On February 15 in Moscow, speaking at an all-Russian seminar of activists of the United Russia party, the capital's mayor Yuri Luzhkov expressed the opinion that the administration of the head of state carries out its activities “without a clear understanding of functions, goals and responsibilities.” He proposed to clarify the functions of the presidential administration in a special law.

Milan's "Adrienne Lecouvreur" on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater Francesco Cilea's opera "Adrienne Lecouvreur" from Milan's La Scala theater at the Bolshoi Theater is the second imported performance this season. For those who were lucky enough to see "Adrienne Lecouvreur" back in 1989, during La Scala's Moscow tour, we immediately inform you: Mirella Freni and Peter Dvorsky will not be there. Instead of them - Nelly Miriciu and Boyko Tsvetanov.

As it became known on February 15, the Russian national team will play the first match of the 2004 European Football Championship qualifying tournament in Group 10 on September 7, 2002 at home against their recent offenders, the Irish. This was reported by representatives of the Russian Football Union (RFU) , who took part in drawing up the calendar of qualifying games for the teams included in group 10 together with the Russians.

On February 15 in Washington, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Philip Reeker said that FBI specialists had handed over evidence against Slobodan Milosevic to prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. According to an official of the US presidential administration, the evidence collected at the site of the death of refugees in Kosovo is quite strong evidence of the guilt of the former president of Yugoslavia.

exhibited in the Peter and Paul Fortress 81 2 minutes. ... Yesterday, the photo exhibition “Unknown Blockade” opened in the Neva Curtain of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The exhibition is part of the large-scale project of the Limbus Press publishing house "St. Petersburg 1903-2003", which includes the release of five photo albums based on the exhibitions of the same name.

On February 15, at the next plenary meeting, the Russian State Duma adopted in the third and final reading the law “On the Bodies of the Judicial Community in the Russian Federation.” In accordance with the law, the judicial community in Russia is formed by judges of federal courts of all types and levels, courts of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which make up the judicial system of the Russian Federation.

As it became known on February 15, the case of the murder of the famous writer Dmitry Balashov, the investigation of which has been ongoing for more than a year, will not be sent for further investigation. The injured party, represented by the writer’s widow Olga Balashova, insisted on additional investigation of the case. However, the prosecutor's office proved that there was no need for an additional investigation.

Gifts for February 23 The Day of Real Men is approaching - February 23. Previously, February 23 was celebrated as the Day of the Red Army, then as the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy. Recently it has been called Defender of the Fatherland Day. Interestingly, February is in no way connected with any valiant date in Russian history.

In excessive and selfless love for Russia 57 2 minutes. ... Yesterday it became known that, at the instigation of communist parliamentarians, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi may authorize an investigation into a deputy from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Muneo Suzuki, who oversaw relations with Russia. He is accused of disinterestedly distributing government orders to provide humanitarian aid to the Southern Kuril Islands among private companies. Mr.

On February 15, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrived in Kabul on an official visit. The main purpose of the visit will be negotiations with the Afghan prime minister on the issue of expanding the powers of the international peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan. The first to receive the British minister was his Afghan counterpart Abdul Abdullah.

On February 15, the Russian president of figure skater Alexei Yagudin with his victory at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The press service of Vladimir Putin reported that the president’s congratulatory telegram said the following: “I sincerely congratulate you on your Olympic gold.” With your brilliant performance at the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, you met the hopes of everyone who was waiting for your victory and believed in it.

Yesterday, the heads of Rosbank and MFK Bank Evgeny Ivanov and Mikhail Zaitsev held 242 1 min. ... Yesterday, the heads of Rosbank and MFK Bank Evgeny Ivanov and Mikhail Zaitsev held a press conference at which they confirmed information about the start of the process of merging their banks. However, the banks' shareholders have not yet decided in what form this merger will take place.

On February 15, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma met in Kyiv with former head of the United States State Department Madeleine Albright to discuss the upcoming elections to the Verkhovna Rada.

Police and sanitary inspectors close computer clubs 61 1 min. ... In several districts of St. Petersburg, the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision Authority began to close computer clubs where teenagers spend their free time. The doctors' main complaints are violations of sanitary standards. Yesterday, a joint raid by the SEN and the department for combating economic crimes took place in the Primorsky district.

From February 15, tariffs for freight transportation in Russia will increase by 16% and gas tariffs by 20%. The decision to increase tariffs was made by the government on January 24. The Ministry of Railways expects to fulfill its investment program by increasing tariffs. Although the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Gennady Fadeev himself is not happy with this increase in tariffs.