In a frightening echo of the killing of 2006's murder of Anna Politkovskaya a very prominent Russian lawyer, Stanislav Markelov, was assassinated in broad daylight in Moscow yesterday. The speculation is that Markelov was targeted for his human rights activities. We turn to James Rodgers, the BBC's Moscow correspondent, for more on this disturbing event.

The collapse of oil prices has stalled Russia's burgeoning economy, slowed economic reform and it has reversed the Russian government's mission to re-assert its influence in Europe. But the single most explosive element of the Russian economic predicament is the quality of life of the average Russian. James Rogers covers Russia for our partner, the BBC World Service.