TODAY: U.S. condemns latest Syria veto, Rosboronexport dropped from U.S. defence budget; Putin expresses caution over more open laws; Central Bank shift away from privatization; RDIF gets U.S. help; Sobchak seeks return of seized cash in court; Tatarstan religious killings.

The U.S. has condemned Russia and China’s latest veto of Syria sanctions (their third) as ‘highly regrettable’ – the Guardian has an international summary of yesterday’s Syria-related events.  The White House has responded by voting on an amendment to its defence spending bill that will bar contracts and agreements with Rosoboronexport, which arms the Syrian government.  Vladimir Putin’s aide is being vague about whether or not Russia would take in Bashar al-Assad.  Putin has expressed caution over new laws that have opened up the political system, warning that ‘we have to allow all those who want to express their opinions to do so in a legal way and not run around in city squares’.