Unwrapping Putin's enigma

­Chris Hutchins – Author, ‘Putin’
Alexander Korobko – Author, ‘Putin’

Since the very emerging at the political arena 12 years ago, Vladimir Putin has been the man in the limelight. He's been on the front pages of numerous periodicals and has dozens of books written about him. People are mostly interested in his political career, of course… But what about his personality? A rear book...

Stairway to Sochi

­Dmitry Chernyshenko – President, Sochi Olympics Organizing Committee

Two years before the Winter Olympics in Sochi, media reports about 70 percent of the preparations have been done. The big venues and infrastructure are almost built, and some slopes have already welcomed the first skiers. Officials promise Sochi will be ready for the games long before the deadline. But skeptics point at...

Mayday, Mayday!

­Sam Webb – Chairman, Communist Party USA

For more than a century May has been the month of working people. May the first is Labor Day in most countries around the globe, and therefore most celebrations are held this month. The ‘May tradition’ comes from the U.S., but ironically it’s not really cherished there that much…

Cultural leanings

­Farida Shaheed – Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights

In a world that can be circumnavigated in less than 24 hours, different cultures simply can not live as separately as they used to. Cultures and peoples collide, migrate, mix and conflict. And every society sooner or later has to choose how to manage intercultural issues. The multiculturalism concept has been adopted in...

Probing the shield

­Nikolay Makarov – Chief, Armed Forces General Staff

The American missile shield in Eastern Europe has been an issue in Russian-American relations for years. The US keeps insisting it won't be turned against Russia. But when it comes to written guarantees, for some reason Washington can't provide them.

Trading blows

­Ed Verona – President and CEO, US–Russia Business Council

After two decades of tough negotiations, Russia has been finally admitted to the WTO. The agreement was signed in Geneva late last year, and is expected to be ratified this summer. But even full membership does not clear all the obstacles. One of them is the Jackson-Vanik Amendment that spoils trade relations with one of the...

Bringing Eurasia together

­S. M. Krishna – Indian Minister of External Affairs

In terms of regional integration in the East, India has long been one of the most important partners for Russia. Both countries cooperate within the BRICS group, and there are rumors India may join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the near future. How close are the two regional superpowers to creating a regional Super-Alliance?...

New hope in fight against heart diseases

­Amiran Revishvili, cardiac surgeon

About 17 million people die every year from heart disease. It accounts for almost 30 per cent of all global deaths. Russian cardiologists have dramatically advanced the treatment of heart disease in recent years. But what remains to be done? We talk it over with prominent cardiac surgeon Amiran Revishvili.

Music defence army

­Valery Gergiev – Principle Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra / Director, Mariinsky Theatre

The world-famous musitian and conductor speaks about Russian cultural heritage, pop music and politics.

Space to dream

­Jack McDevitt – Sci-Fi Author
Sergey Zhukov – Research Cosmonaut

April, 12 is the International Day of Human Space Flight and Cosmonauts Day in Russia. Half a century after the great breakthrough in space exploration, it still widely celebrated around the globe. But people’s fascination with space seems to have waned…