Today in Russian Business – May 23, 2008

By Citizen M | Published: May 23, 2008

In an open letter published in the Financial Times, the owner of Swiss-based oil trader Gunvor has denied that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin‘s help was key to turning his firm into a global player. Bloomberg has Russia’s unemployment rate “unexpectedly” rising to 6.6% from 6.4% in April, quoting data from the Federal Statistics Service, but […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 23, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Medvedev in discussions with China; Baluyevsky proposes solution to CFE deadlock; British MP talks of “intimidation” over meeting with Russian embassy official; Litvinenko said Putin was “vetted” by Abramovich; football visa waiving boosted tourism. Dmitry Medvedev’s two-day visit to “ally and rival” China begins today, amid speculation that Russia is worried by China’s expansion […]

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Medvedev Claims No Preference for Next U.S. President

By James Kimer | Published: May 22, 2008

Here’s an interesting bit of truth from an opinion column about John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton by Philip Stephens of the FT: There is a view fashionable in foreign policy circles that this is all politics. Pretty much whatever is said during the campaign will be lost to reality once the new president […]

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Andrei Nekrasov: A Letter from Russia

By James Kimer | Published:

[We are pleased to feature this exclusive special guest column from the Russian filmmaker Andrei Nekrasov, the director and producer of “Rebellion, The Litvinenko Case“, a Cannes featured documentary which opens in London on May 23rd. Nekrasov has contributed an earlier article to this blog, and his 2004 film “Disbelief” can be seen here.] A […]

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Canadian Automotive Companies Leaping into Russia

By James Kimer | Published:

Last year we did a lot of reporting on the important deal struck between Magna, Canada’s largest automotive manufacturing giant, and Oleg Deripaska’s Basic Element group. Now today the Financial Post reports that more and more are following Frank Stronach’s lead to bet their future on the Russian market:

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The Russia-China Lovefest

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

The press is really running away with the symbolic importance of Dmitry Medvedev’s first trip to Asia rather than Europe. “Medvedev trip east sends signal to west,” goes the headline from the FT. The AP reports that the China visit “is a sign of how the two resurgent giants have buried Cold War rivalries and […]

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Travels in Dystopia

By James Kimer | Published:

Joshua Kucera has a great travelogue article over at Slate.com about his (attempted) trip to South Ossetia, a place where “It’s clear that the government does not want journalists roaming around.” He writes about his near-arrest over a non-controversial photo, how half the men on the streets are either police or military, and hitting the […]

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Energy Blast – May 22, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

Tatneft has started a $1.1 billion legal action against Ukraine over an ownership dispute at a Ukrainian refinery. Russia wants to delay the annual summit of the “gas OPEC” from June to October due to its newly appointed government. “Iran’s natural resources could play a lead part in western Europe’s quest for energy security”. The […]

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Today in Russian Business – May 22, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

Essar Steel Holdings may raise its offer for US-based Esmark after Severstal matched the Indian steelmaker’s bid. Internet firm Mail.ru is planning a $2 billion flotation in London this summer. Gazprom’s media arm has sold its majority stake in the Izvestia newspaper to a firm linked to a businessman reported to be a close ally […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 22, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: EU agrees on mandate to begin negotiations with Russia; Medvedev on first international visit in Kazakhstan, emphasizing the role of the East for Russia; football final passes without a hitch; Storchak refused bail; migrant workers to live in metal containers. European Union countries have finally agreed to begin wide-ranging new negotiations with Russia, bringing […]

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