Russian Press at a Glance, Tuesday, March 15, 2011

POLITICS

United Russia scored an unconvincing victory in Sunday's regional vote with an average 46%, leaving analysts in doubt whether it could perform better in the decisive battle for the State Duma in December
(The Moscow Times, Kommersant, Nezavisimaya Gazeta)

President Dmitry Medvedev banned Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family from entering Russia
(Kommersant, the Moscow Times)

Russia and Ukraine might review their current agreements on natural gas and Russia’s Black Sea Fleet presence in Ukraine
(Nezavisimaya Gazeta)

Russia has provided Moldova’s breakaway republic of Transdnestr with financial humanitarian aid intended to be distributed among pensioners
(Nezavisimaya Gazeta)

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

The conflict between United Company RusAl and Interros over control of Norilsk Nickel took an unexpected turn as billionaire Alisher Usmanov's Metalloinvest announced plans to increase its stake in the nickel producer and help develop the company jointly with RusAl
(The Moscow Times)

WORLD

In repairing ties with Japan, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev scrambled to send energy supplies to the devastated country, three planes were dispatched with humanitarian aid, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov laid flowers at the Japanese Embassy in Moscow
(The Moscow Times)

Russian rescuers rushed to help with the emergency situation at Japan’s quake-hit Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant
(Kommersant)

Ales Milhalevich, a former Belarusian presidential candidate from an opposition party, says he has secretly fled the country
(Kommersant)

DEFENSE

The Russian government and the Defense Ministry have jointly worked out a program for Army and Navy development until 2020
(Nezavisimaya Gazeta)

India, the biggest arms importer in the world, says Russia, which accounts for 82% of this import, is the most reliable partner in this sphere
(Nezavisimaya Gazeta)

CRIME

A Master-Bank executive was charged with participating in a money laundering ring that involved state companies and saw a daily turnover of 500 million rubles ($17 million). Industry players say more people are likely to be charged
(The Moscow Times)

A St. Petersburg professor faces up to two years in jail over his ties to the banned National Bolshevik Party. Andrei Pesotsky is accused of creating a local branch of the party in 2009. The party was banned for extremism in 2007
(The Moscow Times)

For more details on all the news in Russia today, visit our website at http://en.rian.ru