rties and leaders:
A Just Russia or JR [Sergey MIRONOV] (formed from the merger of
three small political parties: Rodina (Motherland), Pensioners
Party, and Party of Life); Communist Party of the Russian Federation
or CPRF [Gennadiy Andreyevich ZYUGANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of
Russia or LDPR [Vladimir Volfovich ZHIRINOVSKIY]; People's Party
[Gennadiy GUDKOV]; Union of Right Forces or SPS [Nikita BELYKH];
United Russia or UR [Boris Vyacheslavovich GRYZLOV]; Yabloko Party
[Grigoriy Alekseyevich YAVLINSKIY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC,
CBSS, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, G- 8, GCTU, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer),
OIC (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UN
Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy Viktorovich USHAKOV
chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700, 5701, 5704, 5708
FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William J. BURNS
embassy: Bolshoy Deviatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow
mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721
telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000
FAX: [7] (495) 728-5090
consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red

Economy Russia

Economy - overview:
Russia ended 2006 with its eighth straight year of growth,
averaging 6.7% annually since the financial crisis of 1998. Although
high oil prices and a relatively cheap ruble are important drivers
of this economic rebound, since 2000 investment and consumer-driven
demand have played a noticeably increasing role. Real fixed capital
investments have averaged gains greater than 10% over the last five
years, and real personal incomes have realized average increases
over 12%. During this time, p