Russia

• ロシア

関

Russian

　 　 　

WordNet

1. a federation in northeastern Europe and northern Asia; formerly Soviet Russia; since 1991 an independent state (同)Russian Federation
2. a former empire in eastern Europe and northern Asia created in the 14th century with Moscow as the capital; powerful in the 17th and 18th centuries under Peter the Great and Catherine the Great when Saint Petersburg was the capital; overthrown by revoluti
3. of or pertaining to or characteristic of Russia or its people or culture or language; "Russian dancing"
4. a native or inhabitant of Russia
5. the Slavic language that is the official language of Russia
6. prickly bushy Eurasian plant; a troublesome weed in central and western United States (同)Russian tumbleweed, Russian cactus, tumbleweed, Salsola kali tenuifolia
7. a cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and milk or cream
8. an administrative agency of the Russian government

PrepTutorEJDIC

1. (帝政)『ロシア』 / 『旧ソ連』
2. 『ロシアの』,『ロシア人』(語)『の』 / (個々の)『ロシア人』,《the Russians》ロシア人[全体];〈U〉ロシア語

Wikipedia preview

出典(authority):フリー百科事典『ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』「2014/08/28 17:18:17」(JST)

wiki ja

[Wiki ja表示]

ロシア連邦

Российская Федерация

（国旗）	（国章）

国の標語：なし

国歌：ロシア連邦国歌

公用語	ロシア語
首都	モスクワ
最大の都市	モスクワ
政府 大統領 ウラジーミル・プーチン 首相 ドミートリー・メドヴェージェフ 面積 総計 17,075,200km2（1位） 水面積率 0.5% 人口 総計（2013年） 143,500,000人（9位） 人口密度 8人/km2 GDP（自国通貨表示） 合計（2008年） 41兆6,680億ロシア・ルーブル GDP（MER） 合計（2011年） 1兆8,570億ドル（9位） GDP（PPP） 合計（2011年） 3兆0,150億ドル（6位） 1人あたり 21,246ドル 建国 モスクワ大公国（ロシア帝国の基礎） 1263年 ロシア・ツァーリ国（ロシア帝国の前身） 1547年1月16日 ロシア帝国 1721年10月22日 ロシア臨時政府（二月革命により成立） 1917年3月16日 ロシア・ソビエト連邦社会主義共和国（十月革命により成立） 1917年11月7日 ロシア連邦（現行） 1991年12月25日
通貨	ロシア・ルーブル（RUB）
時間帯	UTC +2 - +11（DST：+3 - +12）
ISO 3166-1	RU / RUS
ccTLD	.ru, .su, .рф
国際電話番号	7

ロシア連邦（ロシアれんぽう、ロシア語: Российская Федерация）、またはロシア（Россия）は、ユーラシア大陸北部に位置する大統領制の連邦共和制国家。首都はモスクワ。ロシア・ツァーリ国、ロシア帝国、ソビエト連邦の継承国とみなされている。

概説

世界最大の面積をもつ国土はヨーロッパとアジアにまたがり、北西から順にグリーンランド（デンマーク自治領）、ノルウェー、フィンランド、エストニア、ラトビア、ベラルーシ、リトアニア、ポーランド（リトアニア、ポーランドとの国境はバルト海とリトアニアに囲まれた飛び地領であるカリーニングラード州である）、ウクライナ、グルジア、アゼルバイジャン、カザフスタン、中国、モンゴル、北朝鮮、日本、アメリカ、カナダと陸上または海上で国境を接し、北は北極海、東は太平洋に囲まれている。

なお、右図に示すロシアの領土（実効支配地域）は概ね国際的に承認されたものだが、ロシア政府はこれに加えてウクライナ南部のクリミア半島を実効支配し、自国領とみなしている。また、日本政府は北方領土の領有権を主張し、それ以外の千島列島および南樺太は帰属未定としている。

国名

詳細は「ルーシ (地名)」を参照

正式名称はРоссийская Федерация（ラテン文字転写: Rossíjskaja Federácija、ラスィーイスカヤ・フィヂラーツィヤ、IPA: [rɐˈsʲijskəjə fʲɪdʲɪˈratsɨjə]  発音）、またはРоссия（Rossíja、ラスィーヤ、[rɐˈsʲijə]  発音）。これはそれぞれ日本語表記のロシア連邦、ロシアに相当するが、憲法で双方とも正式名称であるとされている。略称はРФ (RF)。

キリル文字のラテン文字転写、ロシア語のカタカナ表記にはいずれも多数の方式、表記があり、ここにあげたものは一例である（本記事の以下の転写も同じ）。

日本語表記は以前はよりロシア語名に近いロシヤと書かれることが少なくなかったが、1980年代頃からギリシャ語風の（つまり他のヨーロッパ諸国の名称に合わせた）ロシアという表記が完全に主流となった。なお1991年（平成3年）の内閣告示『外来語の表記』には、細則的な事項として「イ列・エ列の音の次のアの音に当たるものは、原則として「ア」と書く。」とあり、これに従った場合の表記はロシアになる。現代日本語の漢字表記は露西亜で、略称は露。江戸時代にはオロシャ、をろしやとも呼ばれた。これは、中国語の「俄羅斯」及びモンゴル語のОрос（オロス）に近い呼び名である。日本の江戸時代から戦前にかけては魯西亜という表記が主流で、1855年に江戸幕府とロシア帝国の間で初めて結ばれた条約は「日本国魯西亜国通好条約」という名称になった。この漢字表記について1877年（明治10年）にロシア領事館から「魯は魯鈍（愚かなこと・様子）を連想させる」との抗議をうけた当時の日本政府は、ロシア側の希望を容れ表記を露西亜とした。だが露の字も「日（＝日本）が昇ると露（ろ・つゆ）は消える」というマイナスイメージがあることから、この様な表記の変更をあえて受け入れたことに当時の対ロシア観があらわれているとする見方もある。

ロシアの国名は、現在のロシア北西部とウクライナ、ベラルーシにあたるルーシという国家のギリシア語の発音によって生まれた名前である。この名は、ルーシの北東の辺境地に起こったモスクワ大公国がルーシ北東地域を統合し、“ルーシの遺産の争い”をめぐってリトアニア大公国と対立していた16世紀のイヴァン4世（雷帝）の頃に使われ始め、自称に留まったロシア・ツァーリ国を経て、18世紀初頭のピョートル1世（大帝）がロシア皇帝（インペラートル）と称したことにより対外的にも正式の国名となった。

ルーシのギリシャ語風名称としてのロシア（正確には「ローシア」）という語はかつてのルーシの諸地域を指し、ルーシ北西部を「大ロシア」現在の西ウクライナあるいは中・南部ウクライナを「小ロシア」と呼んだ。ベラルーシも「白ロシア」という意味である。しかし、小国の乱立したルーシ地域では早くからウクライナやベラルーシの人々とロシアの人々との間には異なった民族意識が醸成されていった。結果、これらの国々はロシア帝国の崩壊後別々の国家を樹立し、再統合されたソ連邦下でも別々の共和国とされ、ソ連邦の解体に際しては別々に独立することとなった。別の観点から言うと、ロシアはキエフ・ルーシ時代、その大公権に属するモスクワ公国という小さな一部分に過ぎなかったが、ジョチ・ウルスの時代に征服者モンゴルとうまく協調したこと（税金を進んでモンゴルに納めたこと等）や、隣国を破って旧キエフ・ルーシの東側領土の大半を影響下に収めたこと、帝政時代の極東への進出と拡張により大国となった。その権力の正統性を説明するため、モスクワは東ローマ帝国からローマの威信も受け継いだという学説も考案された。こうしたことから、モスクワ大公国は「偉大なルーシ」の権力を継ぐ国家であると自称するようになり、なおかつヨーロッパ国家の一員であるという考えから公式にギリシャ風の「ロシア」を国号として用いるようになった。

歴史

詳細は「ロシアの歴史」を参照

古代・中世

現在のロシア人は様々な民族の混血によって成立しているのでその起源をひとつに絞ることはできないが、国家や文化、言語の変遷において「ロシア民族」の祖となる人々は、北東ルーシと呼ばれる地域に古くから居住していた。その地に暮らした東スラヴ系の諸部族はフィン系の民族と隣接しており、言語や文化、習慣において大きな影響を受けた。やがてその多くは同化し、ほかの地域の東スラヴ人とは異なる文化を築いていった。遺伝子的に白人のロシア人には、先住民であるモンゴロイドの遺伝子は見られないとされる。

アレクサンドル・ネフスキー

北東ルーシには、ノルマン人ではないかと推測されている、民族系統不明の人々「ヴァリャーグ」が進出しており、交易や略奪、やがては入植を行った。862年にはヴァリャーグの長リューリクが大ノヴゴロドの公となり、町は東ローマ帝国との貿易拠点として発展した。後代に書かれた原初年代記には、リューリクの一族が東スラヴ人の居住地域に支配を広げていったと記録される。9世紀後半にヴァリャーグはドニエプル地方に拠点を移した。そのため、それから13世紀にかけてのルーシの中心は、現在はウクライナの首都となっているキエフであり、現在のロシアの中心である北東ルーシはむしろ辺境化し、モスクワの街もまだ歴史には登場していなかった。ヴァリャーグの支配者層を含めてスラヴ化したキエフ大公国は、9世紀に東ローマ帝国から東西教会分裂以後に正教会となる東方のキリスト教とギリシャ文化を受容し、独特の文化を育んだが、13世紀初頭にモンゴルによって征服され、キプチャク・ハン国の支配下に入った。その混乱の中で、それまでキエフにあった府主教座はウラジーミル・ザレースキイへ移された。

イヴァン雷帝

数多くいるルーシ諸公のひとりに過ぎなかったモスクワ公は、モンゴル支配下でルーシ諸公がハンに納める貢納を取りまとめる役を請け負うことで次第に実力をつけ、15世紀にキプチャク・ハン国の支配を実質的に脱してルーシの統一を押し進めた。府主教座もモスクワへ遷座した。国家は独立性の高い大公国となった。のち、モスクワ大公はイヴァン3世のときツァーリ（皇帝）の称号を名乗り、その支配領域はロシア・ツァーリ国と自称するようになった。ただし、国内の生産力は低く、西欧諸国からは異質の存在と見られており、侮蔑を込めて「モスコーヴィヤ」（モスクワ地方）と呼ばれていた。16世紀にイヴァン4世（雷帝）が近代化と皇帝集権化、シベリア進出などの領土拡大を進めたが、彼の死後はその専制政治を嫌っていた大貴族の抗争で国内が大混乱（動乱時代）に陥った。モスクワ大公国の主要貴族（ボヤーレ）たちはツァーリの宮廷の権威をないがしろにし、士族民主主義の確立していたポーランド・リトアニア共和国を慕った。この民主派のボヤーレたちはこともあろうにポーランド・リトアニア共和国とモスクワ大公国との連邦構想さえ打ち立て、ツァーリ専制を嫌っていた農民や商人をまとめ上げ、さらには共和国軍をモスクワ領内に招き入れてツァーリ派と戦い、共和国軍とともにモスクワを占領するという売国行為に及んだのである。いっぽう、ツァーリ派の貴族や商人たちは政商ストロガノフ家の援助でニジニ・ノヴゴロドにおいて義勇軍を組織した。義勇軍側は、モスクワ政策を巡ってローマ・カトリック主義のポーランド国王兼リトアニア大公が信教自由主義のポーランド・リトアニア共和国議会と激しく対立していたことを絶好の機会とし、「反ローマ・カトリック闘争」の形で急速に数を増していった。そしてついに1612年、ドミートリー・ポジャールスキーとクジマ・ミーニンの指揮のもと、モスクワ市内のクレムリンに駐屯していた共和国軍の治安部隊を包囲攻撃、11月1日までにこれを一人残らず玉砕に追い込むことに成功、モスクワを解放したのであった。この、民主派に対するツァーリ派、およびローマ・カトリックに対するロシア正教会の完全なる大勝利は、現在でも国民の祝日となっているのである（11月4日）。ここで中世ロシアは終わり、ロマノフ朝の成立とともに近代ロシアが始まることになる。

ロシア帝国

詳細は「ロシア帝国」を参照

ロシア帝国初代皇帝、ピョートル1世

1613年にロマノフ朝が成立すると、大貴族と農奴制に支えられ、封建色の強い帝国の発展が始まった。17世紀末から18世紀初頭にかけて、ピョートル1世（大帝）は急速な西欧化・近代化政策を強行し、新首都サンクトペテルブルクの建設（1703年）、大北方戦争（1700年 - 1721年）での勝利を経てロシア帝国の基盤を築いた。彼の時から正式に皇帝（インペラートル）の称号を使用し、西欧諸国からも認められた。1762年に即位したエカチェリーナ2世はオスマン帝国との露土戦争（1768年 - 1774年、1787年 - 1792年）に勝利すると共に、ポーランド分割に参加し、欧州での影響力を増加させた。彼女の治世においてロシアはウクライナとクリミア・ハン国を併合し、名実ともに「帝国」となった。また、大黒屋光太夫が彼女に謁見したことにより、アダム・ラクスマンが日本に派遣（詳細は「北槎聞略」参照）され日露関係史が実質的に始まった。

アレクサンドル1世の治世において1803年に勃発したナポレオン戦争に参戦し、1812年にはナポレオン・ボナパルト指揮のフランス帝国軍に侵攻されたが、大損害を負いながらもこれを撃退し、戦後はポーランド立憲王国やフィンランド大公国を支配して、神聖同盟の一員としてウィーン体制を維持する欧州の大国となった。国内でのデカブリストの乱やポーランド反乱などの自由主義・分離主義運動は厳しく弾圧された。

1831年に始まるエジプト・トルコ戦争以降は、ロシアの南下政策を阻むイギリスとの対立が激化し、中央アジア、アフガニスタン、ガージャール朝ペルシア（現在のイラン）を巡って、露英両国の駆け引きが続いた（グレート・ゲーム）。1853年に勃発したクリミア戦争ではイギリス・フランス連合軍に敗北し、帝国の工業や政治、軍事全般の後進性が明確になった。1861年に皇帝アレクサンドル2世は農奴解放令を発布し、近代的改革への道を開いたが、農村改革や工業化のテンポは遅く、ナロードニキによる農村啓蒙運動も政府の弾圧を受けた。政治的自由化の遅れへの不満は無政府主義者による皇帝暗殺にまで発展した。この時期、極東ではアロー戦争の仲介料として沿海州を清から獲得しウラジオストクを建設した。

19世紀末には、ロシアはそれまでのドイツ・オーストリアとの三帝同盟からフランスとの露仏同盟に外交の軸足を移し、汎スラヴ主義によるバルカン半島での南下を極東での南下政策と平行させた。フランス資本の参加によりシベリア鉄道の建設が行われている。1904年に日本との間で日露戦争が始まったが、1905年に血の日曜日事件など一連の革命騒動が発生し、ポーツマス条約を結んで敗れると、戦後の1907年にロシアはイギリスと英露協商、日本と日露協約を締結し、三国協商に立ってドイツやオーストリアと対立した。国内ではドゥーマ（国会）の開設やピョートル・ストルイピンによる改革が行われたが、皇帝ニコライ2世の消極的姿勢もあって改革は頓挫し、帝国の弱体化は急速に進行した。その中で、都市部の労働者を中心に社会主義運動が高揚した。

ソビエト連邦

詳細は「ソビエト連邦」および「ソ連型社会主義」を参照

ウラジーミル・レーニンはボリシェヴィキを指導し、ソビエト連邦を建国した。

1914年に勃発した第一次世界大戦では連合国の一員としてドイツ・オーストリアの中央同盟国と開戦したが、敗北を重ねて領土奥深くまで侵攻された。第一次世界大戦中の1917年2月に起こったロシア革命でロマノフ王朝は倒された。革命後、旧帝国領土には数多の国家が乱立し、外国の干渉軍も加わって激しいロシア内戦となった。1917年11月7日には十月革命でロシア社会民主労働党ボリシェヴィキ政権が樹立され、そのトップとなったウラジーミル・レーニンはポーランド・バルト三国・フィンランドの独立承認で帝国の西方領土の一部を手放した後、ボリシェビキを改称したロシア共産党を率いて内戦に勝利し、1922年の年の瀬にソ連共産党の一党独裁によるソビエト連邦を建国した。旧ロシア帝国領の大部分を引き継いだソ連を構成する4共和国（その後15まで増加）のうち、ロシア人が多数派を占める大部分の地域はロシア・ソビエト連邦社会主義共和国となった。ソビエト連邦とロシア連邦共和国の首都がサンクトペテルブルクからモスクワへと約200年ぶりに復され、同時にサンクトペテルブルクはレニングラードに改称された。ロシア連邦共和国内に居住する少数民族については、その人口数などに応じて自治共和国、自治州、民族管区などが設定され、事実上ロシア連邦共和国とは異なる統治体制をとった。

ソビエト体制でのロシア連邦共和国は他の連邦加盟共和国と同格とされたが、面積・人口とも他の共和国を圧倒していたロシアでは事実上連邦政府と一体となった統治が行われた。ソ連共産党内に「ロシア共産党」は創設されず、第二次世界大戦後の国際連合でもウクライナや白ロシア（現在のベラルーシ）と異なり単独での加盟が認められなかった。

1930年代の世界恐慌で多くの資本主義国が不況に苦しむ中、ソビエト連邦はその影響を受けず、レーニンの後を継いだスターリン独裁的な主導の下で農業集団化と重工業化が断行され、高い経済成長を達成した。しかし、その実態は農民からの強制的の収奪にもとづく閉鎖的な工業化であった。農村弾圧の結果、特にウクライナやロシア南西部では大飢饉が発生した。その歪みが政治的な粛清と強制収容所の拡大など恐怖にもとづく支配をもたらす結果となった。

1939年9月の第二次世界大戦勃発直前に一時ナチス・ドイツとモロトフ・リッベントロップ協定を結んで協調し、ポーランド第二共和国をソ連・ポーランド不可侵条約を一方的に破棄して侵攻し、ポーランドを占領、冬戦争でフィンランドにも圧迫を加え、1939年12月の理事会において国際連盟から除名された。1940年にはバルト三国を併合してソビエト連邦の一部とし、さらにルーマニアからベッサラビア地方を割譲させた。1941年6月には独ソ不可侵条約を一方的に破棄したナチス・ドイツのヒトラーに突如攻め込まれて西部の広大な地域を占領され、危険な状況に陥った。しかし、1942年初頭に首都モスクワの攻防に成功した後、英米をはじめとする連合国の助力もあってスターリングラード攻防戦及びクルスクの戦いを境に1943年後半には反攻に転じて独ソ戦の主導権を握り最終的には大戦に勝利し、更にポーランド東半、ドイツ、ルーマニア、フィンランド、チェコスロバキアの一部などを併合して、西に大きく領土を広げた。極東方面では、1945年8月に日本との日ソ中立条約を一方的に破棄して参戦。満州国やサハリン南部、千島、朝鮮北部に侵攻して占領した。戦後は新領土内の非ロシア人の住民を追放し、ロシア人などを入植させる国内移住政策が進められた。特にエストニアやラトヴィアなどではロシア人の比率が急増し、ソビエト連邦解体後の民族問題の原因となった。旧ドイツ領のカリーニングラード州でもロシア人の比率が急増して8割以上を占めるようになった。1946年には旧ドイツ領の東プロイセンの北部をカリーニングラード州、日本に侵攻して占領したサハリン島南部（南樺太）とクリル列島（千島列島、歯舞群島・色丹島を含む）全域を南サハリン州として編入した（南サハリン州は1947年にサハリン州に吸収）。一方、1954年には黒海沿岸のクリミア半島（クリミア州）がウクライナに割譲され、ロシア連邦共和国の領土は現在のロシア連邦にあたる領域になった。

日本はサンフランシスコ講和条約で一部領土を放棄したものの、千島列島南部の北方領土の返還を要求。それ以外の千島列島および南樺太はロシア領土ではなく帰属未定地となっている。なお、ロシア（当時はソ連）はサンフランシスコ講和条約に調印していない。

戦後、ソ連は強大なソ連軍の軍事力を背景に1949年の北大西洋条約機構（NATO）結成に対抗して1955年にワルシャワ条約機構（WTO）を結成し、東ドイツ、ポーランド、チェコスロバキア、ハンガリー、ルーマニア、ブルガリアなどの東欧諸国を衛星国として東側諸国の盟主となり、自国と同様の人民民主主義体制を強要して世界の二大超大国の一つとしてアメリカ合衆国を盟主とする西側諸国と冷戦を繰り広げた。しかし、既に1948年にはバルカン半島にてチトー主義下のユーゴスラビア社会主義連邦共和国がソ連から離反しており、1956年のフルシチョフ第一書記によるスターリン批判後は自由主義陣営との平和共存路線を進めたが、このスターリン批判により衛星国であったハンガリー人民共和国でハンガリー動乱が発生し、さらに自由主義国との妥協を批判する毛沢東が率いていた中華人民共和国や毛沢東思想に共鳴するアルバニア人民共和国の離反を招くなど、新スターリン主義によるソ連の指導性は揺らいだ（中ソ対立）。1965年にブレジネフ書記長が主導権を握った後、ベトナム戦争にてアメリカ合衆国と戦うホー・チ・ミン率いる北ベトナムを支援したが、ブレジネフ在任中の1968年には衛星国であったチェコスロバキア社会主義共和国で「プラハの春」が始まり、翌1969年にはかねてから対立していた中華人民共和国と珍宝島/ダマンスキー島を巡って中ソ国境紛争を戦うなど、共産圏に於けるソ連の指導性はさらに揺らぎ、1970年代に入ると計画経済の破綻等から次第に共産主義の矛盾が露呈していった。1979年から1989年にかけてアフガニスタンを侵略した。この際ソ連軍がアフガニスタンの大統領官邸を急襲し、最高指導者ハフィーズッラー・アミーンと警護隊を皆殺害するというテロ行為（嵐333号作戦）を行っている。1985年にソ連の指導者となったミハイル・ゴルバチョフは冷戦を終結させる一方、ソ連を延命させるためペレストロイカとグラスノスチを掲げて改革に取り組んだものの、かえって各地で民族主義が噴出し、共産党内の対立が激化した。

党内抗争に敗れた改革派のボリス・エリツィンはソ連体制内で機能が形骸化していたロシア・ソビエト連邦社会主義共和国を自らの権力基盤として活用し、1990年に最高会議議長となると、同年6月12日にロシア共和国と改称して主権宣言を行い、翌年にはロシア共和国大統領に就任した。1991年のソ連8月クーデターではエリツィンが鎮圧に活躍し、連邦を構成していた共和国は、そろって連邦を脱退していった。同年12月25日にはソ連大統領ミハイル・ゴルバチョフが辞任し、ソビエト連邦は崩壊した。

ロシア連邦

ソ連崩壊により成立した国々

1.アルメニア、2.アゼルバイジャン、3.ベラルーシ、4.エストニア、5.グルジア、6.カザフスタン、7.キルギス、8.ラトビア、9.リトアニア、10.モルドバ、11.ロシア、12.タジキスタン、13.トルクメニスタン、14.ウクライナ、15.ウズベキスタン

詳細は「ロシア連邦の歴史」を参照

成立と脱共産化

1991年12月25日、ソビエト連邦崩壊とともにロシア連邦が成立し、エリツィンが初代大統領に就任した。また、ソビエト連邦崩壊により世界規模のアメリカの覇権が成立し、当時はこれを歴史の終わりと見る向きも現れた。

ロシア連邦は、ソ連構成国の連合体である独立国家共同体 (CIS/СНГ) 加盟国のひとつとなった。ロシア連邦は、ソビエト連邦が有していた国際的な権利（国連の常任理事国など）や国際法上の関係を基本的に継承し、大国としての影響力を保持している。

国名は1992年5月、ロシア連邦条約により、国名が現在のロシア連邦と最終確定した（ロシア連邦への国名変更は、ゴルバチョフ・ソ連大統領辞任の当日である1991年12月25日、当時のロシア最高会議決議による）。

エリツィン政権下では市場経済の導入が進められたが、急激な移行によってロシア経済は混乱し、長期的な低迷を招いた。その一方で、この時期には「オリガルヒ」と呼ばれる新興財閥が台頭し、政治的にも大きな影響力を持つようになった。1993年には新憲法制定をめぐって激しい政治抗争（10月政変）が起こったものの、同年12月12日には国民投票によってロシア連邦憲法が制定された。1994年から1996年にかけて、ロシア連邦からの独立を目指すチェチェン独立派武装勢力と、それを阻止しようとするロシア連邦軍との間で第一次チェチェン紛争が発生し、一般市民を巻き込んで10万人以上が犠牲になった。1997年5月に和平に向けてハサヴユルト協定が調印され、5年間の停戦が合意された。ところが1999年8月、チェチェン独立派勢力（チェチェン・イチケリア共和国等）と、ロシア人及びロシアへの残留を希望するチェチェン共和国のチェチェン人勢力との間で第二次チェチェン紛争が発生した。当時のプーチン首相の強い指導の下、9月23日にはロシア軍がテロリスト掃討のため再びチェチェンへの空爆を開始し、ハサヴユルト協定は完全に無効となった。

1999年12月8日には、当時のエリツィン大統領と、ベラルーシのアレクサンドル・ルカシェンコ大統領との間で、将来の両国の政治・経済・軍事などの各分野での統合を目指すロシア・ベラルーシ連邦国家創設条約が調印された。しかし、その後、後継大統領に就任したプーチンが、ベラルーシのロシアへの事実上の吸収合併を示唆する発言を繰り返すようになってからは、これに反発するベラルーシ側との対立により、両国の統合は、事実上、停滞状態となっている。

国際地位の向上

ソ連崩壊後の経済成長。GDP (PPP) は1990年代から2000年代で2倍以上に成長している。

2000年に大統領となったプーチンは、国内の安定と政府権力の強化を目指し、ロシア経済を半ば私物化していた新興財閥「オリガルヒ」の解体に乗り出し、石油・ガス会社ガスプロムの国有化をはじめ、親欧米・反政府的なオリガルヒはプーチン時代を通してほぼ一掃された。また、政権初期に頻発したテロの報復としてチェチェンへの軍事作戦を再開するとともに周辺各共和国への締め付けも図った。報道管制も強化し、反政府的な報道機関は露骨な圧力をかけられた。対外的には、上海協力機構を通じて中華人民共和国との関係を強化し、また中央アジア各国とはエネルギー開発の面での協力を強めた。ウクライナで親西欧政権ができると、ガス供給停止措置を採ることで圧力をかけ、間接的にドイツやフランスへの自国の影響力を誇示した。また、就任当初は蜜月と言われた米国との関係も、イラク戦争・イラン核疑惑といった諸問題を扱う中で悪化、米国による東欧のミサイル防衛構想によって冷却化しているが、首脳同士の懇談は頻繁であり、かつての冷戦とは違った様相である。プーチンが行った事業はいずれも強圧的で批判が多いものの、結果的にはロシアの国際的地位を向上させている。これにはプーチン政権発足後から続くエネルギー価格の急騰により、対外債務に苦しんでいたロシアが一転して巨額の外貨準備国となり、世界経済での影響力を急速に回復した事も寄与している。2007年には2014年の冬季オリンピックを南部のソチで開催するソチオリンピックの招致に成功した。

2008年に側近のドミートリー・メドヴェージェフが大統領に就任したが、プーチンも首相として引き続き残留した。同年、メドヴェージェフ大統領下で南オセチア問題を原因とする南オセチア紛争が発生。これはソ連崩壊後、初めての対外軍事行動となっている。これらの行動から国際政治での多極主義を唱えて、ロシアが新たな一極となろうとしていると思われる。事実、「アメリカの裏庭」であるベネズエラ、エクアドルなどの反米的な中南米諸国との関係を強化している（逆にアメリカは「ロシアの裏庭」であるウクライナ、グルジアなどとの関係を強化している）。このように、冷戦終結後の一極主義の維持を目指すアメリカ側と対立する「新冷戦」の開始をもいとわないとも見られ、緊張状態が続いている。

世界金融危機

世界金融危機が表面化した2007年頃から、ロシアの経済を牽引していた新興財閥が打撃を受け、没落の危機に瀕するようになった。また、金融危機に伴い外国資本も一気にロシアを去り、今まで貯め込んだ国のオイルマネーが財界にとっての唯一の頼りとなっている。そして、グルジア紛争以降ロシアの株式市場の株価下落が続いている。それに加え、2008年後半になって原油価格が急落した。こうしたことが原因で2009年にはGDPが1999年以来のマイナス成長となった。ロシアは、世界金融危機で最も経済に打撃を受けた国だと言われている。メドベージェフ政権は危機を乗り越える為、財界の国家による統制を強めているが、政権支持率は低下している。世論調査機関レバダ・センターによると、政権支持率は2008年9月の61%をピークに、2009年4月時点で43%にまで落ちている。また、有力シンクタンク、モスクワ・カーネギーセンターのリリヤ・シェフツォワ上級研究員は、産経新聞と会見（2009年5月）した際、金融危機の進展次第ではプーチン人気が急落し、2012年に大統領選が実施された場合、プーチンが当選するかは疑問との考えを述べている。更に、プーチンが金融危機の責任を取り2009年秋で辞任するという専門家の観測も出ている。しかし、2009年現在、ロシアの連邦議会、多くの地方議会はプーチン派であり、マスコミも政権の強い影響下にある為、プーチン再登板の流れは揺らがないとの見方もある。例として、あるテレビ番組では討論番組と銘打っておきながら実際はプーチン政権の与党「統一ロシア」の宣伝番組であったりしている。新聞も「ノーヴァヤ・ガゼータ」以外の新聞は軒並み政権の強い影響下にある。その為、ロシア以外の欧米諸国とロシア国内の民主化勢力は、ロシアは民主的ではないと批判している。また、ロシア連邦共産党は世界不況を機に支持を伸ばしたい考えだが、プーチン与党の支持基盤は磐石であり、難しいとの見方がある。しかし、2012年のロシア大統領の前哨戦と位置づけられていた2011年ロシア下院選挙で、プーチン与党の統一ロシアが予想外の苦戦をし、磐石と思われていたプーチン体制にほころびも見え始めている。

ウクライナの政変への介入とクリミア半島の編入

2014年ウクライナ騒乱により、財政援助を目的にロシアとの関係を強化していた同国のヴィクトル・ヤヌコーヴィチ大統領が解任されるとロシアのプーチン大統領は反発し、オレクサンドル・トゥルチノフ大統領代行の暫定政権を承認しなかった。2月後半から、ロシア政府は公式に認めていないものの、ロシア軍部隊と見られる武装勢力がクリミアに展開し、1954年までロシア領で親ロシアの住民が多いクリミア半島のクリミア自治共和国・セヴァストポリ特別市を掌握した（ロシアのクリミア侵攻）。

クリミア自治共和国とセヴァストポリは3月16日にウクライナからの独立とロシアへの編入を問う住民投票を実施し、その結果を受けて翌3月17日に両者はクリミア共和国として独立しロシアへの編入を求める決議を採択した。翌3月18日、プーチン大統領はクリミア共和国の要請に応じ、編入に関する条約に署名して事実上クリミア半島を併合した。

アメリカ合衆国、欧州連合、そして日本政府等の諸外国はクリミアの独立とロシアへの編入は無効であるとし、ロシアとの間で対立が続いている（2014年クリミア危機）。

政治

詳細は「ロシアの政治」を参照

ロシア連邦政府の組織に関する詳細はロシア連邦政府を参照

クレムリン

首相ドミートリー・メドヴェージェフ（左）と、大統領ウラジーミル・プーチン（右）

国制は連邦制を取るが、国家元首である大統領が行政の中心として強い指導力を発揮する。大統領は、首相（議会の信任を要する）を含む政府の要職の指名権・任命権と、議会の同意を得ないで政令（大統領令）を発布する権限を持ち、軍隊と国家安全保障会議の長を兼ねる。

ソビエト連邦からの独立以降、大統領の任期は4年であったが、2008年の法改正によって6年となった。

21世紀に入ってからは、豊富な原油や天然ガスなどエネルギー資源をてこに、特に欧州と中央アジアに対し、急速に影響力を拡大している。ソ連崩壊後の弱体ぶりから比べると相当影響力を取り戻したといえ、豊富な資金力を背景に軍備の更新を進めており、ロシアとの協議無しに東ヨーロッパへのミサイル防衛基地の展開を進めているアメリカや、NATOとの緊張状態は高まりつつある（新冷戦）。

ロシア連邦議会 (Федеральное Собрание Российской Федерации, Federal'noe Sobranie Rossijskoj Federatsii) は二院制で、各連邦構成主体の行政府と立法府の代表ひとりずつからなり上院に相当する連邦院（連邦会議、Совет Федерации, Sovet Federatsii 、定員178名）と、下院に相当する国家院（国家会議、Государственная Дума, Gosudarstvennaja Duma 、定員450名）からなる。下院議員は、任期4年で、小選挙区制と比例代表制により半数ずつ選出される仕組みであったが、2005年4月23日完全比例代表制に移行する選挙制度改正が下院を通過した。また、5パーセント条項が7パーセント条項へと議席を得るためのハードルがあげられ、プーチン政権、シロヴィキおよび与党統一ロシアに有利な選挙戦が展開された。また、大統領と同じく2008年に任期が5年に延長された。

中央政界で活動する主要な政党については、ロシアの政党を参照のこと。

ロシアの国家元首は頭髪がツルツルとフサフサの交互になるというジンクスがある（いわゆるつるふさの法則）。

第2次プーチン政権による統制の強化

第2次プーチン政権が発足してから「プーチンなきロシア」を叫ぶ市民のデモが開催されたり、反プーチンの運動が活発化している。そのためこれらの運動の封じ込めの一環として、プーチン大統領は「宗教信者の感情を害した者に禁錮刑と罰金を科す法案」「『同性愛のプロパガンダ（宣伝）』行為に罰金を科すことを定めた法案」に2013年7月1日にそれぞれ署名した。とくに「『同性愛のプロパガンダ（宣伝）』行為に罰金を科すことを定めた法案」は外国人にも適用されることもあり、海外のLGBT団体の批判を受けたほか、レディガガがロシアを批判するツイートを出したほか、俳優のウェントワース・ミラーはサンクトぺテルブルク映画祭への招待を「私はゲイだから」と辞退した。2014年のソチオリンピックに影響があるのではと言われている。

司法

ロシアの司法は憲法裁判所を置いている大陸法型である。1996年に陪審制を連邦各地に順次導入することを決定、2010年までに全ての地域で導入された。

以前から死刑の執行を停止していたが、2009年11月19日に、憲法裁判所は死刑の廃止を規定している欧州人権条約を批准するまでは死刑の執行を停止するという命令を出した。この憲法裁判所の命令でロシアの死刑制度は事実上廃止された。2010年1月15日、ロシア下院は、欧州人権条約第14追加議定書を賛成多数で批准し、名目上も死刑が廃止された。同国は欧州会議の加盟国47カ国中、同議定書の最後の批准国となった。

国際関係

詳細は「ロシアの国際関係」を参照

日本

詳細は「日本の国際関係#ロシア連邦」を参照

両国の間では、経済的な交流も盛んだが、北方領土問題やそれに起因する漁民銃撃・拿捕事件、資源問題（サハリン2を参照）なども生じており、その関係は必ずしも円滑ではない。しかし、多くの日本人はロシア連邦との関係は悪くないと感じており、また、ロシア人も日本との関係は悪くないとも感じている。

加盟している国際機関

• 国際連合
• 欧州安全保障協力機構
• 欧州・大西洋パートナーシップ理事会
• 欧州評議会
• 独立国家共同体
• 集団安全保障条約
• 上海協力機構
• 世界貿易機関

軍事

詳細は「ロシア連邦軍」を参照

ロシアはソビエト連邦が保有していた核兵器を継承保有している。

地方行政区分

連邦構成主体

ロシア連邦は、85の連邦構成主体と呼ばれる地方行政体からなる連邦国家である。連邦構成主体としては、46の「州」(область ; oblast')、9の「地方」(край ; kraj)、3の「市」(連邦市 город ; gorod)、22の「共和国」 (республика ; respublika)、1の「自治州」(автономная область ; avtonomnaja oblast')、4の「自治管区」(автономный округ ;avtonomnyj okrug) がある。ただし、このうちのクリミア共和国とセヴァストポリ連邦市はウクライナと帰属係争中である。

詳細は「ロシア連邦の地方区分」を参照

連邦管区

ウラジーミル・プーチン政権は、連邦政府の地方への影響力拡大を図り、85の連邦構成主体とは別に、2000年5月13日に全土を7つに分けた連邦管区を設置した。2014年現在はウクライナと係争中のクリミア連邦管区を含め、9つになっている。連邦管区には連邦大統領の代理人としての大統領全権代表が派遣され、連邦構成主体を監督している。

ロシアの連邦構成主体区分図（黄緑色が共和国）

（ただし、クリミア連邦管区の連邦構成主体を除く）

• 中央連邦管区（本部モスクワ）
• 北西連邦管区（本部サンクトペテルブルク）
• 南部連邦管区（本部ロストフ・ナ・ドヌ）
• 北カフカース連邦管区（本部ピャチゴルスク）
• 沿ヴォルガ連邦管区（本部ニジニ・ノヴゴロド）
• ウラル連邦管区（本部エカテリンブルク）
• シベリア連邦管区（本部クラスノヤルスク）
• 極東連邦管区（本部ハバロフスク）
• クリミア連邦管区（本部シンフェロポリ）

名称	人口(人)	州都/主府/本部	備考
中央連邦管区 Центральный федеральный округ	37,142,300	モスクワ Москва
北西連邦管区 Северо-Западный федеральный округ	14,282,900	サンクトペテルブルク Санкт-Петербург
南部連邦管区 Южный федеральный округ	21,471,300	ロストフ・ナ・ドヌ Ростов-на-Дону
北カフカース連邦管区 Северо-Кавказский федеральный округ	8,933,889	ピャチゴルスク Пятигорск
沿ヴォルガ連邦管区 Приволжский федеральный округ	32,017,800	ニジニ・ノヴゴロド Нижний Новгород
ウラル連邦管区 Уральский федеральный округ	12,603,200	エカテリンブルク Екатеринбург
シベリア連邦管区 Сибирский федеральный округ	20,792,500	ノヴォシビルスク Новосибирск
極東連邦管区 Дальневосточный федеральный округ	7,169,400	ハバロフスク Хабаровск
クリミア連邦管区 Кры́мский федера́льный о́круг	2,413,200（2002年）	シンフェロポリ Симферополь

さらに、2004年12月に地方自治体の首長を選挙制で選ぶ方式から、大統領が指名し地方議会が承認するという方式に転換した。事実上の官選化となるこの措置に対し、欧米諸国ではプーチン政権による強権支配が民主主義を脅かすという批判が生じた。

主要都市

詳細は「ロシアの都市の一覧」を参照

ロシアには人口100万人を超える都市が13（以下、2002年時点）ある。最大の都市は首都モスクワ（1012万6000人）。続くサンクトペテルブルク（466万人）の2都市が規模としては飛び抜けて大きく、独立したロシア連邦の構成主体（連邦市）として他の州や共和国と同格となる。ウラル山脈東山麓のエカテリンブルク、チェリャビンスク、シベリアのオムスク、ノヴォシビルスクを除く都市はすべてウラル山脈よりも西側、すなわちヨーロッパ・ロシアに位置する。一方、厳しい気候条件のために長らく人口希薄地域だった極東部や北極海沿岸地域でも19世紀以降に鉄道・港湾整備や鉱業開発などに伴う都市建設が進み、ハバロフスクやウラジオストクは50万人を超える人口を持つ。

	都市	行政区分	人口		都市	行政区分	人口
1	モスクワ	モスクワ	10,126,424	11	ウファ	バシコルトスタン共和国	1,042,437
2	サンクトペテルブルク	サンクトペテルブルク	4,661,219	12	ヴォルゴグラード	ヴォルゴグラード州	1,011,417
3	ノヴォシビルスク	ノヴォシビルスク州	1,425,508	13	ペルミ	ペルミ地方	1,001,653
4	ニジニ・ノヴゴロド	ニジニ・ノヴゴロド州	1,311,252	14	クラスノヤルスク	クラスノヤルスク地方	909,341
5	エカテリンブルク	スヴェルドロフスク州	1,293,537	15	サラトフ	サラトフ州	873,055
6	サマーラ	サマラ州	1,157,880	16	ヴォロネジ	ヴォロネジ州	848,752
7	オムスク	オムスク州	1,134,016	17	トリヤッチ	サマラ州	702,879
8	カザン	タタールスタン共和国	1,105,289	18	クラスノダール	クラスノダール地方	646,175
9	チェリャビンスク	チェリャビンスク州	1,077,174	19	ウリヤノフスク	ウリヤノフスク州	635,947
10	ロストフ・ナ・ドヌ	ロストフ州	1,068,267	20	イジェフスク	ウドムルト共和国	632,140
2002年国勢調査

地理

詳細は「ロシアの地理」を参照

ロシアの地形図

世界最大の面積を持つロシアは、ユーラシア大陸の北部にバルト海沿岸から太平洋まで東西に伸びる広大な国土を持つ。その面積は日本の約45倍、アメリカの約1.7倍にも達し、南米大陸全体の大きさに匹敵する（正確には南米大陸の方が約76万km²（本州の約3倍程度）大きい）。国土の北辺は北極圏に入り人口も希薄だが、南辺に近づくと地理的に多様となり人口も多くなる。ヨーロッパ部（ヨーロッパ・ロシア）とアジア部（シベリア）の大部分は広大な平原で、南部のステップから北は広大なタイガがその大部分を占めており、さらに高緯度になると、樹木の生育しないツンドラ地帯となる。黒海とカスピ海の間の南の国境にはヨーロッパ最高峰のエルブルス山を含むカフカース山脈があり、ヨーロッパとアジアの境界にはウラル山脈がある。

面積をみるとヨーロッパ部よりアジア部の方が広大であるが、国土の西端にあたるヨーロッパ部に人口や大都市、工業地帯、農業地帯が集中していること、さらにスラブ文化のつながりから、ロシアをヨーロッパに帰属させる分類が一般的である。

国土を囲む海域には北極海の一部であるバレンツ海、白海、カラ海、ラプテフ海、東シベリア海と、太平洋の一部であるベーリング海、オホーツク海、日本海、そして西のバルト海と西南の黒海があり、海岸線は37,000kmに及ぶ。これらの海に浮かぶロシア領の主要な島には、ゼムリャフランツァヨシファ、ノヴァヤゼムリャ（米国を越える史上最大規模の核実験が行われた）、セヴェルナヤ・ゼムリャ諸島、ノヴォシビルスク諸島、ウランゲル島、サハリン（樺太）、そして日本との領土問題を抱えるクリル諸島（千島列島）がある。 特に北極海に面した地域をはじめ、冬季は北極寒波の影響が強いため厳寒であり、氷点下を下回る日が長く続く。

ロシア領内の主要な川にはヨーロッパ部のドン川、大型で良質のチョウザメが多数生息するヴォルガ川、カマ川、オカ川、アジア部のオビ川、エニセイ川、レナ川、サケ類の漁獲で有名なアムール川などの大河があげられる。これらの下流域は日本で大河とされる最上川、北上川や四万十川よりも川幅が広く、いずれもセントローレンス川下流域に近い川幅がある。また、アジア部の大河はアムール川を除いて南から北へ流れ、北極海へ注ぐ。ブリヤート共和国のバイカル湖は世界一古く水深の深い湖として有名な構造湖である。この他、ソ連時代の水力ダム建設によって生まれた大規模な人造湖が存在する。

気候

詳細は「ロシアの気候」を参照

ロシアを中心とした地域を、ケッペンの気候区分に従って塗り分けた地図

ロシアには基本的に大陸性気候が卓越する。すなわち気温の年較差が大きい。ケッペンの気候区分に従うと、亜寒帯（冷帯）(D) に分類される地域が大半を占める。西部は大西洋の影響を受けるものの、東に進むにしたがって大陸性気候の特徴がはっきりしてくる。東シベリアには冬にシベリア高気圧が発達し、放射冷却のために気温が下がる。北半球でもっとも寒くなり、寒極と呼ばれる。例えば-71.2度（オイミャコン）、-66.7度（ベルホヤンスク）。しかしながら夏季には最高気温が30度を超える。

典型的な植生は北極海沿岸がツンドラ、南に下るにしたがって針葉樹林のタイガ、混交林、プレーリー、ステップに移行していく。

右図はロシアを中心とした地域にケッペンの気候区分を適用したものである。以下、気候区分にしたがって特徴と地域区分を示す。

亜寒帯

Dfa

亜寒帯湿潤気候のうち、最暖月が22度以上の地域。地図では明るい空色で描かれている。黒海とカスピ海に挟まれた狭い地域に広がる。

Dfb

亜寒帯湿潤気候のうち、最暖月が10度以上22度未満であり、月平均気温10度以上の月が4カ月以上ある地域。地図では空色（シアン）で描かれている。ポーランドやハンガリーなどの中東欧諸国と共通の気候区分でもある。首都モスクワを含み、ロシア西部からモンゴル国境西端まで広く分布する。沿海州北部やサハリン北部にも見られる。モスクワの年平均気温は5.3度、1月の平均気温は-7.5度、7月は18.4度、年平均降水量は705.3mmである。

Dfc

亜寒帯湿潤気候のうち、以下の3条件を満たす地域、すなわち最暖月が10度以上22度未満、月平均気温10度以上の月が3カ月以下、最寒月が-38度以上-3度未満。地図ではDfbの北に広がる暗緑色で描かれている。北欧諸国と共通の気候区分であり、ロシア領土に占める面積ではもっとも広い。中央シベリア高原からカムチャツカ半島にかけて一部Dfdに移行している部分以外は、全国にまたがっている。植生はタイガ中心。

Dfd

亜寒帯湿潤気候のうち、3つの条件、すなわち最暖月が10度以上22度未満、月平均気温10度以上の月が3カ月以下、最寒月が-38度未満を満たす地域。中央シベリア高原から東に延びるさらに暗い緑色で描かれている（内部にDwcの領域を含む）。

Dwb

亜寒帯冬季少雨気候のうち、最暖月が10度以上22度未満、加えて月平均気温10度以上の月が4カ月以上ある地域。地図では青紫色で描かれている。モンゴル国境から北にかけて広がる。

Dwa

亜寒帯冬季少雨気候のうち、最暖月が22度以上ある地域。地図では薄紫色で描かれている。Dwbと隣接し沿海州に向かって広がる

Dsb

高地地中海性気候のうち、最暖月が10度以上22度未満、加えて月平均気温10度以上の月が4カ月以上ある地域。地図では赤紫色で描かれている。カムチャッカ半島西岸などに見られる。

Dsd

高地地中海性気候のうち、3つの条件を満たす地域。すなわち、最暖月が10度以上22度未満、月平均気温10度以上の月が3カ月以下、最寒月が-38度未満。地図では薄赤紫色で描かれている。Dsbに隣接したごく狭い範囲に見られる。地球上でこの地点にのみ見られる気候区である。

その他の気候区

ET

ツンドラ気候。地図では薄い灰色で描かれている。北極海沿岸全域に広がる。

BSk

ステップ気候のうち、年平均気温が18度未満の地域。地図では黄土色で描かれている。モンゴル西端から北に伸びたごく狭い範囲に加え、カスピ海沿岸に見られる。

BWk

砂漠気候のうち、年平均気温が18度未満の地域。地図ではサーモン色で描かれている。BSkに隣接したごくわずかな範囲に見られる。

Cfa

温暖湿潤気候。黒海沿岸の狭い地域に見られる。

経済

詳細は「ロシアの経済」を参照

モスクワはビジネス、文化、政治などを総合評価した世界都市格付けにおいて、世界第17位の都市と評価された。

IMFによると、2013年のロシアのGDPは2兆1180億ドルであり、世界第8位である。一方、一人当たりのGDPは14,818ドルであり、先進国と比較すると依然低い水準である。

ソビエト連邦解体後、ボリス・エリツィン大統領の主導のもと市場経済化が進められたが、このためにかえって急速なインフレーションを招き、1990年代半ばには経済的に落ち込んだ。その後、成長に転じつつあったが1997年のアジア通貨危機の影響を受けて1998年に財政危機を招き、再び落ち込んだ。

しかし、ロシアはサウジアラビアに次ぐ世界第2位の原油生産国であり、同時にサウジアラビアに次ぐ世界第2位の原油輸出国である。2003年以来の原油価格上昇によって貿易収支が改善し、市場経済転換後の長い経済停滞を脱し、急速な景気回復が見られた。豊富な地下資源を武器に石油産業を中心とする成長が続く。その石油産業への依存の重さや自由化の恩恵に与った者（オリガルヒ、新ロシア人、ニュー・リッチに代表される）とそうでない者の貧富の格差の拡大、チェチェン独立派武装勢力によるテロのリスクなど、不安定要因もいくつかは見られるが、2000年にはGDP成長率が10%を越える一方、インフレーションも抑制され、好調が続いた。一人当たり名目GDPも、1999年には1334ドルに過ぎなかったのが、2006年には6879ドルと5倍強の増加を見せた。ロシアはまた、ブラジル・中国・インド・南アフリカと共に「BRICs」と呼ばれる新興経済国群の1つに挙げられているが、BRICsではロシアは最も一人当たりのGDPが先進国に近く、ロシアは超大国の地位を得ようとしている。

ロシアの人口は減少しつつあり、そのペースは年々早まっているが、経済成長は今後も続くと見られている。ただ2009年のロシアのGDPは1兆2292億ドルであり、インドに抜かれ世界12位に後退している。一人当たりのGDPは59位の8,694ドルであり、60位のブラジルにほぼ追いつかれている。公用語であるロシア語は世界でも総話者数の多い言語であり、ドイツやイギリス、フランス、イタリア、スペイン、オランダ、ベルギー、スウェーデンに並ぶヨーロッパの経済規模の大きい大国だが、開発の遅れなどの要因もあり、経済力の割には人口が多いので西側諸国よりもロシアは若干物価が安い。

鉱業

ロシアから伸びる原油・天然ガスのパイプライン

ロシアは最も鉱物資源が豊富な国の一つである。産出量が世界シェア10位以内となる資源だけで20種類に及ぶ（以下の統計数値は「鉱業便覧 平成14年版 経済産業調査会」による2002年時点のものである）。

有機鉱物資源では、天然ガス（21807千兆ジュール、21.9%、2位）、原油（3.5億トン、10.3%、2位）、燃料に用いられる亜炭（8668万トン、9.5%、4位）、石炭（1.6億トン、シェア4.4%、6位）の採掘量が多い。原油と天然ガスの産出量は1位の国（サウジアラビア、アメリカ合衆国）との差が小さく、いずれも2ポイント未満の差にとどまる。このため、統計年度によっては1位となることもある。

これらの有機鉱物資源のうち、国内で消費される比率が高いのが石炭と亜炭 (88%) と天然ガス (69%) である。一方、原油の国内消費比率は29%と低く、主に輸出されている。ロシアの原油輸出量は世界第2位（1億6211万トン、2001年）である。

貿易

色と面積で示したロシアの輸出品目

ロシア経済に占める貿易の割合は急拡大している。1992年時点では、国民総生産3978億ドルに対し、輸出が381億ドル、輸入が350億ドルであった。2003年に至ると、国民総生産4885億ドルに対し、輸出は1260億ドル、輸入524億ドルに増加している。輸出の伸びが著しい。これは原油及び、石油関連の生産・輸出拡大によるものだ。ロシアの貿易構造は1992年から2003年に到る10年間で大きく変化してきた。1992年時点ではソ連を構成していた諸国に対する貿易が、輸出で7割、輸入で5割を占め経済ブロックを形成していた。品目では機械と原油、化学工業製品を輸出し、建設機械と軽工業品、食料を輸入していた。ところが、2003年時点では輸出入とも相手国が分散する。原油、石油製品を輸出し、機械、自動車を輸入している。つまり、機械工業の落ち込みと原油輸出の大幅な伸びが特徴と言える。

1992年時点の輸出品の品目別の比率は、United Nations Statistical Yearbook 2003などによると建築機械 （35.0%）、原油（天然ガスを含む、14.7%）、化学品 （10.6%）、軽工業品 （8.1%）、鉄鋼 （6.9%）。同輸入品は、建築機械 （36.2%）、軽工業品 （20.4%）、食料 （16.7%）、化学品 （7.5%）、鉄鋼 （5.0%）。2003年時点の輸出品の品目別の比率は、原油 （27.6%）、石油ガス （13.0%）、石油製品 （10.4%）、鉄鋼 （6.1%）、アルミニウム （2.6%） である。2003年時点の貿易相手国は輸出相手国が順に、オランダ (6.2%)、中国、ベラルーシ、ドイツ、ウクライナ、輸入相手国が順にドイツ （14.1%）、ベラルーシ、ウクライナ、中国、アメリカとなっている。

日本との貿易は順調に拡大している。日本からの輸入額は15億ドルから45億ドルへ、輸出額は28億ドルから62億ドルに伸びている。品目は輸入を中心に変化した。日本への輸出の変化を見ると、1992年時点は魚介類、木材の2品目で50%弱を占め、アルミニウム（アルミニウム合金を含む）、石炭、白金が次いだ。これが2003年になるとアルミニウム（アルミニウム合金を含む、22.4%）、魚介類、石炭、木材、原油となった。輸入は、機械類 （26.7%）、鉄鋼、電気機械、自動車、プラスチックであったものが、乗用車 （62.1%）、建設機械 （6.4%）、映像機器、通信機器、バスに変わった。品目が自動車に集中したことになる。

軍需産業

ロシアにとって軍需産業はソ連時代から重要な地位を占めており、今後も積極的に輸出拡大を続けるとしている。輸出額は2011年は100億ドルを超え、2012年には150億ドルを超えるとされ順調に推移している。民間転用も積極的に行っており、宇宙・航空・情報通信産業等多岐にわたる。しかし、政治的な理由で輸出が出来なくなるなど不安定な要素も含んでいる。しかし、ロシアを含め世界の軍事費は今後も増え続けるとされ、軍需産業は今後も拡大を続けるとされている。

国民

ロシアの人口ピラミッド

詳細は「ロシアの人口統計」を参照

20世紀のロシアの人口動態は、第一次大戦・干渉戦争期そして第二次世界大戦期と二度にわたって激減したが、その後は回復。しかし1992年以降ふたたび人口の減少が続いており、1992年で最大1億4800万人いた人口が、2050年には1億1000万人程度まで減少すると見られている。原因には、出生率が著しく低下していること、男性の平均寿命が極めて短くなっていることがある。現在のロシアの男性の平均寿命は1987年以降短くなる傾向にあり、世界銀行の統計によると1994年には57.6歳まで低下した。その後回復したが、2008年でも61.8才である。女性は、1993年に71.2歳まで低下したが、2008年には74.2歳と上昇、男女差は12歳と極めて大きいままである。ちなみに2008年、OECD諸国の平均は男性77.2歳、女性82.8歳と男女差は6歳程度である。

保健

詳細は「ロシアの医療」を参照

ロシア憲法においては、全市民へ無料のユニバーサルヘルスケアが保障されている。しかし無料で医療受けられる範囲は、法定の範囲に限定されている。ロシアの人口一人あたりの医師数・病院数・医療従事者数は、世界の中で最も多く、一時はソ連崩壊によって社会・経済・生活様式の変化を受けて悪化したが、しかし近年は回復しており、平均余命は2006年と比べて男性で＋2.4年、女性で＋1.4年ほど長くなってきている。

2009年には、ロシアの平均余命は男性で62.77歳、女性で74.67歳であった。平均余命の男女差が大きい理由は、主に労働年齢層での死亡率の高さに起因し、それは予防可能な死（アルコール依存、喫煙、交通事故、暴力犯罪）であった。このような男女の余命差と第二次世界大戦の戦死者によって人口男女差は大きく、女性1人あたり0.859の男性がおり、

ロシア政府は2006年から本格的に少子化対策や医療対策に取り組んでおり、その後の出生率や死亡率は徐々に改善されている。

民族

民族構成（ロシア）
スラヴ人			82.7%
テュルク系			8.7%
コーカサス系			3.7%
ウラル系			1.6%
その他			3.3%

ロシアには現在182の民族が存在しているが、80%以上は東スラブ系民族のロシア人（民族名）である。ロシア人以外にも、ウクライナ人、チェチェン人、イングーシ人、オセット人、カルムィク人、タタール人、バシキール人、チュヴァシ人、トゥヴァ人、サハ人、エヴェンキ人、タイミル人、マリ人、モルドヴィン人、カレリア人、イヌイット、ドイツ人、ユダヤ人など多くの非スラヴ系民族がいるが、公用語であるロシア語が民族共和国を含め全域でほぼ完全に通用する。

言語

ロシア語を使用する地域

詳細は「ロシアの言語」および「ロシアの言語一覧」を参照

ロシア語が公用語である。ロシアの各共和国の公用語して以下の26言語がある。

• アバザ語、アディゲ語、アルタイ語、アヴァル語、アゼルバイジャン語、バシキール語、ブリヤート語、チェチェン語、チュヴァシ語、エルジャ語、イングーシ語、カバルド語、カルムイク語（Kalmyk Oirat）、カラチャイ・バルカル語、ハカス語、コミ・ジリエーン語（コミ語）、レズギ語、マンシ語、マリ語、モクシャ語、ノガイ語、オセット語、タタール語、トゥバ語、ウドムルト語、サハ語

宗教

聖ワシリイ大聖堂

詳細は「ロシアの宗教」を参照

ロシア人を含めた多くの民族が正教会の信徒であるが、カトリック、プロテスタントやイスラム教、ユダヤ教、仏教などの信徒も少なくない。

文化

詳細は「ロシアの文化」を参照

食文化

ビーフストロガノフ

ボルシチ

ピロシキ

詳細は「ロシア料理」を参照

肉・魚料理

シャシリク

• ビーフストロガノフ - 牛肉の薄切りをスメタナのソースで和えた料理
• コトレータ - カツレツ。野菜のコトレータもある
• シャシリク - 肉の串焼き。カフカースや中央アジアの諸民族の伝統料理
• フォルシュマーク - 刻みニシンにマッシュポテト・タマネギのみじん切りを加えて焼いた料理
• キシュカ - 血や穀物を用いたソーセージ

スープ

ボルシチ

• シチー - キャベツのスープ
• ボルシチ - テーブルビート（スヴョークラ）、キャベツなどの野菜と肉を煮込み各種調味料で味付けしたスープ。
• ウハー - 魚スープ
• オクローシカ - 野菜と肉を刻み、クワスを加えた冷たいスープ
• セリャンカ - 肉や魚のスープ
• ラッソーリニク - ピクルスのスープ

野菜料理

• ガルブツィー - ロールキャベツ
• サラートオリヴィエ - ポテトサラダ

パン・粉物料理

ピロジュキ

• ピロシキ - 小型のパイ
• チェブレキ - 揚げたミートパイ。クリミア・タタール人の伝統料理
• ペリメニ - 水餃子に似たダンプリング。シベリア起源。
• ブリヌイ（ブリン） - クレープ
• カーシャ - 粥

飲み物

• ウォッカ（ヴォトカ） - ライ麦その他から製造される蒸留酒
• クワス - ライ麦と麦芽を発酵させてつくる微アルコール性飲料
• キセリ - 葛湯の様なとろみのある果汁ジュース
• バルチカ - ロシアビール

デザート

パスハ

• ババ- 菓子パン
• シャルロートカ - ロシア風シャルロット
• パスハ -フレッシュチーズで作る復活大祭の菓子
• クリーチ
• プリャーニク - ジンジャーブレッドの一種

建築

詳細は「ロシア建築」を参照

• スターリン様式

文学

アレクサンドル・プーシキン

詳細は「ロシア文学」を参照

• アレクサンドル・プーシキン
• ニコライ・ゴーゴリ
• レフ・トルストイ
• フョードル・ドストエフスキー
• マクシム・ゴーリキー
• エヴゲーニイ・ザミャーチン
• アレクサンドル・ソルジェニーツィン

音楽

ボリショイ・バレエ

詳細は「ロシアの音楽」を参照

• バレエ
• ロシア国民楽派 - ロシア5人組
• ピョートル・チャイコフスキー
• セルゲイ・プロコフィエフ
• セルゲイ・ラフマニノフ
• ドミートリイ・ショスタコーヴィチ

美術

詳細は「ロシアの美術」を参照

• ロシア・アヴァンギャルド
• 社会主義リアリズム

映画

詳細は「ロシアの映画」を参照

世界遺産

サンクトペテルブルク冬宮

詳細は「ロシアの世界遺産」を参照

ロシア国内には、ユネスコの世界遺産リストに登録された文化遺産が12件、自然遺産が7件存在する。さらにモンゴルとにまたがって1件の自然遺産が、リトアニアとにまたがって1件の文化遺産が、ウクライナ、エストニア、スウェーデン、ノルウェー、フィンランド、ベラルーシ、モルドバ、ラトビア、リトアニアにまたがって1件の文化遺産が登録されている。

祝祭日

クリスマスが1月7日なのは、キリスト教の宗教行事はロシア正教が公認しているユリウス暦に基づいて行われていることによる（正教会では他にエルサレム総主教庁、グルジア正教会、セルビア正教会、アトス山などがユリウス暦を採用している）。現在の暦であるグレゴリオ暦は歴史的にはカトリック側が作った暦であるためである。すなわちグレゴリオ暦（新暦）1月7日がユリウス暦の12月25日に相当する。2100年2月28日まではグレゴリオ暦とユリウス暦のずれは13日である。「旧正月」も同様の理由から1月14日に祝う。ソ連時代は1917年にロシア革命でソヴィエト政権が成立した11月7日が革命記念日として最大の祝日になっていたが、プーチン政権は2005年にこれを廃止し、帝政時代に「モスクワ解放記念日」となっていた11月4日を「国民団結の日」として復活させた。

祝祭日

日付	日本語表記	現地語表記	備考
1月7日	クリスマス	Рождество Христово	正教会のクリスマス。ユリウス暦の12月25日に相当（2100年まで）
1月14日	旧正月	Старый Новый год	ユリウス暦の1月1日に相当（2100年まで）
2月23日	祖国英雄の日	День защитника Отечества	もとソ連地上軍とソ連海軍の日
3月8日	国際女性デー	Международный женский день
5月1日	春と労働の日	Праздник весны и труда	旧メーデー
5月9日	対ドイツ戦勝記念日	День Победы	1945年にナチス・ドイツがソビエト連邦などの連合国に対して無条件降伏した日
6月12日	ロシアの日	День России	1991年にロシア共和国がソビエト連邦に対する主権宣言を採択した日
11月4日	国民団結の日	День народного единства	1612年にロシア・ポーランド戦争において、ロシア国民軍がポーランド軍からモスクワを解放した日
12月12日	憲法記念日	День Конституции Российской Федерации	1993年に現行のロシア連邦憲法が制定された日
12月31日-1月1日	年末の休日	Новый год

スポーツ

モスクワオリンピック

ソチオリンピック

詳細は「ロシアのスポーツ」を参照

ロシアはソ連時代からオリンピックで毎回優れた成績を残しており、メダル獲得数では上位にランクされることが多い。

ロシアは、1980年のモスクワオリンピックを始め、国際スポーツ競技大会の開催も数多い。2014年には黒海沿岸のソチで冬季オリンピック（ソチオリンピック）を、2018年にはワールドカップ（2018 FIFAワールドカップ）を開催することが決定している。

国内リーグにはロシアサッカー・プレミアリーグ、アイスホッケーのコンチネンタルホッケーリーグ（KHL）などがある。また、ソ連崩壊の前後から多くのロシア人指導者が国外に移住し、新体操やフィギュアスケートなどの種目で世界各国の選手を指導している。ロシア発祥のスポーツとしてはサンボが挙げられる。

著名な出身者

詳細は「ロシア人の一覧」を参照

参考文献

脚注

関連項目

• ロシア関係記事の一覧
• ロシアの交通
• ロシアの声（全ロシア国営テレビ・ラジオ放送会社）
• ロシア・ソ連の軍服
• ロシア連邦軍
• ロシア時間
• ロシアの国歌
• ロシア正教会
• ロシアにおけるイスラーム
• ロシア大百科事典
• ロシアNOW
• 社会主義法
• BRICs

外部リンク

政府

• ロシア連邦政府 （ロシア語）（英語）
• ロシア大統領府 （ロシア語）（英語）
• 在日ロシア大使館 （日本語）
• 在日ロシア大使館領事部 （日本語）

日本政府

• 日本外務省 - ロシア （日本語）
• 在ロシア日本国大使館 （日本語）

北方領土

• 内閣府北方対策本部 （日本語）
• 北方領土復帰期成同盟 （日本語）
• 北方領土問題対策協会 （日本語）

その他

• JETRO - ロシア
• ロシアNOW:ニュースと解説

wiki en

[Wiki en表示]

"Russian Federation" redirects here. The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic was also alternatively called the "Russian Federation".

For other uses, see Russia (disambiguation).

Russian Federation Российская Федерация Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem:  "Государственный гимн Российской Федерации" "Gosudarstvennyy gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii"  (transliteration) "State Anthem of the Russian Federation"
Russia proper (dark green) Disputed Crimean peninsula (internationally viewed as territory of Ukraine, but de facto administered by Russia) (light green)
Capital and largest city		Moscow 55°45′N 37°37′E
Official languages		Russian
Recognised languages		27 other languages co-official in various regions
Ethnic groups (2010)		81.0% Russian 3.7% Tatar 1.4% Ukrainian 1.1% Bashkir 1.0% Chuvash 0.8% Chechen 11.0% others / unspecified
Demonym		Russians (Rossiyane)
Government		Federal semi-presidential constitutional republic
-	President	Vladimir Putin
-	Prime Minister	Dmitry Medvedev
-	Chairman of the Federation Council	Valentina Matviyenko
-	Chairman of the State Duma	Sergey Naryshkin
Legislature		Federal Assembly
-	Upper house	Federation Council
-	Lower house	State Duma
Formation
-	Arrival of Rurik, considered as a foundation event by the Russian authorities	862
-	Kievan Rus'	882
-	Grand Duchy of Moscow	1283
-	Tsardom of Russia	16 January 1547
-	Russian Empire	22 October 1721
-	Russian SFSR	6 November 1917
-	Soviet Union	10 December 1922
-	Russian Federation	25 December 1991
-	Adoption of the current Constitution of Russia	12 December 1993
Area
-	Total	17,098,242 (Crimea not included) km2 (1st) 6,592,800 (Crimea not included) sq mi
-	Water (%)	13 (including swamps)
Population
-	2014 estimate	143,800,000 (not including Crimea and Sevastopol) (9th)
-	Density	8.4/km2 (217th) 21.5/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2014 estimate
-	Total	$2.630 trillion (6th)
-	Per capita	$18,408 (58th)
GDP (nominal)		2014 estimate
-	Total	$2.092 trillion (9th)
-	Per capita	$14,645 (51st)
Gini (2011)		41.7 medium · 83rd
HDI (2013)		0.778 high · 57th
Currency		Russian ruble (RUB)
Time zone		(UTC+3 to +12a)
Date format		dd.mm.yyyy
Drives on the		right
Calling code		+7
ISO 3166 code		RU
Internet TLD		.ru .su .рф
a.	Excluding +5.

Russia ⁱ/ˈrʌʃə/ or /ˈrʊʃə/ (Russian: Россия, tr. Rossiya; IPA: [rɐˈsʲijə] ( )), officially known as the Russian Federation (Russian: Российская Федерация, tr. Rossiyskaya Federatsiya; IPA: [rɐˈsʲijskəjə fʲɪdʲɪˈrat͡sɨjə] ( )), is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic. From northwest to southeast, Russia shares land borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland (both with Kaliningrad Oblast), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and North Korea. It shares maritime borders with Japan by the Sea of Okhotsk, the US state of Alaska across the Bering Strait and Canada's Arctic islands. At 17,075,400 square kilometres (6,592,800 sq mi), Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area. Russia is also the world's ninth most populous nation with 143 million people as of 2012. Extending across the entirety of northern Asia and much of Eastern Europe, Russia spans nine time zones and incorporates a wide range of environments and landforms.

The nation's history began with that of the East Slavs, who emerged as a recognizable group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD. Founded and ruled by a Varangian warrior elite and their descendants, the medieval state of Rus arose in the 9th century. In 988 it adopted Orthodox Christianity from the Byzantine Empire, beginning the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures that defined Russian culture for the next millennium. Rus' ultimately disintegrated into a number of smaller states; most of the Rus' lands were overrun by the Mongol invasion and became tributaries of the nomadic Golden Horde. The Grand Duchy of Moscow gradually reunified the surrounding Russian principalities, achieved independence from the Golden Horde, and came to dominate the cultural and political legacy of Kievan Rus'. By the 18th century, the nation had greatly expanded through conquest, annexation, and exploration to become the Russian Empire, which was the third largest empire in history, stretching from Poland in Europe to Alaska in North America.

Following the Russian Revolution, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic became the largest and leading constituent of the Soviet Union, the world's first constitutionally socialist state and a recognized superpower, which played a decisive role in the Allied victory in World War II. The Soviet era saw some of the most significant technological achievements of the 20th century, including the world's first human-made satellite, and the first man in space. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian SFSR reconstituted itself as the Russian Federation and is recognized as the continuing legal personality of the Union state.

The Russian economy ranks as the ninth largest by nominal GDP and sixth largest by purchasing power parity in 2014. Russia's extensive mineral and energy resources, the largest reserves in the world, have made it one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas globally. The country is one of the five recognized nuclear weapons states and possesses the largest stockpile of weapons of mass destruction. Russia is a great power and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a member of the G20, the Council of Europe, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Community, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as being the leading member of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Etymology

Main articles: Rus' people and Rus (name)

The name Russia is derived from Rus, a medieval state populated mostly by the East Slavs. However, this proper name became more prominent in the later history, and the country typically was called by its inhabitants "Русская Земля" (russkaya zemlya), which can be translated as "Russian Land" or "Land of Rus'". In order to distinguish this state from other states derived from it, it is denoted as Kievan Rus' by modern historiography. The name Rus itself comes from Rus people, a group of Varangians (possibly Swedish Vikings) who founded the state of Rus (Русь).

An old Latin version of the name Rus' was Ruthenia, mostly applied to the western and southern regions of Rus' that were adjacent to Catholic Europe. The current name of the country, Россия (Rossiya), comes from the Byzantine Greek designation of the Kievan Rus', Ρωσσία Rossía—spelt Ρωσία (Rosía pronounced [roˈsia]) in Modern Greek.

The standard way to refer to citizens of Russia is as "Russians" (Rossiyane).

History

Main article: History of Russia

Early periods

Further information: Eurasian nomads, Scythia, Bosporan Kingdom, Goths, Khazars and East Slavs

Kurgan hypothesis: South Russia as the urheimat of Indo-European peoples

In prehistoric times the vast steppes of Southern Russia were home to tribes of nomadic pastoralists. Remnants of these steppe civilizations were discovered in such places as Ipatovo, Sintashta, Arkaim, and Pazyryk, which bear the earliest known traces of mounted warfare, a key feature in the nomadic way of life.

In classical antiquity, the Pontic Steppe was known as Scythia. Since the 8th century BC, Ancient Greek traders brought their civilization to the trade emporiums in Tanais and Phanagoria. The Romans settled on the western part of the Caspian Sea, where their empire stretched towards the east. In 3rd – 4th centuries AD a semi-legendary Gothic kingdom of Oium existed in Southern Russia till it was overrun by Huns. Between the 3rd and 6th centuries AD, the Bosporan Kingdom, a Hellenistic polity which succeeded the Greek colonies, was also overwhelmed by nomadic invasions led by warlike tribes, such as the Huns and Eurasian Avars. A Turkic people, the Khazars, ruled the lower Volga basin steppes between the Caspian and Black Seas until the 10th century.

The ancestors of modern Russians are the Slavic tribes, whose original home is thought by some scholars to have been the wooded areas of the Pinsk Marshes. The East Slavs gradually settled Western Russia in two waves: one moving from Kiev toward present-day Suzdal and Murom and another from Polotsk toward Novgorod and Rostov. From the 7th century onwards, the East Slavs constituted the bulk of the population in Western Russia and slowly but peacefully assimilated the native Finno-Ugric peoples, including the Merya, the Muromians, and the Meshchera.

Kievan Rus'

Main articles: Rus' Khaganate, Kievan Rus' and List of early East Slavic states

Kievan Rus' in the 11th century

The establishment of the first East Slavic states in the 9th century coincided with the arrival of Varangians, the traders, warriors and settlers from the Baltic Sea region. Primarily they were Vikings of Scandinavian origin, who ventured along the waterways extending from the eastern Baltic to the Black and Caspian Seas. According to the Primary Chronicle, a Varangian from Rus' people, named Rurik, was elected ruler of Novgorod in 862. In 882 his successor Oleg ventured south and conquered Kiev, which had been previously paying tribute to the Khazars, founding Kievan Rus'. Oleg, Rurik's son Igor and Igor's son Sviatoslav subsequently subdued all local East Slavic tribes to Kievan rule, destroyed the Khazar khaganate and launched several military expeditions to Byzantium and Persia.

In the 10th to 11th centuries Kievan Rus' became one of the largest and most prosperous states in Europe. The reigns of Vladimir the Great (980–1015) and his son Yaroslav the Wise (1019–1054) constitute the Golden Age of Kiev, which saw the acceptance of Orthodox Christianity from Byzantium and the creation of the first East Slavic written legal code, the Russkaya Pravda.

In the 11th and 12th centuries, constant incursions by nomadic Turkic tribes, such as the Kipchaks and the Pechenegs, caused a massive migration of Slavic populations to the safer, heavily forested regions of the north, particularly to the area known as Zalesye.

The Baptism of Kievans, by Klavdy Lebedev

The age of feudalism and decentralization was marked by constant in-fighting between members of the Rurik Dynasty that ruled Kievan Rus' collectively. Kiev's dominance waned, to the benefit of Vladimir-Suzdal in the north-east, Novgorod Republic in the north-west and Galicia-Volhynia in the south-west.

Ultimately Kievan Rus' disintegrated, with the final blow being the Mongol invasion of 1237–40, that resulted in the destruction of Kiev and the death of about half the population of Rus'. The invading Mongol elite, together with their conquered Turkic subjects (Cumans, Kipchaks, Bulgars) became known as Tatars, formed the state of the Golden Horde, which pillaged the Russian principalities; the Mongols ruled the Cuman-Kipchak confederation and Volga Bulgaria (modern-day southern and central expanses of Russia) for over two centuries.

Galicia-Volhynia was eventually assimilated by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, while the Mongol-dominated Vladimir-Suzdal and Novgorod Republic, two regions on the periphery of Kiev, established the basis for the modern Russian nation. The Novgorod together with Pskov retained some degree of autonomy during the time of the Mongol yoke and were largely spared the atrocities that affected the rest of the country. Led by Prince Alexander Nevsky, Novgorodians repelled the invading Swedes in the Battle of the Neva in 1240, as well as the Germanic crusaders in the Battle of the Ice in 1242, breaking their attempts to colonize the Northern Rus'.

Grand Duchy of Moscow

Main article: Grand Duchy of Moscow

Sergius of Radonezh blessing Dmitry Donskoy in Trinity Sergius Lavra, before the Battle of Kulikovo, depicted in a painting by Ernst Lissner

The most powerful successor state to Kievan Rus' was the Grand Duchy of Moscow ("Moscovy" in the Western chronicles), initially a part of Vladimir-Suzdal. While still under the domain of the Mongol-Tatars and with their connivance, Moscow began to assert its influence in the Central Rus' in the early 14th century, gradually becoming the main leading force in the process of the Rus' lands' reunification and expansion of Russia.

Those were hard times, with frequent Mongol-Tatar raids and agriculture suffering from the beginning of the Little Ice Age. As in the rest of Europe, plague was a frequent occurrence between 1350 and 1490. However, because of the lower population density and better hygiene (widespread practicing of banya, the wet steam bath), the death rate from plague was not as severe as in Western Europe, and population numbers recovered by 1500.

Led by Prince Dmitry Donskoy of Moscow and helped by the Russian Orthodox Church, the united army of Russian principalities inflicted a milestone defeat on the Mongol-Tatars in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. Moscow gradually absorbed the surrounding principalities, including the formerly strong rivals, such as Tver and Novgorod.

Ivan III ("the Great") finally threw off the control of the Golden Horde, consolidated the whole of Central and Northern Rus' under Moscow's dominion, and was the first to take the title "Grand Duke of all the Russias". After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Moscow claimed succession to the legacy of the Eastern Roman Empire. Ivan III married Sophia Palaiologina, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI, and made the Byzantine double-headed eagle his own, and eventually Russian, coat-of-arms.

Tsardom of Russia

Main article: Tsardom of Russia

Tsar Ivan the Terrible by Victor Vasnetsov

In development of the Third Rome ideas, the Grand Duke Ivan IV (the "Terrible") was officially crowned the first Tsar ("Caesar") of Russia in 1547. The Tsar promulgated a new code of laws (Sudebnik of 1550), established the first Russian feudal representative body (Zemsky Sobor) and introduced local self-management into the rural regions.

During his long reign, Ivan the Terrible nearly doubled the already large Russian territory by annexing the three Tatar khanates (parts of disintegrated Golden Horde): Kazan and Astrakhan along the Volga River, and Sibirean Khanate in Southwestern Siberia. Thus by the end of the 16th century Russia was transformed into a multiethnic, multidenominational and transcontinental state.

However, the Tsardom was weakened by the long and unsuccessful Livonian War against the coalition of Poland, Lithuania, and Sweden for access to the Baltic coast and sea trade. At the same time the Tatars of the Crimean Khanate, the only remaining successor to the Golden Horde, continued to raid Southern Russia. In an effort to restore the Volga khanates, Crimeans and their Ottoman allies invaded central Russia and were even able to burn down parts of Moscow in 1571. But next year the large invading army was thoroughly defeated by Russians in the Battle of Molodi, forever eliminating the threat of the Ottoman-Crimean expansion into Russia. The slave raids of Crimeans, however, didn't cease until the late 17th century, though the construction of new fortification lines across Southern Russia, such as the Great Abatis Line, constantly narrowed the area accessible to incursions.

Monument to Minin and Pozharsky in Moscow

The death of Ivan's sons marked the end of the ancient Rurik Dynasty in 1598, and in combination with the famine of 1601–03 led to the civil war, the rule of pretenders and foreign intervention during the Time of Troubles in the early 17th century. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth occupied parts of Russia, including Moscow. In 1612, the Poles were forced to retreat by the Russian volunteer corps, led by two national heroes, merchant Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. The Romanov Dynasty acceded the throne in 1613 by the decision of Zemsky Sobor, and the country started its gradual recovery from the crisis.

Russia continued its territorial growth through the 17th century, which was the age of Cossacks. Cossacks were warriors organized into military communities, resembling pirates and pioneers of the New World. In 1648, the peasants of Ukraine joined the Zaporozhian Cossacks in rebellion against Poland-Lithuania during the Khmelnytsky Uprising, because of the social and religious oppression they suffered under Polish rule. In 1654, the Ukrainian leader, Bohdan Khmelnytsky, offered to place Ukraine under the protection of the Russian Tsar, Aleksey I. Aleksey's acceptance of this offer led to another Russo-Polish War. Finally, Ukraine was split along the Dnieper River, leaving the western part, right-bank Ukraine, under Polish rule and eastern part (Left-bank Ukraine and Kiev) under Russian. Later, in 1670–71 the Don Cossacks led by Stenka Razin initiated a major uprising in the Volga Region, but the Tsar's troops were successful in defeating the rebels.

In the east, the rapid Russian exploration and colonisation of the huge territories of Siberia was led mostly by Cossacks hunting for valuable furs and ivory. Russian explorers pushed eastward primarily along the Siberian River Routes, and by the mid-17th century there were Russian settlements in Eastern Siberia, on the Chukchi Peninsula, along the Amur River, and on the Pacific coast. In 1648, the Bering Strait between Asia and North America was passed for the first time by Fedot Popov and Semyon Dezhnyov.

Imperial Russia

Main article: Russian Empire

Peter the Great, the first Emperor of Russia

Under Peter the Great, Russia was proclaimed an Empire in 1721 and became recognized as a world power. Ruling from 1682 to 1725, Peter defeated Sweden in the Great Northern War, forcing it to cede West Karelia and Ingria (two regions lost by Russia in the Time of Troubles), as well as Estland and Livland, securing Russia's access to the sea and sea trade. On the Baltic Sea Peter founded a new capital called Saint Petersburg, later known as Russia's "Window to Europe". Peter the Great's reforms brought considerable Western European cultural influences to Russia.

The reign of Peter I's daughter Elizabeth in 1741–62 saw Russia's participation in the Seven Years' War (1756–63). During this conflict Russia annexed East Prussia for a while and even took Berlin. However, upon Elisabeth's death, all these conquests were returned to Kingdom of Prussia by pro-Prussian Peter III of Russia.

Catherine II ("the Great"), who ruled in 1762–96, presided over the Age of Russian Enlightenment. She extended Russian political control over the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and incorporated most of its territories into Russia during the Partitions of Poland, pushing the Russian frontier westward into Central Europe. In the south, after successful Russo-Turkish Wars against the Ottoman Empire, Catherine advanced Russia's boundary to the Black Sea, defeating the Crimean Khanate. As a result of victories over the Ottomans, by the early 19th century Russia also made significant territorial gains in Transcaucasia. This continued with Alexander I's (1801–25) wresting of Finland from the weakened kingdom of Sweden in 1809 and of Bessarabia from the Ottomans in 1812. At the same time Russians colonized Alaska and even founded settlements in California, like Fort Ross.

In 1803–1806, the first Russian circumnavigation was made, later followed by other notable Russian sea exploration voyages. In 1820 a Russian expedition discovered the continent of Antarctica.

The Russian Empire in 1866 and its spheres of influence

In alliances with various European countries, Russia fought against Napoleon's France. The French invasion of Russia at the height of Napoleon's power in 1812 failed miserably as the obstinate resistance in combination with the bitterly cold Russian Winter led to a disastrous defeat of invaders, in which more than 95% of the pan-European Grande Armée perished. Led by Mikhail Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly, the Russian army ousted Napoleon from the country and drove through Europe in the war of the Sixth Coalition, finally entering Paris. Alexander I headed Russia's delegation at the Congress of Vienna that defined the map of post-Napoleonic Europe.

The officers of the Napoleonic Wars brought ideas of liberalism back to Russia with them and attempted to curtail the tsar's powers during the abortive Decembrist revolt of 1825. At the end of the conservative reign of Nicolas I (1825–55), a zenith period of Russia's power and influence in Europe was disrupted by defeat in the Crimean War. Between 1847 and 1851, about one million people died of Asiatic cholera.

Nicholas's successor Alexander II (1855–81) enacted significant changes in the country, including the emancipation reform of 1861. These Great Reforms spurred industrialization and modernized the Russian army, which had successfully liberated Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1877–78 Russo-Turkish War.

The late 19th century saw the rise of various socialist movements in Russia. Alexander II was killed in 1881 by revolutionary terrorists, and the reign of his son Alexander III (1881–94) was less liberal but more peaceful. The last Russian Emperor, Nicholas II (1894–1917), was unable to prevent the events of the Russian Revolution of 1905, triggered by the unsuccessful Russo-Japanese War and the demonstration incident known as Bloody Sunday. The uprising was put down, but the government was forced to concede major reforms, including granting the freedoms of speech and assembly, the legalization of political parties, and the creation of an elected legislative body, the State Duma of the Russian Empire. The Stolypin agrarian reform led to a massive peasant migration and settlement into Siberia. More than four million settlers arrived in that region between 1906 and 1914.

In 1914, Russia entered World War I in response to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Russia's ally Serbia, and fought across multiple fronts while isolated from its Triple Entente allies. In 1916, the Brusilov Offensive of the Russian Army almost completely destroyed the military of Austria-Hungary. However, the already-existing public distrust of the regime was deepened by the rising costs of war, high casualties, and rumors of corruption and treason. All this formed the climate for the Russian Revolution of 1917, carried out in two major acts.

Revolution and Russian Republic

Main articles: February Revolution, Russian Provisional Government and Russian Republic

Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Great October Socialist Revolution

The February Revolution forced Nicholas II to abdicate; he and his family were imprisoned and later executed during the Russian Civil War. The monarchy was replaced by a shaky coalition of political parties that declared itself the Provisional Government. An alternative socialist establishment existed alongside, the Petrograd Soviet, wielding power through the democratically elected councils of workers and peasants, called Soviets. The rule of the new authorities only aggravated the crisis in the country, instead of resolving it. Eventually, the October Revolution, led by Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, overthrew the Provisional Government and gave full governing power to the Soviets, leading to the creation of the world's first socialist state.

Soviet Russia and civil war

Main articles: October Revolution, Russian Civil War and Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

See also: Soviet Russia (disambiguation) and Russian Constitution of 1918

The symbols of the early Soviet era: Tatlin's Tower project and the giant Worker and Kolkhoz Woman sculpture group

Following the October Revolution, a civil war broke out between the anti-Communist White movement and the new Soviet regime with its Red Army. Bolshevist Russia lost its Ukrainian, Polish, Baltic, and Finnish territories by signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk that concluded hostilities with the Central Powers of World War I. The Allied powers launched an unsuccessful military intervention in support of anti-Communist forces. In the meantime both the Bolsheviks and White movement carried out campaigns of deportations and executions against each other, known respectively as the Red Terror and White Terror. By the end of the civil war, the Russian economy and its infrastructure were heavily damaged. Millions became White émigrés, and the Povolzhye famine of 1921 claimed up to 5 million victims.

Soviet Union

Main article: Soviet Union

See also: Treaty on the Creation of the USSR, History of the Soviet Union and Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

The Russian SFSR as a part of the USSR in 1922–1936, before 1936 intra-Soviet territorial changes.

The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (called Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic at the time) together with the Ukrainian, Byelorussian, and Transcaucasion Soviet Socialist Republics, formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), or Soviet Union, on 30 December 1922. Out of the 15 republics that would make up the USSR, the largest in size and over half of the total USSR population was the Russian SFSR, which came to dominate the union for its entire 69-year history.

Following Lenin's death in 1924, a troika was designated to govern the Soviet Union. However, Joseph Stalin, an elected General Secretary of the Communist Party, managed to suppress all opposition groups within the party and consolidate power in his hands. Leon Trotsky, the main proponent of world revolution, was exiled from the Soviet Union in 1929, and Stalin's idea of Socialism in One Country became the primary line. The continued internal struggle in the Bolshevik party culminated in the Great Purge, a period of mass repressions in 1937–38, during which hundreds of thousands of people were executed, including original party members and military leaders accused of coup d'état plots.

Soviet T-34/76s and infantry advance past a destroyed Panzer IV. Kharkov, August 1943

Under Stalin's leadership, the government launched a planned economy, industrialisation of the largely rural country, and collectivization of its agriculture. During this period of rapid economic and social change, millions of people were sent to penal labor camps, including many political convicts for their opposition to Stalin's rule; millions were deported and exiled to remote areas of the Soviet Union. The transitional disorganisation of the country's agriculture, combined with the harsh state policies and a drought, led to the Soviet famine of 1932–1933. The Soviet Union, though with a heavy price, was transformed from a largely agrarian economy to a major industrial powerhouse in a short span of time.

The Appeasement policy of Great Britain and France towards Adolf Hitler's annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia did not stem an increase in the power of Nazi Germany and put a threat of war to the Soviet Union. Around the same time the Third Reich allied with the Empire of Japan, a rival of the USSR in the Far East and an open enemy of the USSR in the Soviet–Japanese Border Wars in 1938–39.

In August 1939, after another failure of attempts to establish an anti-Nazi alliance with Britain and France, the Soviet government decided to improve relations with Germany by concluding the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, pledging non-aggression between the two countries and dividing their spheres of influence in Eastern Europe. While Hitler conquered Poland, France and other countries actied on single front at the start of World War II, the USSR was able to build up its military and claim some of the former territories of the Russian Empire as a result of the Soviet invasion of Poland, Winter War and the occupation of the Baltic states.

On 22 June 1941, Nazi Germany broke the non-aggression treaty and invaded the Soviet Union with the largest and most powerful invasion force in human history, opening the largest theater of World War II. Although the German army had considerable early success, their attack was halted in the Battle of Moscow. Subsequently the Germans were dealt major defeats first at the Battle of Stalingrad in the winter of 1942–43, and then in the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943. Another German failure was the Siege of Leningrad, in which the city was fully blockaded on land between 1941–44 by German and Finnish forces, and suffered starvation and more than a million deaths, but never surrendered. Under Stalin's administration and the leadership of such commanders as Georgy Zhukov and Konstantin Rokossovsky, Soviet forces took Eastern Europe in 1944–45 and captured Berlin in May 1945. In August 1945 the Soviet Army ousted the Japanese from China's Manchukuo and North Korea, contributing to the allied victory over Japan.

First human to travel into space, Yuri Gagarin

The 1941–45 period of World War II is known in Russia as the "Great Patriotic War". During this conflict, which included many of the most lethal battle operations in human history, Soviet military and civilian deaths were 10.6 million and 15.9 million respectively, accounting for about a third of all World War II casualties. The full demographic loss to the Soviet peoples was even greater. The Soviet economy and infrastructure suffered massive devastation, but the Soviet Union emerged as an acknowledged military superpower on the continent.

The Red Army occupied Eastern Europe after the war, including East Germany. Dependent socialist governments were installed in the Eastern Bloc satellite states. Becoming the world's second nuclear weapons power, the USSR established the Warsaw Pact alliance and entered into a struggle for global dominance, known as the Cold War, with the United States and NATO. The Soviet Union supported revolutionary movements across the world, including the newly formed People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and, later on, the Republic of Cuba. Significant amounts of the Soviet resources were allocated in aid to the other socialist states.

After Stalin's death and a short period of collective rule, new leader Nikita Khrushchev denounced the cult of personality of Stalin and launched the policy of de-Stalinization. The penal labor system was reformed and many prisoners were released and rehabilitated (many of them posthumously). The general easement of repressive policies became known later as the Khrushchev Thaw. At the same time, tensions with the United States heightened when the two rivals clashed over the deployment of the U.S. Jupiter missiles in Turkey and Soviet missiles in Cuba.

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, thus starting the Space Age. Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth aboard Vostok 1 manned spacecraft on 12 April 1961.

Sputnik 1 was the world's first artificial satellite

Following the ousting of Khrushchev in 1964, another period of collective rule ensued, until Leonid Brezhnev became the leader. The era of the 1970s and the early 1980s was designated later as the Era of Stagnation, a period when the economic growth slowed and social policies became static. The 1965 Kosygin reform aimed for partial decentralization of the Soviet economy and shifted the emphasis from heavy industry and weapons to light industry and consumer goods but was stifled by the conservative Communist leadership.

In 1979, after a Communist-led revolution in Afghanistan, Soviet forces entered that country at request of the new regime. The occupation drained economic resources and dragged on without achieving meaningful political results. Ultimately the Soviet Army was withdrawn from Afghanistan in 1989 due to international opposition, persistent anti-Soviet guerilla warfare, and a lack of support by Soviet citizens.

From 1985 onwards, the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who sought to enact liberal reforms in the Soviet system, introduced the policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to end the period of economic stagnation and to democratise the government. This, however, led to the rise of strong nationalist and separatist movements. Prior to 1991, the Soviet economy was the second largest in the world, but during its last years it was afflicted by shortages of goods in grocery stores, huge budget deficits, and explosive growth in money supply leading to inflation.

By 1991, economic and political turmoil began to boil over, as the Baltic republics chose to secede from the Union. On 17 March, a referendum was held, to which the vast majority of participating citizens voted in favour of preserving the Soviet Union as a renewed federation. In August 1991, a coup d'état attempt by members of Gorbachev's government, directed against Gorbachev and aimed at preserving the Soviet Union, instead led to the end of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Despite the will expressed by the people, on 25 December 1991, the USSR was dissolved into 15 post-Soviet states.

Russian Federation

Main article: History of Russia (1992–present)

Moscow International Business Center under construction

In June 1991, Boris Yeltsin became the first directly elected President in Russian history when he was elected President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, which became the independent Russian Federation in December of that year. During and after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, wide-ranging reforms including privatization and market and trade liberalization were undertaken, including radical changes along the lines of "shock therapy" as recommended by the United States and the International Monetary Fund. All this resulted in a major economic crisis, characterized by a 50% decline of both GDP and industrial output between 1990–95.

The privatization largely shifted control of enterprises from state agencies to individuals with inside connections in the government. Many of the newly rich moved billions in cash and assets outside of the country in an enormous capital flight. The depression of the economy led to the collapse of social services; the birth rate plummeted while the death rate skyrocketed. Millions plunged into poverty, from 1.5% level of poverty in the late Soviet era, to 39–49% by mid-1993. The 1990s saw extreme corruption and lawlessness, the rise of criminal gangs and violent crime.

The 1990s were plagued by armed conflicts in the North Caucasus, both local ethnic skirmishes and separatist Islamist insurrections. From the time Chechen separatists declared independence in the early 1990s, an intermittent guerrilla war has been fought between the rebel groups and the Russian military. Terrorist attacks against civilians carried out by separatists, most notably the Moscow theater hostage crisis and Beslan school siege, caused hundreds of deaths and drew worldwide attention.

Russia took up the responsibility for settling the USSR's external debts, even though its population made up just half of the population of the USSR at the time of its dissolution. High budget deficits caused the 1998 Russian financial crisis and resulted in a further GDP decline.

150 thousand people gathered in Crimean Sevastopol to watch Victory Day parade on 9 May 2014

On 31 December 1999, President Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned, handing the post to the recently appointed Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, who then won the 2000 presidential election. Putin suppressed the Chechen insurgency, although sporadic violence still occurs throughout the Northern Caucasus. High oil prices and the initially weak currency followed by increasing domestic demand, consumption, and investments has helped the economy grow for nine straight years, improving the standard of living and increasing Russia's influence on the world stage. While many reforms made during the Putin presidency have been generally criticized by Western nations as un-democratic, Putin's leadership over the return of order, stability, and progress has won him widespread admiration in Russia.

On 2 March 2008, Dmitry Medvedev was elected President of Russia, whilst Putin became Prime Minister. Putin returned to the presidency following the 2012 presidential elections, and Medvedev was appointed Prime Minister.

In 2014, after President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine fled as a result of a revolution, Putin requested and received authorization from the Russian Parliament to deploy Russian troops to Ukraine. Following a referendum in Crimea which was not widely accepted internationally, the Russian leadership announced the incorporation of Crimea into Russia. On 27 March the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of a non-binding resolution opposing the Russian annexation of Crimea. On 9 May, 150 thousand people gathered in Crimean Sevastopol to watch Victory Day parade, waving Russian flags and sang among others the Russian anthem.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Russia

Governance

Moscow Kremlin, the working residence of the President of Russia

According to the Constitution of Russia, the country is a federation and semi-presidential republic, wherein the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The Russian Federation is fundamentally structured as a multi-party representative democracy, with the federal government composed of three branches:

• Legislative: The bicameral Federal Assembly of Russia, made up of the 450-member State Duma and the 166-member Federation Council, adopts federal law, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse and the power of impeachment of the President.
• Executive: The President is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, can veto legislative bills before they become law, and appoints the Government of Russia (Cabinet) and other officers, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies.
• Judiciary: The Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Supreme Court of Arbitration and lower federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the President, interpret laws and can overturn laws they deem unconstitutional.

The president is elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term, but not for a third consecutive term). Ministries of the government are composed of the Premier and his deputies, ministers, and selected other individuals; all are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister (whereas the appointment of the latter requires the consent of the State Duma). Leading political parties in Russia include United Russia, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and A Just Russia. In 2013, Russia was ranked as 122nd of 167 countries in the Democracy Index, compiled by The Economist Intelligence Unit, while the World Justice Project currently ranks Russia 80th of 99 countries surveyed in terms of rule of law.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Russia

As a transcontinental country, Russia is a member of both the Council of Europe (COE) and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

Russian Federation became the 39th member state of the Council of Europe on 28 February 1996

Member states, observers and partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

The Russian Federation is recognized in international law as a successor state of the former Soviet Union. Russia continues to implement the international commitments of the USSR, and has assumed the USSR's permanent seat in the UN Security Council, membership in other international organisations, the rights and obligations under international treaties, and property and debts. Russia has a multifaceted foreign policy. As of 2009, it maintains diplomatic relations with 191 countries and has 144 embassies. The foreign policy is determined by the President and implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

As the successor to a former superpower, Russia's geopolitical status has been often debated, particularly in relation to unipolar and multipolar views on the global political system. While Russia is commonly accepted to be a great power, in recent years it has been characterized by a number of world leaders, scholars, commentators and politicians as a currently reinstating or potential superpower.

As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia plays a major role in maintaining international peace and security. The country participates in the Quartet on the Middle East and the Six-party talks with North Korea. Russia is a member of the G8 industrialized nations, the Council of Europe, OSCE, and APEC. Russia usually takes a leading role in regional organisations such as the CIS, EurAsEC, CSTO, and the SCO. Russia became the 39th member state of the Council of Europe in 1996. In 1998, Russia ratified the European Convention on Human Rights. The legal basis for EU relations with Russia is the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which came into force in 1997. The Agreement recalls the parties' shared respect for democracy and human rights, political and economic freedom and commitment to international peace and security. In May 2003, the EU and Russia agreed to reinforce their cooperation on the basis of common values and shared interests. Former President Vladimir Putin had advocated a strategic partnership with close integration in various dimensions including establishment of EU-Russia Common Spaces. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia has developed a friendlier relationship with the United States and NATO. The NATO-Russia Council was established in 2002 to allow the United States, Russia and the 27 allies in NATO to work together as equal partners to pursue opportunities for joint collaboration.

Leaders of the BRIC nations in 2008: (l-r) Manmohan Singh of India, Dmitry Medvedev of Russia, Hu Jintao of China and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil

Russia maintains strong and positive relations with other BRIC countries. India is the largest customer of Russian military equipment and the two countries share extensive defense and strategic relations. In recent years, the country has strengthened bilateral ties especially with the People's Republic of China by signing the Treaty of Friendship as well as building the Trans-Siberian oil pipeline and gas pipeline from Siberia to China.

An important aspect of Russia's relations with the West is the criticism of Russia's political system and human rights management (including LGBT rights, media freedom, and reports about killed journalists) by the Western governments, the mass media and the leading democracy and human rights watchdogs. In particular, such organisations as the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch consider Russia to have not enough democratic attributes and to allow few political rights and civil liberties to its citizens. Freedom House, an international organisation funded by the United States, ranks Russia as "not free", citing "carefully engineered elections" and "absence" of debate. Russian authorities dismiss these claims and especially criticise Freedom House. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called the 2006 Freedom in the World report "prefabricated", stating that the human rights issues have been turned into a political weapon in particular by the United States. The ministry also claims that such organisations as Freedom House and Human Rights Watch use the same scheme of voluntary extrapolation of "isolated facts that of course can be found in any country" into dominant tendencies.

Military

Main article: Russian Armed Forces

Modern Russian aircraft Sukhoi Su-35, Sukhoi Su-34 and Sukhoi PAK FA

The Russian military is divided into the Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force. There are also three independent arms of service: Strategic Missile Troops, Aerospace Defence Forces, and the Airborne Troops. In 2006, the military had 1.037 million personnel on active duty. It is mandatory for all male citizens aged 18–27 to be drafted for a year of service in Armed Forces.

Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world. It has the second largest fleet of ballistic missile submarines and is the only country apart from the United States with a modern strategic bomber force. Russia's tank force is the largest in the world, its surface navy and air force are among the largest ones.

The country has a large and fully indigenous arms industry, producing most of its own military equipment with only few types of weapons imported. Russia is the world's top supplier of arms, a spot it has held since 2001, accounting for around 30% of worldwide weapons sales and exporting weapons to about 80 countries.

The Russian government's published 2014 military budget is about 2.49 trillion rubles (approximately US$69.3 billion), the third largest in the world behind the US and China. The official budget is set to rise to 3.03 trillion rubles (approximately US$83.7 billion) in 2015, and 3.36 trillion rubles (approximately US$93.9 billion) in 2016. However, unofficial estimates put the budget significantly higher, for example the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2013 Military Expenditure Database estimated Russia's military expenditure in 2012 at US$90.749 billion. This estimate is an increase of more than US$18 billion on SIPRI's estimate of the Russian military budget for 2011 (US$71.9 billion). As of 2014, Russia's military budget is higher than any other European nation.

According to 2012 Global Peace Index, Russia is the sixth least peaceful out of 162 countries in the world, principally because of its defense industry. Russia has historically ranked low on the index since its inception in 2007.

Political divisions

Main article: Subdivisions of Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Akhmad Kadyrov, former rebel and head of the Chechen Republic, 2000

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiyev in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, 2011

Federal subjects

According to the Constitution, the country comprises eighty-five federal subjects, including the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol, whose recent establishment is internationally disputed and criticized as illegal annexation. In 1993, when the Constitution was adopted, there were eighty-nine federal subjects listed, but later some of them were merged. These subjects have equal representation—two delegates each—in the Federation Council. However, they differ in the degree of autonomy they enjoy.

• 46 oblasts (provinces): most common type of federal subjects, with locally elected governor and legislature.
• 22 republics: nominally autonomous; each is tasked with drafting its own constitution, direct-elected head of republic or a similar post, and parliament. Republics are allowed to establish their own official language alongside Russian but are represented by the federal government in international affairs. Republics are meant to be home to specific ethnic minorities.
• 9 krais (territories): essentially the same as oblasts. The "territory" designation is historic, originally given to frontier regions and later also to the administrative divisions that comprised autonomous okrugs or autonomous oblasts.
• 4 autonomous okrugs (autonomous districts): originally autonomous entities within oblasts and krais created for ethnic minorities, their status was elevated to that of federal subjects in the 1990s. With the exception of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, all autonomous okrugs are still administratively subordinated to a krai or an oblast of which they are a part.
• 1 autonomous oblast (the Jewish Autonomous Oblast): historically, autonomous oblasts were administrative units subordinated to krais. In 1990, all of them except for the Jewish AO were elevated in status to that of a republic.
• 3 federal cities (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Sevastopol): major cities that function as separate regions.

Further information: Political status of Crimea and Sevastopol and 2014 Crimean crisis

Federal districts

Federal subjects are grouped into nine federal districts, each administered by an envoy appointed by the President of Russia. Unlike the federal subjects, the federal districts are not a subnational level of government, but are a level of administration of the federal government. Federal districts' envoys serve as liaisons between the federal subjects and the federal government and are primarily responsible for overseeing the compliance of the federal subjects with the federal laws.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Russia

See also: List of Russian explorers

The topography of Russia

Russia is the largest country in the world; its total area is 17,075,400 square kilometres (6,592,800 sq mi). There are 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia, 40 UNESCO biosphere reserves, 41 national parks and 101 nature reserves. It lies between latitudes 41° and 82° N, and longitudes 19° E and 169° W.

Russia's territorial expansion was achieved largely in the late 16th century under the Cossack, Yermak Timofeyevich, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, at a time when competing city-states in the western regions of Russia had banded together to form one country. Yermak mustered an army and pushed eastward, where he conquered nearly all the lands once belonging to the Mongols, defeating their ruler, Khan Kuchum.

Russia has a wide natural resource base, including major deposits of timber, petroleum, natural gas, coal, ores and other mineral resources.

Topography

The two widest separated points in Russia are about 8,000 km (4,971 mi) apart along a geodesic line. These points are: the boundary with Poland on a 60 km (37 mi) long Vistula Spit separating the Gdańsk Bay from the Vistula Lagoon; and the farthest southeast of the Kuril Islands. The points which are furthest separated in longitude are 6,600 km (4,101 mi) apart along a geodesic line. These points are: in the west, the same spit; in the east, the Big Diomede Island. The Russian Federation spans 9 time zones.

Mount Elbrus, the highest point of the Caucasus, Russia and Europe

Most of Russia consists of vast stretches of plains that are predominantly steppe to the south and heavily forested to the north, with tundra along the northern coast. Russia possesses 10% of the world's arable land. Mountain ranges are found along the southern borders, such as the Caucasus (containing Mount Elbrus, which at 5,642 m (18,510 ft) is the highest point in both Russia and Europe) and the Altai (containing Mount Belukha, which at the 4,506 m (14,783 ft) is the highest point of Siberia outside of the Russian Far East); and in the eastern parts, such as the Verkhoyansk Range or the volcanoes of Kamchatka Peninsula (containing Klyuchevskaya Sopka, which at the 4,750 m (15,584 ft) is the highest active volcano in Eurasia as well as the highest point of Asian Russia). The Ural Mountains, rich in mineral resources, form a north-south range that divides Europe and Asia.

Russia has an extensive coastline of over 37,000 km (22,991 mi) along the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, as well as along the Baltic Sea, Sea of Azov, Black Sea and Caspian Sea. The Barents Sea, White Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea, Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and the Sea of Japan are linked to Russia via the Arctic and Pacific. Russia's major islands and archipelagos include Novaya Zemlya, the Franz Josef Land, the Severnaya Zemlya, the New Siberian Islands, Wrangel Island, the Kuril Islands, and Sakhalin. The Diomede Islands (one controlled by Russia, the other by the U.S.) are just 3 km (1.9 mi) apart, and Kunashir Island is about 20 km (12.4 mi) from Hokkaido, Japan.

Central Russian Upland near Zaraysk, Moscow Oblast

Russia has thousands of rivers and inland bodies of water, providing it with one of the world's largest surface water resources. Its lakes contain approximately one-quarter of the world's liquid fresh water. The largest and most prominent of Russia's bodies of fresh water is Lake Baikal, the world's deepest, purest, oldest and most capacious fresh water lake. Baikal alone contains over one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water. Other major lakes include Ladoga and Onega, two of the largest lakes in Europe. Russia is second only to Brazil in volume of the total renewable water resources. Of the country's 100,000 rivers, the Volga is the most famous, not only because it is the longest river in Europe, but also because of its major role in Russian history. The Siberian rivers Ob, Yenisey, Lena and Amur are among the longest rivers in the world.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Russia

Taiga forest in winter, Arkhangelsk Oblast

The enormous size of Russia and the remoteness of many areas from the sea result in the dominance of the humid continental climate, which is prevalent in all parts of the country except for the tundra and the extreme southeast. Mountains in the south obstruct the flow of warm air masses from the Indian Ocean, while the plain of the west and north makes the country open to Arctic and Atlantic influences.

Most of Northern European Russia and Siberia has a subarctic climate, with extremely severe winters in the inner regions of Northeast Siberia (mostly the Sakha Republic, where the Northern Pole of Cold is located with the record low temperature of −71.2 °C or −96.2 °F), and more moderate elsewhere. The strip of land along the shore of the Arctic Ocean, as well as the Russian Arctic islands, have a polar climate.

The coastal part of Krasnodar Krai on the Black Sea, most notably in Sochi, possesses a humid subtropical climate with mild and wet winters. Winter is dry compared to summer in many regions of East Siberia and the Far East, while other parts of the country experience more even precipitation across seasons. Winter precipitation in most parts of the country usually falls as snow. The region along the Lower Volga and Caspian Sea coast, as well as some areas of southernmost Siberia, possesses a semi-arid climate.

Climate data for Russia (records)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	22.2 (72)	23.8 (74.8)	30.3 (86.5)	34.0 (93.2)	37.7 (99.9)	43.2 (109.8)	45.4 (113.7)	43.5 (110.3)	41.5 (106.7)	33.7 (92.7)	29.1 (84.4)	25.0 (77)	45.4 (113.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−71.2 (−96.2)	−64.4 (−83.9)	−60.6 (−77.1)	−46.4 (−51.5)	−28.9 (−20)	−9.7 (14.5)	−9.3 (15.3)	−17.1 (1.2)	−25.3 (−13.5)	−47.6 (−53.7)	−58.5 (−73.3)	−62.8 (−81)	−71.2 (−96.2)
Source: Pogoda.ru.net

Throughout much of the territory there are only two distinct seasons—winter and summer—as spring and autumn are usually brief periods of change between extremely low temperatures and extremely high. The coldest month is January (February on the coastline), the warmest usually is July. Great ranges of temperature are typical. In winter, temperatures get colder both from south to north and from west to east. Summers can be quite hot, even in Siberia. The continental interiors are the driest areas.

Biodiversity

Main articles: List of ecoregions in Russia, List of mammals of Russia and List of birds of Russia

The brown bear is a popular symbol of Russia, particularly in the West.

From north to south the East European Plain, also known as Russian Plain, is clad sequentially in Arctic tundra, coniferous forest (taiga), mixed and broad-leaf forests, grassland (steppe), and semi-desert (fringing the Caspian Sea), as the changes in vegetation reflect the changes in climate. Siberia supports a similar sequence but is largely taiga. Russia has the world's largest forest reserves, known as "the lungs of Europe", second only to the Amazon Rainforest in the amount of carbon dioxide it absorbs.

There are 266 mammal species and 780 bird species in Russia. A total of 415 animal species have been included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation as of 1997 and are now protected.

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Russia and Timeline of largest projects in the Russian economy

World Trade Center in Moscow

Russia has a market economy with enormous natural resources, particularly oil and natural gas. It has the 9th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and the 6th largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Since the turn of the 21st century, higher domestic consumption and greater political stability have bolstered economic growth in Russia. The country ended 2008 with its ninth straight year of growth, averaging 7% annually between 2000 and 2008. Real GDP per capita, PPP (current international) was 19,840 in 2010. Growth was primarily driven by non-traded services and goods for the domestic market, as opposed to oil or mineral extraction and exports. The average nominal salary in Russia was $967 per month in early 2013, up from $80 in 2000. In March 2014 the average nominal monthly wages reached 30,000 RUR (or US$980), while tax on the income of individuals is payable at the rate of 13% on most incomes. Approximately 12.8% of Russians lived below the national poverty line in 2011, significantly down from 40% in 1998 at the worst point of the post-Soviet collapse. Unemployment in Russia was at 5.4% in 2014, down from about 12.4% in 1999. The middle class has grown from just 8 million persons in 2000 to 104 million persons in 2013. Sugar imports reportedly dropped 82% between 2012 and 2013.

Russian economy since the end of the Soviet Union

Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more than 80% of Russian exports abroad. Since 2003, the exports of natural resources started decreasing in economic importance as the internal market strengthened considerably. Despite higher energy prices, oil and gas only contribute to 5.7% of Russia's GDP and the government predicts this will be 3.7% by 2011. Oil export earnings allowed Russia to increase its foreign reserves from $12 billion in 1999 to $597.3 billion on 1 August 2008, the third largest foreign exchange reserves in the world. The macroeconomic policy under Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin was prudent and sound, with excess income being stored in the Stabilization Fund of Russia. In 2006, Russia repaid most of its formerly massive debts, leaving it with one of the lowest foreign debts among major economies. The Stabilization Fund helped Russia to come out of the global financial crisis in a much better state than many experts had expected.

A simpler, more streamlined tax code adopted in 2001 reduced the tax burden on people and dramatically increased state revenue. Russia has a flat tax rate of 13%. This ranks it as the country with the second most attractive personal tax system for single managers in the world after the United Arab Emirates. According to Bloomberg, Russia is considered well ahead of most other resource-rich countries in its economic development, with a long tradition of education, science, and industry. The country has a higher proportion of higher education graduates than any other country in Eurasia.

The economic development of the country has been uneven geographically with the Moscow region contributing a very large share of the country's GDP. Another problem is modernisation of infrastructure, ageing and inadequate after years of being neglected in the 1990s; the government has said $1 trillion will be invested in development of infrastructure by 2020. In December 2011, Russia finally joined World Trade Organisation, allowing it a greater access to overseas markets. Some analysts estimate that WTO membership could bring the Russian economy a bounce of up to 3% annually. Russia ranks as the second-most corrupt country in Europe (after Ukraine), according to the Corruption Perceptions Index. The Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce also states that "[c]orruption is one of the biggest problems both Russian and international companies have to deal with".

Agriculture

Main articles: Agriculture in Russia and Fishing industry in Russia

Rye Fields, by Ivan Shishkin. Russia is the world's top producer of rye, barley, buckwheat, oats and sunflower seed, and one of the largest producers and exporters of wheat.

The total area of cultivated land in Russia was estimated as 1,237,294 km² in 2005, the fourth largest in the world. From 1999 to 2009, Russia's agriculture demonstrated steady growth, and the country turned from a grain importer to the third largest grain exporter after EU and the United States. The production of meat has grown from 6,813,000 tonnes in 1999 to 9,331,000 tonnes in 2008, and continues to grow.

This restoration of agriculture was supported by credit policy of the government, helping both individual farmers and large privatized corporate farms, that once were Soviet kolkhozes and still own the significant share of agricultural land. While large farms concentrate mainly on the production of grain and husbandry products, small private household plots produce most of the country's yield of potatoes, vegetables and fruits.

With access to three of the world's oceans—the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific—Russian fishing fleets are a major contributor to the world's fish supply. The total capture of fish was at 3,191,068 tons in 2005. Both exports and imports of fish and sea products grew significantly in the recent years, reaching correspondingly $2,415 and $2,036 millions in 2008.

Sprawling from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, Russia has more than a fifth of the world's forests, which makes it the largest forest country in the world. However, according to a 2012 study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Government of the Russian Federation, the considerable potential of Russian forests is underutilized and Russia's share of the global trade in forest products is less than four percent.

Energy

Main articles: Energy in Russia and Nuclear power in Russia

Russia is a key oil and gas supplier to much of Europe.

In recent years, Russia has frequently been described in the media as an energy superpower. The country has the world's largest natural gas reserves, the 8th largest oil reserves, and the second largest coal reserves. Russia is the world's leading natural gas exporter and second largest natural gas producer, while also the largest oil exporter and the largest oil producer.

Russia is the 3rd largest electricity producer in the world and the 5th largest renewable energy producer, the latter because of the well-developed hydroelectricity production in the country. Large cascades of hydropower plants are built in European Russia along big rivers like Volga. The Asian part of Russia also features a number of major hydropower stations, however the gigantic hydroelectric potential of Siberia and the Russian Far East largely remains unexploited.

Russia was the first country to develop civilian nuclear power and to construct the world's first nuclear power plant. Currently the country is the 4th largest nuclear energy producer, with all nuclear power in Russia being managed by Rosatom State Corporation. The sector is rapidly developing, with an aim of increasing the total share of nuclear energy from current 16.9% to 23% by 2020. The Russian government plans to allocate 127 billion rubles ($5.42 billion) to a federal program dedicated to the next generation of nuclear energy technology. About 1 trillion rubles ($42.7 billion) is to be allocated from the federal budget to nuclear power and industry development before 2015.

In May 2014 on a two-day trip to Shanghai, President Putin signed a deal on behalf of Gazprom for the Russian energy giant to supply China with 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. Construction of a pipeline to facilitate the deal was agreed whereby Russia would contribute $55bn to the cost, and China $22bn, in what Putin described as "the world's biggest construction project for the next four years." The natural gas would begin to flow sometime between 2018 and 2020 and would continue for 30 years at an ultimate cost to China of $400bn.

Transport

Main articles: Transport in Russia, History of rail transport in Russia and Rail transport in Russia

The marker for kilometre 9288 at the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway in Vladivostok

Railway transport in Russia is mostly under the control of the state-run Russian Railways monopoly. The company accounts for over 3.6% of Russia's GDP and handles 39% of the total freight traffic (including pipelines) and more than 42% of passenger traffic. The total length of common-used railway tracks exceeds 85,500 km (53,127 mi), second only to the United States. Over 44,000 km (27,340 mi) of tracks are electrified, which is the largest number in the world, and additionally there are more than 30,000 km (18,641 mi) of industrial non-common carrier lines. Railways in Russia, unlike in the most of the world, use broad gauge of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 ²⁷⁄₃₂ in), with the exception of 957 km (595 mi) on Sakhalin island using narrow gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in). The most renown railway in Russia is Trans-Siberian (Transsib), spanning a record 7 time zones and serving the longest single continuous services in the world, Moscow-Vladivostok (9,259 km (5,753 mi)), Moscow–Pyongyang (10,267 km (6,380 mi)) and Kiev–Vladivostok (11,085 km (6,888 mi)).

As of 2006 Russia had 933,000 km of roads, of which 755,000 were paved. Some of these make up the Russian federal motorway system. With a large land area the road density is the lowest of all the G8 and BRIC countries.

Much of Russia's inland waterways, which total 102,000 km (63,380 mi), are made up of natural rivers or lakes. In the European part of the country the network of channels connects the basins of major rivers. Russia's capital, Moscow, is sometimes called "the port of the five seas", because of its waterway connections to the Baltic, White, Caspian, Azov and Black Seas.

Yamal, one of Russia's nuclear-powered icebreakers (gallery)

Major sea ports of Russia include Rostov-on-Don on the Azov Sea, Novorossiysk on the Black Sea, Astrakhan and Makhachkala on the Caspian, Kaliningrad and St Petersburg on the Baltic, Arkhangelsk on the White Sea, Murmansk on the Barents Sea, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean. In 2008 the country owned 1,448 merchant marine ships. The world's only fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers advances the economic exploitation of the Arctic continental shelf of Russia and the development of sea trade through the Northern Sea Route between Europe and East Asia.

By total length of pipelines Russia is second only to the United States. Currently many new pipeline projects are being realized, including Nord Stream and South Stream natural gas pipelines to Europe, and the Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean oil pipeline (ESPO) to the Russian Far East and China.

Russia has 1,216 airports, the busiest being Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo in Moscow, and Pulkovo in St. Petersburg. The total length of runways in Russia exceeds 600,000 kilometres (370,000 mi).

Typically, major Russian cities have well-developed systems of public transport, with the most common varieties of exploited vehicles being bus, trolleybus and tram. Seven Russian cities, namely Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Samara, Yekaterinburg, and Kazan, have underground metros, while Volgograd features a metrotram. The total length of metros in Russia is 465.4 kilometres (289.2 mi). Moscow Metro and Saint Petersburg Metro are the oldest in Russia, opened in 1935 and 1955 respectively. These two are among the fastest and busiest metro systems in the world, and are famous for rich decorations and unique designs of their stations, which is a common tradition on Russian metros and railways.

Science and technology

Main articles: Timeline of Russian inventions and technology records, Science and technology in Russia, List of Russian scientists and List of Russian inventors

Mikhail Lomonosov, polymath scientist, inventor, poet and artist

Ivan Pavlov (1849–1936), physiologist, Nobel Prize in 1904

Science and technology in Russia blossomed since the Age of Enlightenment, when Peter the Great founded the Russian Academy of Sciences and Saint Petersburg State University, and polymath Mikhail Lomonosov established the Moscow State University, paving the way for a strong native tradition in learning and innovation. In the 19th and 20th centuries the country produced a large number of notable scientists and inventors.

The Russian physics school began with Lomonosov who proposed the law of conservation of matter preceding the energy conservation law. Russian discoveries and inventions in physics include the electric arc, electrodynamical Lenz's law, space groups of crystals, photoelectric cell, Cherenkov radiation, electron paramagnetic resonance, heterotransistors and 3D holography. Lasers and masers were co-invented by Nikolai Basov and Alexander Prokhorov, while the idea of tokamak for controlled nuclear fusion was introduced by Igor Tamm, Andrei Sakharov and Lev Artsimovich, leading eventually the modern international ITER project, where Russia is a party.

Since the time of Nikolay Lobachevsky (the "Copernicus of Geometry" who pioneered the non-Euclidean geometry) and a prominent tutor Pafnuty Chebyshev, the Russian mathematical school became one of the most influential in the world. Chebyshev's students included Aleksandr Lyapunov, who founded the modern stability theory, and Andrey Markov who invented the Markov chains. In the 20th century Soviet mathematicians, such as Andrey Kolmogorov, Israel Gelfand, and Sergey Sobolev, made major contributions to various areas of mathematics. Nine Soviet/Russian mathematicians were awarded with Fields Medal, a most prestigious award in mathematics. Recently Grigori Perelman was offered the first ever Clay Millennium Prize Problems Award for his final proof of the Poincaré conjecture in 2002.

Russian chemist Dmitry Mendeleev invented the Periodic table, the main framework of modern chemistry. Aleksandr Butlerov was one of the creators of the theory of chemical structure, playing a central role in organic chemistry. Russian biologists include Dmitry Ivanovsky who discovered viruses, Ivan Pavlov who was the first to experiment with the classical conditioning, and Ilya Mechnikov who was a pioneer researcher of the immune system and probiotics.

Many Russian scientists and inventors were émigrés, like Igor Sikorsky, who built the first airliners and modern-type helicopters; Vladimir Zworykin, often called the father of TV; chemist Ilya Prigogine, noted for his work on dissipative structures and complex systems; Nobel Prize-winning economists Simon Kuznets and Wassily Leontief; physicist Georgiy Gamov (an author of the Big Bang theory) and social scientist Pitirim Sorokin. Many foreigners worked in Russia for a long time, like Leonard Euler and Alfred Nobel.

Russian inventions include arc welding by Nikolay Benardos, further developed by Nikolay Slavyanov, Konstantin Khrenov and other Russian engineers. Gleb Kotelnikov invented the knapsack parachute, while Evgeniy Chertovsky introduced the pressure suit. Alexander Lodygin and Pavel Yablochkov were pioneers of electric lighting, and Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrovolsky introduced the first three-phase electric power systems, widely used today. Sergei Lebedev invented the first commercially viable and mass-produced type of synthetic rubber. The first ternary computer, Setun, was developed by Nikolay Brusentsov.

The Sukhoi PAK FA is a fifth-generation jet fighter being developed for the Russian Air Force.

In the 20th century a number of prominent Soviet aerospace engineers, inspired by the fundamental works of Nikolai Zhukovsky, Sergei Chaplygin and others, designed many hundreds of models of military and civilian aircraft and founded a number of KBs (Construction Bureaus) that now constitute the bulk of Russian United Aircraft Corporation. Famous Russian aircraft include the civilian Tu-series, Su and MiG fighter aircraft, Ka and Mi-series helicopters; many Russian aircraft models are on the list of most produced aircraft in history.

Famous Russian battle tanks include T34, the most heavily produced tank design of World War II, and further tanks of T-series, including the most produced tank in history, T54/55. The AK47 and AK74 by Mikhail Kalashnikov constitute the most widely used type of assault rifle throughout the world—so much so that more AK-type rifles have been manufactured than all other assault rifles combined.

With all these achievements, however, since the late Soviet era Russia was lagging behind the West in a number of technologies, mostly those related to energy conservation and consumer goods production. The crisis of the 1990s led to the drastic reduction of the state support for science and a brain drain migration from Russia.

In the 2000s, on the wave of a new economic boom, the situation in the Russian science and technology has improved, and the government launched a campaign aimed into modernisation and innovation. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev formulated top priorities for the country's technological development:

• Efficient energy use
• Information technology, including both common products and the products combined with space technology
• Nuclear energy
• Pharmaceuticals

Currently Russia has completed the GLONASS satellite navigation system. The country is developing its own fifth-generation jet fighter and constructing the first serial mobile nuclear plant in the world.

Space exploration

Soviet and Russian space station Mir

Russian achievements in the field of space technology and space exploration are traced back to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the father of theoretical astronautics. His works had inspired leading Soviet rocket engineers, such as Sergey Korolyov, Valentin Glushko, and many others who contributed to the success of the Soviet space program on early stages of the Space Race and beyond.

In 1957 the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched; in 1961 the first human trip into space was successfully made by Yury Gagarin. Many other Soviet and Russian space exploration records ensued, including the first spacewalk performed by Alexey Leonov, Luna 9 was the first spacecraft to land on the Moon, Venera 7 was the first to land on another planet (Venus), Mars 3 then the first to land on Mars, the first space exploration rover Lunokhod 1 and the first space station Salyut 1 and Mir.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some government-funded space exploration programs, including the Buran space shuttle program, were cancelled or delayed, while participation of the Russian space industry in commercial activities and international cooperation intensified.

Nowadays Russia is the largest satellite launcher. After the U.S. Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, Soyuz rockets became the only provider of transport for astronauts at the International Space Station.

Soyuz TMA-2 is launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, carrying one of the first resident crews to the International Space Station

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Russia and Rossiyane

Percentage of ethnic Russians by region in 2010

  >80%

  70—79%

  50—69%

  20—49%

  <20%

Natural population growth rate in Russia, 2012.

Ethnic Russians comprise 81% of the country's population. The Russian Federation is also home to several sizeable minorities. In all, 160 different other ethnic groups and indigenous peoples live within its borders. Though Russia's population is comparatively large, its density is low because of the country's enormous size. Population is densest in European Russia, near the Ural Mountains, and in southwest Siberia. 73% of the population lives in urban areas while 27% in rural ones. The results of the 2010 Census show a total population of 142,856,536.

Russia's population peaked at 148,689,000 in 1991, just before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It began to experience a rapid decline starting in the mid-1990s. The decline has slowed to near stagnation in recent years because of reduced death rates, increased birth rates and increased immigration.

In 2009, Russia recorded annual population growth for the first time in fifteen years, with total growth of 10,500. 279,906 migrants arrived to the Russian Federation the same year, of which 93% came from CIS countries. The number of Russian emigrants steadily declined from 359,000 in 2000 to 32,000 in 2009. There are also an estimated 10 million illegal immigrants from the ex-Soviet states in Russia. Russia is home to approximately 116 million ethnic Russians and about 20 million ethnic Russians live outside Russia in the former republics of the Soviet Union, mostly in Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The 2010 census recorded 81% of the population as ethnically Russian, and 19% as other ethnicities: 3.7% Tatars; 1.4% Ukrainians; 1.1% Bashkirs; 1% Chuvashes; 11.8% others and unspecified. According to the Census, 84.93% of the Russian population belongs to European ethnic groups (Slavic, Germanic, Finnic other than Ugric, Greek, and others). This is a decline from the 2002, when they constituted for more than 86% of the population.

Russia's birth rate is higher than that of most European countries (12.6 births per 1000 people in 2010 compared to the European Union average of 9.90 per 1000), but its death rate is also substantially higher (in 2010, Russia's death rate was 14.3 per 1000 people compared to the EU average of 10.28 per 1000). The Russian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs predicted that by 2011 the death rate would equal the birth rate because of increase in fertility and decline in mortality. The government is implementing a number of programs designed to increase the birth rate and attract more migrants. Monthly government child-assistance payments were doubled to US$55, and a one-time payment of US$9,200 was offered to women who had a second child since 2007.

In 2006, in a bid to compensate for the country's demographic decline, the Russian government started simplifying immigration laws and launched a state program "for providing assistance to voluntary immigration of ethnic Russians from former Soviet republics". In 2009 Russia experienced its highest birth rate since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In 2012, the birth rate increased again. Russia recorded 1,896,263 births, the highest number since 1990, and even exceeding annual births during the period 1967–1969, with a TFR of about 1.7, the highest since 1991. (Source: Vital statistics table below)

In August 2012, as the country saw its first demographic growth since the 1990s, President Putin declared that Russia's population could reach 146 million by 2025, mainly as a result of immigration.

Largest cities

Main article: List of cities and towns in Russia by population

Language

Main articles: Russian language, Languages of Russia and List of endangered languages in Russia

Russia's 160 ethnic groups speak some 100 languages. According to the 2002 Census, 142.6 million people speak Russian, followed by Tatar with 5.3 million and Ukrainian with 1.8 million speakers. Russian is the only official state language, but the Constitution gives the individual republics the right to establish their own state languages in addition to Russian.

Despite its wide distribution, the Russian language is homogeneous throughout the country. Russian is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, as well as the most widely spoken Slavic language. It belongs to the Indo-European language family and is one of the living members of the East Slavic languages, the others being Belarusian and Ukrainian (and possibly Rusyn). Written examples of Old East Slavic (Old Russian) are attested from the 10th century onwards.

Russian is one of the six official languages of the UN.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Russia

Religion in Russia (2012)

  Russian Orthodox (41%)

  Muslim (6.5%)

  Unaffiliated Christian (4.1%)

  Other Orthodox (1.5%)

  Neopagan and Tengrist (1.2%)

  Tibetan Buddhist (0.5%)

  Other religions (1.7%)

  Spiritual but not religious (25%)

  Atheist and non-religious (13%)

  Undecided (5.5%)

Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism are Russia's traditional religions, and are all legally a part of Russia's "historical heritage". In August 2012 the first-ever sociological survey and mapping of religious adherents in Russia based on self-identification was published, with data on 79 out of 83 of the federal subjects of Russia. Out of a population of 142,800,000 the survey found that 58,800,000 or 41% are Russian Orthodox, 9,400,000 or 6.5% are Muslims (including Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Ahmadiyya Islam and a majority of unaffiliated Muslims), 5,900,000 or 4.1% are unaffiliated Christians, 2,100,000 or 1.5% adhere to other Orthodox Churches (including Ukrainian, Georgian, Armenian and other churches), 1,700,000 or 1.2% are Pagans (including Rodnovery, Etseg Din, Caucasian Neopaganism and Uralic Neopaganism) or Tengrists (Turco-Mongol shamanic religions and new religions), 700,000 or 0.5% are Buddhists (mostly Vajrayana), 400,000 or 0.2% are Orthodox Old Believers, 300,000 or 0.2% are Protestants, 140,000 are Catholics, 140,000 are Jews. The Bahá'í Faith in Russia (Вера Бахаи), according to Association of Religion Data Archives was estimated at about 18,990 in 2005. The remaining population is made up of 36,000,000 or 25% "spiritual but not religious" people, 18,600,000 or 13% atheist and non-religious people and 7,900,000 people or 5.5% of the total population who have deemed themselves "undecided". Traced back to the Christianization of Kievan Rus' in the 10th century, Russian Orthodoxy is the dominant religion in the country; smaller Christian denominations such as Catholics, Armenian Gregorians and various Protestant churches also exist. The Russian Orthodox Church was the country's state religion prior to the Revolution and remains the largest religious body in the country. An estimated 95% of the registered Orthodox parishes belong to the Russian Orthodox Church while there are a number of smaller Orthodox Churches. However, the vast majority of Orthodox believers do not attend church on a regular basis. Easter is the most popular religious holiday in Russia, celebrated by a large segment of the Russian population, including large numbers of those who are non-religious. More than three-quarters of the Russian population celebrate Easter by making traditional Easter cakes, coloured eggs and paskha.

Peter and Paul Cathedral in St Petersburg

Islam is the second largest religion in Russia after Russian Orthodoxy. It is the traditional or predominant religion amongst some Caucasian ethnicities (notably the Chechens, the Ingush and the Circassians), and amongst some Turkic peoples (notably the Tatars and the Bashkirs). Altogether, there are 9,400,000 Muslims in Russia or 6.5% of the total population as of 2012 (the share of Muslims is probably much higher because the survey doesn't include detailed data for the traditionally Islamic states of Chechnya and Ingushetia). Notwithstanding, various differences split the Muslim population in different groups. According to the survey, most of the Muslims (precisely 6,700,000 or 4.6% of the total population) are "unaffiliated" to any Islamic schools and branches or Islamic organisation, this is mainly because it is not essential for Muslims to be affiliated with any specific sect or organization. Those who are unaffiliated are mostly Sunni Muslims. These unaffiliated Muslims constitute significant percentages of over 10% in Kabardino-Balkaria (49%), Bashkortostan (38%), Karachay-Cherkessia (34%), Tatarstan (31%), Yamalia (13%), Orenburg Oblast (11%), Adygea (11%) and Astrakhan Oblast (11%). Most of the regions of Siberia have an unaffiliated Muslim population of 1% to 2%.

Buddhism is traditional in three regions of the Russian Federation: Buryatia, Tuva, and Kalmykia. Some residents of the Siberian and Far Eastern regions, such as Yakutia and Chukotka, practice shamanist, pantheistic, and pagan rites, along with the major religions. Induction into religion takes place primarily along ethnic lines. Slavs are significantly Orthodox Christian, Turkic speakers are predominantly Muslim, and Mongolic peoples are generally Buddhists.

Various reports put the number of non-religious in Russia at between 16–48% of the population. The number of atheists has decreased significantly; according to the recent statistic, only seven percent declared themselves atheists, a decrease of 5% in three years.

Health

Main article: Healthcare in Russia

A mobile clinic used to provide health care at remote railway stations

The Russian Constitution guarantees free, universal health care for all its citizens. In practice, however, free health care is partially restricted because of mandatory registration. While Russia has more physicians, hospitals, and health care workers than almost any other country in the world on a per capita basis, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union the health of the Russian population has declined considerably as a result of social, economic, and lifestyle changes; the trend has been reversed only in the recent years, with average life expectancy having increased 2.4 years for males and 1.4 years for females between 2006–09.

As of 2009, the average life expectancy in Russia was 62.77 years for males and 74.67 years for females. The biggest factor contributing to the relatively low life expectancy for males is a high mortality rate among working-age males. Deaths mostly occur because of preventable causes (e.g., alcohol poisoning, smoking, traffic accidents, violent crime). As a result of the large gender difference in life expectancy, and also because of the lasting effect of high casualties in World War II, the gender imbalance remains to this day; there are 0.859 males to every female.

Education

Main article: Education in Russia

Moscow State University

Russia has a free education system, which is guaranteed for all citizens by the Constitution, however entry to subsidized higher education is highly competitive. As a result of great emphasis on science and technology in education, Russian medical, mathematical, scientific, and aerospace research is generally of a high order.

Since 1990, the 11-year school education has been introduced. Education in state-owned secondary schools is free. University level education is free, with exceptions. A substantial share of students is enrolled for full pay (many state institutions started to open commercial positions in the last years).

In 2004, state spending for education amounted to 3.6% of the GDP, or 13% of the consolidated state budget. The Government allocates funding to pay the tuition fees within an established quota or number of students for each state institution. In higher education institutions, students are paid a small stipend and provided with free housing if they are from out of town.

The oldest and largest Russian universities are Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University. In the 2000s, in order to create higher education and research institutions of comparable scale in Russian regions, the government launched a program of establishing "federal universities", mostly by merging existing large regional universities and research institutes and providing them with a special funding. These new institutions include the Southern Federal University, Siberian Federal University, Kazan Volga Federal University, North-Eastern Federal University, and Far Eastern Federal University.

Culture

Main article: Russian culture

Folk culture and cuisine

Main articles: Russian traditions, Russian jokes, Russian fairy tales and Russian cuisine

The Merchant's Wife by Boris Kustodiev, showcasing the Russian tea culture

There are over 160 different ethnic groups and indigenous peoples in Russia. Ethnic Russians with their Slavic Orthodox traditions, Tatars and Bashkirs with their Turkic Muslim culture, Buddhist nomadic Buryats and Kalmyks, Shamanistic peoples of the Extreme North and Siberia, highlanders of the Northern Caucasus, Finno-Ugric peoples of the Russian North West and Volga Region all contribute to the cultural diversity of the country.

Handicraft, like Dymkovo toy, khokhloma, gzhel and palekh miniature represent an important aspect of Russian folk culture. Ethnic Russian clothes include kaftan, kosovorotka and ushanka for men, sarafan and kokoshnik for women, with lapti and valenki as common shoes. The clothes of Cossacks from Southern Russia include burka and papaha, which they share with the peoples of the Northern Caucasus.

Russian cuisine widely uses fish, poultry, mushrooms, berries, and honey. Crops of rye, wheat, barley, and millet provide the ingredients for various breads, pancakes and cereals, as well as for kvass, beer and vodka drinks. Black bread is rather popular in Russia, compared to the rest of the world. Flavourful soups and stews include shchi, borsch, ukha, solyanka and okroshka. Smetana (a heavy sour cream) is often added to soups and salads. Pirozhki, blini and syrniki are native types of pancakes. Chicken Kiev, pelmeni and shashlyk are popular meat dishes, the last two being of Tatar and Caucasus origin respectively. Other meat dishes include stuffed cabbage rolls (golubtsy) usually filled with meat. Salads include Olivier salad, vinegret and dressed herring.

Russia's large number of ethnic groups have distinctive traditions regarding folk music. Typical ethnic Russian musical instruments are gusli, balalaika, zhaleika, and garmoshka. Folk music had a significant influence on Russian classical composers, and in modern times it is a source of inspiration for a number of popular folk bands, like Melnitsa. Russian folk songs, as well as patriotic Soviet songs, constitute the bulk of the repertoire of the world-renown Red Army choir and other popular ensembles.

Russians have many traditions, including the washing in banya, a hot steam bath somewhat similar to sauna. Old Russian folklore takes its roots in the pagan Slavic religion. Many Russian fairy tales and epic bylinas were adaptated for animation films, or for feature movies by the prominent directors like Aleksandr Ptushko (Ilya Muromets, Sadko) and Aleksandr Rou (Morozko, Vasilisa the Beautiful). Russian poets, including Pyotr Yershov and Leonid Filatov, made a number of well-known poetical interpretations of the classical fairy tales, and in some cases, like that of Alexander Pushkin, also created fully original fairy tale poems of great popularity.

Architecture

Main articles: Russian architecture and List of Russian architects

Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, a well known piece of Russian architecture

Since the Christianization of Kievan Rus' for several ages Russian architecture was influenced predominantly by the Byzantine architecture. Apart from fortifications (kremlins), the main stone buildings of ancient Rus' were Orthodox churches with their many domes, often gilded or brightly painted.

Aristotle Fioravanti and other Italian architects brought Renaissance trends into Russia since the late 15th century, while the 16th century saw the development of unique tent-like churches culminating in Saint Basil's Cathedral. By that time the onion dome design was also fully developed. In the 17th century, the "fiery style" of ornamentation flourished in Moscow and Yaroslavl, gradually paving the way for the Naryshkin baroque of the 1690s. After the reforms of Peter the Great the change of architectural styles in Russia generally followed that in the Western Europe.

The 18th-century taste for rococo architecture led to the ornate works of Bartolomeo Rastrelli and his followers. The reigns of Catherine the Great and her grandson Alexander I saw the flourishing of Neoclassical architecture, most notably in the capital city of Saint Petersburg. The second half of the 19th century was dominated by the Neo-Byzantine and Russian Revival styles. Prevalent styles of the 20th century were the Art Nouveau, Constructivism, and the Stalin Empire style.

In 1955, a new Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, condemned the "excesses" of the former academic architecture, and the late Soviet era was dominated by plain functionalism in architecture. This helped somewhat to resolve the housing problem, but created a large quantity of buildings of low architectural quality, much in contrast with the previous bright styles. The situation improved in the recent two decades. Many temples demolished in Soviet times were rebuilt, and this process continues along with the restoration of various historical buildings destroyed in World War II. A total of 23,000 Orthodox churches have been rebuilt between 1991 and 2010, which effectively quadrapled the number of operating churches in Russia.

Visual arts

Main article: Russian artists

A piece of Russian Icon art known as Rublev's Trinity

Karl Bryullov (1799–1852), a key figure in transition from the Russian neoclassicism to romanticism.

Early Russian painting is represented in icons and vibrant frescos, the two genres inherited from Byzantium. As Moscow rose to power, Theophanes the Greek, Dionisius and Andrei Rublev became vital names associated with a distinctly Russian art.

The Russian Academy of Arts was created in 1757 and gave Russian artists an international role and status. Ivan Argunov, Dmitry Levitzky, Vladimir Borovikovsky and other 18th century academicians mostly focused on portrait painting. In the early 19th century, when neoclassicism and romantism flourished, mythological and Biblical themes inspired many prominent paintings, notably by Karl Briullov and Alexander Ivanov.

In the mid-19th century the Peredvizhniki (Wanderers) group of artists broke with the Academy and initiated a school of art liberated from academic restrictions. These were mostly realist painters who captured Russian identity in landscapes of wide rivers, forests, and birch clearings, as well as vigorous genre scenes and robust portraits of their contemporaries. Some artists focused on depicting dramatic moments in Russian history, while others turned to social criticism, showing the conditions of the poor and caricaturing authority; critical realism flourished under the reign of Alexander II. Leading realists include Ivan Shishkin, Arkhip Kuindzhi, Ivan Kramskoi, Vasily Polenov, Isaac Levitan, Vasily Surikov, Viktor Vasnetsov, Ilya Repin, and Boris Kustodiev.

The turn of the 20th century saw the rise of symbolist painting, represented by Mikhail Vrubel, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, and Nicholas Roerich.

The Russian avant-garde was a large, influential wave of modernist art that flourished in Russia from approximately 1890 to 1930. The term covers many separate, but inextricably related art movements that occurred at the time, namely neo-primitivism, suprematism, constructivism, rayonism, and Russian Futurism. Notable artists from this era include El Lissitzky, Kazimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky, and Marc Chagall. Since the 1930s the revolutionary ideas of the avant-garde clashed with the newly emerged conservative direction of socialist realism.

Soviet art produced works that were furiously patriotic and anti-fascist during and after the Great Patriotic War. Multiple war memorials, marked by a great restrained solemnity, were built throughout the country. Soviet artists often combined innovation with socialist realism, notably the sculptors Vera Mukhina, Yevgeny Vuchetich and Ernst Neizvestny.

Music and dance

Main articles: Music of Russia, Russian ballet, Russian opera, Russian rock, Russian pop and Russian composers

The Snowdance scene from The Nutcracker ballet, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Music in 19th century Russia was defined by the tension between classical composer Mikhail Glinka along with other members of The Mighty Handful, who embraced Russian national identity and added religious and folk elements to their compositions, and the Russian Musical Society led by composers Anton and Nikolay Rubinsteins, which was musically conservative. The later tradition of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era, was continued into the 20th century by Sergei Rachmaninoff. World-renowned composers of the 20th century include Alexander Scriabin, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich and Alfred Schnittke.

Russian conservatories have turned out generations of famous soloists. Among the best known are violinists Jascha Heifetz, David Oistrakh, Leonid Kogan, Gidon Kremer, and Maxim Vengerov; cellist Mstislav Rostropovich; pianists Vladimir Horowitz, Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, and Evgeny Kissin; and vocalists Fyodor Shalyapin, Mark Reizen, Elena Obraztsova, Galina Vishnevskaya, Anna Netrebko and Dmitry Hvorostovsky.

During the early 20th century, Russian ballet dancers Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky rose to fame, and impresario Sergei Diaghilev and his Ballets Russes' travels abroad profoundly influenced the development of dance worldwide. Soviet ballet preserved the perfected 19th century traditions, and the Soviet Union's choreography schools produced many internationally famous stars, including Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow and the Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg remain famous throughout the world.

Modern Russian rock music takes its roots both in the Western rock and roll and heavy metal, and in traditions of the Russian bards of the Soviet era, such as Vladimir Vysotsky and Bulat Okudzhava. Popular Russian rock groups include Mashina Vremeni, DDT, Aquarium, Alisa, Kino, Kipelov, Nautilus Pompilius, Aria, Grazhdanskaya Oborona, Splean and Korol i Shut. Russian pop music developed from what was known in the Soviet times as estrada into full-fledged industry, with some performers gaining wide international recognition, such as t.A.T.u., Nu Virgos and Vitas.

Literature and philosophy

Main articles: Russian literature, Russian philosophy, Russian poets, Russian playwrights, Russian novelists and Russian science fiction and fantasy

Leo Tolstoy, novelist and philosopher

In the 18th century, during the era of Russian Enlightenment, the development of Russian literature was boosted by the works of Mikhail Lomonosov and Denis Fonvizin. By the early 19th century a modern native tradition had emerged, producing some of the greatest writers in Russian history. This period, known also as the Golden Age of Russian Poetry, began with Alexander Pushkin, who is considered the founder of the modern Russian literary language and often described as the "Russian Shakespeare". It continued into the 19th century with the poetry of Mikhail Lermontov and Nikolay Nekrasov, dramas of Alexander Ostrovsky and Anton Chekhov, and the prose of Nikolai Gogol and Ivan Turgenev. Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoyevsky have been described by literary critics as the greatest novelists of all time.

By the 1880s, the age of the great novelists was over, and short fiction and poetry became the dominant genres. The next several decades became known as the Silver Age of Russian Poetry, when the previously dominant literary realism was replaced by symbolism. Leading authors of this era include such poets as Valery Bryusov, Vyacheslav Ivanov, Alexander Blok, Nikolay Gumilev and Anna Akhmatova, and novelists Leonid Andreyev, Ivan Bunin, and Maxim Gorky.

Russian philosophy blossomed in the 19th century, when it was defined initially by the opposition of Westernizers, advocating Western political and economical models, and Slavophiles, insisting on developing Russia as a unique civilization. The latter group includes Nikolai Danilevsky and Konstantin Leontiev, the founders of eurasianism. In its further development Russian philosophy was always marked by a deep connection to literature and interest in creativity, society, politics and nationalism; Russian cosmism and religious philosophy were other major areas. Notable philosophers of the late 19th and the early 20th centuries include Vladimir Solovyev, Sergei Bulgakov, and Vladimir Vernadsky.

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917 many prominent writers and philosophers left the country, including Bunin, Vladimir Nabokov and Nikolay Berdyayev, while a new generation of talented authors joined together in an effort to create a distinctive working-class culture appropriate for the new Soviet state. In the 1930s censorship over literature was tightened in line with the policy of socialist realism. In the late 1950s restrictions on literature were eased, and by the 1970s and 1980s, writers were increasingly ignoring official guidelines. Leading authors of the Soviet era include novelists Yevgeny Zamyatin, Ilf and Petrov, Mikhail Bulgakov and Mikhail Sholokhov, and poets Vladimir Mayakovsky, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, and Andrey Voznesensky.

The Soviet Union was also a major producer of science fiction, written by authors like Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Kir Bulychov, Alexander Belayev and Ivan Yefremov. Traditions of Russian science fiction and fantasy are continued today by numerous writers.

Cinema, animation and media

Main articles: Cinema of Russia, Russian animation and Television in Russia

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the Washington studio of Russia Today TV with Margarita Simonyan.

Russian and later Soviet cinema was a hotbed of invention in the period immediately following the 1917, resulting in world-renowned films such as The Battleship Potemkin by Sergei Eisenstein. Eisenstein was a student of filmmaker and theorist Lev Kuleshov, who developed the Soviet montage theory of film editing at the world's first film school, the All-Union Institute of Cinematography. Dziga Vertov, whose kino-glaz ("film-eye") theory—that the camera, like the human eye, is best used to explore real life—had a huge impact on the development of documentary film making and cinema realism. The subsequent state policy of socialist realism somewhat limited creativity, however many Soviet films in this style were artistically successful, like Chapaev, The Cranes Are Flying, and Ballad of a Soldier.

1960s and 1970s saw a greater variety of artistic styles in the Soviet cinema. Eldar Ryazanov's and Leonid Gaidai's comedies of that time were immensely popular, with many of the catch phrases still in use today. In 1961–68 Sergey Bondarchuk directed an Oscar-winning film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic War and Peace, which was the most expensive film made in the Soviet Union. In 1969, Vladimir Motyl's White Sun of the Desert was released, a very popular film in a genre of ostern; the film is traditionally watched by cosmonauts before any trip into space.

Shukhov Tower in Moscow served for the early radio and TV broadcasting.

Russian animation dates back to the late Russian Empire times. During Soviet era, Soyuzmultfilm studio was the largest animation producer. Soviet animators developed a great variety of pioneering techniques and aesthetic styles, with prominent directors including Ivan Ivanov-Vano, Fyodor Khitruk and Aleksandr Tatarsky. Many Soviet cartoon heroes, such as the Russian-style Winnie-the-Pooh, cute little Cheburashka, Wolf and Hare from Nu, Pogodi! are iconic images in Russia and many surrounding countries.

The late 1980s and 1990s were a period of crisis in Russian cinema and animation. Although Russian filmmakers became free to express themselves, state subsidies were drastically reduced, resulting in fewer films produced. The early years of the 21st century have brought increased viewership and subsequent prosperity to the industry on the back of the economic revival. Production levels are already higher than in Britain and Germany. Russia's total box-office revenue in 2007 was $565 million, up 37% from the previous year. In 2002 the Russian Ark became the first feature film ever to be shot in a single take. The traditions of Soviet animation were developed recently by such directors as Aleksandr Petrov and studios like Melnitsa Animation.

Russia was among the first countries to introduce radio and television. While there were few channels in the Soviet time, in the past two decades many new state and private-owned radio stations and TV channels appeared. In 2005 a state-run English language Russia Today TV started broadcasting, and its Arabic version Rusiya Al-Yaum was launched in 2007.

Sports

Main article: Sport in Russia

The Russia national football team at UEFA Euro 2012

Combining the total medals of Soviet Union and Russia, the country is second among all nations by number of gold medals both at the Summer Olympics and at the Winter Olympics. Soviet and later Russian athletes have always been in the top three for the number of gold medals collected at the Summer Olympics. Soviet gymnasts, track-and-field athletes, weight lifters, wrestlers, boxers, fencers, shooters, cross country skiers, biathletes, speed skaters and figure skaters were consistently among the best in the world, along with Soviet basketball, handball, volleyball and ice hockey players. The 1980 Summer Olympics were held in Moscow while the 2014 Winter Olympics were hosted in Sochi.

KHL finals, league is considered to be the second-best in the world

Although ice hockey was only introduced during the Soviet era, the national team managed to win gold at almost all the Olympics and World Championships they contested. Russian players Valery Kharlamov, Sergei Makarov, Vyacheslav Fetisov and Vladislav Tretiak hold four of six positions in the IIHF Team of the Century. Russia has not won the Olympic ice hockey tournament since the Unified Team won gold in 1992. Recently Russia won the 2008, 2009, 2012 and the 2014 IIHF World Championships. Russia dominated the 2012 tournament, winning all of its ten matches—the first time any team had done so since the Soviet Union in 1989.

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) was founded in 2008 as a successor to the Russian Superleague. It is seen as a rival to the National Hockey League (NHL), is ranked the top hockey league in Europe as of 2009, and the second-best in the world. It is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia and consists of 28 teams, of which 21 are based in Russia and 7 more are located in Latvia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Croatia.

Bandy, also known as Russian hockey, is another traditionally popular ice sport. The Soviet Union won all the Bandy World Championships for men between 1957–79 and some thereafter too. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia has continuously been one of the most successful teams, winning many world championships.

Dmitry Medvedev with the Russia men's national ice hockey team

Association football is one of the most popular sports in modern Russia. The Soviet national team became the first ever European Champions by winning Euro 1960. Appearing in four FIFA World Cups from 1958 to 1970, Lev Yashin is regarded to be one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of football, and was chosen on the FIFA World Cup Dream Team. The Soviet national team reached the final of Euro 1988. In 1956 and 1988, the Soviet Union won gold at the Olympic football tournament. Russian clubs CSKA Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg won the UEFA Cup in 2005 and 2008 respectively. The Russian national football team reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008, losing only to the eventual champions Spain. Russia will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with 14 host cities located in the European part of the country and on the Urals.

In 2007, the Russian national basketball team won the European Basketball Championship. Russian basketball club PBC CSKA Moscow is one of the top teams in Europe, winning the Euroleague in 2006 and 2008.

Larisa Latynina, who currently holds the record for the most gold Olympic medals won by a woman (and held the record for most Olympic medals won per person from 1964 until 2012 when swimmer Michael Phelps replaced her record), established the USSR as the dominant force in gymnastics for many years. Today, Russia is leading in rhythmic gymnastics with Alina Kabayeva, Irina Tschaschina and Yevgeniya Kanayeva. Russian synchronized swimming is the best in the world, with almost all gold medals at Olympics and World Championships having been swept by Russians in recent decades. Figure skating is another popular sport in Russia, especially pair skating and ice dancing. At every Winter Olympics from 1964 until 2006 a Soviet or Russian pair has won gold. Since the end of the Soviet era, tennis has grown in popularity and Russia has produced a number of famous players, including Maria Sharapova, the world's highest paid female athlete. In martial arts, Russia produced the sport Sambo and many renown fighters, like Fedor Emelianenko. Chess is a widely popular pastime in Russia; from 1927, Russian grandmasters have held the world chess championship almost continuously.

The 2014 Winter Olympics were held in Sochi in the south of Russia. Russia won the largest number of medals among the participating nations with 13 gold, 11 silver, and 9 bronze medals for a total of 33 medals.

Formula One is also becoming increasingly popular in Russia. In 2010 Vitaly Petrov became the first Russian to drive in Formula One. There have only ever been two Russian Grands Prix (in 1913 and 1914), but it is set to return for 2014, in a six-year deal.

National holidays and symbols

Main articles: Public holidays in Russia and Cultural icons of Russia

Scarlet Sails celebration on the Neva river in Saint Petersburg

There are seven public holidays in Russia, except those always celebrated on Sunday. Russian New Year traditions resemble those of the Western Christmas, with New Year Trees and gifts, and Ded Moroz (Father Frost) playing the same role as Santa Claus. Orthodox Christmas falls on 7 January, because Russian Orthodox Church still follows the Julian calendar and all Orthodox holidays are 13 days after Western ones. Another two major Christian holidays are Easter and Trinity Sunday. Kurban Bayram and Uraza Bayram are celebrated by Russian Muslims.

Further Russian public holidays include Defender of the Fatherland Day (23 February), which honors Russian men, especially those serving in the army; International Women's Day (8 March), which combines the traditions of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day; Spring and Labor Day (1 May); Victory Day; Russia Day (12 June); and Unity Day (4 November), commemorating the popular uprising which expelled the Polish occupation force from Moscow in 1612.

Victory Day is the second most popular holiday in Russia; it commemorates the victory over Nazism in the Great Patriotic War. A huge military parade, hosted by the President of Russia, is annually organised in Moscow on Red Square. Similar parades took place in all major Russian cities and cities with the status Hero city or City of Military Glory.

Popular non-public holidays include Old New Year (New Year according to Julian Calendar on 14 January), Tatiana Day (students holiday on 25 January), Maslenitsa (a pre-Christian spring holiday a week before the Great Lent), Cosmonautics Day (in tribute to the first human trip into space), Ivan Kupala Day (another pre-Christian holiday on 7 July) and Peter and Fevronia Day (taking place on 8 July and being the Russian analogue of Valentine's Day, which focuses, however, on the family love and fidelity).

Matryoshka doll taken apart

State symbols of Russia include the Byzantine double-headed eagle, combined with St. George of Moscow in the Russian coat of arms. The Russian flag dates from the late Tsardom of Russia period and has been widely used since the time of the Russian Empire. The Russian anthem shares its music with the Soviet Anthem, though not the lyrics. The imperial motto God is with us and the Soviet motto Proletarians of all countries, unite! are now obsolete and no new motto has replaced them. The hammer and sickle and the full Soviet coat of arms are still widely seen in Russian cities as a part of old architectural decorations. The Soviet Red Stars are also encountered, often on military equipment and war memorials. The Red Banner continues to be honored, especially the Banner of Victory of 1945.

The Matryoshka doll is a recognizable symbol of Russia, and the towers of Moscow Kremlin and Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow are main Russia's architectural icons. Cheburashka is a mascot of the Russian national Olympic team. St. Mary, St. Nicholas, St. Andrew, St. George, St. Alexander Nevsky, St. Sergius of Radonezh and St. Seraphim of Sarov are Russia's patron saints. Chamomile is the national flower, while birch the national tree. The Russian bear is an animal symbol and a national personification of Russia, though this image has a Western origin and Russians themselves have accepted it only fairly recently. The native Russian national personification is Mother Russia.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Russia

Grand Cascade in Peterhof, a popular tourist destination in Saint Petersburg

Tourism in Russia has seen rapid growth since the late Soviet times, first domestic tourism and then international tourism, fueled by the rich cultural heritage and great natural variety of the country. Major tourist routes in Russia include a journey around the Golden Ring of ancient cities, cruises on the big rivers like the Volga, and long journeys on the famous Trans-Siberian Railway.

The Motherland Calls in Volgograd is the tallest statue of a woman in the world

The most visited destinations in Russia are Moscow and Saint Petersburg, the current and the former capitals of the country. Recognized as World Cities, they feature such world-renown museums as Tretyakov Gallery and Hermitage, famous theaters like Bolshoi and Mariinsky, ornate churches like Saint Basil's Cathedral, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Saint Isaac's Cathedral and Church of the Savior on Blood, impressive fortifications like Moscow Kremlin and Peter and Paul Fortress, beautiful squares and streets like Red Square, Palace Square, Tverskaya Street and Nevsky Prospect. Rich palaces and parks are found in the former imperial residences in suburbs of Moscow (Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno) and St Petersburg (Peterhof, Strelna, Oranienbaum, Gatchina, Pavlovsk and Tsarskoye Selo). Moscow displays the Soviet architecture at its best, along with modern skyscrapers, while St Petersburg, nicknamed Venice of the North, boasts of its classical architecture, many rivers, channels and bridges.

Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, shows a mix of Christian Russian and Muslim Tatar cultures. The city has registered a brand The Third Capital of Russia, though a number of other major cities compete for this status, including Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Nizhny Novgorod.

The warm subtropical Black Sea coast of Russia is the site for a number of popular sea resorts, like Sochi, the follow-up host of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Large artificial Federation Island in the sea near the Sochi of Khostinsky City District is shaped like the Russian Federation and host hotels and offices. The mountains of the Northern Caucasus contain popular ski resorts, including Dombay. The most famous natural destination in Russia is Lake Baikal, the Blue Eye of Siberia. This unique lake, oldest and deepest in the world has crystal-clean waters and is surrounded by taiga-covered mountains. Other popular natural destinations include Kamchatka with its volcanoes and geysers, Karelia with its lakes and granite rocks, the snowy Altai Mountains, and the wild steppes of Tyva.

See also

• Culture of Russia
• Geology of Russia
• Index of Soviet Union-related articles
• International rankings of Russia
• Outline of Russia
• Timeline of Russian history

References

External links

• Russia at DMOZ
• Wikimedia Atlas of Russia
• Geographic data related to Russia at OpenStreetMap
• Russia entry at The World Factbook
• Russia at UCB Libraries GovPubs
• Russia from the BBC News
• Russia at Encyclopædia Britannica

Government

• Official Russian governmental portal
• Chief of State and Cabinet Members
• Russian News Agency "Ria Novosti"
• Russian radio "Voice of Russia"

Other

• Post-Soviet Problems from the Dean Peter Krogh Foreign Affairs Digital Archives
• Russia Beyond the Headlines International news project about Russia
• Way to Russia. An Introduction to Russia and Russian People
• Russia cities and regions guide
• Official Russia Travel Guide
• Russian Consulate
• Russia Beyond the Headlines International news project about Russia
• Moscow Russia Insider's Guide Moscow and Russia through Muscovite's eyes.

UpToDate Contents

全文を閲覧するには購読必要です。 To read the full text you will need to subscribe.

• 1. プロゲステロン受容体拮抗剤および選択的プロゲステロン受容体モジュレーターの治療使用および有害作用 therapeutic use and adverse effects of progesterone receptor antagonists and selective progesterone receptor modulators
• 2. 肝吸虫：Clonorchis、Opisthorchi、およびMetorchis liver flukes clonorchis opisthorchis and metorchis
• 3. ライム病の微生物学 microbiology of lyme disease
• 4. 国際養子縁組：感染症の側面 international adoption infectious disease aspects
• 5. 節足動物媒介性脳炎 arthropod borne encephalitides

English Journal

• Arachidonic acid hyperpolarizes mesenchymal stromal cells from the human adipose tissue by stimulating TREK1 K channels.

• Tarasov MV, Kotova PD, Bystrova MF, Kabanova NV, Sysoeva VY, Kolesnikov SS.
• Channels (Austin, Tex.). 2019 Dec;13(1)36-47.
• The current knowledge of electrogenesis in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) remains scarce. Earlier, we demonstrated that in MSCs from the human adipose tissue, transduction of certain agonists involved the phosphoinositide cascade. Its pivotal effector PLC generates DAG that can regulate ion channe
• PMID 30661462

• Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-CO-3-hydroxyvalerate) PHBHV biocompatible nanocarriers for 5-FU delivery targeting colorectal cancer.

• Radu IC, Hudita A, Zaharia C, Galateanu B, Iovu H, Tanasa EV, Georgiana Nitu S, Ginghina O, Negrei C, Tsatsakis A, Velonia K, Shtilman M, Costache M.
• Drug delivery. 2019 Dec;26(1)318-327.
• Aiming to address the issue of poor bioavailability of most anti-tumor medicines against colorectal cancer, we developed a targeted anticancer nanocarrier using biocarriers able to both bind and easily release their load in a controlled manner. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) carriers w
• PMID 30896267

• Minimal residual disease level predicts outcome in adults with Ph-negative B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

• Gökbuget N, Dombret H, Giebel S, Bruggemann M, Doubek M, Foà R, Hoelzer D, Kim C, Martinelli G, Parovichnikova E, Rambaldi A, Ribera JM, Schoonen M, Stieglmaier JM, Zugmaier G, Bassan R.
• Hematology (Amsterdam, Netherlands). 2019 Dec;24(1)337-348.
• Detectable minimal residual disease (MRD) after therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the strongest predictor of hematologic relapse. This study evaluated outcomes of patients with B-cell precursor ALL with MRD of ≥10 Methods: Study population was from ALL study groups in Europe manage
• PMID 30757960

Japanese Journal

• PERISCOPE InternationaList RUSSIA 新世代と「ソ連根性」の対立 経済制裁下のロシアで見た明暗

• Newsweek = ニューズウィーク 31(11), 15, 2016-03-15
• NAID 40020748891

• Executive Control over Parliament and Law-Making in Russia : The Case of the Budget Bills (富田広士教授退職記念号)

• 法学研究 89(3), 292-276, 2016-03
• NAID 40020759395

• 対ロシア経済制裁の失敗を認めよ (Developing Crises)

• Foreign affairs report 2016(3), 51-59, 2016-03
• NAID 40020751519

• 書評 黛秋津『三つの世界の狭間で : 西欧・ロシア・オスマンとワラキア・モルドヴァ問題』

• 歴史学研究 = The journal of historical studies (942), 56-60, 2016-03
• NAID 40020742297

Related Links

• Russia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Russia Listen/ˈrʌʃə/ or /ˈrʊʃə officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation (Russian: Российская Федерация, tr. Rossiyskaya Federatsiya; IPA: [ rɐˈsʲijskəjə fʲɪdʲɪˈratsɨjə] ( listen)), is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a ...

• Japan–Russia relations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Relations between Russia and Japan are a continuation of Japanese-Soviet relations. Relations between the two nations are hindered primarily by the long- running Kuril Islands dispute. On February 10, 1904, a conflict between Imperial ...

Related Pictures

---

★リンクテーブル★

リンク元	「ロシア」
拡張検索	「Russian spring-summer encephalitis」「Russian」「Russian春夏脳炎」「Russian spring-summer encephalitis virus」

「ロシア」

　　[★]

英

Russia、Russian

関

ロシア人、ロシア語

「Russian spring-summer encephalitis」

　　[★]

ロシア春夏脳炎、Russian春夏脳炎

関

Central European encephalitis、European tick-borne encephalitis、louping ill encephalitis、Powassan encephalitis、tick-borne encephalitis

「Russian」

　　[★]

• ロシアの、ロシア人、ロシア語

関

Russia

　 　 　 　

「Russian春夏脳炎」

　　[★]

英

Russian spring-summer encephalitis

関

ロシア春夏脳炎

「Russian spring-summer encephalitis virus」

　　[★] ロシア春夏脳炎ウイルス