News A Classic Performance Some of the world's best performers gathered for the 225th anniversary of St. Petersburg's famous Mariinsky Theater on Wednesday night. President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to his home town and attended the gala ceremonies. He also handed out state awards to the theater's best actors.

News Russia Braces Itself for Presidential Polls By Kirill Bessonov The presidential campaign in Russia has entered its final stage. From February 26 until the closing of the polls on March 2 it is forbidden by law to publish any opinion polls and forecasts related to the elections. On Saturday, all media election debate will come to a halt to allow voters a chance to contemplate their choice.

News PACE Confirms It Will Send Monitors For Elections MOSCOW (MN) - The Par­liamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) confirmed on Friday that it would send a 25-member delegation to monitor Russia's March 2 presidential elections.

News In Brief - Russia to Deploy Eleven Topol-M ICBMs in 2008 Russia to Deploy Eleven Topol-M ICBMs in 2008, Two Russian Tourists Killed in Thai Bus Crash, Teenager Jailed for Stealing 11 Jars of Jam, Falling Icicles Kill Six in Russian City

News Medvedev in Belgrade By Igor Tomberg, RIA Novosti On February 25, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev made a one-day working visit to Belgrade. The main subject of the talks was to specify a framework intergovernmental agreement signed in Moscow in late 2007.

News Russia May Back New UN Iran Resolution MOSCOW (MN) - Russia could support a new UN Security Council resolution on Iran if the Islamic Republic does not stop uranium enrichment, the Russian envoy to the UN said Wednesday.

News Two Policemen Killed in South Ossetia Attack MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Two policemen were killed and two more wounded in a blast that ripped through a village in the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia in Georgia, the republic's interior minister said on Thursday.

News Crime Briefs - Executive at Russian Automaker AvtoVAZ Stabbed To Death Executive at Russian Automaker AvtoVAZ Stabbed To Death, Newborn Babies Dumped In Chelyabinsk's Trash, Lemur Smugglers Caught In Southwest Russia, British TV Reporter Attacked In Moscow

Local Is Biking the Answer? By Nathalie Cooper Could the trend of bicycle riding catch on in Moscow? Many people would consider this is a tall order for one of Europe's biggest cities. And yet the development concept of the Central Administrative District of Moscow, discussed by the authorities at a forum last week, envisages the introduction of bicycle parks around the center of the city and at metro stations.

Local Underground Transport System to be Introduced at Sheremetyevo By Nathalie Cooper Moving around from one terminal to another at Sheremetyevo airport may become easier for passengers. The international airport is currently planning to build a mini underground transport system that would serve the entire area, linking up terminals one and two, as well as the third terminal, which is in the process of being built.

News In Brief - Five Children Taken From Parents Each Day in Moscow Five Children Taken From Parents Each Day in Moscow, Moscow to Recalculate Its Green Spaces, Grants for Adopted Children Increased, Rubbish Exhibition Will Be Held In Kuzminki Park

Local Blini All Round By Tom Washington Spring will soon be upon us, with Muscovites looking for ways to shake off the last remnants of winter. And there are few better ways than by celebrating Maslenitsa, otherwise known as pancake week, which provides a connection between Orthodox doctrine and ancient Slavic tradition. An intriguing blend of Christianity, paganism and general frivolity.

Local Program for Pancake Week The opening of pancake week will take place on Vasilyevsky Spusk from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Numerous stands will be selling pancakes, tea and coffee whilst music, competitions and games will entertain the crowds. Clowns will drag in people to participate in the first day festivities. Pancakes will also be offered for free on Red Square, every day of the week

Local Metro Art By Theodore Merz Travelling at rush hour, wedged between a babushka impatient for a seat and a loved-up couple mauling each other with sloppy kisses - it is not always easy to appreciate the beauty of the Moscow metro.

Local Monorail Expansion By Nathalie Cooper Moscow's monorail, which for the moment comprises a single line in the North of Moscow, is set to expand around the city, said deputy mayor Pyotr Biryukov last week. He claims that since the fare has gone down and the trains became more regular, the daily number of passengers has increased sevenfold.