After Monday's announcement that historian Vladimir Medinsky was appointed the culture minister, critics quickly labeled him the new propaganda minister. Medinsky's academic ethics and historical distortions may raise serious questions, but for the Kremlin, he has three important attributes that are much more important: He is a model United Russia leader, a firm Putin loyalist and a skilled sophist. With Monday's announcement that historian Vladimir Medinsky was appointed the culture minister...

A doctor says stress, family medical history or possibly even poison led to the death of Vladimir Lenin, debunking a popular theory that a sexually transmitted disease debilitated the former Soviet leader. BALTIMORE — A doctor says stress, family medical history or possibly even poison led to the death of Vladimir Lenin, debunking a popular theory that a sexually transmitted disease debilitated the former Soviet leader. UCLA neurologist Dr. Harry Vinters and Russian historian Lev Lurie...

An in-depth profile of Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky by Russia's only daily English-language newspaper. 22 May 2012 Vladimir Medinsky (Âëàäèìèð Ðîñòèñëàâîâè÷ Ìåäèíñêèé) was born July 18, 1970, in Smela, Cherkassy region, Ukraine. Education: International Journalism, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, 1992; Ph.D. in Political Science, 1999; Ph.D. in History, 2011 New Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, a historian who has kept a distance from the cultural world, is perhaps...

One of the oldest cities in Siberia, Krasnoyarsk boasts sights like picturesque churches and fountains with dazzling night lighting. But none of them can compare to its main attraction — majestic Siberian nature. Krasnoyarsk Population: 990,600, according to the 2011 census. Its 1 millionth resident was born in early April. Acting mayor: Edkham Akbulatov Founded in 1628 as a military prison. Interesting fact: The major symbols of Krasnoyarsk — the Chapel of Paraskeva...

Russians are usually patient and slow to rebel, but once they have turned on their leader, they don't stop until he is out. Vladimir Putin's new presidential term is just beginning, but it increasingly looks like the beginning of the end. Whenever Russia's people pour into the streets en masse, as they have been doing since December, from that point on, things never work out well for the authorities. In March 1917, Tsar Nicholas II had to abdicate in the wake of mass street protests, clearing the...

I wonder, did you feel it? When last weekend, on Friday and Saturday, the world changed a little? I wonder, did you feel it? When last weekend, on Friday and Saturday, the world changed a little?

Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday that strengthening Russia's ties with other former Soviet republics would be a priority of his presidency, presenting one of the first planks of his foreign policy after taking office two weeks ago.

A decorated war hero who had survived almost every major military campaign of Russia's modern history, earning him the moniker "The Russian Rambo," was mourned with honors Monday after being killed in a motorcycle accident. A decorated war hero who had survived almost every major military campaign of Russia's modern history, earning him the moniker "The Russian Rambo," was mourned with honors Monday after being killed in a motorcycle accident. A veteran...

The very first march against homophobia in the history of Georgia was aggressively thwarted May 17 by the Union of Orthodox Christian Parents, a violent, reactionary group led by several priests who have a strange interpretation of "love your neighbor." They shamelessly stood by as their homophobic devotees cursed and attacked the peaceful group of marchers. The very first march against homophobia in the history...

The U.S. ambassador and the U.S. State Department said they were surprised by blistering criticism from the Foreign Ministry regarding comments McFaul made to students last week. U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul and the U.S. State Department responded Wednesday to blistering criticism from the Foreign Ministry, saying they were surprised by the harsh reaction to the ambassador's comments to university students last week. "As a proponent of better U.S.-Russian relations, I was surprised by the...

<table cellspaceing="5" cellpadding="5" border="0"> <tbody> <tr><td><b>Last position:</b></td><td>English Teacher</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Experience:</b></td><td>6</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Citizenship:</b></td><td>USA</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Date of Birth:</b></td><td>10/22/1986</td></tr>...

Nearly 200 of Moscow's museums, parks, theaters and cultural centers are staying open after hours Saturday as part of the city's sixth annual Night at the Museum project. Most participating venues will be open from 6 p.m. until midnight, some much later, and will offer free admission. Nearly 200 of Moscow's museums, parks, theaters and cultural centers are staying open after hours Saturday as part of the city's sixth annual Night at the Museum project. Most participating...

New Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, a historian distant from the cultural world, is perhaps best known for writing a series of pro-Kremlin books called &quot;Myths about Russia&quot; — a role that is prompting calls his title be changed to propaganda minister. Vedomosti Medinsky New Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, a historian who has kept a distance from the cultural world, is perhaps best known for writing a series of pro-Kremlin books called...

Facebook has successfully completed the biggest tech IPO in history, raising $16 billion and making billionaires of its founders and early investors and millionaires of many of its employees. And miraculously, this was achieved in a market that is quickly heading south, as fears and emotions escalate against the backdrop of a possible Grexit from the Euro and who knows what else. John Hammond Senior Partner CMS, Russia Facebook has successfully completed the biggest tech IPO in history, raising...

The mysterious cloak-and-dagger world of international espionage and its real-life heroes and villains are exposed in a new exhibition, the first to be sanctioned by U.S. intelligence agencies. NEW YORK — The mysterious cloak-and-dagger world of international espionage and its real-life heroes and villains are exposed in a new exhibition, the first to be sanctioned by U.S. intelligence agencies. "Spy, the Secret World of Espionage," which...

An exhibit of Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei currently on at the Multimedia Art Museum provides an intimate, and sometimes uncomfortably close, look at the artist's time in America through a series of black and whites, taken from a collection of more than 10,000 photographs. An exhibit of Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei currently on at the Multimedia Art Museum provides an intimate, and sometimes uncomfortably...

The Russian parliament has repealed a longstanding and controversial law that had classified consensual sex between men a criminal offense, a Western gay rights group in Moscow said Friday. The Russian parliament has repealed a longstanding and controversial law that had classified consensual sex between men a criminal offense, a Western gay rights group in Moscow said Friday.

VOLGOGRAD — Every May 9, Alexander Ivanovich Kolotushkin dusts off his best suit, gets out his medals from the cabinet and heads to Volgograd's main square with fellow veterans. VOLGOGRAD — Every May 9, Alexander Ivanovich Kolotushkin dusts off his best suit, gets out his medals from the cabinet and heads to Volgograd's main square with fellow veterans. "There used to be more of us. I remember that 10 years ago there were at least 70 veterans in the city; now there are only 17...

Historians have long noted a characteristic feature of Russian history: Sometimes development seems to freeze for many years and almost comes to a standstill, only to suddenly surge ahead at a gallop. Events during the first weeks of May were a striking illustration of this. Historians have long noted a characteristic feature of Russian history: Sometimes development seems to freeze for many years and almost comes to a standstill, only...