Comment There must be another way As everyone knows who has followed the often kitsch, mediocre pop and national preference voting of the Eurovision Song Contest over the years, it is very much an event that attracts the gay and lesbian community.

Comment War thought-crimes By Sergei Balashov Opinion polls show that the majority of Russians favour banning anti-Soviet rhetoric over World War II

News Gay marchers seek to avoid Eurovision violence Andy Potts British activist Peter Tatchell says the activists would like to sit down over tea and cakes with Mayor Yury Luzhkov to resolve their differences to avoid trouble at Saturday's outlawed gay pride march

News The week in review - Partners’ reshuffle

News Linkage is everything in Russian-US nuclear talks Anna Arutunyan When Russian and US officials formally begin talks in Moscow on May 19 on a new arms control treaty, it will be something like a scene from an old Western: each side is waiting for the other to draw first.

News Pride and presidents Anna Arutunyan Medvedev’s trip ends years of isolation for Kirov as regional governor warns of ‘inferiority complex’

Business Business Review - Mongolia’s rail deal and songs for gas Relations between Russia and Mongolia are on the right tracks after the two nations cut a $7 billion deal to upgrade rail links to the Asian country's main mining region.

Business Land of rising investments Ed Bentley Russia looks east to secure the future of its Siberian and Pacific energy resources

Business Loans burden seen as a chance for reform Ed Bentley Loan defaults could top 20 per cent this year, but some analysts see the crisis as a chance for a much-needed reshuffle in the sector

Business Bear rally may have peaked Ed Bentley The RTS briefly broke the psychologically important 1,000 mark, buoyed by Chinese oil demand, before sinking again after fears that the US economy was still stuck in the mire.

Culture Get in the read By Vladimir Kozlov Moscow has many book stores selling foreign-language works, but only a few will satisfy the most discerning expat bookworm

Culture Cultural highlights 15-21 May

Culture Dead pets’ society Vladimir Kozlov If you have trouble visualising what is meant by ‘biomorphic realism’, you can get acquainted with it at a radical artist’s new installation

Culture Arts & entertainment news - Kinotavr lineup announced Kinotavr lineup announced, More art on the Moscow metro, Theater festival to be held at Chekhov's museum, Mila too expensive for Eurovision: report

Cinema Cinema listings - Thursday, May 15 – Thursday, May 21