Sergey Veremeenko. Photo from the site Bashkir.ru One of the candidates for the presidency of Bashkiria, an entrepreneur, Sergey Veremeenko, announced the termination of his campaign for the election of the head of the region, Interfax reports. “Now active advice on my work is underway, and this does not give me the opportunity to work in the republic. That is why I decided to suspend my election campaign and not mislead my voters,” said Veremeenko.

Kurgan governor Oleg Bogomolov spoke out against the idea of ​​uniting the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Kurgan regions, the governor's press service told RIA Novosti. "All this is in the plane of wishes and discussions, and there is no urgent need to do it now," Bogomolov said, commenting on the proposal of Sverdlovsk Governor Eduard Rossel to unite the three regions into one subject of the Federation.

The governor of the Chelyabinsk region Petr Sumin opposes the idea of ​​unification of the Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk and Kurgan regions.

On December 18, the Lefortovsky Court of Moscow is to begin a trial in the criminal case of police major Igor Alyamkin, an employee of the passport office of the Nizhny Novgorod police department, RIA Novosti reports. Alyamkin is accused of obtaining an illegal registration for a terrorist who participated in the capture of Nord-Ost.

The main shareholders of Yukos and the company Millhouse, which manages the assets of Sibneft shareholders, have reached an agreement in principle to stop the merger deal, Interfax reports citing a Sibneft press release. As a result, the 92% stake in Sibneft currently owned by Yukos will be returned to their former major shareholders. Citigroup has been appointed advisor on the termination of the merger.

Chairman of the Lithuanian Seimas Arturas Paulauskas on Thursday submitted a proposal to parliament for discussion to begin impeachment proceedings against President Rolandas Paksas, Interfax reports. By a majority vote, the Seimas approved the draft resolution on the creation of a parliamentary commission to confirm or refute the accusations against the president and accepted it for discussion. The commission will include six lawyers.

Chechen children draw a war. Drawing from the site www.voine.net In Moscow on Pushkinskaya Square, the Extra -Party Organization " Committee of Anti -Wennial Action " holds a picket against the war in Chechnya. According to the Grani.ru correspondent, the participants keep photos of the victims of the war, including the photo of the dead children.

Pop star Michael Jackson will be charged Thursday afternoon. This is reported by the BBC with reference to representatives of the US authorities. Jackson was arrested on suspicion of child molestation and later released on $3 million bail. The 45-year-old singer himself called all the accusations against him "a terrible lie." Details about what kind of charges will be brought against Jackson are not yet known. Before the court, Jackson will appear on January 9 next year.

On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General George Robertson left his post after four years as head of the North Atlantic Alliance. In his final address to the NATO Council, Robertson stressed the need for alliance member countries to maintain close ties with the United States, BBC reports. He also called for increased NATO operations in Afghanistan, warning that the failure of peace efforts in that country would be a devastating blow to every member of the alliance.

All-Georgian Association for the Protection of Human Rights demands to open a criminal case against former President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze, PRIMA reports . Human rights activists accuse him of committing numerous crimes.

While extinguishing a fire that broke out on Thursday morning in the restaurant "Lido", located in the center of Ufa, according to preliminary data, two firefighters died. As Interfax was informed in the department of civil defense and emergency situations of Ufa, the fire broke out at 7.40 local time in one of the tower extensions to the restaurant building and quickly spread throughout all the premises. Due to the early hours, there were no employees or customers in the restaurant.

On Thursday, a fire broke out on the Russian transport refrigerator Pollux located in the central part of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. According to Interfax, the ship is in distress about 250 miles from Cape Elizabeth in the north of Sakhalin Island. At 18.40 local time (11.40 Moscow time), an SOS signal was given from the refrigerator. By this point, the flames had already engulfed most of the superstructure.

Saddam Hussein. Photo by Canadian Press Iraqi ex-dictator Saddam Hussein will judge a special Iraqi court. This was announced by the current head of the government council of Iraq, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim. According to BBC News, speaking in London after negotiations with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, he said that the court will be held in accordance with international standards, and that international observers will be able to attend the process.

In the United States, two citizens of the country were charged with the murder of Russian student Murat Khadartsev on July 6, 2000 in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Tracey Eric Tucker, 24, and Darrell Lamont Yanblood, 26, were arrested on December 16, 2003 on suspicion of murder and robbery, RBC reports citing AP. An exchange student from Vladikavkaz, Khadartsev, was in his girlfriend's apartment when Tucker burst in with two pistols.

At the first working meeting in the mayor's office of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, chaired by acting. Mayor of the city Anatoly Shaleev on Thursday there was a conflict, Interfax reports, citing sources in the mayor's office. Yury Golenishchev, who was removed from the post of mayor by a court decision, burst into the hall and announced the illegality of the appointment of acting. the mayor of his first deputy Shaleev.