Sports Russia bow out – will Hiddink follow? Andy Potts Russia's World Cup hopes came to a bitter end with a disjointed display against Slovenia costing them a place in next summer's finals in South Africa.

Comment Learning the lessons of Stalinism Tim Wall Glorifying Stalinism risks repeating his mistakes

Comment The long goodbye Dmitry Babich De-Stalinisation was carried out by the elite

News Russia’s significant seven Andy Potts Hardliners and liberals fight for influence while God and mammon look on

News Unearthing truth about Stalin Anna Arutunyan At Memorial, relatives of his victims finally learn the truth – but much is still buried

News The week in review 17 – 23 November Andy Potts Prosecutors say there is no clear evidence linking Andrei Lugovoi’s associate, Dmitry Kovtun, to the polonium trail

News Tweet that, NATO! Ed Bentley and Anna Arutunya Russia's envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, has joined the Twitter craze - bringing bite-sized chunks of the alliance's work to a wide audience.

Local Breaking the ice on the Moscow River Nathan Toohey The city begins year-round cruises, as frost-defying tourist ships set sail

Local Kuzminki Park plans to ban the bags Ayano Hodouchi & Nathan Toohey A mountain of plastic-bag waste provokes park authorities to stop their use

Comment Forward, Russia (please) Tom Balmforth President Dmitry Medvedev issued another call for modernisation in his state-of-the-nation address, but critics said the speech lacked practical substance.

Comment Swords into Silicon Valleys Tim Wall A Russian hi-tech hub like "Silicon Valley and similar foreign centres" was one of the stand-out ideas in Dmitry Medvedev's annual address last week, but it wasn't fully fleshed out.

Ask the experts Are state corporations bad? Ed Bentley Politics could be behind Medvedev’s reform of government businesses

Business Dodging the steamroller Ed Bentley Investors continue to pick up the pennies on Russia's exchanges on the back of a weak dollar, but the ailing economy could mean the party will soon be over.

Business Where’s the beef? Ed Bentley Investors welcome President Medvedev’s speech but see few specific reforms

Local In demand Nathan Toohey Labour department reveals the most-needed professions