Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed constitutional changes on Wednesday that would give him scope to extend his grip on power after leaving the presidency, and picked a new prime minister after Dmitry Medvedev and his cabinet stepped down.
The Russian band Pussy Riot ignited a storm of controversy for its protest performance in a Russian cathedral. Arrested and eventually convicted, a trio of band members were sentenced to two year in prison. But Wednesday, a Russian court suspended the sentence of one woman.
Russians head to the polls soon to choose a new president — who will likely be an old president. Vladimir Putin is expected to win re-election relatively easy, but there’s growing discontent with him and political corruption in Russia, which has sent thousands into the street in protest.