Ski Jumping World Cup in Sochi

epa03502771 Dimitry Vassiliev of Russia is airborne during the Men's competition at the FIS World Cup Ski Jumping at the 'Russki Gorki' jumping center in Sochi, Russia, 09 December 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Ski Jumping World Cup in Sochi

epa03502691 Richard Freitag of Germany is airborne during the Men's competition at the FIS World Cup Ski Jumping at the 'Russki Gorki' jumping center in Sochi, Russia, 09 December 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2012/2013

epa03466883 Second placed winner in Ladies free skating, Gracie Gold of US performs her gala exhibition program, during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2012/2013 Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, Russia, 11 November 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Caroline Wozniacki vs Sofia Arvidsson

epa03439735 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in action against Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden during their semi final match at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, 20 October 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Resident Evil: Retribution premiere in Moscow

epa03386827 Ukrainian-born US actress/cast member Milla Jovovich on the red carpet before Russian premiere for the film 'Resident Evil: Retribution' in Moscow, Russia, 06 September 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Olympic Games 2012 Gymnastics Rhythmic

epa03354517 Alina Maksymenko of Ukraine performs on clubs during the Individual All-Around Qualification for the London 2012 Olympic Games Rhythmic Gymnastics competition, London, Britain, 10 August 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Olympic Games 2012 Wrestling Greco Roman

epa03344866 Ryutaro Matsumoto of Japan (blue) fights with Rahman Bilici of Turkey (red) in the Men's 60kg Greco-Roman Wrestling 1/8 finals match at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London, Britain, 06 August 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Olympic Games 2012 Fencing

epa03341324 Yujie Sun of China reacts after her team victory over Korea during their Women's Epee Team gold medal match for the London 2012 Olympic Games in London, Britain, 04 August 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Snowfall in Moscow

epa03043272 An elderly woman walks during a heavy snowfall in the center of Moscow, Russia 26 December 2011. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Russians protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections

epa03030144 Participants of a protest rally during a protest march against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections, in Moscow, Russia, 10 December 2011. Some 50,000 protesters who claim last weekend's Russian parliamentary elections were stolen by the ruling party demonstrated 10 December in Moscow, calling for a rerun of the poll. It was the biggest demonstration to take place in the capital for a decade. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Volvo Fashion Week - Zolota

epa02983577 A model presents a creation by designer Zolota during the Volvo Fashion Week in Moscow, Russia 28 October 2011. The Volvo Fashion Week runs from 26 to 31 October 2011. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku

epa03235194 Anggun of France performs the song 'Echo (You And I)' during the dress rehearsal of the Final at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, 25 May 2012. The final of the 57th Eurovision Song Contest takes place on 26 May. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Oil derricks in Azerbaijan

epa03232636 An Azerbaijani man passes an oil derrick which is reflected in the oil's puddle near Baku, Azerbaijan, 24 May 2012. All in all about 1,4 billion tons of oil with the condensate (out of them about 400 million tons in the sea) and about 500 billion cubic meters of gas have been extracted from the bowels of Azerbaijan. At present day Azerbaijan increases the oil export year after year. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku

epa03230846 Jedward of Ireland performs during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, 22 May 2012. The final of the 57th Eurovision Song Contest takes place on 26 May. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Rubin Kazan vs PAOK Thessaloniki

epa02941482 Fans of Rubin Kazan celebrate their team's second goal against PAOK during the UEFA Europa League Group A soccer match in Kazan, Russia, 29 September 2011. Rubin and PAOK Thessaloniki drew 2-2. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Landing of the Soyuz capsule in Kazakhstan

epa02918862 A Russian Soyuz TMA-21 space capsule descends about 150 km south-east of the Kazakh town of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on 16 September 2011. The Soyuz capsule carried U.S. astronaut Ron Garan and the two Russian cosmonauts Andrey Borisenko and Alexander Samokutyayev who were safely returning from more than five months onboard the International Space Station ISS where they served as members of the Expedition 27 and 28 crews. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY/POOL EPA POOL

Victory Day celebration in Moscow

epa03211589 A Russian WWII veteran waits her comrades in front of Bolshoy Theatre after Victory Day parade in Moscow, marking 67th anniversary of victory over nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, 09 May 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Military parade rehearsal on Red Square in Moscow

epa03201897 Russian troops march in front of Spaskaya tower during the night's rehearsal of the military parade which will take place on the Red Square on 09 May, devoted to the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in the WWII, on the Red square in Moscow, Russia, 30 April 2012. The parade will include the demonstration of the heavy military technics and aviation. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Russian riot police detain a participant of the unauthorized opposition rally in central Moscow

epa02890392 The participant of an opposition rally looks through from a cage after his detention in central Moscow, Russia 31 August 2011. Supporters of various opposition parties gathered for a rally to defend Article 31 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which says 'Citizens of the Russian Federation shall have the right to gather peacefully, without weapons, and to hold meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches and pickets'. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts celebrat 100th Anniversary in Moscow

epa03198049 Russian schoolchildren have their lesson in the room with casts and sculptures of Ancient Greece, Rome, Middle Ages and Renaissance in the main building of the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia, 27 April 2012. The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts mark of the 100th anniversary. Museum has one of the most representative collection in Russia of foreign art dated from ancient times to modern days. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

FESPACO Panafrican film festival in Ouagadougou

epa03601227 A photograph made available 26 February 2013 shows women riding bicycles through Ouagadougou which is currently hosting the Panafrican Film and Television Festival in Burkina Faso 25 February 2013. The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou known as FESPACO is the largest film festival in Africa. Nearly 170 films from all over the continent will be shown during the week long bi-annual festival which ends on 02 March 2013. EPA/NIC BOTHMA

Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Turkey

epa03600249 Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey 25 February 2013. EPA/KAYHAN OZER ANADOLU AGENCY EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES/NO ARCHIVES

Alpine Skiing Men Downhill

A general view of the mountains prior to the start of Men's Downhill Alpine Skiing World Cup in Krasnaya Polyana

14th International Tchaikovsky Competition - Cello

epa02801949 Ivan Karizna of Belarus performs in the third round of the cello competition during the 14th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Russia, 29 June 2011. The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held once every four years in Moscow. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Alpine Skiing Men Downhill

epa03100434 A general view of the mountains prior to the start of Men's Downhill Alpine Skiing World Cup in Krasnaya Polyana, some 50 kilometers from Sochi, Russia, 11 February 2012. The Alpine Skiing World Cup races on 10 to 12 February and from 17 to 19 February are the first pre-Olympic test events in the Krasnodar region around Sochi in 2012. Sochi will host the Winter Olympic Games in 2014. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Death anniversary of Soviet State founder Vladimir Lenin

epa03547614 A supporter of the Russian Communist Party uncovers a poster showing a portrait of the former Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin during a rally near the Lenin monument in downtown Moscow, Russia, 21 January 2013. The day marks the anniversary of Soviet State founder Vladimir Lenin's death in 1924. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

30th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Moscow

epa02358392 Russian gymnasts perform during the closing ceremony of the 30th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Moscow, Russia, 26 September 2010. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Figure Skating World Championships

epa02708520 Rachael Flatt of the USA performs her Women's Short Program at the Figure Skating World Championships in Moscow, Russia, 29 April 2011. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup

epa02578955 Andreas Isoz of Switzerland falls during his jump at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup event in Moscow, Russia, 12 February 2011. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai official visit to Russia

epa02539389 Light snowfall greets Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai (C)as he inspects the honor guard upon his arrival in Moscow's airport Vnukovo, Russia 20 January 2011. Hamid Karzai is on an official visit to Russia. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

1st Red Bull Flugtag Moscow 2009 competition

epa01922197 YEARENDER 2009 AUGUST 'Flugpig ordo teutonicus' team members perform falling to Moskva river on their flying machine during the Red Bull Flugtag competition in Moscow, Russia, 09 August 2009. A Flugtag is an event in which competitors attempt to fly in homemade flying machines, which are usually launched off a pier into the sea, or a suitably sized reservoir of water. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY *** Local Caption *** 00000401819461

President and joint owner of 'Alliance' oil company Musa Bajaev gestures on Khabarovsk' petroleum-refining factory

epa01737292 President and joint owner of 'Alliance' oil company Musa Bajaev gestures during his visit to the Khabarovsk' petroleum-refining plant in Khabarovsk (8550km from Moscow), Russia, 21 May 2009. The Alliance Oil Company OJSC (the AOC) is a vertically integrated company, set up in the end of 2001 by incorporating petroleum assets, being under control of the Alliance Group. The AOC is an acknowledged leader in the Russian Far East market of oil products, one of the most fast-evolving regions, closely related to the large emerging markets of China and Asia-Pacific countries. The Company owns the Khabarovsk Refinery and a network of oil products terminals and gas filling stations, sited in the Khabarovsk, Primorski, Amur regoins, and the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, as well as a transshipment oil terminal in Vladivostok. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Supporters of Victor Yanukovych rally

epa02021323 Supporters of presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych dancing while waiting for the results of the presidential elections in front of Ukrainian Central electoral commission headquarters in Kiev, Ukraine 08 February 2010. Some 1,000 Yanukovych supporters gathered in frigid, minus 11 Celsius temperatures near the Central Election Committee building one day after presidential elections at 7 February. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych was narrowly ahead in Ukraine‘s presidential poll count early Monday, holding a 2.5 percentage-point margin of victory over his opponent - with most ballots counted. The pro-Russia politician received 48.4 of ballots cast in the Sunday vote, while his opponent Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a populist politician, obtained 45.9 per cent of ballots cast, according to official data released by Ukraine‘s Central Election Committee (CEC). EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

An US military pilot stands in front of US warplanes F-16 and F-15

A Russian military aircraft SU-27 takes part in the opening ceremony of the MAKS-2007 Internationals Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky outside Moscow, Russia, 21 August 2007. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks with students after he received an Honorary Doctor's title during his visit to the Moscow Diplomatic University, or MGIMO, in Moscow, Russia on 17 April 2008. Abbas arrived for a two-day working visit to Russia. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY