Vladimir Putin

The Khimki forest is located just 5km to the North of Moscow, and is a part of Russia’s equivalent of “Green Belt”, intended to protect the forest. A new motorway is to be built through the forest, connecting Moscow and St Petersburg, dividing the forest with is valuable eco-system in half.

President Medvedev conducted a small reshuffle last week, which has been completely overlooked in the west, but which may represent a further marginalisation of Prime Minister Putin as the two men prepare to compete in upcoming Presidential elections in 2012.
 

The death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, along with his wife and other senior government figures, has come at a time when the tragedy can only be viewed with great suspicion. Kaczynski had placed considerable pressure on the Russian authorities to finally admit to the murder of 22,000 Polich officers and others at Katyn forest, in 1940. For many years, the Russians blamed the Nazis for the murder of the men, who were prisoners of war. It was only in 1990 that Mikhail Gorbachev admitted to the truth - to this day, many Russians still believe the lie.
 

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has decreed that a paper mill on the shores of Siberia's Lake Baikal can resume production despite years of complaints about pollution of the world's largest freshwater lake. The lake contains 20% of the world's surface fresh water. Putin has allowed the plant to resume making pulp, paper and cardboard in the area surrounding the lake.