Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Further Reading

• Rumblings In The Republics: New Russian Nationalities Policy Sparks Outcry RFE/RL 30 Nov 2012 -- it seems to have been prepared very quickly, although when they are explaining the policies toward Russians, it becomes very accurate,' Mukhametdinov says.
• Russia's Envoy Warns Against NATO Missiles in Turkey RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- Planned deployment of Patriot air defense systems on the Turkish-Syrian border will mean NATO is involved in the Syrian conflict, Russia's NATO envoy said on Friday.
• Severodvinsk Sub Acceptance Delayed Says Ministry RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- The Russian Navy will not receive its first Yasen-class submarine, the Severodvinsk, until next year, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Friday.
• New Kalashnikov Initial Testing 'Complete' RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2012 -- The latest version of Russia's world-famous Kalashnikov assault rifle, the AK-12, has completed a set of preliminary tests, the weapons-making agency responsible for trials of the new gun said on Friday.
• Russia, India to hold joint naval exercise IRNA 29 Nov 2012 -- Three Russian warships entered Mumbai on Wednesday to hold joint naval exercises, code-named 'INDRA', with the Indian Navy from December 2.
• Reporter Abducted in Syria 'Admits' Intelligence Links RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2012 -- Ukrainian journalist Ankhar Kochneva, who was abducted in Syria in October, said in a YouTube video on Wednesday that she worked for Russian intelligence.
• Russian Combat Vehicles Not Tested on Pigs – Firm RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2012 -- A leading Russian maker of armored fighting vehicles (AFV) denied on Wednesday that its products are pig-tested.
• Submerged Severodvinsk Sub Test Fires Cruise Missile RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2012 -- Russia's newest attack submarine, the Yasen class Severodvinsk, successfully fired a cruise missile while submerged, a source in the United Shipbuilding Corporation told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
• Russian Army Firms 'Embezzled' $257 Mln in 2012 RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2012 -- Companies controlled by the Russian Defense Ministry embezzled more than a combined 10 billion rubles ($257 million) this year, investigators said on Wednesday.
• Russia Denies Losing Indian Arms Tenders RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2012 -- Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport denied on Wednesday media reports that it had lost tenders on the delivery of heavy-lift helicopters and aerial tankers to the Indian air force.
• Russia's Caspian Flotilla to Get 3 Assault Ships RIA Novosti 27 Nov 2012 -- The Russian Caspian Flotilla's naval infantry will get three modern Project 11770 Serna amphibious assault ships over the next two years, a Navy representative said on Tuesday.
• Russian Defense Ministry to 'Stay the Course' RIA Novosti 27 Nov 2012 -- The Russian Defense Ministry's new leadership will press ahead with the reforms begun under the previous minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, making some adjustments as needed, a ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.
• Russia's Space Industry to Merge into Holdings RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2012 -- A structural reform of Russia's space industry will see its numerous enterprises united into five or six large holdings, Federal Space Agency chief Vladimir Popovkin said on Monday.
• Russia Replaces Proton-M Rocket for Dec. 28 Launch RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2012 -- A Proton-M carrier rocket has been damaged during transportation to the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan and will be replaced to keep the launch schedule unchanged, the Khrunichev space rocket maker said on Monday.
• US Inspectors To Conduct Surveillance Flight Over Russia RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2012 -- Inspectors from the United States will conduct an inspection flight over Russia under the Open Skies Treaty starting on Monday, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said.
• Severodvinsk Sub Fires First Cruise Missile RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2012 -- Russia's newest attack submarine, the Project 855 Severodvinsk, successfully fired its first cruise missile at a land target during manufacturer's sea trials in the White Sea, a source in the United Shipbuilding Corporation told RIA Novosti on Monday.
• New Defense Minister Brings in Own Massed Ranks RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2012 -- Newly appointed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has brought in no less than 14 officers and generals who used to work with him in the Emergencies Ministry to join his team at defense, a high-ranking Defense Ministry source said on Monday.
• Freed Spy, Russian Physicist Arrives Home RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2012 -- Russian physicist and convicted spy Valentin Danilov, who was released on parole on Saturday after serving eight years in prison, has arrived in Novosibirsk, west Siberia.
• Russia to Conduct Open Skies Surveillance Flight over US RIA Novosti 24 Nov 2012 -- Russian military inspectors will begin a survey flight this week above the United States under the international Open Skies Treaty, Russia's Defense Ministry has said.
• Russian Scientist Jailed For Spying Walks Free RFE/RL 24 Nov 2012 -- Russian scientist Valentin Danilov has walked free after serving eight years of a controversial prison sentence on charges of spying for China.
• Imprisoned Russian Scientist Walks Free RIA Novosti 24 Nov 2012 -- Physicist and convicted spy Valentin Danilov walked to freedom on Saturday after serving eight years in prison, pledging that he will continue studying science.
• Russia Reiterates Concern Over NATO Missiles in Turkey RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2012 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated on Friday Moscow's concern over the possible deployment of US Patriot air defense systems in Turkey.
• New Kalashnikov Has 'Range of Defects' - Test Agency RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2012 -- The latest version of Russia's world-famous Kalashnikov assault rifle, the AK-12, has shown up a range of problems during initial testing, the head of the weapons-making agency responsible for trials of the new gun said on Friday.
• Russian Troops Get Six Pantsir-S Air Defense Systems RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2012 -- Six Pantsir-S short-range air defense systems were handed over to air defense units of Russia's eastern military district, the head of air defense troops of Russia's Air Forces, Maj. Gen. Viktor Gumenny, said on Friday.
• Russian Ex-Defense Ministry Official Charged With Fraud RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2012 -- Russia's ex-Defense Ministry official Yevgeniya Vasilyeva has been charged with large-scale fraud and placed under house arrest, Russia's Investigative Committee spokesman said on Friday.
• Ukraine Presses Russia on Joint Space Launch Program RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2012 -- The implementation of a Russian-Ukrainian space launch program now depends on the Russian Defense Ministry, the head of the Ukrainian State Space Agency said on Friday.
• NATO to Discuss Patriot Missile Request by Turkey RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2012 -- Turkey's request to deploy Patriot missile systems that the country says are necessary to protect its border with conflict-torn Syria will be considered soon, NATO's secretary general said on Wednesday.
• Russia Warns Against NATO Missiles on Syrian Border RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2012 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry cautioned Thursday against Turkey's intention to deploy NATO Patriot missiles on its border with Syria.
• Russia to Build New Artillery, Air-Defense Systems RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2012 -- Russia will develop artillery, missile defense and nuclear, biological and chemical defense systems using a uniform tank platform, Ground Forces chief Col. Gen. Vladimir Chirkin said on Thursday.
• Why a Military Coup is Impossible in Russia RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2012
• Irkut Delivers First Su-30SM Fighters to Russian Air Force RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2012 -- Aircraft maker Irkut delivered the first two Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter aircraft to the Russian Air Force on Thursday, the company said.
• Kremlin Denies Draft Period Extension Plan RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2012 -- The Kremlin on Thursday denied Russian media reports suggesting the period of mandatory military service for young men would be extended from a year to 18 months.
• New Russian Corvette Passes Systems Trials RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2012 -- Russia's newest corvette, the Project 20380 Boiky class, has successfully completed main systems tests in its initial sea trials, fleet spokesman Captain Second Rank Vladimir Matveyev said on Thursday.
• Russia to Deploy New ICBM in 2014 RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2012 -- Russia will deploy its newest medium-weight solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in 2014.
• Russia Seeks Closer Military Ties With China RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2012 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu indicated Russia’s continuing interest in cooperation with China on defence sector issues.
• Over $22 Mln Seized During Defense Contractor Fraud Inquiry RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2012 -- Cash and valuables worth about 700 million rubles (about $22.4 million) in total were confiscated during a fraud inquiry into a possible embezzlement of state funds by defense contractors.
• Russia Puts US Telecoms Satellite in Orbit RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2012 -- Russia’s Proton-M carrier rocket put the US EchoStar-16 telecommunications satellite in the designated orbit.
• Russia Gets Second Prospective Female Cosmonaut RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2012 -- The first open cosmonaut recruitment drive in Russian history has produced eight prospects.
• US-Russia Relations in Holding Pattern VOA 21 Nov 2012 -- Relations between the United States and Russia are at the moment on the back burner, given the current crisis in the Middle East.
• US Magnitsky Bill Collides With New Russian Nationalism VOA 21 Nov 2012 -- Next week, the United States Senate is to take up the Magnitsky Act, a bill that would ban visas for, and freeze the bank accounts of, about 60 Russian officials believed to have been involved in the arrest and death of Sergei Magnitsky.
• Russian Rights Groups To Ignore 'Foreign Agent' Law RFE/RL 21 Nov 2012 -- This week, many leading Russian activists announced that they intend to break the law.
• Russian Human Rights NGO Offices Vandalized RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2012 -- The Moscow headquarters of two influential human rights groups were vandalized on Wednesday
• Lavrov: US To Seek Compromise Agreements With Russia On Security, Economy VOA 20 Nov 2012 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton has indicated that the United States will search for compromise agreements on security and business with Russia.
• Rogozin Warns of New Defense Corruption Purge RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin warned of a new clean-out of corruption and crooked officials in the country's arms industry.
• Officers Charged in Military Food Scam RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- Investigators have opened a criminal case against two officers in Russia’s far east who allegedly overstated the value of their soldiers’ food rations by more than $200,000 in order to embezzle funds.
• EchoStar Telecom Satellite Launched from Baikonur RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- A Russian Proton-M launch vehicle carrying the EchoStar XVI telecommunications satellite lifted off from the Baikonur space center.
• Russian Activists Vow To Defy NGO Law RFE/RL 20 Nov 2012 -- Leading Russian nongovernmental organizations say they will defy a new law that brands them as "foreign agents."
• NGO 'Foreign Agents' Law Comes into Force in Russia RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2012 -- A controversial new law obliging Russian non-governmental organizations financed from abroad and involved in political activity to register as “foreign agents” comes into force.
• Russia Developing 200-km Range Rocket System RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2012 -- Russia is developing new long-range multiple-launch rocket systems with improved guidance that could allow them to strike targets up to 120 miles away.
• Russian Military Police ‘Up and Running’ RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2012 -- Russia’s military police force is already functional and formation of the new service will be completed in 2014.
• Russia Vows to Continue Anti-Piracy Mission off Somali Coast RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2012 -- Russia will keep its naval task force in the Gulf of Aden as part of an international effort to fight sea piracy off the Somali coast.
• Roscosmos Requests Glonass Project Contractor Head’s Dismissal RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2012 -- Russia’s Federal Space Agency has initiated the dismissal of Yuri Urlichich, who headed a Glonass project contractor.
• Russian Opposition Activist Loses Appeal Of Fine RFE/RL 19 Nov 2012 -- The Ulyanovsk regional court has upheld a fine against Sergei Udaltsov, the coordinator of Russia's Left Front opposition movement.
• Russia's Jailed Pussy Riot Members Change Lawyers VOA 19 Nov 2012 -- The two jailed members of the Russian all-female punk band Pussy Riot have replaced their legal team.
• Head Scarves To Be Banned In Some Russian Schools RFE/RL 19 Nov 2012 -- Russia's multiethnic region of Stavropol will introduce a dress code that bans religion-related clothing in schools.
• Another Defense Contract Fraud Inquiry Underway RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2012 -- The Russian Interior Ministry said on Friday it had uncovered a possible embezzlement of 53 million rubles (almost $1.7 million) in state funds by a defense subcontractor.
• Russia Fires Deputy Defense Ministers RIA Novosti 15 Nov 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin fired Deputy Defense Ministers Dmitry Chushkin and Yelena Kozlova on Thursday, the Kremlin announced, the latest in a wave of sackings following last week's removal of Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
• Russian 'Combat Vehicle of Future' to Be Ready by 2015 RIA Novosti 15 Nov 2012 -- Russia's Defense Ministry has announced a decision to develop 'a combat vehicle of the future' and begin supplying it to the Armed Forces by 2015, a senior military official said.
• New Russian Bomber 'Will Not be Hypersonic' RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2012 -- Russia's future PAK-DA manned bomber project will not have hypersonic speed capability, Russia's bomber force commander said on Wednesday, in an apparent contradiction of claims by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin earlier this year.
• Despite Putin's 'Promise,' Anti-Treason Law Comes into Force RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2012 -- A controversial law on state treason that critics fear could be used to stamp out political dissent came into force in Russia on Wednesday, two days after President Vladimir Putin told human rights workers he was ready to “review” it.
• Irkut in Talks Over Joint Airliner With China RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2012 -- Russian aircraft-maker Irkut is in talks with China to develop a new large airliner, an Irkut official said on Wednesday.
• NATO-Russia Council holds Cooperative Airspace Initiative exercise NATO 13 Nov 2012 -- A simulated computer-based exercise to test the NATO-Russia Council's Cooperative Airspace Initiative (CAI) Information Exchange System (IES) is taking place on 13-14 November 2012 over three CAI geographical areas of operational interest, Bodø – Murmansk, Warsaw - Kaliningrad and Ankara - Rostov-on-Don.
• Military Academy Relocation Put on Ice RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2012 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has put on hold the relocation of a medical academy from central St. Petersburg, Public Chamber member Alexander Kanshin said on Tuesday.
• Sukhoi to Build Strike, Recon Unmanned Planes RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2012 -- Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi is to focus on creating reconnaissance and strike unmanned air vehicles (UAV) in the near future, United Aircraft Corporation President Mikhail Pogosyan said at the Zhuhai Airshow China exhibition on Tuesday.
• Russia Paroles Scientist Jailed For Espionage RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2012 -- A district court in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk paroled on Tuesday a Russian physicist who was imprisoned in 2004 for selling classified research data to China.
• Russia will 'React Sharply' to US Aegis Ships – Deputy PM RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Russia will 'react in the sharpest manner' to any US ships equipped with the Aegis combat system attempting to sail by its shores, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told RIA Novosti in an interview.
• Russia to Make Open Skies Turkey Flight RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Russian military inspectors will begin a survey flight this week above Turkey under the international Open Skies Treaty, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• Russia to Build New Airborne Fighting Vehicle RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Russian defense firm Kurganmashzavod is developing a new airborne fighting vehicle, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday.
• Increased Role in Defense, Nuclear Sectors for Private Firms – Rogozin RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2012 -- Russia will expand the role of private contractors in its defense sector, including in the production of strategic nuclear missiles, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said.
• Designer of Glonass Navigation System Sacked RIA Novosti 11 Nov 2012 -- The chief designer or Russia's scandal-hit Glonass satellite navigation system, Yury Urlichich, was fired from his job, a spokeswoman for Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Sunday.
• Russia to Get Kalashnikov Arms Corp RIA Novosti 11 Nov 2012 -- The creator of the Kalashnikov assault rifle agreed to let his name be used as a brand for a new arms corporation, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Sunday.
• Confusion Over $4.2 Billion Iraqi Arms Deal With Russia RFE/RL 10 Nov 2012 -- The Iraqi official who negotiated an arms deal with Russia is denying the agreement has been canceled.
• Iraq Denies Cancellation of $4.2 Bln Arms Deal with Russia RIA Novosti 10 Nov 2012 -- Iraq's acting Defense Minister Sadun Al-Dulaymi has denied reports that Bagdad is annulling a $4.2 billion arms deal with Russia over concerns about possible corruption, Al-Jazeera reported on Saturday.
• Iraq Rethinks Russian Arms Deal VOA 10 Nov 2012 -- A spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki announced the suspension Saturday of a $4.2 billion arms deal between Baghdad and Moscow. A spokesman for Maliki, Ali Moussawi, told Iraqi state TV that the prime minister had decided to re-examine the arms deal with Russia, after discovering apparent graft and corruption.
• Iraq: $4.2 Bln Russian Arms Deal 'Canceled' RIA Novosti 10 Nov 2012 -- Iraq is annulling a $4.2 billion arms deal with Russia it reached earlier this year over concerns about possible corruption, an Iraqi government spokesman said.
• Russian President Reshuffles Top Generals Amid Fraud Investigation RFE/RL 09 Nov 2012 -- President Vladimir Putin has reshuffled several top generals amid an investigation into alleged fraud at Russia's Defense Ministry.
• Russian Military Faces Major Reshuffle RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2012 -- The dismissal of the chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, General of the Army Nikolai Makarov, may pave the way for major changes within the ranks of Russia’s military leadership amid financial scandals and conflicts over defense policy.
• Putin Replaces Army Chief of Staff VOA 09 Nov 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his army chief of staff, just days after replacing the defense minister.
• Russia Set to Hand India another Missile Frigate RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2012 -- The second of three stealth frigates that Russia builds for India at the Yantar Shipyard in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad will be handed over to the Indian Navy.
• Russia's Putin Invites Obama to Moscow VOA 09 Nov 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited newly re-elected U.S. President Barack Obama to visit Moscow next year.
• Russian Observers Question Fairness of US Elections RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2012 -- Election monitors from Russia claimed on Thursday that a report on the just concluded 2012 US elections by an international consortium, failed to mention a number of key problems that they said exist in the American voting process.
• Moscow Prosecutors Question Protest Leader Udaltsov RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2012 -- Russian protest leader Sergei Udaltsov has arrived at the Moscow prosecutor’s office to answer questions regarding the suspected extremist activities of the opposition Left Front movement he leads.
• Anti-Putin Protester Given Four Year Prison Term VOA 09 Nov 2012 -- The first of 19 Russians arrested during a massive protest rally against President Vladimir Putin's re-election has pleaded guilty to criminal charges and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.
• Russia Expects Missile Shield ‘Flexibility’ from Reelected Obama RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Russia hopes that US President Barack Obama will demonstrate a greater willingness to compromise on NATO plans for a missile shield in Europe during his second term of office.
• Chemical Weapons ‘Indestructible’ Russia Warns RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Chemical weapons cannot be completely thrown out of the stockpiles of the world’s leading powers even though they are banned.
• Aeroflot May Convert Superjets into Business Jets RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2012 -- Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot may convert the first Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional airliners it has received into business jets.
• Russia’s 'Nuclear Briefcase' Handed over to Shoigu RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2012 -- Anatoly Serdyukov has handed over Russia’s "nuclear briefcase" to Sergei Shoigu.
• New Fraud Found at Russian Defense Company RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2012 -- A fresh investigation into fraud involving at least 240 million rubles ($7.7 million) has been launched into Russian Defense Ministry property management company Oboronservis.
• ‘Evidence’ of Terror Group in Moscow - FSB RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2012 -- Russia’s Federal Security Service has identified members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is officially designated a terrorist organization, in the Russian capital.
• Russian Court Keeps Activist in Custody VOA 07 Nov 2012 -- A Russian Court has upheld a decision to keep in custody an opposition activist who said he was kidnapped in Ukraine and forced to confess to plotting a coup.
• Russian Opposition Activist's Drug-Related Sentence Upheld RFE/RL 07 Nov 2012 -- A court in the western Russian region of Smolensk has upheld the sentence of an opposition activist./li>
• Outcry as Russian Opposition Activist’s Appeal Rejected RIA Novosti 07 Nov 2012 -- Human rights workers slammed a decision by a west Russia court to reject a former opposition activist’s appeal against an eight-year jail sentence labeled as “harsh” by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
• Russia To Finance Vietnam's First Nuclear Power Plant RFE/RL 07 Nov 2012 -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that Russia is to lend Vietnam some $10 billion to build that country's first nuclear power plant.
• Kremlin Power Struggle Flares with Minister Ousting RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- The public sacking of Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, a member of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, was an unprecedented outburst of turf war in the Kremlin.
• Putin Sacks Defense Minister Serdyukov RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- President Vladimir Putin relieved Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov of his duties on Tuesday, and appointed Sergei Shoigu as his replacement.
• Putin Fires Defense Minister, Names Shoigu To Replace Him RFE/RL 06 Nov 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and named a former emergency situations minister to replace him.
• India, Russia Sign Tank Missile Contracts RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2012 -- India and Russia have signed two contracts for the delivery of Russian antitank missiles.
• Russia, Bulgaria Discuss Belene NPP Project RIA Novosti 05 Nov 2012 -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev discussed the Belene nuclear power plant project.
• Russian Nationalists Mark Unity Day With Rallies RFE/RL 04 Nov 2012 -- Police in the Russian capital say some 6,000 people have participated in a march of nationalists to mark the National Unity Day holiday.
• Russian Nationalists March in Moscow RIA Novosti 04 Nov 2012 -- Thousands of Russian nationalists and ultra-conservative Orthodox activists marched along a central Moscow embankment to protest mass immigration and demand tougher internal travel restrictions on people from the country’s mainly Muslim North Caucasus.
• Rogozin Sets Sights on Kalashnikov Merger RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2012 -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin called for a merger of two of Russia's leading small-arms makers, Izhmash and Izhmekh, under the Kalashnikov brand.
• Russia Sends New Anti-Piracy Task Force to Gulf of Aden RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2012 -- A task force from Russia’s Pacific Fleet, led by the Udaloy class destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov, has departed on an new anti-piracy mission off the Somali coast.
• Authorities in Left Front 'Extremism' Probe RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2012 -- Moscow prosecutors have begun an investigation into the opposition Left Front party over possible extremism.
• Russia Starts New Kalashnikov Trials RIA Novosti 02 Nov 2012 -- Russia’s central arms testing body started trials on Friday of the AK-12, the latest incarnation of the 65-year-old Kalashnikov assault rifle.
• Medvedev Says Pussy Riot Should be Freed VOA 02 Nov 2012 -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says he believes the two members of the punk band Pussy Riot should be released from prison.
• Russian PM: Pussy Riot Members Should Be Released RFE/RL 02 Nov 2012 -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says the two jailed members of the feminist punk performance collective Pussy Riot should be released.
• Medvedev: Pussy Riot Has Served Enough Jail Time RIA Novosti 02 Nov 2012 -- Further imprisonment for two members of the punk band Pussy Riot is excessive, but it is up to the court to decide on the issue, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.
• Migrants to Ask Mayor to Cancel Nationalist Rally RIA Novosti 02 Nov 2012 -- Migrants in Russia will ask Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to cancel Sunday’s planned “Russian March."
• Russia to Keep Silo and Mobile ICBM Launchers in Future RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2012 -- Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces will continue deploying silo-based and mobile ballistic missile launchers in the future.
• Two Detained In Fraud Case Involving Russia Defense Contractor RFE/RL 01 Nov 2012 -- Russian legal authorities have detained two people in connection with fraud at the country's Oboronservis company, which oversees manufacturing contracts for the Defense Ministry.
• Russian Court Reduces Lebedev's Sentence, Clearing Way For 2013 Release RFE/RL 01 Nov 2012 -- A court in Russia has reduced the prison sentence of the business partner of jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
• Khodorkovsky's Business Partner to Walk Free in July RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2012 -- Platon Lebedev, the jailed business partner of Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, will walk free next July after an Arkhangelsk region court reduced his 13-year sentence by three years.
• Gazprom to Launch Two Satellites by Yearend RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2012 -- Gazprom Space Systems is planning to launch two Yamal class satellites by the end of 2012.