The Moscow Times

Continued protests in Russia will likely lead to violence or chaotic change, according to a new study ordered by the former finance minister.

A longstanding platitude shared by both the Kremlin as well as domestic and foreign analysts is the need for Russia to diversify its economy away from energy dependence and reduce its non-oil budget deficit.

Russia's richest man recognized the value of Facebook three years ago when he invested in the social-networking company and has now enjoyed a payday of about $1 billion, propelling him further ahead of Russia's oligarchs, who have largely stuck with oil and steel.

Russian billionaires are famous for being big buyers of contemporary art, bolstering sales in capitals across the West, but at home it's a different story.

It was never meant to be like this. When Ukraine was named co-host of Europe's biggest football fest in 2009, its leaders hailed the award as a milestone on the road to joining the European mainstream.

Russians are split on how long Vladimir Putin will remain president, a survey said Friday, but few believe he will consider the interests of the middle class, whose discontent has fueled mass opposition protests.

There are few former Central Asian jailbirds who can also claim to be popular hate figures among football fans in north London — but they include Alisher Usmanov, who became Russia's richest man and married a gymnastics champion along the way.