As crisis-struck Russian miner Mechel squirms to evade being bankrupted by its $9 billion debt, its CEO has warned that the debt-equity swap being pushed by the company's Russian creditors would risk exposing it to Western sanctions. A trio of Russian state-controlled banks — which Mechel owes a total of $5 billion — have lobbied to convert a major part of their loans into Mechel equity.

Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) has ranked 196th in the World University Ratings 2014/15, published Thursday by the Times Higher Education magazine. This is the first time that Russia's most acclaimed college has made Times' top 200 since the first installment of the list, which debuted in the 2010/2011 academic year. The only other Russian college to make the cut was Novosibirsk State University, which ranked in the 301-350 bracket of the ranking.

Russia remains committed to developing an open, market economy, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, addressing the VTB Russia Calling investment conference. Putin also said that Russia — which faces Western sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine — remained committed to the principles of the World Trade Organization, adding that this was unlike some countries that founded the organization. Putin added that Russia will not impose restrictions on cross-border capital and currency movements.

A European Union deal to cut fuel use and increase renewable energy would be a better punishment on Moscow than more sanctions as it would clearly show the EU means to cut reliance on Russian gas, Denmark's foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard, said Thursday. But Lidegaard said Moscow's seizure of Crimea and a gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia should change the EU's energy relationship with Russia once and for all.

Russia's national airline, Aeroflot, will not relaunch its sanctions-slain low-cost airline under the name Dobrolyot, Vedomosti reported Thursday, citing undisclosed Aeroflot sources. Instead, the airline will operate a minimalist low-coster simply called Budget Carrier, flying four Boeing 737 aircraft until sanctions are lifted and Dobrolyot is free to fly once again.

RIGA — Latvians look likely to back their hawkish center-right ruling coalition in a parliamentary election on Saturday amid increased tensions with giant neighbor Russia, Riga's communist-era ruler, over the Ukraine crisis Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma has taken a tough stance towards Moscow over its policies in Ukraine, boosting defense spending and joining Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania in pressing for a bigger NATO presence in their region.

Most Russians would refuse to have their organs posthumously donated, independent pollster the Levada Center revealed Thursday. Asked whether they would agree to give up their organs after death, 21 percent of respondents to a recent poll said yes, 41 percent said it was unlikely, 21 percent said they were unable at this point to make such a decision, and 13 percent found themselves unable to answer the question at all.

President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia will not impose restrictions on cross-border capital and currency movements. "We do not plan to introduce any foreign currency restrictions or restrictions on the movement of capital," he told the VTB Russia Calling investment conference following a slide in the value of the ruble as Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis bite.

A chain is seen wrapped around a road sign for parking, with the coat of arms of the Central Bank seen on it, near the headquarters of the bank in central Moscow. Russia's central bank will not introduce restrictions on cross-border capital and currency movements even under its worst-case scenario where oil falls to $60 per barrel, Governor Elvira Nabiullina said on Thursday.

Students from Russia sitting in a classroom as part of the FLEX program. Defending Moscow's abolition of the FLEX program, Russia's child rights ombudsman said Thursday that not just one but more than a dozen Russian teenagers who have traveled to the U.S. under various education exchange programs have stayed on in the country permanently. Russia on Tuesday pulled out of FLEX, saying the U.S.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks during the VTB Capital "Russia Calling!" Investment Forum in Moscow, October 2, 2014. President Vladimir Putin dismissed Western sanctions as "utter foolishness" on Thursday and said they would not stop Russia developing into a stronger economic power.

Dubossarsky, known for his pop art work, posing at the opening of his show in the Pirogovo boathouse on the Klyazma River, which finishes Sunday. Artist Vladimir Dubossarsky has long lived and worked in a boathouse on the bank of the Klyazma River and now has opened a special exhibit "The Artist's Home," in a hangar-like building in the Moscow region.

Britain's TUI Travel is cutting the number of holidays it offers to Russian customers. British tour operator TUI Travel is cutting the number of holidays it offers to Russian customers by 30 percent after the devaluation of the ruble prevented it from raising prices, Chief Executive Peter Long said.

Playwrights and political analysts alike are wondering exactly how this latest iteration of a classical drama will end. As for me, I wonder about what ordinary citizens will have to do to return to normal life. Personally, I think Russia is destined to pay a heavy price for "getting up off its knees" and immediately "kneeling down on others' heads." Judging by the statements President Vladimir Putin made in Yalta on Aug.

NOON AGAINST PUTIN Russians Abroad Take Part in Anti-Putin Election Protest, In Pictures Russians living across the world took part in the anti-Putin protest on the last day of voting in the presidential election. 1 Min read