In Moscow, the ballet festival "Russian Seasons. XXI Century" starts. For the fifth year in a row, this unique show has been held on the initiative of the famous dancer and choreographer Andris Liepa, who settled down the goal of returning the famous stories of the troupe of Sergei Diaghilev, ITAR-TASS reports. Next year it will turn 100 since Paris for the first time took place evenings in Russian choreography, arranged by this entrepreneur.

The head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Rene van der Linden, who arrives today in Russia with a three -day official visit, notes that this trip should “emphasize the significance of the country for the Council of Europe”. In an “independent newspaper”, the head of Pase, published today, said that in Moscow he plans to discuss the “past Duma and upcoming presidential elections”.

In the investigative group engaged in a robbery attack on the country's country house of the famous Russian tennis player Anna Chakvetadze, they believe that the raiders knew very well what house they attacked, and most likely acted on a tip. Currently, police officers in search of a gunner are studying the circle of familiar family of Chakvetadze, writes the newspaper Kommersant .

The first refusals of the registration of a group of voters came from the Central Election Commission, ITAR-TASS reports. The first refusal of the nomination concerns the independent candidate Oleg Shlenin, who is known as one of the 1991 GKChP members. The second is a self -nominated Nikolai Zubkov, who is not known to reporters at all, except that he is a pensioner from Novorossiysk.

The Left -Training Organization "Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia" (RVSK) announced its intention to transfer to the President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez or his powerful representative of the three hostages. This was reported today by the Cuban news agency Prensa Latin.

United Russia received 26 committees in the new Duma. The remaining three parties will share the remaining 6, which experts call the least influential, write "Vedomosti" . Quotes from other newspapers on this topic are given by the site "Headings.ru" . 32 committees will appear in the new State Duma - three more than in the last composition of parliament.

The mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar said that the transfer of a bronze soldier who spoiled relations with Russia is the main reason for the economic decline in the country. Estonia industry in 2007 was badly damaged, and in the near future it will make itself a further increase in inflation and the fall of the economy, DELFI reports.

The state prosecution demanded for the mayor of Vladivostok Vladimir Nikolaev, accused of abuse of authority and abusing them, five years of colony of general regime. In addition, the prosecution demanded that Nikolaev deprive the right to take positions in state and municipal institutions within three years after leaving the colony, Interfax reports. Nikolaev agreed with all the accusations presented to him.

A auction was held at which the rights of rental of 22 forestry in forest plots with a total area of ​​490 hectares were distributed, its main lot went to the structures of Roman Abramovich. True, before joining the rights, you will have to figure out in court whether there was a lawful auction with initial prices in the region of $ 25-30 per hundredths of land.

ENKA and Auchan signed an agreement according to which the French company will manage 14 hypermarkets of Ramstor, nine of which in Moscow. Auchan takes 13 objects for long -term rental and one buys, they write Vedomosti . Since the beginning of the year, Ramstor has already closed 10 rented stores - this is 15% of the network.

The operating mode of the Moscow Metro is determined during the celebration of the New Year and the Nativity of Christ, ITAR-TASS reported in the press service of the capital's metro. "On the night of December 31, 2007, on January 1, 2008 and on the night of January 6 to 7, 2008, the work of the Moscow Metro is extended until 2 a.m.," the press service said. For the duration of festive events at stations located in places of mass festivities, the staff of the subway will be increased.

The central election headquarters of the presidential candidate Arkady (Badri) Patarkatsishvili switched to the emergency mode of operation and begins to work around the clock, a representative of the headquarters press center said on Wednesday. Over a thousand people gathered at the building who want to register as supporting Patarkatsishvili, RIA Novosti reports.

Over the past two years, six people have been identified in the Russian army who collected intelligence information in the interests of foreign intelligence services, said the first deputy director of the FSB of Russia, Army General Sergei Smirnov. According to him, foreign intelligence services are in special "demand" of a missile and strategic nature.

Against the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, the Senate of the US Congress voted on Tuesday. He rejected the amendment to the bill on budget allocations for the 2008 financial year, obliging the US President to begin the withdrawal of troops from Iraq within 90 days from the date of the law entered into force and end this process within nine months, ITAR-TASS reports. The amendment was initiated by the Senator-Democrat from the state of Wisconsin Russell Fingold.

Russian President Vladimir Putin preferred not to bring his religious beliefs on public display. In an interview with the American magazine, Time, published today, Putin limited himself only with brief answers to questions about this. “There are things that, I believe, cannot be in my position, in any case, to take out for public display, because it becomes like self -promotion or some kind of political striptease,” Putin explained. “Both that and the other, I think, is wrong,” he added.