Medvedev, who was basking in the spotlight of his second annual state-of-the-nation address Thursday, was ranked in 43rd place, a spot lower than the only other Russian politician on the list, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin at No. 42.

Russian science is at the brink of collapse, but it represents Medvedev's only hope of ending the economy's dependence on energy resources through modernization, scientists said.

But the president, speaking during his second annual state-of-the-nation address, also warned the opposition not to use democracy as a cover to “destabilize the state and split society."

The unidentified officer was drunk when detained by police after throwing the 8-year-old twin daughters of his common-law wife out of an apartment building.

President Dmitry Medvedev laid out few specific plans to modernize the country in his state-of-the-nation address Thursday, but sometimes offered goals that stretch far beyond his current term.

Russia’s steps to fight a stronger ruble may “not be productive,” the International Monetary Fund said Thursday.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the two countries had agreed to work fast to complete a South Stream deal after a meeting in Moscow with his Austrian counterpart, Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann, where they also reached agreements in oil trade and on air flights.

The ministry is already developing specific strategies to boost trade with 30 countries as part of President Dmitry Medvedev’s push for greater innovation.

Reputed crime boss Vladimir Barsukov, who has maintained his innocence, is believed to have led the powerful Tambov crime group in St. Petersburg in the 1990s.

Earlier this month, Aeroflot head Vitaly Savelyev said the company expected to get its first delivery of Superjet aircraft by the end of the year, but the head of Sukhoi's parent company warned in August that there might be problems making the 2009 deadline.