Real Estate Russia's Construction Union Chief Looks to the Future he Russian Construction Workers Union (RCWU), established in 1990, is one of the largest organizations in Russia's dynamic construction industry. As of late 2007, the RCWU's membership included construction worker associations - representing 76 national subsidiaries - uniting 35,000 construction companies of various sizes. In an interview with The Moscow News, RCWU President Viktor Niki­tovich Zabelin discusses the Union's immediate goals and its legislative initiatives.

Real Estate Decent Homes Become a Hallmark of Russia's Middle Class Russians regard good housing conditions as one of the principal trappings of the middle class, according to a recent survey conducted by the All-Russia Center for the Study of Public Opinion on Social and Economic Ques­tions (VTsIOM).

Real Estate HMCA Seeks Foreign Participation in Mortgage Refinancing in Russia The Housing Mortgage Credit Agency (HMCA) is looking to attract other agents to buy out and refinance mortgage loans, including foreign banks, HMCA head Alexander Semenyaka said.

Real Estate Developers Squeezed Out of City Center Following a moratorium on the construction of office buildings in central Moscow, city authorities have also decided to impose restrictions on the construction of commercial housing within the bounds of the Garden Ring [the multi-lane inner beltway that runs for 15 kilometers around the city center].

Real Estate Over 5,000 Muscovites Defrauded in Real Estate Scams More than 5,000 Muscovites have lost their life savings or homes in real estate scams over the past several years, said a deputy head of the Moscow City Internal Affairs Main Administration (GUVD).

Real Estate Russia's Glavstroi Buys Swiss Engineering Firm Glavstroi, one of Russia's largest construction companies, part of Oleg Derispaska's Basic Element holding company, has closed a deal to buy a 100 percent stake in Swiss engineering firm Fahrni Fassaden­systeme AG (Fahrni) from Swiss developer RWD.

Real Estate Trade Ministry Urges Greater Support for Small Business There is a pressing need to provide small businesses better access to modern office and production facilities, infrastructure and resources, the economic development and trade minister said.

Real Estate Transportation Ministry to Build Three High-Speed Railway Lines From Moscow to Major Cities The construction of high-speed railway lines linking Moscow with St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Smolensk is a priority in the development of the transportation system in Central Russia, a deputy transportation minister told The MN.

Real Estate Prosecutors Call for Streamlined Land Allocation, Construction Licensing Process The RF Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has proposed simplifying the procedure for allotting land plots for housing construction projects and the awarding of construction licenses, since extensive breaches of regulations in this sector are hindering the development of the real estate market.

News No UN Action on Drone Downing By Kirill Bessonov The UN Security Council meeting held on Wednesday at the request of Georgia did not result in a joint opinion regarding Russian activities in the breakaway republic of Abkhazia. However, four UN members - the United States, Britain, France and Germany - issued an appeal saying that Russia must curb its ties with Abkhazia. Russia called the appeal "a tall order" and said that the cooperation with the self-proclaimed state will go on.

News Monument to Yeltsin Unveiled in Moscow MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - On the first anniversary of Boris Yeltsin's death on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin gave a glowing tribute to Russia's first president at a ceremony to unveil a memorial.

News In Brief - Azerbaijan Detains Russian Equipment Bound for Iran Azerbaijan Detains Russian Equipment Bound for Iran, Two Children Killed in Car Attack in Chechnya, France Grants Asylum to Key Georgian Opposition Figure

News Duma to Ban Abortion Ads By Anna Arutunyan Russian lawmakers are taking another stab at advertisers, this time in an attempt to ban abortion ads in the media. Earlier this month The Moscow News reported on a bill targeting advertising of the occult. New legislation introduced into the State Duma this week aims to limit abortion ads to specialized medical periodicals.

News Answers Sought in Kyrgyz Clash BISHKEK (RIA Novosti) - Russia demanded a joint probe into the shooting of a Russian airbase officer in Kyrgyzstan, the Embassy in the Central Asian state said on Tuesday.

News Hilton Hotel Vandal? By Daria Chernyshova Paris Hilton has been accused of vandalism in a Moscow hotel. The American celebrity was in Moscow to participate in the annual MTV movie awards ceremony.