Here's a quick extract from President Medvedev's interview with Der Spiegel, (the whole of which can be read here) where he discusses Putin's eyebrow-raising comments about how power is allotted in Russia:SPIEGEL: Putin's recent comment about the next presidential election greatly astonished many in the West. When asked which of you will stand for election, he said that the two of you would "sit down and reach an agreement" regarding what happens in 2012. Former President Gorbachev was shocked. He said that if an agreement was to be reached with anyone, it would have to be with the electorate. But the people apparently don't play a role any more.Medvedev: I would recommend that Mr. Gorbachev ...

The following is a translation of an article about the second trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky published in the French weekly magazine, Le Nouvel Observateur.

The Convict who Frightens the Kremlin From our special correspondent in Moscow

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, former head of oil company Yukos, is serving eight years in prison in Siberia. He is again judged in a trial in which the arbitrary rivals absurdity. The Russian power in the hands of Putin, does not want to see out of prison the person who was formerly the richest man in the country...

It is in this tiny and outdated courtroom No. 7 on the second floor of the Khamovnitchesky District Court of

...

TODAY: Russia pushes for recogition of breakaway regions; Ukraine denies allegations of involvement in war; USSR plan to invade Manchester revealed; Russia's silent monuments to nuclear victims; Arctic Sea, dark spots. Russia's Foreign Ministry has reiterated a request that the sovereignty of breakaway Georgian regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia be internationally recognized.  Traditional partners Belarus and Kazakhstan have been silent on the matter; only Nicaragua has joined Russia's call.  Georgia's minister for refugees and accommodation has granted refugee status to a Russian soldier who deserted on July 1.  According to Bloomberg, Ukraine has denied claims that its soldiers fought alongside Georgian troops in last year's war.   ...

Putin has warned beneficiaries of VEB's emergency loans not to get used to extending their loans.  Shalva Chigirinsky may not return to Russia after reportedly failing to show up for questioning regarding a tax evasion case.  The Guardian scrutinizes the beleaguered billionaire's claim that Yelena Baturina holds a 50% share in Sibir Energy.  China has apparently criticized Russia for the closure of Cherkizovsky Market due to contraband, saying that red tape has long prevented Chinese workers from being able do trade lawfully.  Former CEO of electronics chain Eldorado, Alexander Shifrin, has been put on an international wanted list for tax evasion.  Belgium's RHJ International is offering $389 million for a majority stake in Opel in a last minute attempt to beat Magna.  Joblessness figures and wage arrears actually fell last month to a six-month low ...

TIME magazine has published a very interesting profile of Alexander Lebedev and his quest to reform Russia.  Robert Amsterdam is quoted in the excerpt below.What is not simple is Russia. That quintessentially Russian query -- What is to be done? -- continues to bedevil the Kremlin. The country is, after all, falling apart. The price of oil is down sharply from its high of $147 a barrel in July 2008. The markets have been badly shaken by Putin's attack on steel giant Mechel, the breakup of the oil conglomerate TNK-BP (during which the Russians none-so-subtly squeezed out their British partners), and last summer's war with Georgia. And then, of course, there's the global financial crisis, which has hit Russia particularly hard. On top of all ...

TODAY: SCO wraps up in blaze of activity; Medvedev calls BRIC 'historic event'; no decision from US on defense system; German MPs agree Khodorkovsky trial is trial for Russian justice; Vaclev Havel speaks out against RussiaFor detailed step-by-step coverage of the SCO summit, see Ria-Novosti.  The countries endorsed the re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov calling his visit to Russia 'symbolic'.  Yulia Latynina comments on long-standing collusion between Russia and Iran:  'Iran spends so much money on Russia that supporters of the Islamic revolution work in the Russian Embassy in Tehran'.   The summit also saw: the signing of a declaration affirming a multipolar world, castigation of North Korea, promises to help Afghanistan and ...

Tuesday's big news was that the Russian investment group Digital Sky Technologies purchased a 2% stake of preferred shares in the immensely popular social media platform Facebook.  But who is this group, and who's behind it?  Other the company's official website, you can expect the Financial Times to devote several pages to the story in tomorrow's edition.  According to the company site, DST was founded in 2005 by Yuri Milner and Gregory Finger, and was given a nice doorway into Goldman Sachs when they were joined by Alexander Tamas in 2008 (the FT piece acknowledges that GS helped provide the introduction between Milner and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerman which eventually led to the deal).  DST's most well known internet property is Mail.Ru ...