A Moscow court on Friday acquitted the only Russian prison official put on trial for negligence over the death in detention of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009, a tragedy that sparked a diplomatic scandal with the United States.

In August, a group of Russian environmentalists were walking along a beach on the Black Sea, just outside the walls surrounding a majestic palace that has been linked to President Vladimir Putin.

A Moscow court on Friday acquitted a former top prison official who had been accused of negligence over the death in detention of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009, an incident that caused major tensions with the United States.

Russia, one of the few powers to maintain links with the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad, has sent an invitation for talks to the head of the opposition Syria National Coalition, a top diplomat said Friday.

International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi called on Thursday for "real change" and a transitional government in Syria but the armed opposition swiftly retorted that that could not include President Bashar al-Assad or his top lieutenants.

International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi called on Thursday for "real change" and a transitional government in Syria but the armed opposition swiftly retorted that that could not include President Bashar al-Assad or his top lieutenants.

Russia's ousted defence minister is to be questioned by investigators as part of a probe into multimillion dollar embezzlement by his former employee, an official said Thursday.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin vowed on Thursday to sign a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian children that has added new strains to the uneasy relations between the former Cold War foes

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he intended to sign into law a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian children that has raised tensions between Moscow and Washington.

Russia on Thursday opened a fraud trial against Sergei Magnitsky, a lawyer whose prison death in 2009 led to the biggest US-Russia row in years, despite protests by the defence it was illegal to try a dead man.

A Syrian government delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad on Thursday held talks at the Russian foreign ministry as Moscow denied the existence of a joint plan with the United States to end the crisis in the country.

A Syrian government delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad on Thursday held talks at the Russian foreign ministry as Moscow denied the existence of a joint plan with the United States to end the crisis in the country.

Russia's upper house of parliament Wednesday unanimously backed a bill barring Americans from adopting Russian children, leaving the controversial measure in the hands of President Vladimir Putin.

Russia's upper house of parliament on Wednesday backed a bill barring Americans from adopting Russian children by a unanimous vote, leaving the controversial measure in the hands of President Vladimir Putin.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered the emergencies ministry to check the 2014 Olympic sites in the southern city of Sochi following a string of earthquakes, his spokesman said.

Russia's upper house of parliament was Wednesday to vote on a bill barring Americans from adopting Russian children, the final legislative hurdle requiring clearance before the controversial law is sent to President Vladimir Putin for signing.

Russia's upper house of parliament was due Wednesday to vote for a bill barring Americans from adopting the country's children, in retaliation for a new piece of human rights legislation in the US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday unveiled the final extension of a new $25 billion oil pipeline to the Pacific that underscores the energy power's gradual shift away from stagnant European markets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled the final extension of a new $25 billion oil pipeline to the Pacific that underscores the energy power's gradual shift away from stagnant European markets.

Russian prosecutors said Monday the man on trial for causing the death of a whistle-blowing attorney should be freed without charge, in a surprising development in a case that has triggered a major row between Moscow and Washington.