At the trial in the Politkovskaya case, interrogation of the accused began In the Moscow District Military Court (MOVS), where the trial for the murder of columnist Anna Politkovskaya is taking place, the interrogation of the accused began yesterday. One of the Makhmudov brothers, Dzhabrail, was the first to testify. He stated that he had nothing to do with this crime, and during the investigation they did not really explain to him what he was accused of.

The results of the pre-New Year sales of computer equipment pleasantly surprised sellers Retailers' hopes came true: last December brought even the most cautious shoppers back to stores. The sellers made the right decision, counting on the fact that in today's situation people would prefer to spend money on equipment that they may not be able to purchase next year. Compared to November, sales in computer stores increased by 90%. Laptops have become the leaders of consumer preferences.

Officials are intensifying efforts to create e-government When he was president, Vladimir Putin, at a meeting of the State Council dedicated to IT development in Nizhny Novgorod in February 2006, ordered the creation of an electronic government by 2010. This deadline is inexorably approaching.

Pharmaceutical distributors demand revision of trade markups In just two weeks, Russian regions may experience interruptions in the supply of drugs included in the list of vital drugs (VED), most of which are necessary for emergency medical care and support for the most critically ill patients. Several distribution companies told Vremya Novostey about the likelihood of another drug crisis.

St. Petersburg Memorial defeated the investigator in court The St. Petersburg research center “Memorial” achieved a victory over law enforcement officers in court - the search carried out in December on the premises of the research center was declared illegal. Yesterday, the Dzerzhinsky Court of the Central District of St. Petersburg upheld the complaint of Memorial leaders against the actions of investigator Mikhail Kalganov and ordered the return of all documents seized at the center.

The murder of lawyer Markelov is gaining new versions In Moscow, on Prechistenka Street near house No. 1 yesterday afternoon, a rally was held in memory of lawyer and human rights activist, president of the Institute for the Rule of Law Stanislav Markelov and Novaya Gazeta correspondent Anastasia Baburova, who were shot dead at this place on Monday. About 300 people took part in the event - people carried flowers, photographs and memorial candles to the site of the tragedy.

Chinese Internet Control Features The Chinese authorities know what they are doing and rely, if not on the support of the majority of the country's citizens, then on their consent when they block access to certain online resources. However, reports that there is strict censorship on the Internet in China have been greatly exaggerated.

Moscow is ready to generate energy from sewage water Realizing that in conditions of inflation and declining incomes, even a hint of an additional increase in utility bills could cause protests among Muscovites, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov decided to remain committed to the principles of social populism.

Prefect of the Northern Administrative District of Moscow fired The capital's mayor's office, apparently, is expecting another rotation of personnel. Recently, by a decree of Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, former top manager of RAO UES of Russia Yuri Khardikov was relieved of his post as prefect of the Northern Administrative District. As Interfax reports, citing the mayor's press secretary Sergei Tsoi, the reason for the dismissal was “system errors” in the work of the prefect.