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Moscow Metro: An inexpensive way of travelling around the capital
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News - Timeline: Russia
1998 September - Foreign Minister Yevgeniy Primakov chosen as compromise prime minister and appoints two Communists as ministers. 1999 May - Yeltsin sacks Primakov, replacing him with Sergey Stepashin. 1999 August - Militants from Chechnya invade the neighbouring Russian constituent republic of Dagestan. Yeltsin sacks Stepashin and replaces him with Vladimir Putin. 1999 September-October - Putin sends Russian troops back into Chechnya in the wake of a series of bomb explosions in Russia which are blamed on Chechen extremists. His tough line increases his popularity among Russians. Yeltsin resigns and is replaced by Putin as acting president. Putin takes the reins 2000 March - Putin elected president. 2000 August - Kursk nuclear submarine sinks in the Barents Sea with the loss of all its crew.  | KURSK DISASTER Nuclear sub became an underwater tomb for 118 sailors | 2000 December - Soviet anthem reintroduced to replace that brought in by Yeltsin. New words are written for it by poet Sergey Mikhalkov who penned the Soviet version as well. 2001 July - Friendship treaty signed with People's Republic of China during Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Moscow. 2002 January - Russia's last independent national TV station, TV-6, is forced by the authorities to stop broadcasting, sparking fresh concerns about free speech. It is later awarded a new licence after journalists team up with Kremlin-backed managers and goes back on air in June with the new name TVS. 2002 May: Russia and the USA announce a new agreement on strategic nuclear weapons reduction. The two sides are to cut their nuclear arsenals from over 6,000 missiles apiece to about 2,000 each in the next 10 years. Russian and Nato foreign ministers agree on the establishment of the Nato-Russia Council in which Russia and the 19 Nato countries will have an equal role in decision-making on policy to counter terrorism and other security threats. Chechnya in headlines 2002 August - At least 115 people killed when military helicopter crashes in Chechen minefield. Russian military accuses Chechen fighters of shooting it down. Reports suggest overcrowding could have been a contributing factor in the high death toll. | MOSCOW THEATRE SIEGE 130 died in raid to end siege by Chechen rebels | 2002 October - Chechen rebels seize a Moscow theatre and hold about 800 people hostage. Most of the rebels and around 120 hostages are killed when Russian forces storm the building. 2002 December - Suicide bombers attack the headquarters in Grozny of the Moscow-backed Chechen government. More than 50 people are killed. Separatist rebels claim responsibility. 2003 March - Russians hail Chechen referendum vote in favour of a new constitution stipulating that the republic is part of the Russian Federation. Human rights groups, among others, are strongly critical of Russia for pushing ahead with referendum before peace has been established. 2003 May - Over 50 people killed in suicide bombing of Chechen government building in the north of the republic. Just two days later, Chechen administration chief Kadyrov has narrow escape in another suicide attack which leaves over a dozen dead. | St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow - built by Ivan the Terrible | 2003 June - Suicide bomber blows up bus carrying military personnel stationed at Mozdok in North Ossetia, Russia's military headquarters for operations in Chechnya. Around twenty people killed. Government cites financial reasons for axing last remaining nationwide independent TV channel, TVS. Liberal observers criticise the move as the latest Kremlin bid to curb media freedom. 2003 July - Suicide bomb attack at rock festival just outside Moscow kills at least 15, including two bombers. Russia sees passport found on one attacker as evidence of Chechen link. 2003 August - Suicide bomb attack on military hospital at Mozdok, near Chechen border, kills 50 people. 2003 September - Kyrgyzstan grants Russia military base at Kant. It will house new Russian rapid reaction force intended to combat terrorism. It is first military base opened by Russia abroad in 13 years of independence. 2003 October - Border dispute with Kiev after Russia embarks on building causeway across Kerch Strait between Russian coast and Ukrainian island of Tuzla. Strait separates Black Sea from Azov Sea. Ukraine sends troops to Tuzla. | Mikhail Khodorkovsky: Russia's richest man fell foul of Kremlin | 2003 October - Billionnaire Yukos oil boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky arrested and held in custody over investigations into tax evasion and fraud. Mr Khodorkovsky had supported liberal opposition to President Putin. 2003 December - More than 40 people killed in bomb attack on passenger train in southern Russia. President Putin gains almost total control over parliament after elections in which Putin-backed United Russia wins landslide. President Putin, President Kuchma of Ukraine sign agreement on joint use of Kerch Strait and status of Azov Sea. Kremlin denies that island of Tuzla featured in talks. 2004 February - Suspected suicide bomb attack on Moscow underground train kills about 40 people. President Putin sacks government of Mikhail Kasyanov. Second term for Putin 2004 March - Mikhail Fradkov becomes prime minister. Mr Putin wins second term as president by landslide. | AKHMAD KADYROV Moscow-backed Chechen president, killed in 2004 | 2004 May - Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov killed in a bomb blast in Grozny. 2004 June - Dozens killed in southern republic of Ingushetia in attacks said to have involved hundreds of gunmen. President Putin blames Chechen rebels led by Aslan Maskhadov. Maskhadov's spokesman says operation was led by Ingush commander who fought under Maskhadov in Chechnya and acknowledges participation of Chechen volunteers. Spokesman blames Russian forces for provoking attacks. 2004 August - Russian authorities sieze assets of Yuganskneftegaz, the key production unit of oil giant Yukos, to offset the latter's reported tax debts. Two passenger aircraft crash within minutes of each other after take-off from Moscow, killing all 89 passengers and crew. Investigators find traces of explosives in the wreckage of both planes and blame terrorists. At least 10 people killed in explosion outside Moscow underground station. Group sympathising with Chechen separatists issues statement saying it carried out the attack. Beslan siege 2004 September - More than 330 people, many of them children, killed when siege at school in North Ossetia ends in bloodbath. President Putin blames international terrorists with links to Chechen separatists. Their leader Aslan Maskhadov condemns the seizure but says it was carried out by "madmen" motivated by a desire to seek revenge for Russian actions against their own loved ones in Chechnya. Mr Putin announces scrapping of direct election of regional governors and plan for them to be Kremlin appointees. About 330 pupils and adults died in explosions, gun battles. | About 330 pupils and adults died in Beslan siege | 2004 December - State oil firm Rosneft buys Yuganskneftegaz. 2005 January - At least 20 die in violent incidents in North Caucasus republics of Ingushetia, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria as Russian security forces raid houses in what they describe as operations to capture Chechen separatist fighters. Some observers blame heavy-handed tactics for the deaths. Changes to the benefits system spark protests by thousands of pensioners in many parts of Russia. 2005 February - Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov calls ceasefire and urges the Russian authorities to agree to peace talks. The official Chechen leadership dismisses his overtures and says he should give himself up. Government is embarrassed by but easily survives confidence vote called by communist and nationalist opposition over its handling of benefits reform. Moscow and Tehran sign agreement by which Russia will supply fuel for Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor and Iran will send spent fuel rods back to Russia. 2005 March - Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov killed in operation by Russian forces. | Late Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov | 2005 May - Billionnaire former Yukos oil boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky is sentenced to nine years in prison over charges including tax evasion and fraud. He appeals but succeeds only in having sentence cut by a year. He is later sent to serve it in a Siberian penal colony. 2005 June - State gains control of Gazprom gas giant by increasing its stake in the company to over 50%. Russia withdraws from border treaty signed with Estonia after the Estonian parliament introduces reference to Soviet occupation before ratifying. At least 10 Russian servicemen die in bomb blast in Dagestani capital, Makhachkala. 2005 July - About 15 people killed as armoured police vehicle blown up north of Chechen capital. 2005 August - Seven submariners rescued after their craft spends 76 hours trapped on the seabed. Russia thanks UK rescue team. 2005 September - Russia and Germany sign major deal to build gas pipeline under Baltic Sea between the two countries.Gazprom gains overwhelming control of Sibneft oil company by buying out businessman Roman Abramovich for 13 billion dollars. Caucasus clashes 2005 October - Dozens are killed during clashes between police and militants in Nalchik, the capital of the North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev issues statement saying he was in overall command of rebel forces. | Russia cut gas supplies to Ukraine, citing market rules | 2006 January - Russia briefly cuts supply of gas for Ukrainian use in row over prices. Moscow says its reasons are purely economic but Kiev says they are political. Putin signs controversial law giving authorities extensive new powers to monitor the activities of non-governmental organisations and suspend them if they are found to pose a threat. 2006 February - At least a dozen Chechen rebel fighters and several members of Russian security forces killed in gun battle in village in Stavropol region, just across border from Chechnya. Roof collapses at a food market in Moscow, killing up to 65 people. Many of the dead are Azerbaijani immigrants. 2006 March - President Putin visits Beijing and signs range of economic agreements, including deal on future supply of Russian gas to China. 2006 June - Four Russian diplomats kidnapped and killed in Iraq by insurgents demanding Russian withdrawal from Chechnya. President Putin orders security services to find and "destroy" the killers. 2006 July - Rouble becomes convertible currency. Russia's most-wanted man, Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev, is killed in what the security services describe as a special operation. Yukos oil company mounts legal challenge as Russia's state oil firm Rosneft floated on London stock exchange. | Murdered reporter Anna Politkovskaya exposed Chechnya abuses | 2006 August - Russian plane crashes north of the Ukrainian city of Donetsk, killing all 170 on board. Three students charged with racially-motivated crime after bomb at Moscow market kills 11 people, mostly Central Asian. 2006 September - Bar brawl in Karelian town of Kondopoga in which two Russians die escalates into race riots with demands for eviction of all natives of the Caucasus. 25 die in fire at British-owned Siberian gold mine. Senior officers among 11 killed as military helicopter goes down in North Ossetia. Russians blame pilot error. Islamist rebels say they shot it down. Georgia tensions 2006 September-October - Amid tension over Georgia's breakaway regions and its ties with Nato, Moscow's relations with Tbilisi deteriorate sharply when four Russian army officers are briefly detained there on spying charges. Russia imposes sanctions and expels hundreds of Georgians whom it accuses of being illegal immigrants. | Russia shut off oil supply to Europe during Belarus row | 2006 November - Former Russian security service officer Aleksandr Litvinenko, an outspoken critic of the Kremlin living in exile in London, dies there after being poisoned by a radioactive substance.2006 December - After tense negotiations during which Moscow threatened to cut supplies to Belarus, new gas deal signed with Minsk more than doubling the price and phasing in further increases over next four years. 2007 January - Russia cuts supply along oil export pipeline through Belarus to Europe amidst row with Minsk over taxation and allegations of illegal siphoning of oil. The dispute is resolved after Belarus cancels a transit tax and Russia agrees to cut oil export duties. 2007 March - Dozens detained as riot police break up St Petersburg protest by demonstrators accusing President Putin of stifling democracy. 2007 April - Police in central Moscow prevent opposition activists from holding a banned rally against President Putin. Former President Yeltsin dies. Row with Estonia after Estonian authorities relocate a Soviet World War II monument in the capital Tallinn. 2007 May - Russia test fires a long-distance missile. President Putin talks of a new arms race, with the US planning to expand its missile defences into Eastern Europe. 2007 June - President Putin suggests Russia and the US resolve their dispute over missile defence by developing a joint shield which would use the Qabala radar station in Azerbaijan. 2007 July - Diplomatic row between London and Moscow over Britain's bid for the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi, an ex-KGB agent accused of Mr Litvinenko's murder. 2007 August - Russia mounts an Arctic expedition apparently aimed at expanding its territorial claims.
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