The St. Petersburg Times

Michelin-Starred Chef to Create Gourmet Meal at Cote Jardin

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:39 GMT

Marc de Passorio, a distinguished chef with extensive international experience, is bursting with pride over his restaurant’s first Michelin star, which was awarded in March this year.

Mariinsky Stars Welcome Guests at the Royal Ballet

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:39 GMT

The Royal Ballet in London has invited two Mariinsky ballerinas as guest dancers this year. Following Yekaterina Osmolkina’s guest appearances in “Swan Lake” in March, another star, Yevgenia Obraztsova (who was in Cedric Klapisch’s 2005 film “Russian Dolls” as well as in Bertand Normand’s 2006 film “Ballerina”), appeared in “The Sleeping Beauty.

Trout Triumph

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:39 GMT

Following its success with the Stroganoff Steak House and Russian Vodka Room No. 1, the Svoi V Gorode restaurant group has opened Fish House, an upscale modern restaurant on Pereulok Grivtsova.

India through the ages

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:39 GMT

A new exhibition at the Stroganov Palace titled “The Modern Art of India: Pictorial Trajectories,” traces the development of modern Indian art with selected pieces from the late 19th century through to the beginning of the 21st century.

Chernov’s choice

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:39 GMT

Marc Almond returns to St. Petersburg to give a glimpse of his second “Russian” album, called “Orpheus in Exile.” Due to perform at Zal Ozhidaniya on Sunday, Almond will pay homage to the late St.

Life of a lion

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:39 GMT

“Revolutionary Lion,” a new exhibition at the Museum of Political History, pays tribute to the life and work of Leon Trotsky.

Putin’s Vertical of Corruption

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:39 GMT

I have been wondering lately: How much of Russia’s gross domestic product is lost to bribes taken by government officials? Consider an ordinary example — the price of housing.

The Perfect Fall Guy

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:38 GMT

History has seen many cases of the ruling elite leading society into a dead end while convincing the people all of the time that the road is leading toward a bright future.

Banks Take Control of RosEuroDevelopment

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:38 GMT

A consortium of Gazprombank, Goldman Sachs and Citibank has taken control of RosEuroDevelopment, a major commercial real estate developer, because of the company’s debt.

Illegal Additions to Historic Homes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:38 GMT

MOSCOW — As housing in Moscow gets more and more cramped, some homeowners are looking upward for extra space. The construction of mansards, or stylized roof extensions giving room for an extra loft, has become popular among homeowners as a cheap and effective way to increase the area of their apartments.

State Plans To Develop Low-Rise Housing

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:38 GMT

Builders say they are pleased with a government plan to develop the construction of low-rise housing, which they plan to offer for no more than 30,000 rubles ($1,050) per square meter.

Putin Seeks Consolidation For Petrochemicals Sector

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:38 GMT

MOSCOW — The government will encourage consolidation in the petrochemicals industry because it is too fragmented to become globally competitive, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said late Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Report: Russia No. 1 in Economic Crime

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:38 GMT

MOSCOW — Companies in Russia experienced more economic crime this year than anywhere else in the world, according to a report released Thursday, which underscores the difficulties facing an ambitious Kremlin plan to curb corruption and lawlessness.

Central Bank Averts $44M Pension Fund Heist

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:38 GMT

MOSCOW — The Central Bank has foiled an attempt to steal 1.25 billion rubles ($44 million) from the state’s Pension Fund using counterfeit documents, a scheme that bankers say couldn’t have been carried out by ordinary criminals.

Ukraine Seeks Amendment to Gas Agreement

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:38 GMT

MOSCOW — Ukraine is seeking an amendment to its accord with Russia to waive fines for buying less gas than contracted this year, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in a letter to Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

Energy Minister Says RusHydro Will Manage Dam Alone

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

MOSCOW — RusHydro is taking full control of management to complete building the Boguchanskaya dam, and the hydropower firm will be able to raise up to $660 million selling shares to the private sector next year, Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said Wednesday.

Face of Nevsky Changes As Rental Rates Decrease

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

St. Petersburg’s central thoroughfare looks set to cease being a street of boutiques, as mid-range clothing stores and restaurant chains replace luxury brands.

Speedy Entry to WTO Sought

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

Russia remains committed to joining the World Trade Organization and wants to complete membership talks as quickly as possible, alone or with trade partners Belarus and Kazakhstan, President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday.

Shooting of 'Bonebreaker' Sparks Violence in Moscow

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

MOSCOW — A simmering confrontation between far-right youths and anti-racist activists has erupted into Moscow’s streets after the fatal shooting of an anti-racist activist known as “The Bonebreaker.

Hermitage Lawyer Dies in Custody

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

MOSCOW — A 37-year-old lawyer jailed amid a heated tax dispute between Hermitage Capital, once the largest investment fund in Russia, and the Interior Ministry died abruptly in Moscow’s Matrosskaya Tishina detention center.

TV Campaign Against Gazprom Tower Mounts

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

The controversial Gazprom Tower found itself under harsh attack last week on Russia’s main state television, Channel One, for the third time in the past four weeks — and its supporters struggled to offer any good reason to back the 403-meter-tall skyscraper in close proximity to the city center.

In Brief

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

Charity Presentation ST. PETERSBURG (SPT) — The Swedish medical center Ekolsund is hosting a charity event this weekend in conjunction with The Petersburg Balls Fund.

Russia Crashes Out of Soccer World Cup

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

MARIBOR, Slovenia — A first-half goal from Zlatko Dedic earned Slovenia a place at next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa, eliminating Russia on the away goals rule.

Constitutional Court Rules for Ban on Death Penalty

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

In a much-anticipated ruling, the Constitutional Court on Thursday introduced a permanent ban on capital punishment in Russia.

State Lays Claim to Geography Society

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:19:37 GMT

MOSCOW — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s passion for geography was on full display Wednesday as he became head of the Russian Geographical Society’s board of trustees, a day after Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu unexpectedly became the group’s president.