Photos of the Week, Oct. 15-19

A Russian-made Soyuz blasting off near Kourou, French Guiana, on Friday. The rocket placed in orbit two satellites for the Galileo global positioning system, set to give Europeans autonomy from the United States' GPS system.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, left, awarding Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill the Medal of Friendship of Nations on Sunday in Minsk, where Kirill unveiled a monument to his predecessor, Alexy II.

Sergei Tarasov adding the finishing touches Sunday to his origami model of St. Basil's Cathedral at his home in the Krasnoyarsk regional village of Tigritskoye. His origami projects can require up to 60,000 neatly folded units.

People rallying in Moscow while holding portraits of Politkovskaya on Oct. 7, the sixth anniversary of her murder.

For this man zipping down Polkovaya Ulitsa on a scooter Wednesday, no engine was necessary to cover ground.

Golden autumn hues and a perfectly color-coordinated park bench enveloping a young woman pushing a baby stroller through the leafy confines of Goncharovsky Park near Ulitsa Rustaveli during a leisurely Tuesday walk.

Twenty years of life in the capital captured by The Moscow Times photographers, from dramatic historic events to the eye-catching everyday shot. Catch "This is Moscow 1992-2012" at the Multimedia Art Museum.

Remote workers don't have to deal with the problem of traffic jams, like this one in the vicinity of the Kremlin.

Putin guiding the crown prince of Abu Dhabi at their meeting Wednesday.

The Left Front leader addressing the media Wednesday after police questioning. His aide was arrested Thursday.