Today in Russian Business – Dec 24th, 2008

By Citizen M | Published: December 24, 2008

Russia is facing its first budget deficit in a decade, which it intends to cover with the remains of its reserve fund.  The ruble has been devalued three times this week, and seven times this month. ‘As long as oil remains depressed and at many year lows the central bank has no other choice but […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Dec 24th, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Russia to increase number of nuclear missiles; Duma to raise ‘financial literacy’, comedians avoiding the crisis; Russia wants UN corruption officials out; Nikita Belykh, Anna Politkovskaya.The State Duma is in the process of creating a state program for 2009 that will raise the level of financial literacy in society, supposedly guarding against further financial […]

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Russia’s Unmanageable State-Owned Mastodons

By James Kimer | Published: December 23, 2008

From a new column by Anders Aslund on Russian economic policy: Apart from Russia’s excellent fiscal policy, just about everything has been wrong with the country’s economic policy since authorities arrested former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky in October 2003. Shortly after this, Yukos was confiscated. The only significant short-term relief is to free the ruble […]

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The Debut of Gasfinger

By James Kimer | Published:

Although it feels like a subject we have beaten to death with a heavy stick, today’s first official meeting of the gas cartel can’t go by without comment.  We’ve written about why it’s different than the oil cartel, why it might be bluff, why the perceptions of the cartel are just as important, the important […]

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Responding to Discontent

By James Kimer | Published:

Phillip Pan of the Washington Post offers some ideas about the meaning of Nikita Belykh’s appointment as governor of Kirov province – a move which destroyed the Union of Right Forces in one swipe, but inserted an unexpectedly fresh face into the governing coalition.  Wouldn’t it be nice if the governors could just freely compete […]

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That Time of Year for Gas Wars

By James Kimer | Published:

Well, the end of another year is quickly approaching, which means one thing for all us Russia watchers:  time for another natural gas war.  Will it be Belarus again this year?  Nope, it looks like the clever Lukashenko has danced his way out from under Gazprom once again.  The Ukraine is exactly back to where […]

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Energy Blast – Dec 23rd, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

Details of Russia’s agreement with Belarus on the price of gas are being kept under wraps, as the Kremlin merely stated that ‘the talks have produced an agreement‘.  This silence is giving rise to speculation about Belarus having won a price victory, after warning Dmitry Medvedev not to cripple its economy with high prices.  Private […]

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Today in Russian Business – Dec 23rd, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

The number of unemployed in Russia will double over the next year to 10 million people.  Aeroflot is not considering a merger with S7 because the airline’s profit has dropped 57% and ‘there is nothing to merge with‘.  Cyprus’ top-range properties are still being bought up by Russian buyers whose wealth remains largely unaffected by […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Dec 23rd, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: United Russia blocks logging enquiry, party leader resigns over car tariffs?  Putin’s image suffering, no apparent plans to reverse tariff decision; confusion over supply of weapons to Iran, US calls for clarification; OSCE mission in Georgia to end over Russia dispute; navy’s missile fails another test launch, military to receive spending boost.The United Russia […]

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Grigory Pasko: Russia in a Lada Trouble

By Grigory Pasko | Published:

We’ve posted several articles already about the recent mass demonstrations in Vladivostok and other Russian cities against the recent steep increase in import duties on foreign cars – Vladimir Putin’s version of the recent Detroit “bailout” in the US. Today, our own Russia correspondent Grigory Pasko, who spent a significant portion of his adult life […]

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