Just about anyone following Russia's media industry understands that the system allows the informed to stay informed while almost guaranteeing that the uninformed remain uninformed.

When Russia's media law was passed 15 years ago, ending censorship and granting basic freedoms and independence to journalists, the further expansion of media liberties was expected to make the fourth estate a powerful engine of reform and a watchdog to monitor the government.

Those who remember the pompous celebration of Lenin's centennial in 1970 probably also recall the numerous anekdoty, or jokes, poking fun at the official event.

If you are a European, there may be many things you can do or say about Russia, but one thing you cannot do is ignore it.

In any state, local government is the one people deal with most closely. So it is important to understand what prospects there are for the development of local government in Russia.

Svyazinvest, the national fixed-line telephone company, named Alexander Kiselyov chief executive officer as the company prepares for a stock sale.

Ruble Rises Again The Central Bank allowed the ruble to appreciate half a percent on Friday in a move analysts said could help bring down inflation by the end of the year. The ruble rose to 29.91 against the dollar/euro basket, which the Central Bank targets to set its intervention limits, from 30.06 rubles in the previous session -- a level it had held since late March. The bank does not traditionally comment on sensitive market information like timings for ruble exchange-rate moves. But Deputy Chairman Konstantin Korishchenko said late Thursday that the ruble exchange rate was one of the instruments the Central Bank could use to curb price growth. (Reuters) No Agreement on Belarus MINSK -- Belarus and Gazprom have failed to agree on gas prices for next year, Belarussian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky said Friday. Gazprom and Belarussian officials held talks on Thursday in Moscow, where Minsk repeated its offer to Russia to cede some control over its pipeline system in exchange for gas-producing assets.

Dazzling cruise ships are anchored in the azure waters off the stone-walled port and tourists throng the narrow marbled alleys of this medieval city.