It seems public protest actions have sense even in Russia. Dmitriy Medvedev ordered the suspension of plans to construct a toll highway between Moscow and St. Petersburg through the centuries-old forest on August 26. But now there is a new turn of the story.

Russia expects significant progress from NATO in the fight against Afghan drug trafficking. Afghan drug production has increased dramatically since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban in 2001. Russia has been one of the countries most affected by the increase in supply.

Vinton G. Cerf, vice president and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google visited Moscow on Friday. During his stay he gave an open lecture at the Moscow State Institute for International Relations. "Ways of communication via the Internet are becoming more and more accessible while at the same time more technically complicated," Cerf said.

Four Russian road police officers were detained in Moscow after a man who had been reported kidnapped by his wife was discovered in their car's boot.

Mikhail Schneider, a leader of Russia's opposition Solidarity movement, intends to file a claim to the European Court of Human Rights over his detention on charges of attempting to stage an unsanctioned march.