| 2011-12-15 17:08 Don't provoke protesters, ex-minister Kudrin tells Putin |
Russia’s ex-finance minister Alexei Kudrin criticized on Thursday Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s remarks regarding the white ribbons worn by protesters at recent nationwide rallies against alleged electoral fraud.
American director Woody Allen began shooting his latest movie in Paris on Monday.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday said a European Parliament resolution calling for new State Duma elections “means nothing.” 
After Wimbledon Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova came to Belarus. 
Russia promises green Olympic Games in Sochi · 2007-04-25 17:40
Russian resort city Sochi promised to hold a green Olympic Games if it would emerge as the winner in the voting for the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
"It will be a green Games," Sochi 2014 bid committee CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko said on Tuesday.
"Using the new technology, it (Sochi) will be one of the most environmental protected and secure places in Russia."
According to People's Daily Online, Chernyshenko brushed aside concerns that the hosting of the Winter Olympics would severely damage local wildlife in Sochi.
"We have organized environmental protection board with presidents of 18 non-government organizations, including the World Wildlife Foundation and the Green Peace," he said.
"I am a Sochi native. So I will save the environment for my children and the generations to come," he said.
Chernyshenko was in full confidence in his home town which is competing against South Korea's Pyeongchang and Salzburg of Austria for the hosting rights.
"We have one of the most technically excellent Games plans. We have a unique location of Sochi, where the Black Sea meets the white snow. Fully guaranteed by the government, the facilities will be built on time and they will remain historical legacy not only for the generations of this region and country, but also for all the world and the International Olympic Movement."
A big challenge for Sochi, which is running its third bid for the Winter Olympic Games, is that it will have to build all sports facilities from scratch. But to Chernyshenko, it is also a golden opportunity to restore the glory of the winter sports powerhouse.
"When becoming independent in 1991, Russia lost almost all winter sports facilities. It's hard to believe that two years ago our national competition of speed skating was held in Germany," Chernyshenko said. "It's a shame, and now it’s the time to pay the debts to our athletes."
Russian president Vladimir Putin has demonstrated his active commitment to Sochi's bid.
"Russia intends to spend a huge amount of money on the development of this region, about 12 billion dollars," Putin said in February.
"We will do everything to make Sochi a worthy capital of the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games," he added.
The 2014 Games host city will be announced on July 4 in Guatemala City.
• Russia buries 1st president Boris Yeltsin
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