January 11, 2009. Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek arrived at Ukraine to resolve gas dispute. Mirek Topolanek arrived at Ukraine in an attempt to get Kiev to sign a deal aimed at ending Russia`s natural gas embargo to Europe Pictured: Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolianek (l) with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (r)
 

December 31, 2008. Former Kremlin`s adviser Andrey Illarionov (pictured) criticizes Kremlin`s economic course at the press conference held in Moscow. Andrey Illarionov , a Russian libertarian economist and former economic policy advisor to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. He currently works as a senior fellow in the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity at the Cato Institute in Washington, DC
 

December 27, 2008. Abrau Dyurso Crimean vineyards . Throughout the Soviet period, Abrau-Dyurso was reputed for its sparkling wine, which was marketed under the name of Sovetskoye Shampanskoye (` Soviet Champagne `), or `champagne for the people`. As of 2005, the local winery produced 5,800,000 bottles of champagne . Pictured: Abrau-Dyurso boasted champagne cellars
 

December 27, 2008. Russia and Serbia have signed energy deal that will hand Russian energy giant Gazprom control of NIS company, Serbia`s oil monopoly.Gazprom is taking a 51% stake in NIS for 400m euros .Under the deal, Gazprom is to build a gas pipeline through Serbia and an underground gas storage facility there. Pictured: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (r) and Serbian President Boris Tadic (l) signed the agreement in Moscow.
 

December 24, 2008. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (pictured) at the press conference in Kiev claims that Ukraine had resolved its gas dispute with Moscow but russian gas giant Gazprom denies Kiev gas debt paid. On Tuesday, December 23 Viktor Yushchenko said Ukraine had used its foreign currency reserves to pay off some of the debt it owes for Russian gas. He said the remainder had been restructured. `A total of $US 800 million was paid from the reserve funds [of Ukraine`s National Bank] and more than $US 200 million was transferred from Naftogaz profits, and a part of the debt was restructured for January-February,` Yushchenko said.`So the issue has been resolved for today,` he said. But Gazprom has disputed the claims. `Such statements surprise us very much,` Gazprom official representative Kupriyanov said.
 

December 23, 2008. Klaus Roland , Country Director (Russia) for the World Bank at the press conference in Moscow
 

December 19, 2008. Official representative of Russian gas company Gazprom Sergei Kupryanov (not pictured) says at the press conference in Moscow that Russia may cut gas supplies to Ukraine on 1 January if a continuing dispute over pricing has not been resolved. Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev (pictured) also warns Ukraine at the same press conference in Moscow
 

December 17, 2008. Moscow . Presentation of first russian made series-produced sports car `Marussia`. `Marussia` sports car has a look of a smooth Lamborghini, the color of a Cayenne Sport, a girl`s name Marussia , and 240 horsepower.
 

November 28, 2008. Millionaire Fair in Moscow. Millionaire Fair – world`s leading luxury fair. Pictured: modern design Schimmel piano
 

November 27, 2008. Thierry Nataf, the president of Zenith talks about the brand`s latest watches and presents ZENITH watches in Moscow
 

November 21, 2008. `Russian IT Industry` Conference in Moscow. Pictured: Microsoft Corp. vice president Dan`l Lewin (r) and Microsoft Russsia CEO Birger Sten (l) at the conference in Moscow
 

November 15, 2008. US Dollars and Euro - damaged reputation
 

November 14, 2008. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev delivers a speech in Cannes, southern France, during a meeting gathering business people, ahead of a Russia-EU summit in nearby Nice on November 14. Medvedev said that Russia and the European Union would be able to `speak with one voice` on the financial crisis at a summit in Washington this weekend
 

November 13, 2008. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the meeting with activists of agrarian movement of Russia to discuss russian agrarian sector
 

November 10, 2008. Shushary , Leningrad region. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hailed a new General Motors plant as a sign of strengthening economic relations with the United States. The new factory, which cost $300 million to build on the outskirts of Russia`s second city St. Petersburg, will produce 70,000 cars annually.