Photo Gallery A Former Superpower Rises Again
Russian pro-government youth activists singing the national anthem in Red Square, Moscow.
The Konstantin Palace near St. Petersburg, which will play host to the G8 leaders.
New villas have been built for the occasion to house President Putin's guests.
Putin's predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, was less able to keep his cool.
Vladimir Putin greets the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexiy II. Putin pays careful heed to Russian traditions which has boosted his popularity.
Investigators raid a media company in Moscow. The company, Media-Most, had published reports critical of Putin's government.
Georgian protesters were critical of the Russian government after a dispute over gas supplies.
Putin is a driving force behind the "Shanghai Group", dubbed the "Nato of the East" by analysts.
