29 August: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has set the date of the elections for the Russian State Duma for 4 December. The President announced the date at a meeting with the leaders of all seven registered political parties in Sochi this morning. (IRia
Minority foundations have 12 months to apply, with the Foundations Assembly set to review each case before making the final decision to return the property to its rightful owner
28 August: The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has said that it has the situation under control after a dyke on the River Sunzha broke and more than two thousand people had to be evacuated from Grozny's Oktoberskaya District in Chechnya (Ita
27 August: There will not be a second round in the Presidential elections in Abkhazia as the front runner, Alexander Ankvab has been declared winner with nearly 55% of the vote (Ria-Novosti)
Ankvab represents continuity. His election indicates lingering concerns amongst residents of Abkhazia about the future, despite Russian support and reassurances.