Russia news stories on Newser

Putin: Jack Protester Fines to Hulking $9.5K

Mark Russell — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:19:47 CDT

Basking in his re-election glow, Vladimir Putin yesterday backed a move to jack up the fine for illegal protesting—to a hefty $9,500, reports the New York Times . Despite furious opposition, the measure could become law as early as next week. "We must protect people from extreme radical manifestations,...

12 Bodies Found at Russian Jet Crash Site

Matt Cantor — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:36:00 CDT

Searchers have found 12 bodies at the site of a Russian plane crash on an Indonesian volcano. The jet had been carrying 45; all are believed dead, the AP reports. The steep mountainside has proved a challenge to searchers, who climbed through a jungle toward the plane's wreckage using ropes....

Putin Pulls Out of G8 Meeting, Stuns US

Rob Quinn — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:46:00 CDT

Looks like the relationship between President Obama and President Putin might be off to a rocky start. The Russian leader has surprised the White House by saying he won't be attending the G8 summit at Camp David next week, reports the New York Times . Putin was recently elected for a...

Russian Jet Vanishes Mid-Flight

Kevin Spak — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:53:29 CDT

A Russian Sukhoi SuperJet-100 disappeared during a demonstration flight in Indonesia today, vanishing from radar screens while it was still at high altitudes and failing to land at its appointed time. The plane was last heard from when it requested, and was granted, permission to descend from 10,000 feet...

Vladimir Putin: Hockey Star

Kevin Spak — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:35:08 CDT

Is there anything Vladimir Putin can't do? Russia's old/new president celebrated his inauguration by lacing up his skates for an amateur hockey team and scoring the winning goal against a team of hockey legends, Russia Today reports. The game was a season-ending exhibition between select members of the Russian Amateur...

Today's Shocker: Medvedev Approved as Russia PM

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:36:07 CDT

Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin completed their long-anticipated job swap today, with Russia’s parliament approving Medvedev as prime minister, as had been expected. Medvedev, who received a 299-144 vote, will serve under Putin, who was inaugurated for his third term as president yesterday and quickly nominated Medvedev as PM.

Russia Inaugurates Vladimir Putin Third Time

Matt Cantor — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:02:51 CDT

Calling for a "single, united" nation, Vladimir Putin has begun his third term as Russia's president—a term set to make him Russia's longest-serving leader since Stalin. Following protests yesterday , Putin was sworn in at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow in a $664,000 ceremony. In a brief speech,...

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...

Putin's Wife AWOL as Rumors Swirl

Polly Davis Doig — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:51:38 CDT

Virgins everywhere might have Vladimir Putin's back, but as the Russian strongman prepares to assume the presidency in two weeks, wife Lyudmila has been conspicuously absent from his side—and tongues are wagging furiously. Is she locked away in a monastery, wonders the Daily Mail ? Or shall we believe...