Russia

Capital: Moscow (Moskva).

Major Cities (in order of population): St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nizhniy

Novgorod, Omsk, Samara, Kazan', Chelyabinsk, Rostov-na-Donu, Ufa, Volgograd, and Perm.

Independence: Russia officially marks its independence on June 12, 1991, the date of the

Russian Republic's declaration of sovereignty from the Soviet Union.

Public Holidays: Official holidays are New Year's (January 1-2), Orthodox Christmas (January

7), Women's Day (March 8), Orthodox Easter Monday (variable date in April or early May),

May Day (May 1-2), Victory Day (May 9), Russia Day (Independence Day, June 12), National

Unity Day (November 4), and Constitution Day (December 12).