Russia-US ties 'more important' than Snowden scandal: Putin President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Moscow's relations with Washington outweighed the "squabbles" over a spying scandal revealed by US fugitive Edward Snowden, who has applied for asylum in Russia.
Russia puts Putin's opponents on trial As a judge prepares to give his verdict Thursday in the fraud trial of Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny, a growing number of President Vladimir Putin's opponents are facing trial and the prospect of long prison terms.