sentenced to eight years behind bars each.

03.10.2006
Russia-born Boxer Tszyu Campaigns for Sochi 2014 Winter Games Bid
Leading boxer Kostya Tszyu believes the Russia’s passion for sport can help it win its bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Tszyu feels one of the biggest hurdles Sochi would need to clear is the lingering perception of some foreigners about the country of his birth.

03.10.2006
Russia Warns U.S. on Planned Missile Defense Deployment in Poland
A spokesman to the Russian Foreign Ministry has said that Russia will take “appropriate measures” if missile defense systems are placed in Poland by the U.S. or NATO.

03.10.2006
Russia Cuts Links to Georgia Despite Release of Alleged Spies
Russia threw up a blockade against Georgia on Monday after Tbilisi’s release of four arrested Russian soldiers failed to defuse the worst crisis in years between the ex-Soviet neighbors. Rail, air and postal links with Georgia were cut in the early hours of Tuesday.

03.10.2006
Russian Plane With Construction Equipment Heads to Lebanon
A cargo plane with equipment for Russian combat engineers in Lebanon, who will help the war-ravaged country restore its destroyed infrastructure, took off Tuesday from an air base near Moscow, the Russian Air Force’s commander said.

03.10.2006
First Chess Match After Toilet Dispute Between Kramnik, Topalov Ends in Draw
Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria played to a draw Monday in Game 6 of the world chess championship after Kramnik agreed to resume competition after a dispute over bathroom breaks threatened to halt the tournament.

03.10.2006
Japanese Fisherman Held in Russia Over Poaching Returns Home
Russia on Tuesday released a Japanese fisherman involved in a fatal skirmish with Russian border guards in disputed waters in mid-August, a Japanese foreign ministry official said.

03.10.2006
Russia Hopes Sochi’s 2014 Winter Olympics Bid Victory Will Boost Economic Growth
Russia wants to host the 2014 Winter Olympics and says having the games in Sochi would underline recent changes in the country and boost economic development.

03.10.2006
Russian Top Prosecutor Lashes Out at Russian Airlines Over Safety Concerns
Russia’s top prosecutor said Monday that domestic airlines often use fake parts and operate without the necessary safety and security checks. A senior government official in charge of air safety called for tougher laws and higher compensations to crash victims.

03.10.2006
Russia’s Tursunov Beats Berdych, Wins Mumbai Open Final
Dmitry Tursunov of Russia captured his first career title in defeating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5) in the rain-interrupted Mumbai Open final on Monday.

03.10.2006
U.S. Urges Russia, Georgia to Stop Bickering, Offers Help in Resolving Disputes
The United States on Monday strongly urged Russia and Georgia to “lower the rhetoric” after a spying furor and offered Washington’s help to resolve long-standing conflicts such as in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.