Moscow news stories on Newser

Will Smith Slaps Kissy Reporter

Mark Russell — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:33:45 CDT

Don't get fresh with the former Prince of Bel-Air: Will Smith slapped an overly affectionate Ukrainian reporter who kissed him at the Moscow premiere of Men in Black 3 , reports E! Online . Smith took the smooches in good humor when they began, but soon pushed the reporter away. "What the...

Russia Busts Opposition Leaders

Sun, 06 May 2012 10:31:16 CDT

Police in Moscow have arrested top opposition figures along with demonstrators after a protest march on the eve of Vladimir Putin's inauguration as president tried to reach the Kremlin. The march by about 20,000 people to an island adjacent to the Kremlin proceeded peacefully this afternoon until a small...

Silver Lining for Protesters: Small Wins in Moscow

Rob Quinn — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:15:53 CST

Russia's presidential election has left Vladimir Putin's grip on power intact , but in Moscow, his opponents are trying to take control of the streets—and the parks, and the garbage collection. Scores of opposition activists won seats on the capital's 125 district councils, and they aim to use that foothold...

12K Cops Ready Selves for Moscow Protests

Matt Cantor — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:56:42 CST

Talk of fraud has already tarnished Vladimir Putin's victory in the Russian presidential election; now an international watchdog group says his win, with 63% of the vote, was "clearly skewed," the BBC reports. "The point of elections is that the outcome should be uncertain," says a rep for the Organization...

Moscow Protest Draws Tens of Thousands

Kate Schwartz — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:09:05 CST

It looks as if 2011 will be the year of the protester until its very last moment: Tens of thousands of people poured into central Moscow today, weathering sub-zero temps to gather in a show of anger against what they say were rigged elections and clamor for a new vote....

Russia Catches Iranian With Radioactive Metal

Kevin Spak — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:02:05 CST

Russian custom agents have seized 18 pieces of radioactive metal from an Iranian man who was trying to board a flight to Tehran, the customs agency announced today. The incident occurred sometime in the past—the agency didn't specify when—at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. The man's luggage triggered the airport...

Thousands Protest Russia Vote Results

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 09:52:14 CST

Tens of thousands of Muscovites thronged to a square across the river from the Kremlin today to protest alleged electoral fraud and urge an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's rule. The demands were repeated at other rallies across the country in the largest public show of discontent in post-Soviet...

Russia Jails Protest Leaders

Kevin Spak — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:34:20 CST

Two notable opposition figures have been charged with crimes relating to yesterday’s massive election protest in Moscow—even as angry Russians plan for more protests tonight. Ilya Yashin, the leader of the Solidarity movement, was convicted by a judge today of organizing an unauthorized rally and disobeying police orders, and...

Thousands Protest Putin in Moscow

Kevin Spak — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:13:34 CST

Somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 people poured into the streets of Moscow today chanting things like “Russia without Putin!” to protest the prime minister’s allegedly rigged victory in the weekend’s election. Police detained an as-yet-unknown number of demonstrators, including several hundred who were marching on the Central Elections...