Russia has test-fired two nuclear-capable cruise missiles, amid tensions between Moscow and Washington involving a proposed NATO missile defense shield.

Russian military officials say two long-range strategic bombers launched the missiles, and that the tests were successful.

Russia often steps up such activities at times of diplomatic tensions with the U.S.

Russia regards the defense missile shield as a security threat and has threatened to place missiles on NATO's borders if the alliance's plans go forward.

The U.S. and NATO say the shield does not target or threaten Russia in any way.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush proposed a land-based missile defense shield to protect NATO allies from a possible attack by Iran or other hostile governments. President Barack Obama later modified the plan to place some of the radar on ships.

The only freed member of the anti-Kremlin all-female punk band Pussy Riot has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.

Yekaterina Samutsevich's lawyer, Irina Khrunova, said on Friday the complaint accuses Russia of violating Samutsevich's right to free speech and illegally detaining her during her six months in jail.

Khrunova says prison authorities deprived Samutsevich of food, liquids and sleep.

Last week, a Russian appeals court freed Samutsevich but upheld the two-year jail sentences of two other members of the band for an unsanctioned protest at a Moscow cathedral.

A judge suspended Samutsevich's sentence, saying guards threw her out of the cathedral before she could take part in the performance.

All three members were convicted in August of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. They have argued their impromptu performance was political in nature and not an attack on religion.

The trio was arrested on the altar of Russia's most prominent Orthodox cathedral in January, after they called on the Virgin Mary to deliver them from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said he thought the punishment was very strict. But Mr. Putin has said the court ruling was correct.

A new survey of Russian public opinion shows the attitude of Russians toward the United States has worsened in the past year.

The poll taken by the Levada Center, a non-governmental Russian research organization, shows the percentage of respondents with a positive view of the United States dropped to 46 percent, from 67 percent last year. The proportion of negative views rose to 38 percent from 27 percent over the same period.

About two-thirds of Russian respondents said the United States tends to put pressure on Russia rather than treat their nation with respect. A similar proportion believes Washington is “hypocritical” in pressuring countries to obey international laws while not always adhering to such laws itself.

The research group said it conducted the survey in 130 towns and cities in 45 Russian regions last month.

U.S. President Barack Obama has tried to “reset” relations with Russia in recent years. But the two world powers have had frequent disagreements about how to deal with the Syrian civil war and Iran's controversial nuclear program.

The Levada survey obtained by Russia's Interfax news agency found that Russian attitudes toward the European Union deteriorated only slightly in the past year, with the proportion of positive views slipping to 63 percent from 67 percent.

The survey also shows Russians have mixed views about how Moscow should react to the worsening confrontation between the United States and Iran. Washington accuses Tehran of covertly trying to develop nuclear weapons and refuses to rule out military action to prevent Iranian leaders from obtaining an atomic bomb. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

The Russian poll shows that 32 percent of respondents think Russia should mediate a peaceful resolution to the dispute, while 27 percent want to stay out of any U.S.-Iranian military confrontation and 19 percent favor maneuvering to promote Russian national interests. The survey says the options of Russia siding with either the United States or Iran only drew single-digit support from respondents.

Russian investigators have filed criminal charges against an assistant of opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov, as part of an ongoing crackdown against opponents of President Vladimir Putin.

Russia's Investigations Committee said Thursday it charged Left Front party member Konstantin Lebedev with plotting mass riots to overthrow the government. Authorities detained Lebedev and party leader Udaltsov on Wednesday and searched their homes in response to allegations that both men were involved in such a plot. Udaltsov was released a short time later and ordered to stay in Moscow, but Lebedev remained in custody.

Russian investigators said Lebedev refused to acknowledge guilt or provide any evidence. Udaltsov also denied wrongdoing and called the allegations a “monstrous outrage.”

Russian authorities said Wednesday they opened the investigation because of a documentary broadcast last week on a Putin-allied television channel. The program included purported hidden camera footage of Udaltsov meeting with Georgian officials to raise money for anti-Putin protests in Russia.

Udaltsov has said he met with many people recently as part of what he called legal fundraising activities. He also has dismissed the footage in the documentary as doctored. But the Investigations Committee has said it studied the footage and concluded it was genuine.

Russian authorities have launched a criminal case against opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov, accusing him of plotting to ignite mass riots.

Police arrested Udaltsov Wednesday and searched his Moscow apartment. They freed him on bail and ordered him to stay in the Russian capital.

Russia's Investigative Committee opened the probe a week after a documentary on state-run NTV television appeared to show Udaltsov meeting with Georgian officials and plotting to overthrow the Russian government.

Udaltsov has said he frequently meets with foreign officials as part of his normal routine as a politician. But he denies planning violence. A senior member of the Georgian parliament who was seen in the documentary, Givi Targamadze, denies meeting Udaltsov.

Udaltsov is leader of the opposition Left Front party. He is known for his shaved head, leather jackets, and Stalin t-shirts. He has also been arrested about 100 times for organizing anti-Putin marches.

Russian authorities say this case is a warning to those who think they can organize riots and plan acts of terror while escaping punishment.

A leader of the Other Russia opposition coalition, Sergei Ezhov, tells VOA that the Udaltsov case is part of a cycle of repression by Russian authorities as they look for new ways to oppress the opposition.

Russia has lashed out against international moves that restrict transactions with Syria and Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday only sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council could serve as a basis for limiting its weapons supplies to any country.

“Nobody can use any pretext to dictate to Russia or any other country on how it should trade and with whom. Unilateral or collective restrictions and bans that are not framed by the U.N. Security Council, especially politically motivated, are not norms of international law with all the ensuing consequences.”

Though Syria was not mentioned by name, the announcement signals that Moscow will continue to ignore Western objections to Russia's arm sales to the Syrian government as it battles rebels trying to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

It follows Turkey's decision last week to force a Syrian passenger plane flying from Moscow to Syria to land because Turkish officials claimed it carried military equipment.

On Iran, Russia's foreign ministry Wednesday said it was “very concerned” by new European Union sanctions against the Islamic Republic aimed at curbing its controversial nuclear program.

The EU measures that went into effect Tuesday ban financial transactions with Iranian banks unless the transfers deal with humanitarian goods and are approved in advance. They also include tighter restrictions on business with Iran's central bank, a ban on Iranian natural gas imports, and a ban on exports to Iran of graphite and metals that could be used for its weapons program.

An EU statement said the sanctions are in response to what the 27-nation bloc calls Iran's “flagrant violation” of international obligations and refusal to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear agency.

Tehran denies Western accusations that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian energy program.

Russian authorities say they have launched a criminal case against opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov, accusing him of planning to ignite mass riots.

Russia's Investigative Committee announced Wednesday that the probe was opened after a television documentary aired on a pro-government television station, appearing to show Udaltsov of conspiring with Georgian officials to overthrow the Russian government. The Committee said the film was examined and no evidence of fakery was found.

Udaltsov has been a prominent figure in recent anti-government protests but denies he has ever plotted violence.

Reports said security officers were searching his Moscow apartment Wednesday.

The Committee's announcement also said it is investigating several other opposition activists, and it included a warning. It said those who think they can organize riots and plan acts of terror while going without punishment are underestimating the professionalism of Russia's security services.

It added that non-Russian citizens found to be plotting against Moscow will be prosecuted under international law.

Russia's ruling party appears to have won Sunday's local elections, but opponents are alleging widespread voting violations that will preserve President Vladimir Putin's dominance.

The Central Elections Commission said Monday early results showed United Russia heading for victory in all five provincial elections for governor. The ruling party had nearly 5,000 candidates running for office around the country.

But observers from the independent monitoring group Golos said the nationwide vote was marred by fraud, including multiple voting and ballot-stuffing. Leaders of United Russia — a party that has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade — have denied cheating.

Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, to whom Mr. Putin handed the chairmanship of United Russia after they swapped jobs, said the ruling party had done better than in a December parliamentary election in which it lost dozens of seats.

A round of protests began in December when disgruntled voters expressed their dismay in Moscow and other cities over Mr. Putin's plan to return to the presidency after four years as prime minister. The protests have recently died down.

Russia's ruling party is the big winner in Sunday's elections.

United Russia had nearly 5,000 candidates running for office around the country. The ruling party's candidates were set to win all five elections for governor.

Opponents allege widespread voting violations in the elections that will preserve President Vladimir Putin's dominance. Leaders of United Russia – a party that has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade – have denied cheating.

Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, to whom Mr. Putin handed the chairmanship of United Russia after they swapped jobs, said the ruling party had done better than in a December parliamentary election in which it lost dozens of seats.

A round of protests began in December when disgruntled voters expressed their dismay in Moscow and other cities over Mr. Putin's plan to return to the presidency after four years as prime minister. The protests have recently died down.