This phrase from a poem by Vsevolod Nekrasov became the creative credo of the patriarch of the Moscow conceptual school, Erik Bulatov. It’s hard to believe, but the seventy-year-old master, who actively works with galleries and museums in France and the USA, has not yet had a personal exhibition in Russia. An artist living in France recently came to Moscow. But not for his own vernissage, but in order to give a lecture at the State Tretyakov Gallery - a master class.

This week marked the beginning of the economic crisis in the country. The media quoted First Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Ulyukaev as saying that inflation in March “will not be higher than 1.5%.” But this means that inflation has already exceeded the same indicators of last year, which indicates a negative path that the Russian economy has taken.

All yesterday, the administration of the capital’s pre-trial detention center “Matrosskaya Tishina” was looking for one of the prisoners who, under mysterious circumstances, simply disappeared on the territory of the prison. As it turned out, 24-year-old Muscovite Alexey Dyulger was sentenced in June last year by the Preobrazhensky Court of Moscow to two years in prison for theft. The Muscovite was sent to serve his sentence in the economic detachment of “Matrosskaya Tishina”.

Vladivostok officials will be dressed the same In the first days after their spring holiday, women working at the Vladivostok City Hall received a unique gift. From April 1, they are required to wear a uniform uniform: a skirt well below the knees and a vest. In winter, civil servants still need a warm jacket. The Vladivostok clothing factory “Zarya” received a large order for sewing uniforms. To improve the quality of work, several months ago all employees were carefully measured.

On March 17, the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court will continue hearings on the “case of Anatoly Bykov.” The former chairman of the board of directors of the Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Plant (KrAZ) is accused of complicity in organizing a murder. Allegedly, it was in his house that the murder of local businessman Nikolai Gubin was planned several years ago. The prosecution believes that Anatoly Bykov at least knew about the impending crime.

All participants in the “Final Four” of the Russian Basketball Cup among men's teams have been determined. They were Perm Ural Great, CSKA, Kazan UNICS and Khimki near Moscow. There were no surprises in the quarter-final matches; this quartet of teams is in the leading group of the Super League championship. The meetings between Khimki and Mineralvodsk Lokomotiv turned out to be the most stubborn.

The wisdom of centuries helps the Celestial Empire in the Iraqi crisis China's position on the Iraqi issue brings to mind the ancient Chinese proverb about a monkey watching from a mountain as two tigers fight. Beijing's harsh statements against Washington's plans for Iraq are not backed up by actions or even threats of action.

Yuri Semin needs a forward of the same level Lokomotiv says goodbye to the Champions League. Semin's team will still have the last word in Moscow. But the verdict has already been signed by Milan and after the defeat to Borussia with a score of 0:3 it cannot be appealed. After the first game in Moscow, it seemed that Borussia was not such an impregnable fortress, and it could be taken.

The head of the German newspaper publishing concern Wazmediagroup, Bodo Hombach, was the coordinator of the Balkan Stability Pact from 1999 to 2002. He is also a close friend of Djindjic. The Serb was even a witness at the German's wedding. Berlin special correspondent of the Vremya Novostey newspaper Yuri Shpakov talks with Bodo HOMBACH. - What will change in the Balkans after the murder of Djindjic? - It’s impossible to say.

For the first time in the last five years, the “doping case” was decided in favor of Russia Yesterday in Khanty-Mansiysk the grand opening of the Biathlon World Championships took place at the Ski Sports Center.

Over 200 arrest warrants issued in Serbia in one night On Saturday, Serbia will bury Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, who was killed on Wednesday on the threshold of the Government House. For now, the responsibilities of prime minister are assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic. The state of emergency introduced in the country immediately after the murder will remain in effect until the authorities find the perpetrators and masterminds of the crime.

On Wednesday, a trial with a jury began for the first time in the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court. 12 people entered the slightly smoky courtroom (as a result of the fire that occurred in the regional court on March 7, it suffered the least of all - only the suspended ceiling was damaged). Television video recording of the jury is prohibited to avoid possible pressure on these people. They have to make a decision on a very difficult case.

The World Ice Climbing Championship, an exciting extreme sport, took place in Kirov. The Russians excelled in two disciplines. The competition program included four types - speed and difficulty climbing for men and women. Ice climbing as an extreme sport has been developing in our country for about 30 years, but only since the early 90s have participants compete on artificial ice structures, which significantly increases the safety of participants.

Europe believes that Ashgabat does not fulfill its obligations Yesterday evening in Vienna, at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, the “Turkmen” topic was discussed. Sorbonne professor Francois Decaux presented to the ambassadors of the OSCE member countries a report he compiled in pursuance of the so-called Moscow mechanism launched by this organization. It provides for consideration of the situation in one of the OSCE member countries if it violates its obligations.

Roman Abramovich is looking for a team The example of Norilsk Nickel, YUKOS, LUKOIL and other large corporations that took patronage over football clubs turned out to be contagious. Yesterday, CSKA press attaché Sergei Aksenov confirmed that structures controlled by Chukotka Governor Roman Abramovich intend to buy out part of the football club's shares. “Some contacts are underway. But it’s too early to talk about specific figures,” Mr. Aksenov told Interfax.