Murmansk goes against the grain;

A security pact with Abkhazia, South Ossetia

Russia's heroin habit;

Latin American bases for Russia's bombers

A shake-up in Russia's regions;

Politkovskaya trial, take two

Human rights council revived;

The CSTO comes of age

Contract killings rock Moscow;

Russia's economic woes self-created, think tank says

Moscow outmaneuvers the U.S. in Central Asia;

Race for the Arctic heats up

Kyrgyzstan in the (cyber) crosshairs;

Immigration reform, Russian style

Russian journalists arm themselves;

The Orthodox Church's Soviet spy legacy

Russia's expanding Middle East presence;

An end to the gas crisis