Month: January 2009

January 12, 2009

Fighting Over Gas Rents

The following is an excerpt from “The Misperception of the Russian-Ukrainian Gas Problem“ by Dr. Gary Busch.  The one problem with the article is the assumption that Igor Sechin’s clan holds a controlling interest over Gazpr...
January 12, 2009

Blog Comments for the Kremlin

I found this bit entertaining from the report that Dmitry Medvedev’s video blog will begin to accept and publish reader’s comments: In order to leave a comment on the president’s personal video blog, visitors will have to registe...
January 12, 2009

Energy Blast – Jan 12th, 2009

The Ukraine-Russia gas dispute has sent European natural gas prices to a three-year high, setting them up for a steep decline.  Does the situation offer an opportunity for Europe to seek reforms of the gas trade, and in particular, of its ...
January 12, 2009

Addicted to the Gas War: Russia’s Anti-Market Pricing

They say that for many, addiction is not a choice, but a disease. And for those of us who are Russia news junkies, we have lately had to subsist on a steady diet of repetitive, off-target reports on the Russia-Ukraine energy dispute. It’s ea...
January 12, 2009

Today in Russian Business – Jan 12th, 2009

Russia’s ruble is now at its weakest level in almost six years after the central bank devalued the currency again for the 13th time in two months on the first official trading day of 2009.  Despite the measure being widely protested las...
January 12, 2009

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Jan 12th, 2009

TODAY: Russia and Ukraine reach accord after weekend of disputes over conditions for resuming gas supplies; angry Bulgaria seeks help to reduce Russia dependency; Medvedev opens interactive comment website; Beketov moved to intensive care; Czech f...
January 12, 2009

A Hobbesian Existence

The author Simon Sebag Montefiore has a must-read op/ed in the New York Times about Russia’s lack of a mechanism to transfer power from one leader to the next. Vladimir Putin wants his successes in Russia to be respected by the West; hence h...
January 12, 2009

Medvedev Takes Another Swipe at Putin

Though it feels like part of a scripted plot of an unknown conclusion more than an spontaneous outburst, yesterday President Dmitry Medvedev publicly criticized Vladimir Putin’s handling of the economy, which is the second time he has spoken...
January 12, 2009

The End of the Monroe Doctrine

When U.S. President James Monroe signed into law a doctrine outlining the new rules preventing European powers from colonizing and/or otherwise interfering in the political events of Latin America in 1823, the vague concept of spheres of influence...
January 11, 2009

Hands Off My ‘Stache

Were the auctions of Yukos assets a fair, equitable and transparent process as the Russian government claims, or simple competition between two state firms to steal billions worth of assets under the guise of nationalization?  I won’t m...