POLITICS
The period of rapprochement and stability in the relations between Russia and Ukraine that started when Viktor Yanukovych was elected Ukrainian president has ended. This was demonstrated at yesterday's meeting between President Dmitry Medvedev and his Ukrainian counterpart in Sochi.
(Kommersant)
Visa-free travel to Europe and replacing the ruble with the euro will be two campaign pledges for the pro-business Right Cause in the State Duma elections, its billionaire leader Mikhail Prokhorov said Thursday.
(Moscow Times)
The Central Election Commission said Thursday that the number of foreign observers for the State Duma elections should be small because their work could be done from afar. Commission chairman Vladimir Churov refused to say how many observers would be invited but suggested that he disliked high numbers.
(Moscow Times)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Privatization of united Rostelecom, Russia's leading long-distance call operator, will be held no earlier than in two years.
(Kommersant)
The state statistics service said the economic growth in the second quarter of 2011 was 3.4%, lower than expected.
(Kommersant)
Rail monopoly Russian Railways will have double-decker trains with three classes of cars.
(Vedomosti)
Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich's son Arkady is seeking to buy oil and gas assets in Russia and the CIS.
(Vedomosti)
SOCIETY
Federal marshals will be running license plate numbers at the site of the MAKS air show, and they will be entitled to seize property unless debtors pay their debts.
(Moscow Times)
IT
Uzbek authorities have blocked dozens of Internet sites in an apparent attempt to further stem the flow of information into Uzbekistan, online media said.
(Moscow Times)
Moscow's broadband internet access market is oversaturated: providers have started offering subscription plans at discounts for longer loyalty on the part of subscribers.
(Kommersant)
For more details on all the news in Russia today, visit our website at http://en.rian.ru.
