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Articles by Nikolaus von Twickel
1 2 3 4 5 ... 31
1 2 3 4 5 ... 31
Camera-Wielding Fleet Wages War on Bad Parking
25 March 13
When it comes to parking, Moscow has long been gripped by anarchy. Anybody who has walked the city will confirm that drivers habitually park their cars anywhere they find space: on sidewalks, in entryways and even in the second and third lanes of busy thoroughfares.
Ingush Ski Slope Opens Without Snow
21 March 13
After months of delays, Ingushetia's first ski slope has finally opened.
EU Commission Meeting to Be 'Largest Ever'
20 March 13
Moscow will see an unprecedented influx of EU officials this Thursday when European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso and 16 commissioners arrive for two days of talks with their counterparts in the Cabinet.
Missile Defense Is a Nice Problem to Have
18 March 13
Washington's decision to scrap the last phase of the planned NATO missile shield for Europe elicited expectations that U.S.-Russian relations might improve by removing a major stumbling block that had irked Moscow.
Corruption Fight Progressing, EU Report Says
17 March 13
Europe's top intergovernmental corruption watchdog has found that Russia has made modest progress in fighting graft between 2010 and 2012.
Navalny Targets Senator Malkin
15 March 13
Federation Council Senator Vitaly Malkin has become the latest lawmaker to be targeted by anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny for unethical behavior, amid mounting speculation that the upper house of parliament will also be hit by resignations.
Navalny Targets Senator Malkin
14 March 13
Federation Council Senator Vitaly Malkin has become the latest lawmaker to be targeted by anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny for unethical behavior, amid mounting speculation that the upper house of parliament would also be hit by resignations.
Stephen Fry Interviews Milonov for Gay Documentary
14 March 13
British actor and celebrity Stephen Fry sat down on Thursday for an interview with Vitaly Milonov, the author of St. Petersburg's controversial gay propaganda law.
Kickbacks Still 'Dwarf' Top Officials' Salaries, Despite Raises
13 March 13
The salaries of top state employees have doubled since December, but such remunerations remain minute compared with unlawful kickbacks to the echelons of power, an anti-corruption expert said Wednesday.
Lugovoi Ends Cooperation With London Over Litvinenko
12 March 13
State Duma Deputy Andrei Lugovoi announced Tuesday that he would no longer cooperate with British authorities over the case of Alexander Litvinenko, in whose poisoning death he is widely considered the prime suspect.
EU Visa Deal Looks Likely, But Catches Remain
11 March 13
A much-touted agreement with the European Union making travel easier for businesspeople, students, NGO workers and other professionals might go into force finally, as Brussels has changed its stance on Moscow's demand to include a visa waiver for government officials.
Hollande and Putin Warm Relations
28 February 13
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday hosted his French counterpart Francois Hollande for four-hour-long talks in the Kremlin, which diplomats said were direct and productive.
Internet Sleuths a Real Threat to Lawmakers
27 February 13
The ouster of Vladimir Pekhtin from the State Duma is considered a milestone victory for opposition-minded online sleuths like blogger Doctor Z, so much that activists have started to call their sleuthing "pekhting."
Hollande Coming to Moscow to Meet With Putin
26 February 13
Just days after French film star turned Russian citizen Gerard Depardieu provoked mockery and disgust by dining and dancing with Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, French President Francois Hollande is to hold one day of talks with President Vladimir Putin this Thursday.
No Visas for Accredited Olympic Members
22 February 13
Athletes, coaches, journalists and support staff will not need to obtain Russian visas to attend the Winter Games. But regular fans will.
Ulyanovsk Hub Not Getting Much Use by NATO
20 February 13
NATO and Russia pride themselves on cooperation over Afghanistan and the fight against terrorists and pirates, but a planned logistics hub to transport military hardware from Afghanistan is not taking off.
EasyJet Still Has No Permit for Flights
19 February 13
Exactly one month before the launch of flights between Moscow and London, British no-frills carrier EasyJet has confirmed that it has yet to receive the necessary permit from Russian authorities.
Moscow Gives Up Hopes for Visa-Free Olympics
19 February 13
An easing of visa requirements for Europeans is unlikely even for next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, as officials from both Moscow and the EU insist on their positions.
Mafia War Brewing After Killing of Usoyan
10 February 13
Less than a month after the violent death of legendary crime boss Aslan Usoyan, better known as Grandpa Khasan, there is growing evidence that a bloody hunt is on to avenge the killing.
Bilalov to Lose 'All Positions'
07 February 13
If President Vladimir Putin's word is the law, then Akhmed Bilalov will have to give up at least three jobs: deputy president of the Olympic Committee, president of the North Caucasus Resorts state corporation and, well, president of the Russian Golf Association.
Foreign Agent Law Complaint Sent to Strasbourg
07 February 13
Eleven prominent rights groups have sent a complaint against Russia's so-called foreign agent law, which targets NGOs engaged in political activities, to the European Court of Human Rights.
Sochi Is a Hard Nut to Crack for PR Gurus
07 February 13
One year before the Winter Olympics are to kick off, it looks like Sochi 2014 is getting mired in controversy.
Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Named EU Envoy
05 February 13
The European Union has picked former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas to head its delegation to Russia.
Georgian Wine Could Be Allowed by Spring, Onishchenko Says
04 February 13
Georgian wine and mineral water could return to Russian store shelves as early as this spring, Russia’s chief sanitary official said Monday.
Winter Time Decision Near, Kozak Says
03 February 13
The government will make a decision in the coming days regarding whether to turn back the country's clocks one hour because of the Olympic Games in Sochi, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said Friday.
Sochi Olympics Most Expensive in History
03 February 13
One year before they kick off, the Sochi Winter Olympics have already bagged a world record. They will go down as the most expensive games in history.
Last Year's Repression 'Worst' in Decades
01 February 13
A leading rights group lashed out at President Vladimir Putin on Thursday by saying he had “unleashed the worst political crackdown” in the country’s post-Soviet history after returning to the Kremlin last year.
Kerry Seen as Best Choice for Putin
29 January 13
Moscow pundits gave a warm welcome to John Kerry on Tuesday, as U.S. senators were expected to confirm their veteran colleague as secretary of state.
Ingushetia Unveils Plan to Lure Skiers
28 January 13
Skiers, mountain hikers and sports enthusiasts can add another unconventional destination to their travel schedule: Ingushetia is to open its first ski lift next month.
In Protest, U.S. Quits Working Group
27 January 13
Washington has effectively ended a key working group with Moscow for discussing human rights and democracy, arguing that the panel had become meaningless given recent restrictions on civil society in Russia.
