Russians expected the country’s latest local elections to be “engineered” by the Kremlin as usual — and of course they were — but no-one expected a mass walkout by federal politicians in protest. Are Russians finally tiring of the country’s democratic farce?
Russia 
PHOTO GALLERY: Early 1900s Russia in full colour
Amazing images of Russia from 1909-1915 from by chemist and photographer, Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii, who used his skills to create color photographs well before the rest of the photographic field.
No snow for Moscow: fighter planes on cloud killing spree
The Mayor of Moscow has turned into Mother Nature, with the Russian Air Force to be used to blast snow clouds from the Moscow sky in an effort to save an estimated A$11m on snow removal.
Has the US agreed to stop criticising Russia’s human rights abuses?
According to Russian newspaper Kommersant, the White House has agreed to stop mentioning Russia’s shabby human rights record, and ease up on the “democracy” evangalising, in return for better relations with the country.
America and Israel take a leak on Russia and Iranrevealed 
The Middle East’s secret plan to bring down the dollar
Arab states, along with China, Japan, Russia and France, have been holding secret meetings to plot a move from doing oil deals in US dollars, instead moving to a mix of the yen, yuan, euro, gold and a new, unified Arab currency.
Kalashnikov in the red
The manufacturers of one of the world’s most popular guns — the Kalashnikov, or AK-47 — is facing bankruptcy, as the Russian armaments industry slumps.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Executive Remuneration
Crikey readers weigh in on how measuring the obscenity of executive remuneration, the danger of footpaths and the South Ossetian war between Georgia and Russia.
Europeans throw Russia an olive branch
The big political story in Europe is the release of the European Union report on last year’s war between Russia and Georgia. Both sides claim a degree of vindication from it.
Leaked: who’s to blame for war in Georgia?
Officially, it’s equal blame game for the 2008 South Ossetian war, with Georgia opening the initial fire, but Russia responsible for keeping it going, according to leaks from the EU investigation.
Kasparov vs. Karpov: it’s not 1984 but it’s still rock’n'roll
It’s the chess version of cricket dragging legendary figures out of retirement to play some well remunerated 20/20 games, writes Ian Rogers: great rivals Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov were at it again in Valencia last night.
Let’s invite Russia to the party in Afghanistan
The US and NATO commander in Afghanistan reckons they need tens-of-thousands more troops to have a hope of succeeding — but where to find them? Why not Russia? suggests Daniel Gallington: unlike most countries, they actually want to be there.
PHOTO GALLERY: From Russia with love: Putin and Medvedev
A hilarious yet surprisingly revealing photo gallery, featuring candid moments between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and PM Vladimir Putin. Is their bro-mance on on the skids?
Why Obama shot down Star Wars
Obama’s decision to junk Bush-era plans for a missile defence shield in Europe isn’t a capitulation to Russia, says Mark Ambinder.
Journalism: Russia’s most dangerous
profession?
Journalists who are critical of Russia have an alarming tendency to wind up dead. The Committee to Protect Journalists has put together a fascinating and disturbing report detailing the problem.
Does Putin want to be President again?
After serving a little over a year as Russia’s Prime Minister, former Russian President Vladimir Putin looks have sit sights set back on the country’s top job, announcing he may run again in 2012.
REVEALED: Thatcher feared the fall of the Wall
Documents smuggled out of the Kremlin have revealed details of a secret meeting between Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1989, where the Iron Lady stated plainly that Britain did not want Germany to be reunited.
Censorship and cowardice at Conde Nast
Publisher Conde Nast has buried a story from GQ on possible connections between Vladimir Putin, the KGB and a series of 1999 bombings officially blamed on Chechen terrorists, keeping the piece off the web and out of Russia, for fear of reprisals.
Conde Nast’s attempt to keep quiet just turns up the volume
The censored GQ article linking the KGB and a series of 1999 bombings wouldn’t have even made headlines in Russia, says Evgeny Morozov. Of course, it probably will now.
Gawker translate censored story into Russian
Outraged at revelations that GQ buried a story linking Vladimir Putin to a series of 1999 bombings to keep it out of Russia, Gawker has rallied its readership to translate the article into Russian and spread it online.
How Stalin and Mao still exert influence
Chairman Mao and Stalin were both aggressive dictators who murdered their own citizens. So why do they continue to be lauded in their respective countries? It’s time for China and Russia to face up to their pasts, writes George Walden.
Stalin’s grandson sues to clear his name
The grandson of Joseph Stalin, Yevgeny Dzhugashvili, is suing a Russian newspaper over an article that claimed the ruler personally signed politburo death orders, which he says “damaged Stalin’s reputation”. Yes, it would be a shame to tarnish his good name…
Journalists cross over to the dark side: PR
As jobs are destroyed in the carnage of the media downturn, countries in need of an image makeover, like Russia and Georgia, are salvaging the spoils, scoring some of the sharpest media minds around to spin their dirty laundry for the Western media.
Russia’s new war on drinking
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev is taking on the unenviable task of breaking the country’s vodka-guzzling ways, in an attempt to lower the staggeringly high level of alcoholism and alcohol-related deaths and illness. Can the convince the country to sober up?
