FIRSTPOST YOUSPEAK
Tuesday, May 21st 12:18 PM IST
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Vladimir Putin GALLERY.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) welcomes Thorbjoern Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe, for a meeting, at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, May 20, 2013. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (
Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting on energy issues in Russia's Economy, at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, May 20, 2013. Russia's President Vladimir Putin s
Levada Center director Lev Gudkov speaks to reporters in his office in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 20, 2013. The Levada Center, Russia's only independent polling agency said Monday it may have to close after Russian prosecutors targeted it for Levada Center director Lev Gudkov s
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) poses with Thorbjoern Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe during their meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on May 20, 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R
President Vladimir Putin shake hands with Elvira Nabiullina, who was appointed as the Central Bank chief, during a meeting on energy issues in Russia's Economy, at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Monday, May 20, 2013. President Vladimir Putin shake hand
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (C) greets children as he visits a local school in Sochi May 18, 2013. Ban met Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence on May 17. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010 file photo, then, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, second right, Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, second left, and Oleg Deripaska, toast after a signing ceremony in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, southern Russia. Oleg Deripaska's Basic Element, insists its projects were all designed to be profitable. The company is building an Olympic village and a seaport and has just finished revamping the Sochi airport, for a combined cost of $1.4 billion. FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 14, 2
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon waits before meeting Russia's President Vladimir Putin at Bocharov Ruchei state residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi May 17, 2013. A proposed international conference to try to stop Syria's civil war should be held as soon as possible, Ban said on Friday. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gestures during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, unseen, in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Friday May 17, 2013. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, not pictured, during their meeting in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Friday, May 17, 2013. Second right is Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Russian President Vladimir Putin, r
FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan, 2, 2008 file photo Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, listens to the state-controlled natural gas monopoly Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller as they tour the newly opened alpine ski center that will be used in the 2014 Olympics at Krasnaya Polyana in the southern Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. The names of Russia s business powerhouses have taken over the mountains of Sochi, now the home of Potanin s slope, Gazprom s gondola lift and Sberbank s ski jump. These names, used by local residents and an army of construction workers, leave no doubt about who is paying for next year s Winter Games. FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan, 2, 2
Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on during a joint news conference with South African President Jacob Zuma (not pictured) after their meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Krasnodar region, Russia, May 16, 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin lo
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and South African President Jacob Zuma attend a news conference after their meeting in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Thursday, May 16, 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin, r
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia sit after court hearings as his supporter with poster reading Russian opposition leader Alexei Na
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) welcomes South African President Jacob Zuma during their meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Krasnodar region, Russia May 16, 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin (L
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with South African President Jacob Zuma during their meeting in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Thursday, May 16, 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin, l
Prosecution key witness Larisa Bastrygina listens to a question of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, not pictured, during latest hearing in his corruption trial on charges including embezzlement of funds from a state owned timber company in Kirov court on Thursday, May 16, 2013. Navalny insists the charges are revenge for his exposure of high-level government corruption and for his campaign against President Vladimir Putin. Navalny has previously declared his intent to run for president, but if found guilty, Navalny could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years, and be banned from running for public office. Prosecution key witness Larisa Bast
Rosbank Chief Executive Vladimir Golubkov looks on as he stands in his office in Moscow in this handout still image taken from video footage during a police operation, and provided by the Russian Interior Ministry, May 15, 2013. The chief executive of Societe Generale's Russian unit was detained on Wednesday on suspicion of taking bribes, dealing a blow to one of the few foreign banks that has dared to challenge Russia's dominant state banks. The investigation into Rosbank Chief Executive Vladimir Golubkov in Moscow follows promises by President Vladimir Putin to crack down on the endemic corruption in business and public life as well as to defend national economic interests. Russian Interior Ministry Handout via Reuters TV (RUSSIA - Tags: BUSINESS CRIME LAW) NO SALES. Rosbank Chief Executive Vladimir Go
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, greets Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung ahead of their talks in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin, r
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during their meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, May 15, 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R
In this late Tuesday, May 14, 2013 photo, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, left, thanks activists who support him at Kovrov railway station en route to Kirov, Russia. The trial has resumed Wednesday, May 15, 2013, in the case against Navalny who led protests against President Vladimir Putin and exposed alleged corruption in his government. Posters read In this late Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, right, arrives to Kirov, Russia, on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, for the latest hearing in his corruption trial on charges including embezzlement of funds from a state owned timber company. Navalny insists the charges are revenge for his exposure of high-level government corruption and for his campaign against President Vladimir Putin. Navalny has previously declared his intent to run for president, but if found guilty, Navalny could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years, and be banned from running for public office. Russian opposition leader Alexei Na
U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul walks outside as he leaves the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow, May 15, 2013. The Kremlin said on Wednesday a spy dispute could impede efforts to improve ties with the United States, but did not threaten any more action after the expulsion of a diplomat accused of trying to recruit a Russian agent. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov made his first comments on the case as U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul discussed it with the Russian Foreign Ministry. McFaul, who was summoned on Tuesday, made no comment as he left the meeting. U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul walk
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C) chairs a meeting with Defence Ministry top officials at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi,on May 14, 2013. Putin warned today against any moves that would further destabilise the situation in Syria, speaking after talks with the visiting Israeli Prime Minister. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (
President Vladimir Putin (R) looks at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they attend a joint press conference after their meeting at Putin's residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on May 14, 2013. Putin warned today against any moves that would further destabilise the situation in Syria, speaking after talks with the visiting Israeli Prime Minister. President Vladimir Putin (R) looks
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) listens to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov prior to a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, May 14, 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday it was important to avoid actions that might aggravate Syria's civil war, a veiled warning against foreign military intervention or arming anti-government forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Putin is hosting Netanyahu for talks focusing on the situation in Syria, amid concerns that Moscow could soon provide Damascus with advanced missiles. Russian President Vladimir Putin, r
Russia's President Vladimir Putin waits for the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before their meeting at Putin's residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, on May 14, 2013. Putin and Netanyahu began talks today on the conflict in Syria amid growing concern about Moscow's continuing arms deliveries to the Damascus regime and a spiralling death toll. Russia's President Vladimir Putin w
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walk during their meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, May 14, 2013. Netanyahu flew to Russia on Tuesday for talks about the Syria crisis. He would also meet with Putin at the Black Sea resort of Sochi and return to Israel by evening, the beginning of a major Jewish festival, according to Israeli officials. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - MAY 14: In this handout photograph supplied by the Government Press Office of Israel (GPO), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boards a plane at Ben Gurion airport on his way to Russia to hold talks on with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 14, 2013 in Tel Aviv, Israel. According to reports, Israel's concerns over Russian plans to sell Syrian President Bashar al-Assad an advanced air defense system will be raised. TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - MAY 14: In thi