President Saakashvili spoke in the languages ​​of the rebel autonomies Yesterday, 36-year-old Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili celebrated the country's Independence Day. The Georgian leader, in addition to his native Georgian language, also speaks Russian, English, French, Spanish and Ukrainian. However, on the solemn day he also spoke Abkhazian and Ossetian languages.

The head of Kommersant Andrei Vasiliev fired himself Kommersant has a new editor-in-chief. The general director, chief editor of the joint editorial office of ZAO Kommersant Publishing House, Andrei Vasiliev, fired himself from the position of editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper. Judging by his explanations, Vasiliev the creator did not get along with Vasiliev the manager.

The festival in Sochi celebrates its anniversary and remains without leadership On the eve of the anniversary, XV Open Russian Film Festival in Sochi and the corresponding international film festival, a press conference was held at which the President of the Kinotavr Group of Companies Mark Rudinshtein and the President of ORK Oleg Yankovsky voiced the long-discussed statement on the sidelines that this festival will be the last where they will be present in their usual quality for many years.

Federal forces and militants faced off with firepower The last two days in Chechnya have been marked by an unexpected surge in activity by both militants and federal forces. Since Tuesday, at least four serious clashes have occurred at intervals of several hours in different parts of the republic. As a result, the military and Chechen special services lost nine people killed and about ten wounded.

The 11th meeting of the heads of state of Central and South-Eastern Europe opens today at the Romanian resort of Mamaia. In addition to the host of the meeting, Romanian President Ion Iliescu, 15 presidents gathered in Mamaia, including Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and Moldavian President Vladimir Voronin. The discussion will focus on the results of the first group of Central European countries joining the European Union and the upcoming accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU in 2007.

PACE representative was not allowed to see Khodorkovsky Yesterday, the representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), special rapporteur on the “YUKOS case” Sabine Leuthäuser-Schnarrenberger did not manage to talk with Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev about their criminal case.

The Moscow City Duma saw through the officials' attempt to deceive the mayor Yesterday's meeting of the Moscow City Duma was devoted to housing problems. Deputies finally voted for a law on a new procedure for providing housing to those on the waiting list, and also adopted in the first reading a bill on guarantees for residents vacating their premises. Now, not only beneficiaries, but also those in the general queue have a chance to receive free municipal housing.

The annual address of the President to the Federal Assembly in the newspaper Vremya Novostei was commented on by Russian politicians and independent experts. Sergei MIRONOV, Chairman of the Federation Council: — I hope that all Russians who watched the President’s message to the Federal Assembly will agree with the opinion that the message is addressed to the future of Russia. And not to the global future that we dream about, but to the future that concerns every family, every Russian.

President I received the Chief Mufti of Russia, Ravil Gainutdin, in the Kremlin and, in his person, congratulated all Muslims of the country on the 100th anniversary of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.

The Moscow Arbitration Court upheld the largest tax claim in world history The Tax Ministry's claim against Yukos for about $3.4 billion, which was satisfied yesterday, is the largest in world history, not counting claims against American tobacco companies.

Today the government will approve new regulations for its activities The new regulation turned out to be innovative. It removes a serious documentary burden from the leadership of the Cabinet of Ministers. The burden is shifted onto the shoulders of ministers, who, judging by the words of senior White House officials, have been strengthened for good reason.

In Paris, our girls won 15 matches in a row The triumphant march of our tennis players at the French Open continued in yesterday's matches of the day's program. If we take into account the defeat of Alina Zhidkova by her compatriot Elena Likhovtseva - 2:6, 6:1, 5:7, then it turns out that the Russians won all 15 matches played on the Roland Garros courts that ended late yesterday on the evening of the matches between Dushevina and Safina.

Russian equestrians have won two Olympic licenses, giving them the right to participate in the Athens Olympics. Despite the fact that these “tickets” are not personal, the specifics of equestrian sport are such that it is already possible to name the names of future Olympians. In Athens, Russia will be represented by Elena Sidneva in dressage and show jumper Vladimir Tuganov.

The government will determine the price of services of natural monopolies Today at a government meeting tariffs for the services of natural monopolies will be set for 2005-2006. The day before, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Andrei Sharonov shared his department’s plans in this area. The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade expects that the tariffs proposed by it will be supported by all members of the cabinet.

Russian Railways ruined the business of travel agencies Travel companies have inundated the president of Russian Railways (RZD), Gennady Fadeev, with letters of protest against the procedure for purchasing group train tickets introduced this spring. Mr. Fadeev has not yet responded to the messages. But, as the Vremya Novostey newspaper learned, Russian Railways are reviewing the controversial procedure.