Charles Maynes

A Kremlin spokesman — and a watch

Kremlin Watch: How does a Russian public servant afford a $620,000 watch?

Vladimir Putin's press secretary just got married in the Russian resort, Sochi. And some opposition activists noticed one of the wedding photos showed him wearing a very expensive watch, estimated at more than $600,000. And it's not the first time that a Russian authority has gotten into some trouble for an expensive timepiece.

Kremlin Watch: How does a Russian public servant afford a $620,000 watch?
The body of Boris Nemtsov moves through long lines of mourners in Moscow.

Lines snake through Moscow as thousands mourn Boris Nemtsov

Lines snake through Moscow as thousands mourn Boris Nemtsov
A Russian court ruled on Tuesday to give Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny (right) a suspended sentence for embezzling money, but jailed his brother Oleg (left) for three and a half years in a case seen as part of a campaign to stifle dissent.

Russian dissident Alexei Navalny avoids jail, but his brother becomes a bargaining chip

Russian dissident Alexei Navalny avoids jail, but his brother becomes a bargaining chip
A St. Petersburg shop advertises a sale as Russia's ruble crashes to unprecedented lows Tuesday.

A plunging Russian ruble generates nervousness and humor

A plunging Russian ruble generates nervousness and humor
Russia's President Vladimir Putin giving his State of the Nation speech.

Putin is defiant in his State of the Nation speech

Putin is defiant in his State of the Nation speech
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a signing ceremony in Mongolia at the national parliament building in Ulan Bator, September 3, 2014.

President Putin calling for peace is like an arsonist offering to put out a fire, a reporter says

Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled a seven-point peace plan with Ukraine, but only after his government helped cause the chaos and bloodshed.

President Putin calling for peace is like an arsonist offering to put out a fire, a reporter says
According to a local newspaper in Pskov, Russia, this is the grave of a Russian soldier who died last week. The grave is close to the base of the 76th airborne division cited for heroism by President Putin last week.

Ukraine faces up to a Russian invasion, while Moscow keeps denying it

Russia says its soldiers aren't fighting in Ukraine, but evidence keeps piling up that Russia has invaded — even in Russia itself. That's caused some protests in Russia and disappointment in Ukraine, where people are feeling abandoned by the outside world.

Ukraine faces up to a Russian invasion, while Moscow keeps denying it
Atop the spire of a building in Moscow, a man takes a "selfie" as he stands with a Ukrainian flag on a Soviet-style star re-touched with blue paint to resemble the yellow-and-blue national colors of Ukraine.

32 stories above Moscow, an unusual protest unfurls

An unusual protest in took place 32 stories above Moscow on Wednesday. There, attached to the iconic Soviet star atop a famous apartment building, an unnamed protester unfurled the Ukrainian flag and gave a shot in the arm to Russians opposed to intervention in Ukraine.

32 stories above Moscow, an unusual protest unfurls
A worker arranges cheese for sale at a grocery store in Moscow on August 7, 2014. Moscow imposed a total ban on imports of many Western foods on Thursday in retaliation against sanctions over Ukraine.

C'est it ain't so! Russia bans French cheese and other European food imports

Russian President Vladimir Putin has banned most food imports from any country that has imposed sanctions on his country. That's left Russians scrambling to buy products like French cheese before it's all gone — and maybe asking bigger questions as well.

C'est it ain't so! Russia bans French cheese and other European food imports
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

Ukraine and Russia each produce accusations, and evidence, over who shot down Malaysia Airlines flight 17

Tension between Russia and Ukraine is rising, as each accuses the other of being responsible for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet. Meanwhile, the Netherlands goes into mourning, saying this is their 9/11, since more than half the passengers on the flight were Dutch.

Ukraine and Russia each produce accusations, and evidence, over who shot down Malaysia Airlines flight 17
Visitors in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk walk past TV sets during Russian President Vladimir Putin's live nationwide phone-in.

Host Vladimir Putin will take your questions now

The crisis in Ukraine didn't prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from holding his annual live phone-in today. Correspondent Charles Maynes says the Russian leader gave a vigorous defense of Moscow's role in Ukraine and entertained a call from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Host Vladimir Putin will take your questions now
Demonstrators unfurl  a giant Russian flag during a pro-Russian rally in Simferopol, Crimea.

As Ukraine smolders, Russia moves on to plan B

Historian Anne Applebaum says Russia's plan for Ukraine might be to create an ungovernable space in Crimea — a problem the new government can't solve. Reporter Charles Maynes says pro-democracy activists are drawing parallels between Russia and Ukraine.

As Ukraine smolders, Russia moves on to plan B
The ad hoc opening ceremony to the 'Open Games' in Moscow.

LGBT games in Russia met by thugs, bomb threats, and official obstruction

LGBT groups in Russia are hosting an international athletic event in Moscow, following the the end of the Sochi Olympics. But the “Open Games" are running into problems.

LGBT games in Russia met by thugs, bomb threats, and official obstruction
Children pose for a picture outside of the Sochi Olympic Park.

The Sochi Olympics project a happier, friendlier Russia. Locals wish that were true

Russia is projecting a new image at these Olympics: a helpful, welcoming Russia. Suddenly police are friendlier, politicians meet with activists, people are recycling. It's a version of Russia a lot of people would like to have, but it may not last beyond the games.

The Sochi Olympics project a happier, friendlier Russia. Locals wish that were true
Sochi

The 2014 Olympic Games begin with an image remake for Russia

"It's a little like watching history collapse in on itself," says one Moscow based journalist of the Olympic opening ceremonies in Russia.

The 2014 Olympic Games begin with an image remake for Russia