Now playing Next Russia Putin swats down Russian worries on annual televised call-in Concerning everything Russians want to know about their president’s worldview, once a year, Vladimir Putin accepts their questions, sent through a 16/04/2015
Now playing Next Russia Russia Finance Minister slams 'political character' of Moody's downgrade Ratings agency Moody’s has downgraded Russia’s sovereign rating to below investment grade or junk status, citing the impact from the Ukraine crisis 21/02/2015
Now playing Next Unreported Europe Rouble trouble: Finns sharing the pain of Russia's currency crisis The collapse of the rouble, caused in part by EU sanctions against Russia over its alleged support for Ukrainian rebels, has had an impact on parts 06/02/2015
Now playing Next Russia Russian economy set to shrink almost 5 percent next year Russia’s economy is likely to shrink by as much as five percent in 2015, due to Western sanctions, the collapse of the rouble and the price of oil 30/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Russian shoppers improvise as crisis hits holiday period A Moscow shopping mall is as crowded as any other at this time of year, but many people are taking some drastic belt-tightening measures in the face 26/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Putin orders freeze on vodka prices The Russian president has ordered a freeze on vodka prices amid an escalating economic crisis. During a meeting Putin told government officials that 25/12/2014
Now playing Next Belarus Eurasian Economic Union Summit begins with a show of disunity The leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan have sealed a deal to introduce a Eurasian Economic Union which will come into 23/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Divided opinion in Russia after Putin's end-of-year address In Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, pro-Russian separatists watched President Putin’s end-of-year speech on a TV set in a canteen. One soldier said 19/12/2014
Now playing Next Business Putin upbeat on Russian economy but doesn't say how or when it will recover Russia’s economic problems drew a slew of questions at President Vladimir Putin’s end-of-year news conference. Blaming external factors for the 18/12/2014
Now playing Next World Mikhail Prokhorov: 'This campaign could reveal some serious surprises'. 27/02/2012