A categorical disagreement with the idea of ​​returning to the Stalinist hymn was expressed by the Memorial society. In a joint statement by the Memorial and the Moscow Helsinsky group, it is again reminded that the music of Alexandrov "was the anthem of the Bolshevik party, which self -appropriating power over the peoples of Russia." "The anthem was absolutely consistent with the spirit of the Stalinist empire built on the bones of millions of people.

Washington reacted to the verdict issued by Edmond POUPU . The Deputy Press Secretary of the White House, Philip Crowley, said that the United States is deeply outraged by an absurd and ridiculous sentence.

Today in Vladivostok an attempt was made on the general director of the largest publishing and polygraphic complex "Dalpress" Maya Shchekin. Shchekin is hospitalized with gunshot wounds: it has numerous facial injuries and the right hand is interrupted; Her guard is wounded in the stomach. The attempt was made a few days after the cheek was approved as the Director General. Evgeny Nazzratenko opposed her appointment, repeatedly proposed to approve his man to this position.

The Director of the World Bank for Russia, Michael Carter, called on the Russian government to take proactive measures to prevent the possible negative impact of external factors and ensure stable economic growth. According to Carter, it is necessary to create reserves in case of a possible reduction in oil prices in the world market. In this, the position of the Carter completely coincides with the proposals of the economic adviser to Putin Andrei Illarionov.

At the negotiations in Paris, ours, ours have not yet managed to achieve any concessions on the American market. In the coming days, Russians have to decide whether to continue consultations or better use the extreme measure and get out of the comprehensive agreement on the steel signed with the Americans last summer - Vedomosti to Polit.ru .

The weighted average of the ruble on the ETS after a five -day decrease grew by 1.47 kopecks and amounted to 27.9333 rubles/$. The dealers say that, coming close to the level of 28.0 rubles, the speculators decided to sell dollars - it is too high that the Central Bank will not allow the rate to rise above 28 rubles/$. However, as the bidders note, the Bank of Russia today did not take part in the auction either at the ETS or in the interbank market.

The discussion about the anthem and other attributes of statehood is increasingly inflated. The deputies of the Duma were personalized. More precisely, on the attack on personality. And as always, the first to go to Chubais. The Duma instructed the Committee on Energy, Transport and Communications to inform deputies about whether the chairman of the board of RAO UES (where the state has a significant share of shares) to make statements as a public policy.

Kudrin correctly corrects Kasyanov for the second time a day, offering a slightly different option for repaying Germany's debt. The mountain failed to convince the judge of the county Leon that the voices must be recalculated - a report from Florida. Against ORT, the case was opened under the article on smuggling. Last year, an article in MK was a tip for the transport prosecutor’s office - there were news last night.

Vladimir Ryzhkov, once the Vice Speaker of the Duma and the head of the NDR faction, and now simply an independent deputy of the Duma, in an interview with Polit.ru said that he would vote against Alexandrov’s music. "The country is different in state structure, territory, public psychology and the future. A completely different country.

A strong earthquake occurred at 20:11 Moscow time in Turkmenistan, Interfax reports. The epicenter was located 25 km north of the city of Nebit-Dag and 125 km southeast of the city of Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk). The strength of the shocks in the epicenter reached 8 points, in Ashgabat - about 6 points. An employee of the Russian embassy in Ashgabat said in a telephone interview with ORT that in the capital the earthquake was “insignificant”, there seems to be no destruction and victims.

Vladimir Putin met yesterday with the chairman of the GTK Vanin. Vanin reported that the annual task by customs officers was completed in November. It was about the transfer of customs accounts to the Federal Treasury and the preparation for the introduction of a new imported tariff from January 1, 2001; The topic of reduction of regulatory authorities was touched on.

The prosecutor's office of the Primorsky Territory charged to five officials on the lack of heat in the houses of the Primorytsev. The charges of committing a crime under Article 215-1 of Part 1 of the Criminal Code (termination or restriction of the supply of heat energy consumers) was brought by the General of the Aurora JSC, who is responsible for heating several residential buildings in the Pervorechensky district of Vladivostok, as well as the first deputy mayor of Ussuriysk.

The situation changes sharply in world financial markets. Dow Jones and Nasdaq quickly went up, while the price of oil fell strongly. For the first time in the last three months, they give less than $ 30 for a barrel: in New York - $ 29.5, and in London less than $ 28, NTV reports. The World Bank predicts a further drop in oil prices. Meanwhile, Dow Jones grew by three percent, and on Wall Street a holiday. Nasdaq jumped 8 percent.

Participants in today's meeting of the Entrepreneurship Council criticized both existing versions of the draft law on corporate income tax. As a result, a working group has been created that will improve the project within one to two weeks: the government, as Deputy Minister of Finance Sergei Shatalov explained, wants one of the versions of the law to pass the first reading this year.

From the CIS secretariat came a leak that the Visa regime with Georgia was animatedly discussed on the Council of Heads of States and Russia proposed not to introduce a regime if Tbilisi agrees to joint actions against Chechen separatists. This proposal was not made for the first time. Putin had in mind primarily the Pankisian gorge. “To the unfortunately Russian side, Georgia and this time refused joint actions to curb a common threat,” said one of the sources in the CIS secretariat.