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The article reports on the announcement of the secret balloting for new full corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in Russia. Report says that only 44 became full members of the Academy, out 45 corresponding members who are looking for the title of academician. Nanotechnologist and title aspirant Mikhail Kovalchuk, director of the Kurchatov Institute, was rejected by scientists due to his fame and alleged close connection of his brother to Minister Vladimir Putin.

The article reports that the Council on Human Rights and the Development of Civil Society Institutions has ceased to operate on Vladimir Putin's last day as head of state. The Council has closed down naturally, in connection with the end of the term of office of Putin. According to Council head Ella Pamfilova, the council had merely suspended operations.

The article reports on the attempt of nongovernmental organizations in Russia to call the state's attention to their plight. The heads of more than 100 Russian nongovernmental organizations have signed a statement asking the authorities to stop putting bureaucratic and administrative pressure on civil society.

The article reports on the staging of the All-Russia Civic Forum at the Manege exhibition hall in Moscow, Russia in February 2008. The event was attended by representatives of over 1,000 nongovernmental organizations who met under the aegis of the Public Chamber. The achievements and problems of the Public Chamber were also discussed during the event.

The article reports on the use of hotlines by Russian citizens to offer information on irregularities in the electoral campaign and the voting, according to Andrei Przhezdomsky, director of the Russian Free Elections Foundation. There were cases of illegal campaigning, limited access to polling stations and voters lists included dead souls. There were falsifications in newspapers, poison-pen letters and leaflets. There were also instances of campaigning on election day.

The article reports that the Federation Council of Russia passed a law that introduces a two-level system of higher education in the country, the bachelor's and master's degrees. The higher education law is noted to be given approval despite strong objection from critics, especially Federation Council chairperson Sergei Mironov. It passed the upper house with 113 supporters and only 12 oppositions.

The article reports on the position of the Russian Orthodox Church regarding the teaching of the "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" for the coming schoolyear. The author mentioned that the largest religious community in Russia suggested practicing the free choice of philosophical subjects as used in other countries.

The article reports that participants in the Arctic-2007 expedition agreed that the undersea ridge under the North Pole is not isolated from the Russian plateau because it is an extension of the Siberian continental platform. It includes an in-depth analysis of Russia's territorial stake in the Arctic, as well as a discussion of the issues' implications for world politics and international relations.

An excerpt from the article "VVP's Short Course," published in the "Vremya Novostei" periodical's June 22, 2007 issue is presented.

The article reports on the expulsion of Nikolai Kuryanovich, a Russian State Duma Deputy from his party, the Liberal Democratic Party. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, party leader, states that Kuryanovich was expelled due to his active involvement in radical views. Moreover, the deputy affirmed that his ejection was because of his defense of the interests of ethnic Russians by organizing the Russian March.

The article reports on the election of regional legislators and municipal administration chiefs in Russia. Electoral chief, Aleksandr Veshnyakov, declares that the election in 68 regions was successful in a way that there are no irregularities that could have affected the outcome. The poor turnout of the election was due to the disqualification of one of the party lists and the lack of options on election ballots.

The article reports on the demand of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to bring regional legislation in line with the Basic Law and with ruling handed down by the Constitutional Court. According to Constitutional Court Chairman Valery Zorkin, the president views the situation as abnormal when the Federation members' laws or regional courts' decisions are at odds with Constitutional Court rulings. Zorkin added that they have succeeded in beating systemic contradictions.

The article focuses on the ruling of the Russian Supreme Court's military panel on the mass massacre of Polish officers who were held prisoners of war in 1940. It is stated that the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office closed the case due to the deaths of people responsible for criminal prosecution. Anna Stavitskaya, a lawyer representing the victims, says she cannot understand the decision based on a legal or moral standpoint. However, she hopes that the court will open its door for an appeal.

The article reports on the pedophilia prevention proposal by Anatoly Kucherena, head of the Public Chamber Commission that monitors the activity of law-enforcement agencies and reform of the judicial and legal system in Russia. Kucherena proposed the injection of a pedophile with a substance that blocks the male hormone testosterone and suppresses sexual desire with consent from the person guilty of pedophilia.

The article reports that the State Duma refused to listen to Russian Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin who had intended to read to the deputies his report concerning their accomplishments in 2007. The ombudsman's report was basically the same report he had presented to the president and to the Federation Council. Lukin was very critical of the actions of the capital city's authorities and law-enforcement agencies during the dispersal of the Moscow March of dissent on March 3, 2008.

The article focuses on the impact of the appointment of Monsignor Paolo Pezzi as head of the Catholic archdiocese in Moscow, Russia. It is expected that his appointment should have a beneficial impact on the relations between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). The patriarch pointed out that the effectiveness of the church witness to Christian values will depend on the goodwill of the new leader.

An excerpt from the article "The System Is Running on Idle: Two-Thirds of the Decisions of Arbitration Courts Go Unenforced," by Mikhail Moshkin in the April 25, 2007 issue of "Vremya novostei," is presented.

The article presents the opinions of politicians on Presidential Deputy Chief of Staff Vladislav Surkov's article regarding sovereign democracy in Russia. First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Tatarstan's President Mintimer Shaimiyev questioned the validity of the term. Leonid Gozman, head of the creative council of the Union of Rightist Forces, asserts the Surkov has used the term sovereign democracy to elicit loyal expressions of approval from United Russia functionaries.

The article reports on the legislation proposed by the Russia Federation Duma Commission that would amend the Law on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Code of Civil Procedure. The State Duma discussed on second reading the proposed bill which drawn objections from various political forces both in and out of the parliament. The amendment would disregard minimum voter turnout requirements, and revoke registration of a candidate who has been subjected to an administrative penalty.

The article reports on the announcement of the formation of a party with a nationalist patriotic orientation by State Duma Deputy Nikolai Kuryanovich, who was expelled from the ranks of the Liberal Democratic Party in Russia. He admits that he is ready to gather all homeless patriots under his group. Among organizations that the new party might look for support are the Movement Against Illegal Immigration, the Union of the Russian People, the Slavic Union, and the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods.

The article discusses the possible creation of a new political rightist party in Russia. The party could be built on the already existing Free Russia organization and might be chaired by Mikhail Barshchevsky, the government's representative to the Supreme Court. Political analysts express that the ineffectiveness of the traditional rightists is the possible reason for the plan. It is stated that this party could acquire a rightist counterbalance with the two Russian political parties.