The Fifth Moscow World Fine Art Fair is currently underway. Among the highlights are paintings by Picasso, Chagall and Renoir. Anna Meyer from Art Loss Register, which ensures nothing underhand is going on at the fair, joined RT to tell us more.

Director of the Institute for Political Studies, Sergey Markov, shared his views on Putin’s role following his visit to France.

Victoria Panova, a political analyst from Moscow State Institute of International Relations, joined RT to comment on Putin’s trip to France.

Two Czech activists protesting against the American missile shield in Eastern Europe are into their third week of a hunger strike. One of them, Jan Tamas, joined RT to talk about what motivated him.

For a round-up of the week’s trading action on the Russian markets, equity strategist Erik DePoy from Alfa Bank joined RT. He says the gains made by UES, the state power generator due to be split up, are set to grow further next week.

The head of the Worldwide Fund for Nature in Russia tells RT that the debacle surrounding the seal pups in St. Petersburg could have been avoided. Igor Chestin says fining the zoo is not the answer.

A local zoo in St Petersburg has been fined for saving baby seals. Authorities said it didn’t have the right documents. Anna Fillipova from the International Fund for Animal Welfare joined RT to talk about what went wrong.

The $US 12 billion Nord Steam gas pipeline will enhance energy supplies from Russia to Europe when it is completed. Paul Vandoren, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Moscow spoke to RT about the project.

RT’s Dmitry Glukhovsky travelled with the Arctic expedition that put the Russian Flag on the North Pole seabed last year. He came into the studio to talk about the energy reserves that may lie buried beneath the ice cap.

Top envoys from Russia, the U.S. and other nations are meeting in Greenland to discuss how to carve up the potentially profitable polar region. Mark Raykhlin, founder of the Russian Organisation for Saving the Antarctic, told RT about environmental concerns in the area.

Amnesty International's Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation Worldwide was released on Wednesday. Historian Ilya Budraitskis joined RT to take a look at the key issues raised.

Inflation in Russia has been surpassing government forecasts all year. The Finance Ministry predicts it'll reach 1.2% in May alone. RT caught up with Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin to ask why prices have risen so much.

She is the world record holder in the women’s pole vault and one of Russia’s best hopes for gold at the Beijing Olympics. In the run-up to the games, Elena Isinbaeva spoke exclusively to RT about what keeps her motivated.

Russia’s Finance Minister says  the country's National Welfare Fund will be worst hit by 4 billion dollar tax cuts. Alexey Kudrin admitted the concessions would strike the 32 billion dollar Fund, which also supports Russian pensioners.

The head of Sberbank German Gref told RT, in an exclusive interview, that increased competition, through WTO membership, will lead to better service for Russian customers.

Russia’s 12th Economic Forum in St. Petersburg will play a key role in setting future policy, according to Economic Development minister Elvira Nabiullina.

None of the CIS countries will join the EU in the foreseeable future. However, some have a chance to become NATO members, believes Aleksey Kuzmin, political analyst from Moscow's National Prospects Foundation.

Saturday’s been the 2nd day of Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev visit to Beijing. Vladimir Portyakov from Moscow's Institute for Far East Studies spoke to RT about how relations between the two countries have developed.

Journalist Fred Weir of the Christian Science Monitor spoke to RT about the importance of President Medvedev’s visit to China.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is wrapping up his two-day visit to Beijing. Aleksandr Salitsky from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations gave his analysis of the Russia-China talks.

Medvedev’s visit to China is quite symbolic as it comes days after the deadly earthquake in the country. By doing so, Medvedev wants to express his solidarity with the Chinese people, believes Natalia Zaderey of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies.

Deputy Director of Institute of Asian and African studies Andrey Karneev discusses the importance of President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to China.

Dmitry Medvedev is in China on a two day visit. The Director of the China-Japan Centre at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow, Vasily Mikheev, told RT why China was given preference over the west.

The top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, told a Senate panel on Thursday of his strategy for the country's future. RT military analyst Evgeny Khrushchev has commented on the issue.

Dmitry Medvedev is in Kazakhstan. The Director of the Eurasian Political Studies Network Vitaly Merkushev shared his thoughts with RT on why Medvedev chose it for his first official visit as President.

Russia's new president is heading to Kazakhstan for his first international visit in his current job. Political analyst Arutyun Ulunyan, from the Institute of World History, spoke to RT about the visit’s significance.

State-run Russian Railways continues to spin-off its non-core assets. Last year the railway giant sold 15% in its freight business Transcontainer. The head of the company Vladimir Yakunin spoke to RT on upcoming sales.

There’s never been a free and fair election in Georgia, so it’s difficult to predict an outcome, says Aleksey Kuzmin, a political analyst from the National Prospects Foundation. He was discussing the parliamentary election taking place in Georgia.

As Georgia goes to the polls to elect a new parliament, Dmitry Evstafiev, the deputy director of the think tank Russian National Laboratory of Politics, analysed who’s likely to come out in front.

Matthew Maly, a sociologist and author of the book "Russia as it is", commented on Arnold Meri's trial in Estonia.

Russia’s ice hockey team are the new world champions after beating Canada in a tight final. Hockey legend and Head of Russia's Federal Agency for Sport, Vyacheslav Fetisov, joined RT in talk about the win.

Putin's cabinet's main task will be to implement the 2020 strategy, believes political analyst Dmitry Polikanov, who discussed this week's government reshuffle with RT.

Putin has increased the number of vice-prime ministers in the new cabinet. This is because he had to assure the balance of power between the “old team” and the newcomers, says Aleksandr Pikaev from the Carnegie Moscow Centre.

Russia will have difficulties getting access to the European markets unless it becomes a member of the WTO, believes Guenter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for enterprise and industry.

For an analysis of this week's market activity, Business Today spoke to Bob Sakharov, the president of Olma Investment Canada.

The partnership of emerging economies in the framework of the BRIC alliance could have great prospects, especially in the light of the world’s shrinking natural resources, says Boris Martynov from the Latin America Institute in Moscow.

The Lower House of the U.S. Congress is divided over additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. RT military analyst Evgeny Khrushchev shared his view on the issue.

Russia has chosen Brazil, India and China, known as BRIC, for the first meeting of foreign ministers under the new President. Tatyana Shaumyan from the Institute of Oriental Studies spoke to RT about the significance of such an alliance.

The Foreign Ministers of Russia, China and India have been holding talks in Ekaterinburg. Dmitry Suslov, a political analyst from the Council for Foreign and Defence Policy, joined RT live to give his analysis of the talks.

Talks between the Foreign Ministers of Russia, China and India focused on economic and military co-operation. Deputy Director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at the Moscow State University Andrey Karneev commented on the issues.

While the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China are meeting in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg, Aleksandr Lukin, Director of the Centre of Eastern Asia studies in the Moscow Institute of International Relations commented on the meeting to RT.

Germany’s building materials manufacturer Xella is launching its first production unit in Russia. Jaroslav Bures, Executive Director of Xella, told Russia Today about his company’s prospects in the country.

On May 14 Zenit St Petersburg take on Glasgow Rangers for the UEFA Cup. Sports analyst Gennady Fedorov spoke to RT about the Russian football's rise in recent years.

The newly created Ministry for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy marks a shift of priorities for pro-Kremlin youth organisations from politics to sport and tourism, according to Kirill Koktysh, a political analyst from Moscow University of International Relations.

Russia’s new cabinet has been announced. Veronika Krasheninnikova from the Council for Trade and Economic Cooperation between the U.S. and CIS, joined RT to comment on the changes.

Andrey Kortunov from the New Eurasia Foundation sees Russia’s new government as an ‘old boys club’, with all the key figures retaining their posts.

Stephen Dalziel from the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce in London told RT he’d be very surprised if major changes occur, as the two main appointments – Lavrov and Kudrin – are in fact reappointments.

Russia’s new cabinet has been announced. Aleksandr Pikaev from the Carnegie Moscow Centre and Viktor Mizin from the Institute for Strategic Assessment joined RT to comment on the changes.

Russia’s new cabinet has been announced. Aleksandr Pikaev from the Carnegie Moscow Centre and Viktor Mizin from the Institute for Strategic Assessment joined RT to comment on the changes.

The previous Russian Government, headed by Viktor Zubkov, was formed nine months ago with the prospect of Putin succeeding his as the new Prime Minister. That’s according to political analyst Irina Kobrinskaya.

How is Russia's contribution to WW2 perceived in the U.S.? William Brumfield, Professor of Slavic Studies at Tulane University in New Orleans, joined RT.

Victory Day celebrations continue throughout Russia. Aleksey Fillitov from the Institute of Global History joined RT to look back on the crucial events of WW2.

The defeat of the Nazi Germany wouldn’t have been possible without the allies support and WW2 could have lasted 3 or 4 more years, believes journalist Dmitry Zakharov.

Statistics say eight in ten Nazi soldiers were killed by the Red Army. Anatoly Utkin, a historian from the Institute for the U.S. and Canada Studies, spoke about Russia’s contribution to the Great Victory.

President Medvedev will need to juggle his formal constitutional requirements with those based on shadow politics and factions, believes Richard Sakwa, head of Politics and International Relations at Kent University.

Thursday's Duma speech by Vladimir Putin showed no signs of any forthcoming political changes in the Russian policy, believes Aleksey Kuzmin, political analyst and Chairman of the Expert Council of the National Prospects Foundation.

President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin plan to lead Russia together. But how effective will the duo be in practice? Andrey Zagorsky from Moscow State University of International Relations joined RT.

Putin’s economic priorities are to fight inflation, cut taxes on energy extraction and improve financial markets. Chris Weafer, Chief Strategist at Uralsib, joined RT to to comment on the new PM’s programme.

Former president Putin has been approved as Russia’s new Prime Minister. Boris Kagarlitsky, Director from the Institute for Globalization Studies, spoke to RT about Putin's likely plans.

President Medvedev has signed a decree, appointing Putin to the premiership. Dmitry Evfstafyev from the National Laboratory of Foreign Policy explained his ideas about the shape of a future cabinet.

“Probably Prime Minister Putin will take his people from the President’s administration to the Government,” Dmitry Babic from the Russia Profile Magazine believes.

State Duma Deputies backed Putin’s candidacy for Prime Minister. Aleksandr Nagorny, deputy Editor-in-Chief from newspaper Zavtra, joined RT to comment on the former president’s views on the future.

Vladimir Putin is expected to be approved as Russia’s new Prime Minister. “The problem when forming the Cabinet will be making it fit the ambitious task that was set in the strategy for 2020,” says United Russia's Dmitry Polikanov.

The eventual make-up of the new government is part of the agreement between Putin and Medvedev, says Andrey Zolotov from Russia Profile magazine. He believes the government’s general outline will remain pretty much the same.

Bureaucratic rivalry between the offices of the new president and prime minister is possible. That’s according to Andrey Kortunov, the president of the Moscow-based New Eurasia Foundation. But he believes that Putin, as PM, will try to resist temptation to interfere in areas he is not responsible for under the constitution.

The relationship between Russia and the U.S. shouldn’t be ‘just about slogans’. "It should address the shared and conflicting interests that America has with Russia", Mark Brzezinski, former U.S. Security Council member told RT.

What is the world hoping to see from Medvedev? Michael Binyon, the Diplomatic Editor of the Times newspaper, joined Russia Today.

New Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, has a degree of professor of law. Daniel Klein, an analyst from the Hellevig, Klein and Usov law firm, told RT about the changes in legal climate he expects under Medvedev.

Former Senior State Department official Stephen Sestanovich, an expert on Russia from the Council on Foreign Relations, says fence-mending may be one of the big issues on President Medvedev’s international agenda.

Russia’s new President Medvedev nominated Putin as his Prime Minister. Ivan Safranchuk, from the World Security Institute, told RT about the expected changes in the government's work with Putin as PM.

Dmitry Suslov, political analyst from the Council for Foreign and Defence policy, spoke to RT about the possible economic and foreign policy of Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev.

Dimity Medvedev was inaugurated as president on Wednesday. Quentin Peel, international affairs editor at the Financial Times, joined RT to discuss what the west expects from Medvedev.

Medvedev's first step after the inauguration was the appointment of Vladimir Putin as Prime Minister. The editor-in-chief of the Slovo newspaper, Viktor Linnik, spoke to RT about the prospects of the Medvedev-Putin team.

Dmitry Medvedev is still seen by many as a softer personality than Putin. Aleksandr Pikaev, a political analyst from the Carnegie Moscow Centre, joined RT to comment on how foreign policy is likely to develop under President Medvedev.

There’s a general positive feeling among investors in the Russian market. Many of them regard the coming to power of the new president as the right moment to buy in the Russian equity market, says Alfa Bank strategist Eric Depoy.

Dmitry Medvedev has been sworn in as modern Russia’s third President. Political analyst and journalist Aleksey Pushkov spoke to RT about the changes ahead for Russian policy.

The first key decision by Medvedev will be the decision of who from the current Kremlin team stays with him and who goes to the Government with Putin. That’s according to the vice-president of the Russian Guild of Publishers, Vasily Gatov.

Many see Dmitry Medvedev more as Putin’s follower than an independent figure. Political analyst Viktoria Panova agrees Medvedev is not likely to introduce major changes in the first months of his presidency.

Russia’s foreign policy is not likely to change under Dmitry Medvedev, believes Vice-President at the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow, Evgeny Bazhanov. But the new president will need to improve relations with Georgia and Ukraine.

Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia claims it is ready to give Russia military control over it territory in exchange for security guarantees. Artyom Malgin, political analyst from Moscow State Institute of Foreign Relations, joined RT to comment on the situation.

A U.S. delegation is due to arrive in Poland on Tuesday for further negotiations over plans to base part of its anti-missile defence in the country. Filip Ilkowski, from Poland's "Stop the War Initiative" says one of the possible aims is to make it easier for the U.S. to start war on Iran.

May 6 is Vladimir Putin’s last day in office before Dmitry Medvedev takes over as Russian President. Political analyst Mikhail Stolyarov joined RT to discuss Putin’s personality and achievements during his eight years in power.

One of Russia’s largest fertiliser producers, Acron, plans to launch an SPO in London to raise about $US 1 billion. Acron’s vice president Aleksandr Popov revealed the holding’s 8-year investment programme, exclusively to RT.

Czechs widely condemn the plan to locate a U.S. radar station near Prague. Jan Tamas, the head of the "No to Bases" initiative, a movement opposing the missile shield, spoke to RT about the initiative and the measures they're taking.

The tension between Georgia and its breakaway republic of Abkhazia is the topical issue of the day. Vladimir Kotlyar, a political analyst at the Moscow based Diplomatic Academy, spoke to RT of the advantages Georgia could take of the conflict.

American businessman Joseph Kay, who claims to be a step cousin of the late billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili’s, spoke exclusively to RT about the future of independent Georgian channel Imedi, which he has inherited.

In an exclusive interview with RT, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger talks about relations between Moscow and Washington. A key figure in the Cold War, Kissinger says personnel changes at the top can have a major impact.

Is there any protection against spam for Internet users? Andrey Nikishin from the Kaspersky Lab joined RT to answer the question.

The world’s top diplomats are in London for talks on Iran’s nuclear programme. But the sides involved remain too far apart and so no major breakthroughs can be expected, says Robert Lowe from Chatham House.

World powers have been discussing the progress of talks between Israelis and Palestinians at a Middle East Quartet meeting in London. Leonid Gusev from the Moscow State University of International Relations spoke to RT on the possible outcome of the talks.

Iran remains the world's most active sponsor of terrorism, according to the annual terror report of the U.S. Department of State. RT military analyst Evgeny Khrushchev comments on the situation.

The diplomatic row between the U.S. and Belarus is heating up. Political analyst Kirill Koktysh from Moscow's University of Foreign Relations says the row is set to continue as neither side reeds 'good relations' with the other.

Russia and the European Union have so far failed to get started on drawing up a new deal regulating their economic relationship. But deals between Russian and EU companies conitinue to grow in number and size.