About

Russia is the world’s largest country by area and straddles the divide between Europe and Asia stretching all the way from its easternmost point, Kalningrad, bordering Poland and Lithuania to the westerly peninsula that stands across the Bering Strait from Alaska in the United States. Although most of its land mass is in Asia, Russia is considered to be a European nation as its capital Moscow and second city Saint Petersburg lie on the continent.

The country recovered from post-Soviet political and economic turmoil to reassert itself as a major world power, helped by income from its vast natural resources including oil and gas.

Formerly an imperial state presided over by Tsars, the implementation of a socialist ideology would hold a grip over the country for most of the 20th century following the revolution of 1917, which overthrew imperial rule and brought into power a proper government.