News

Khrushchev’s transfer of Crimea to Ukraine was unconstitutional – Putin

The 1954 decision by leader Nikita Khrushchev to hand over the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine was unconstitutional, President Vladimir Putin said in an official address to federal and regional officials Tuesday.

15:46 18.03.2014

Russia passes amendments to simplify export of arms for display

The State Duma has approved a bill in the second and third readings that will simplify the foreign export of Russian military products for display at international exhibitions.

15:14 18.03.2014

Ella Pamfilova appointed as Russian human rights ombudsman

Russia's State Duma on Tuesday appointed Ella Pamfilova to the post of Human Rights Ombudsman. On January 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the nomination.

13:02 18.03.2014

Foreign IT professionals’ salaries in Russia to be cut

The Russian government's legislative commission has approved a draft law submitted by the Communications Ministry to cut the minimum annual salary for foreign professionals at Russian IT companies, the cabinet announced on its website on Tuesday.

11:17 18.03.2014

Putin approves accession treaty between Crimea and Russia

President Vladimir Putin has approved a draft treaty between Crimea and Russia on the autonomous republic’s accession to the Russian Federation, according to a statement posted on the Kremlin’s website Tuesday.

10:47 18.03.2014

Russia could exit WTO in case of sanctions – lawmaker

Russia may consider leaving the World Trade Organization (WTO) in light of sanctions over Russia’s handling of the Ukraine crisis, State Duma lawmaker Sergey Mironov told journalists Monday.

17:51 17.03.2014

Russian lawmakers propose to increase fine for false terrorist threat reports

The State Duma lawmakers proposed to increase a fine for making false reports of terrorist attacks from 500,000 ($13,647) to 1,000,000 rubles ($27,293). The amendments to a bill that toughens the punishment for a crime of this kind were approved on Monday.

15:08 17.03.2014

State Duma Committee supports stricter sentences for pedophiles

The State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children has supported a bill which would authorize courts to sentence pedophiles to life in prison, and recommended that lawmakers adopt the bill in its first reading.

14:16 13.03.2014

Russian Culture Ministry drafts circus animal protection bill

Russia’s Ministry of Culture has proposed a bill that would protect circus animals and those used for entertainment purposes from cruelty and physical punishment.

17:23 12.03.2014

Russia mulls regulated media coverage for lawmakers

Lawmaker Alexei Kazakov (A Just Russia) has submitted a bill to the State Duma on the procedure for covering the activity of members of parliament in the state audiovisual and print media, including regional outlets.

11:43 12.03.2014

Top news

Russian courts allowed not to implement rulings of Europe's human rights court

Russia's Supreme Court proposed not to implement rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the provisions of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR).

12:53 09.12.2025

Redomiciliation stalls: How sanctions are shaping new practices for Russian companies

The mechanism for redomiciliating foreign companies to Russian jurisdiction, in effect since 2018, has recently encountered serious obstacles. Taking into account the background of sanctions-related restrictions introduced in 2022 through 2025, it has become extremely difficult to achieve the goal. The situation gave rise to the phenomenon of dual domicile and led to a rise in the number of new litigations, both in Russia and abroad.

12:32 09.12.2025

Soldiers jailed for killing US journalist Russell Bentley

A military court in Donetsk sentenced three soldiers to up to 12 years in prison for torturing and killing Russell Bentley, a 63-year-old U.S. national who collaborated with Sputnik news agency.

14:05 08.12.2025