TODAY: Putin thanks voters, promises various improvements for new term; Putin relative appointed to Gazprom board; US tariffs could cost Russian metals producers $3bn; ethics committee failure to indict Slutsky leads to media boycott; protests over Volokolamsk landfill lead to firing of local deputy; Kremlin denies claims that Skripal begged for a pardon; Deripaska escort lawsuit to return to court this week in a district that favours him; Yekaterinburg prepares for World Cup by destroying most famous monument.