RIAN.ru presents a photo review of the main events of February 27 - March 5, 2011.
On March 5, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi launched a military attack on the city of Az Zawiyah near the country's capital using artillery and tanks
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© RIA Novosti
On March 3, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Libya was on the brink of s civil war.
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© Photo : Aleksandr Demchenko
On March 1, a new law went into effect in Russia formally changing the Bolshevik-era name of the country's police from the "militzia" to the... police.
The new law includes a transitional period until January 1, 2012. During this period, the police will be stripped of a number of functions, including motor vehicle safety and roadworthiness tests, convoying, delivering conscription notices and maintaining detoxification centers. Police departments will be reorganized and renamed and all signs will be replaced.
On March 2, Mikhail Gorbachev, the first and last president of the Soviet Union, celebrated his 80th birthday. President Dmitry Medvedev decorated with Russia’s top award, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle.
On February 28, Russia began celebrating the seven-day folk fest Maslenitsa, or Pancake Week.
