Russia will stonewall any UN sanctions on Syria and will push for a quick start to talks between the Syrian government and the country's opposition. Russia will stonewall any UN sanctions on Syria and will push for a quick start to talks between the...

A military attack on Iran would trigger a "chain reaction" that could destabilize the world, and new sanctions over the country's disputed nuclear program would "stifle" its economy, hurting its people. A military attack on Iran would trigger a "chain reaction" that could destabilize the world, and new sanctions over...

... Capital Bank, the Belarussian bank controlled by Iran's third-largest lender, said it would not stop operating after the United States designated it as providing financial services to the Export Development Bank of Iran amid sanctions against the Persian Gulf nation. Trade Capital Bank, the Belarussian bank controlled by Iran's third-largest lender, said it would not stop operating after the United States designated it as providing financial services to the Export...

... calculation that it can keep a Mideast presence by propping up its last remaining ally in the region — and has nothing to lose if it fails. The Kremlin has put itself in conflict with the West as it shields Assad's regime from United Nations sanctions and continues to provide it with weapons. But Moscow's relations with Washington are already strained. And Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seems eager to defy the United States as he campaigns to reclaim the presidency. "It would make no...

..., it does not bring any benefit," Gatilov said. "Unfortunately, Iran's behavior at times creates difficulties for beginning political negotiations," he said. Tensions have been rising in the Persian Gulf after the U.S. signed into law sanctions against Iranian oil exports late last year, in an attempt to put pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program. European countries are expected to impose their own sanctions against Iranian oil next week, Reuters reported. Deputy Prime Minister...

... and anti-government bots splashed criticism and expressions of gratitude across the Russian Internet, and Syrian hackers attempted to commandeer the website of a Russian embassy. The attacks are a response to Russia's ongoing resistance to proposed UN sanctions against Damascus and willingness to sell weapons to the Syrian government, which has been accused of killing thousands of civilians to stem a popular uprising that began in March. On Sunday, the Syrian National Council, the main opposition...

The European Union will impose harsher sanctions on Syria, a senior EU official said Wednesday, as Russia tries to broker talks between the vice president and the opposition to calm violence. The European Union will impose harsher sanctions on Syria, a senior...

... the group said. As far as we can see, Putin is scared only of unsanctioned rallies. That’s why we promote holding unauthorized protests in our songs. We are not happy about what happens in the sphere of civic protests, which have now turned into sanctioned rallies. “The authorities will not get scared and make concessions because they are rallies that they sanctioned themselves. On the contrary, such rallies show that the authorities are allegedly tolerant toward people, that they are...

Moscow police have detained two Yabloko party officials after a protest rally against election fraud. Moscow police have detained two Yabloko party officials after a protest rally against election fraud. The Saturday rally was sanctioned for 300 participants, but police counted about 350. Organizer Maya Zavyalova was detained on charges of violating public order, a police spokesman told RIA-Novosti. The charge carries a fine of 2,000 rubles (about $60). Yabloko deputy chairman...

... in 2009. Hundreds of people are expected to attend the event, which will start with a march on Nikitsky Bulvar at about 7 p.m. and continue with a rally on Pushkin Square in downtown Moscow. The demonstration, organized by anti-fascism activists, was sanctioned by the city authorities. Other rallies are planned to take place in 19 other cities across Russia. Markelov and Baburova, who was a freelance reporter with Novaya Gazeta, were killed near the Kropotkinskaya metro station after a news conference...

... since the violence began in March because of deep divisions between its veto-wielding permanent members. In October, Russia and China vetoed a Western European draft resolution, backed by the United States, that condemned Assad's attacks and threatened sanctions. Russia took the council by surprise in mid-December, introducing a draft resolution that called on all parties to stop the violence. Although the Russian draft put forward Monday didn't meet Western demands, the United States and its European...

... making and authorizing purchases, including Deputy Minister Roman Edilov and deputy head of the Auctions Commission Albert Gaisultanov. The blogger also said it was "obvious that violations of such a scale could not have happened without being sanctioned by Chechen Interior Minister Ruslan Alkhanov." Chechen officials did not publicly comment on the accusations Thursday, and repeated calls to the press office of the Chechen Interior Ministry went unanswered. Navalny published the accusations...

... high" to send 15 teachers to a demonstration sponsored by the pro-Putin All-Russia People's Front, a teacher from the school told the news site. The demonstration is scheduled to be held at Poklonnaya Gora in western Moscow on Feb. 4, the same day as a sanctioned opposition march and rally in the city center. Plans for teachers to take part in the pro-Putin rally were also announced by blogger taki_net, who wrote Saturday on his LiveJournal page that the head of a teachers' trade union promised to...

... message: "You did an excellent job during the December elections. Keep up the good work." Meanwhile, governors have been receiving mixed messages from the federal center. On the one hand, they have been publicly warned against committing or sanctioning election fraud. But at the same time, several governors in regions where United Russia performed badly in the December Duma elections have been dismissed. What message did this send to current governors who want to keep their jobs by pleasing...

... too old. He said, however, that it was too early to leave. "I won't resign before the political situation is stabilized," he said. Yakemenko stressed that none of the youth organizations associated with him had offered any resistance to the sanctioned protests on Dec. 10 and Dec. 24, which he described as "a civilized request for change by a segment of society." But the organizations did hold rallies in support of the Kremlin in the first week after the Dec. 4 elections and hundreds...

... her mother’s life is now at risk after President Viktor Yanukovych “crossed a fine line” when he rejected all early chances of compromise to free her. In an interview, Yevgenia Tymoshenko urged the West to consider applying personal sanctions against officials in Yanukovych’s government, such as visa bans, to stop Ukraine from driving itself further into isolation. “It [the situation] is unpredictable now. … They have crossed the line where my mother’s life...

... doesn't consider it necessary to offer an explanation or excuses over suspicions that a Russian ship had delivered munitions to Syria despite an EU arms embargo. Russia was acting in full respect of international law and wouldn't be guided by unilateral sanctions imposed by other nations, he said. Lavrov also accused the West of turning a blind eye to attacks by opposition militants and supplies of weapons to the Syrian opposition from abroad and warned that Russia will block any attempt by the West...

... foreign partners don't understand that, we will have to use strong means again and again to call them back to reality," he was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass. On Friday, Russian lawmakers also supported shielding Assad's regime from international sanctions. The State Duma unanimously passed a statement warning against foreign military intervention in Syria and accusing the West and Arab nations of planning regime change there. Alexei Pushkov, head of the Duma's Committee on Foreign Affairs,...

... Lavrov the whole day. In the end, Russia blocked the Security Council resolution that would have called on Assad — who is directly responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 Syrians — to step down from power. It would have introduced sanctions against the current regime, primarily aimed at halting weapons deliveries to Syria. But Moscow fought in defense of its friend Assad, arguing that the resolution would open the way to foreign military intervention a la Libya. A Russian vessel...

... metro station toward Bolotnaya Ploshchad, followed by a short rally. It will start at 1 p.m. Some 27,000 people have signed up on Facebook to take part in the protest under anti-Putin slogans to demand fair elections. It will be the third mass rally sanctioned by city authorities since accusations of widespread violations during December's State Duma elections sparked public outrage. On Thursday, about 6,000 volunteers held single-person pickets around Moscow and distributed hundreds of thousands...