The Chinese Takeover of Russian Oil

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: October 29, 2008

The economic crisis and drop in oil prices has really brought forward some interesting and contrasting views on Russia – from those who think this regime and their ways of doing things are toast, to those who believe the Kremlin will come out on the either side stronger than ever. Judging by the wide range […]

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The Provocation of Western Weakness

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

It would be a lot easier to agree with some of John Bolton’s views on the U.S.-Russia relationship for the next president had he not said such foolish things in the past. Nevertheless, he makes a good point: A truly rational Russia policy has to escape both the persistent romanticism of Moscow in recent U.S. […]

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Tools of Repossession

By James Kimer | Published:

Yulia Latynina at the Moscow Times points out that the Kremlin’s preferred apparatus for stealing private property is changing: The market economy is remarkable, but not because it prevents people from making mistakes. People do make mistakes — and very big ones. What will happen next? The collective debt of all Russian banks and companies […]

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Kremlin Extends Lifeline to Mikhail Fridman

By James Kimer | Published:

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Kremlin’s oligarch rescue plan is being fully deployed with the first major bailout of an individual, as $2 billion was tossed to Mikhail Fridman to pay back a loan from Deutsche Bank AG, allowing him to retain his 44% stake in Vimpelcom (VIP), one of the country’s […]

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Free Svetlana Bakhmina

By James Kimer | Published:

Please visit the Svetlana Bakhmina site to sign this petition, which will be sent to President Dmitry Medvedev. You can read more about Svetlana’s case here and here. Below is the text of the letter: Dear Mr. President, Please attend to the case of Svetlana Bakhmina, a Russian citizen sentenced to a 6.5 years’ imprisonment […]

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Jaromir Jagr and the Freedom of Low Expectations

By James Kimer | Published:

Although he used to wear the number 68 to commemorate Prague Spring, former NHL star slash advocate for Russia’s new ice hockey league, Jaromir Jagr, has changed his tune. This comes from the New York Times via AOL Fanhouse: “Here, it’s not like in the U.S.,” Jagr says at a different point. “You got such […]

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Energy Blast – Oct 29, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao have signed a ‘much-delayed’ agreement under which Transneft will supply China with oil via a new section of its ESPO pipeline. A new report from the International Energy Agency shows that global oil output is falling at a faster rate than originally thought, with a 9.1% […]

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Today in Russian Business – Oct 29, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

As part of a number of significant new financial agreements, China could lend Russian companies $20-30 billion. Silver miner Polymetal is having trouble keeping up with the demands of the financial crisis, although Russian imports are apparently not suffering. One analyst suggests that now is a good time for companies to reinvent themselves – and […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Oct 29, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: EU to resume Russia discussions; Britain ready to open relations with Russia once again; Russian passports in Ukraine?; Medvedev responds to US sanctions. The result of an EU delegation meeting with Russian foreign ministers is that the EU will discuss options for resuming partnership talks with Moscow when it meets for a summit in […]

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Guilty Verdict on the Kozlov Murder Trial, Questions Remain

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: October 28, 2008

RIA Novosti and TASS are both reporting that a jury at the Moscow City Court has reached a guilty verdict for the former businessman and banker Alexei Frenkel, who stands accused of organizing the murder of central banker and money laundering crusader Andrei Kozlov. Kozlov was gunned down on Sept. 13, 2006 on his way […]

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