President Vladimir Putin submitted a bill that would change how the upper house of the Russian parliament is formed, a move he said would make it more democratic but which critics said would not change the body’s role as an obedient tool of the Kremlin.

RUSSIA’S upper house of parliament ratified the new US nuclear disarmament treaty yesterday, the final step in approving the first nuclear pact between the two former Cold War rivals in 20 years.

The upper house of Russia’s parliament has ratified the New START nuclear arms pact with the United States.

THE French Football Federation (FFF) has called five players to appear before its disciplinary committee to discuss the behaviour of the national team during the World Cup.

Russians today nervously returned to the subway stations where two suicide bombers killed 39 people, as the country began a day of mourning.

Britain urged Russia not to sever ties with Nato today amid continuing fall-out from the Georgia crisis.

Russia’s upper house of parliament has approved a proposed law allowing visa-free entry on special occasions such as soccer’s Champions League final.

Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoy today said that British prosecutors' decision to charge him with the murder of Alexander Litvinenko is "politically motivated", news agencies have reported.

The Russian prosecutor-general’s office today said it would not turn over Andrei Lugovoy, charged by Britain in the poisoning death of Alexander Litvinenko, the Interfax news agency reported.

RUSSIA’S upper house of parliament ratified the Kyoto Protocol and sent it to President Vladimir Putin for the final stamp of approval that would bring the global climate pact into force early next year.

Russia’s upper house of parliament ratified the Kyoto Protocol and sent it to President Vladimir Putin for the final stamp of approval that would bring the global climate pact into force early next year.

Russia’s lower house of parliament set hearings on ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on combating global warming for Friday, State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov said today.

The Russian parliament’s upper house wants new anti-terror legislation to include stricter penalties for people who aid terrorists and for officials whose negligence results in terrorist attacks, the Interfax news agency reported today.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Chechen rebel warlord Shamil Basayev directed the hostage-taking raid on a school in southern Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin performed a U-turn today – apparently responding to wide public dismay over the bloody school siege – and agreed to the formation of a parliamentary investigative commission.

THE Irish millionaire duo of John Magnier and JP McManus may soon find themselves fighting a bitter takeover at Manchester United, where they own more than 24% of the club’s shares.

Flamboyant nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, whose party came a strong third in Russia’s parliamentary elections, announced today that he will run for president in March.

Two more hostages, freed from the Moscow theatre siege by Russian troops, died in hospital overnight from the gas used to incapacitate them and their captors.