The head of the Moscow-backed research group the New Eurasia Foundation, Andrei Kortunov, says it is no surprise Mr.Medvedev introduced the measure.

VOA: standard.2009.10.15

The head of the country's Free and Fair Election Foundation, Nader Nadery,tells VOA his group's observers reported that the two men were attacked by the Taliban on Election Day.

VOA: standard.2009.08.22

Liliya Shibanova is head of the independent Russian monitoring group,Golos.

VOA: standard.2010.02.01

China's announcement that it is resuming yuan reform comes as economic policy makers from the Group of 20 nations representing the world's most important economies head for their summit this week-end in Canada.

VOA: standard.2010.06.21