Russia's intelligence agency said it has foiled a terror plot led by militants fighting for the Islamic State group in Syria.

Four alleged members of Islamic State who were preparing attacks in Moscow have been arrested, Russian security agents said.

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.

A Moscow judge who jailed murdering neo-Nazis was shot dead today amid a surge of violence against activists and officials opposed to Russian nationalists.

A small Russian built airliner crashed as it was about to land in the Uzbekistan capital of Tashkent tonight, killing all 37 people on board.