6 January - Russia begins to withdraw forces from Syria starting with an aircraft carrier group.[1] Meanwhile, a declassified report in the US claims that President Putin ordered a campaign to influence last year's election against Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton.[2]
9 January - The death toll of people who died from alcohol poisoning in Irkutsk rises to 76.[3]\
20 January - A rally was held against the transfer of Saint Isaac's Cathedral to the Russian Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg.[4]
27 January - Russian lawmakers voted, 380–3, to decriminalize certain forms of domestic violence. Under the new law, first-time offenses that do not result in "serious bodily harm" carry a maximum fine of 30,000 rubles, up to 15 days' administrative arrest, or up to 120 hours of community service.[5]
26 March - Protests against alleged corruption in the federal Russian government took place simultaneously in many cities across the country. They were triggered by the lack of proper response from the Russian authorities to the published investigative film He Is Not Dimon to You, which has garnered more than 20 million views on YouTube.
April
20 April – The Russian government has prohibited Jehovah's Witnesses in all of Russia, going in favor of the Ministry of Justice.
10 June – A gunman, 49-year-old Igor Zenkov, kills four people before being shot dead by local police and the National Guard during a special operation in the township of Kratovo, Moscow Oblast.[9][10]