Russians generally support the country's leadership policy in the conflict in South Ossetia Two sociological organizations unveiled the results of research on the attitude of Russians to military conflict in Georgia: the analytical center of Yuri Levada and the All -Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) . According to VTsIOM, the awareness of the conflict is almost universal, and two -thirds of Russians consider this information very important.

The total population of Russia in the first half of 2008 decreased by about 0.1% or 133.7 thousand people, the Federal Statistics Service said. This is almost 30% less than the first six months of last year, when it reached about 190 thousand. In general, by July 1, 2008, the total population of Russia amounted to 141.9 million people.

The prospect of international recognition in the case of Russia's unilateral recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is not great Abkhazia and South Ossetia turned to the world community and, above all, to Russia with a request to recognize their independence.

The program is conducted by Mikhail Salenkov. The Radio Liberty correspondent Olga Vakhonicheva takes part. Mikhail Salenkov: The Enipotalian holiday was unusually celebrated by residents of the Nagatin-Sadovniki district of the Southern District of Moscow. Defenders of the Sadovniki park, having rejected the prefecture to hold a protest on this day (August 19), put an apple grove here.

Irina Lagunina: A few weeks ago, the organization “Internet - Europe”, located in Paris, announced the journalistic contest “Each person has rights”. The competition is supported by the campaign “Each person has rights”, as well as a kind of council of elders - a group of world leaders created at the initiative of Nelson Mandeles so that their wisdom, independence, authority and experience helps in search of solutions for the most difficult world problems.

In the west of Turkey, as a result of the explosion of the mined car, eight police officers and three soldiers were injured. The authorities of the province of Izmir reported that the controlled explosion occurred when the minibus with the police passed nearby. On Tuesday, under such circumstances, 13 police officers in the province of Mersin in southern Turkey were injured.

At the tournament of the 20th category "Mikhail Tal Memorial" in Moscow, all five batches of the fourth round brought draw results. The leads Alexander Morozhevich - 3 points. Vasily Ivanchuk and Peter Leko - 2.5 each.

Finland Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb goes on a visit to Tbilisi. He will discuss with the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and representatives of the OSCE mission the humanitarian needs of the region. Finland - the current OSCE chairman intends to increase the number of observers in Georgia.

The program will be the head of the Institute of Economic Analysis, former adviser to Russian President Andrei Illarionov.

The court in Chita postponed until Friday the consideration of the early release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The petition was submitted by lawyers of the ex-head of the Yukos in mid-July. However, lawyers believe that even a positive court decision will not lead to the liberation of Khodorkovsky, since now he is in custody in connection with the initiation of a second criminal case against him - on charges of laundering money.

Some tourists do not know what memorable events in the Czech Republic are related to August 21. They guess, why here is a tank? On Thursday, it turned exactly the 40 years since the invasion of the troops of the Warsaw Treaty to the territory of Czechoslovakia. Tanks put an end to the Prague Spring of 1968. In the afternoon, a theatrical action took place on the Wenceslas Square Prague, a kind of reconstruction of events of 40 years ago. In this view, oddly enough, there is nothing mourning.

Military formations of Russia begin to leave the surroundings of Gori, today in the operational headquarters of the Russian group of troops. According to Interfax, this morning a column of military equipment went towards Tskhinvali. On Tuesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that most of the troops would be withdrawn from Georgia by August 22. In turn, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili expressed doubts that Moscow would make a promise.

Moscow and Damascus will strive to develop their strategic cooperation. This was announced today at a meeting in Sochi the presidents of Russia and Syria - Dmitry Medvedev and Bashar Assad. The Syrian leader arrived in Russia on a two -day visit. Before the negotiations with Medvedev, the Syrian leader said that he was understanding to the position that Moscow took in the military conflict in South Ossetia. Medvedev, in turn, thanked Syria for his support.