US Senator John McCain has insisted he is “more pro-Russian” than President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of corruption, repression and self-serving rule in an opinion piece for Pravda newspaper.

A Moscow court has convicted dead Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky of tax evasion, provoking outrage over the posthumous prosecution of a man whose death in pre-trial detention led to a major diplomatic row with Washington.

The re-election of Vladimir Putin has seen Russia stifle dissent and put reform on the back foot; moves that recall the age of Stalin, writes Nina L Khrushcheva.

Russia has warned Britain it will respond tit-for-tat if London imposes any travel restrictions on Russian officials.

AN independent commission harshly criticised Russian authorities yesterday over the treatment of a lawyer who fought official corruption and died in prison.