A Huge Day for Russia

Sure, some might point to the hosting of the G8 Summit or the selection of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics as the climatic moment of national pride for the country’s resurgence, but for many ordinary Russian sports fans, the kick-off in about three hours of the Champion’s League Final Match between Manchester United and […]

Maikova as Scapegoat?

The WSJ Law Blog writes about the recent buzz regarding Dmitry Medvedev’s proposed clean up of the courts, pointing out that Judge Lyudmila Maikova might end up being made the scapegoat of unfair rulings in favor of the tax authorities: Anton Ivanov, chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court, told reporters after the session that he […]

The Cyprus Extradition

Today the New York Times has a short piece on the Cyprus court decision refusing to extradite former Yukos executive Vladislav Kartashov, a decision which “further undermined the legitimacy of a Russian legal challenge” by declaring the extradition politically motivated.

Energy Blast – May 21, 2008

Fear of a global oil shortage within five years has “propelled oil futures prices to well above $130 a barrel.” It is thought that top Russian energy officials could sign a cooperation agreement on nuclear power with China during President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to the country this week. “I cannot disclose what project … but […]

Today in Russian Business – May 21, 2008

Russia’s Center for Political Technologies says the main problem afflicting the country’s economy is corporate raiders using illegal means to seize companies and assets from their rightful owners. Severstal has made a rival bid for US steel company Esmark after the Steelworkers’ Union threatened to block an offer from India’s Essar Steel Holdings. It is […]

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 21, 2008

TODAY: Medvedev adviser indicates that power still lies with Putin; Russia calls EULEX mission in Kosovo “illegal”; Iran closely following Syrian military meetings with Moscow; corruption threatening growth; Alexander Lugovoi interview; changes in journalism controls under Putin. Igor Yurgens, a senior adviser and ally of Dmitry Medvedev, has indicated that Vladimir Putin took most of […]

Nigeria: The Common Polemics of Petrostates

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of visiting the Petroleum Club of Houston to give a short presentation on the comparative investment environments of Venezuela and Nigeria for the World Affairs Council. It turned out to be a fortuitous day to be talking about the latter country, as the Financial Times just published a very […]

BP Awaits the Grand Arbiter

The troubles just don’t seem to stop for TNK-BP in Russia – not even after the inauguration of Medvedev and the theoretical “end” to the instability and infighting of the clans. We’ve blogged about the state’s assault on this oil interest from the beginning to the most recent imbroglios, and never cease to be impressed […]

Cleaning Up Russia’s Courts

The big words on reforming the justice system continue to come from Russia’s new president: “Our main target is to make sure that courts are independent,” Medvedev told a Kremlin meeting with top officials. “There is a principle under which courts only obey the law. This is the foundation of respect for the courts and […]

Video: Anne Applebaum on Putinism