Kavkaz

MOSCOW  – Poland and the Czech Republic could become targets for the Russian military if they agree to host elements of a U.S. missile defense system, Russian news agencies quoted a senior Russian lawmaker as saying on Monday.

SOCHI, Russia – Vladimir Putin’s chosen candidate for next month’s presidential election seized the opportunity to emphasize the continuity of power at an event on Sunday in Russia’s future Winter Olympics capital.

MOSCOW – Europe’s main election watchdog warned Russia on Wednesday it would not monitor a presidential vote next month unless Moscow eased restrictions on its work.

MOSCOW – Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday said Europe’s main election watchdog was seeking to sabotage plans for monitoring the March 2 presidential election.

MOSCOW – Russia on Friday sent 12 air force bombers to take part in naval exercises over the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, Itar-Tass news agency quoted a spokesman for Russia’s air force as saying.

BRUSSELS – The European Union is keeping any doubts over the fairness of Russia’s March 2 election to itself to avoid needlessly antagonizing its large neighbor at a delicate time in their ties, analysts and diplomats say.

MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin’s chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, will win 71 percent of the votes in March’s Russian presidential election, state-owned pollster VTsIOM predicted on Thursday.

MOSCOW – Europe’s election watchdog complained on Tuesday of “serious restrictions” in the invitation it has received to monitor Russia’s March 2 presidential poll.

PENZA, Russia – Who looks like President Vladimir Putin, speaks and moves like Putin — but is not the man himself? Step forward Dmitry Medvedev, Putin’s chosen successor for the top Kremlin job.

MOSCOW – Russia warned the United States and European Union on Monday that it would take a series of unidentified measures if Serbia’s breakaway province of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence.