"Three years ago, the main threats to our country nested in the North Caucasus, where the criminal situation was catalyzing criminal activities in Russia as a whole. I mean not only the weapons, which the criminal militant groups needed badly, but also the economic sphere."

The Arkhangel’sk oblast is located in the northern European part of Russia, occupying 227 thousand square miles. The region includes the Novaya Zemlya and the Franz Josef Land archipelagos, as well as the Nenets autonomy, which has the status of an independent subject of the Russian Federation.

Edward Kuznetsov, former Director of the Economic Development and External Communications Department of the Krasnodar krai administration, was appointed as the head of the Department for Winter Olympic Games-2014 Preparation. The new department will bring together the forces responsible for organizing the Olympic Games.

Regulations for foreign adoptions organizations that work in Russia have recently changed. Mixed opinions as to the effectiveness of party-dominated legislation have emerged. Some consider these rules liberal, while others believe they impose more stringent requirements.