TODAY: New all-time low for ruble, reserves down; sanctions will stay until Russia leaves Ukraine, says U.S.; ECHR Yukos decision to be appealed; Navalny says Khodorkovsky is an ally; activist released; Foreign Ministry not pleased with NATO comments; Moscow to support election process in eastern Ukraine; Putin says Russia will act as global sporting events consultant; Manifesta biennial.

The ruble hit its weakest-ever level yesterday, of 45.03 versus the euro-dollar basket, causing the Central Bank to intervene and shift its trading band, albeit to no effect.  Russia has lost a tenth of its hard currency reserves so far this year, and is down to $457 billion.  The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State says that sanctions on Russia will not be lifted until all foreign forces are out of Ukraine  – not that Russia is asking.  The FT agrees that the West should hold its ground.  Before the end of this month, Russia is planning to appeal a decision by the European Court of Human Rights to award Yukos shareholders $2.42 billion.  Former corruption whistleblower and opposition figure Alexei Navalny says he sees Mikhail Khodorkovsky as ‘an ally’, and welcomes any opportunity to collaborate with him in the future; though the opposition ‘is still far from presenting a unified front in the 2016 race’, says the Moscow Times.  Activist Sergei Mokhnatkin, charged with violence against police for his role in a demonstration on Triumfalnaya Square in 2013, has been released.