Stories from Moscow · Russia

Bitcoin price broke the $70,000 mark for the first time since the beginning of the year. VTB Group head called for accelerated legalization of the cryptocurrency market in Russia, though Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina did not support using cryptocurrency for payments. This price increase is being felt at service stations across the Greater Montreal area as well. The report follows discussions regarding government negotiations and regional economic rebuilding. The development follows recent negotiations involving federal officials including Dominique Leblanc and Chrystia Freeland.

Russia stated its readiness to support a diplomatic process aimed at establishing long-term peace in the Middle East. This position was released by the Russian Foreign Ministry following telephone discussions between Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The talks, held on Smolenskaya Square, also addressed regional stabilization prospects. Russia expressed support for ongoing mediation efforts regarding the Middle East situation. Russian and Iranian foreign ministers discussed the Iranian nuclear issue and the passage of Russian cargo vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. During discussions at Smolenskaya Square, officials discussed prospects for stabilization. The two officials exchanged views on achieving a comprehensive cessation of military conflicts and stabilizing the regional political and military landscape.

Retail sales of shashlik (kebab) in Russia fell by 10 percent in April compared to the previous year. The decline is attributed to cold weather and reduced consumer activity. This represents a sharp contrast to the spring of 2025, when sales growth reached 30 percent. Business owners may face losses if demand does not recover during the May holidays. The source noted that Rosstat does not publish detailed statistics to verify Bloomberg data regarding production increases.

A Russian production of the series Very Strange Cases is scheduled for premiere in early December. The cast includes Philip Kirkorov, Timur Batrudinov, and Andrey Gaidulyan. The plot follows characters pursuing a villain into his kingdom.

The Moscow Exchange aims to begin cryptocurrency operations starting in 2027. This follows calls from Kostin to accelerate the legalization of the cryptocurrency market in Russia.

Krylia Sovetov defeated Spartak 2-1 during the 28th round of the Russian Premier League (RPL). Goals for Krylia Sovetov were scored by Pechenin and Stanya, while Galad scored for Spartak. The victory moved Krylia Sovetov to tenth place and out of the playoff zone. Defender Ilza Tahmetov was hospitalized with a concussion during the match. Krylia Sovetov won 2-1 with goals from Pechenin and Gald, moving the team to tenth place. Constantinov scored the winning goal for Krylya Sovetov. One player from Spartak was hospitalized following the match. The victory was secured by a goal from Konstantin Pechentin. The win allowed Krylia Sovetov to move out of the relegation play-off zone. Spartak Moscow achieved a comeback victory in a match, scoring an equalizer in the 64th minute. Manfred Ugalde scored the goal after receiving a pass from Igor Dmitriev.

Russagro representatives signed a sale agreement for 85 percent of the shares of the NSP law bureau.

Russagro shares on the MOEX exchange fluctuated on Friday, dropping 3.5% before recovering to exceed opening prices. This volatility follows a multi-billion dollar lawsuit filed by the Russian government against the company's founder.

Russian companies are increasingly utilizing leasing schemes for Chinese-made crossover vehicles, according to Yuri Ten, General Director of Terminal A.

Reports indicate that 12 million migrants currently reside in the Russian Federation. The source noted this figure in the context of labor shortages and market imbalances. The statement also touched upon the perceived division within the Russian population.