Russian gas monopoly Gazprom paid $625 mln on Wednesday to acquire an additional 12.5% stake in Beltransgaz, bringing its total share in the Belarusian gas transport company to 50%.

RIA Novosti

A Moscow court requalified into a political murder the killing of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova, who were gunned down by suspected neo-Nazis, a source familiar with the investigation said.

The inauguration of Ukrainian president elect Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday will be attended by 11 heads of state and 15 foreign ministers, the country's UNIAN news agency said on Wednesday.

The next Russia-EU Summit will take place in Rostov-on-Don on May 31 and June 1, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Ukraine will pay for Russian natural gas supplies in February on time, the former Soviet state's acting finance minister said on Wednesday.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will attend the inauguration of Viktor Yanukovych as president of Ukraine, a source in the Moscow Patriarchate said on Friday.

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikroski will call for his European colleagues on Monday to develop a road map for the introduction of a EU visa-free travel regime for Ukrainian citizens, the Brussels-based Contact radio station said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who lost the presidential vote earlier this month, called on her coalition in parliament on Monday to stand united.