Month: May 2010

May 5, 2010

Propeller Heads

The weekend’s Blue Bucket Society protests reflect the burgeoning discontent among Moscow’s motorists, or least of those who do not have the pecuniary means to blaze their way through traffic with a glaring migalka.  This article ...
May 5, 2010

Energy Blast – May 5, 2010

Russian environmentalists are warning homegrown companies to tighten safety measures if they wish to avoid a similar ecological catastrophe to that currently besieging the Gulf of Mexico.  Transeft’s dogged determination to press on wit...
May 5, 2010

Today in Russian Business – May 5, 2010

According to the Moscow Times, Russia spent $11.97 billion from its oil wealth funds in April to shore up the budget deficit and fill in gaps in pensions.  Russian Technologies will reportedly not become an Aeroflot shareholder as part of pla...
May 5, 2010

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – May 5, 2010

TODAY: Governors reluctant on income transparency; official fired in Trifonova case, calls for prison reform redouble; Putin rebuffs Reports Without Borders criticisms.  Kyrgyzstan to investigate Manas fuel supplies; Georgian opposition membe...
May 4, 2010

No Panacea for Ukraine Gas Trade

There appear to be two counter-opposing narratives circulating out there in response the latest natural gas agreement between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Vladimir Putin’s provocative suggestion that Gazprom could swallow up Naftogaz. ...
May 4, 2010

Official Fired Over Prison Death

Reports in from Ria-Novosti state that one official has been dismissed over the death in prison of real estate agent Vera Trifonova, who died of kidney failure whilst held on fraud charges.  Trifonova died in the same jail where Hermitage law...
May 4, 2010

Coach Prokhorov?

Couldn’t help but be amused by the eye-catching headline ‘Mikhail Prokhorov to the rescue!‘ and accompanying article in today’s WSJ, which seems to inscribe Prokhorov’s multi-million dollar investment in the Russian B...
May 4, 2010

Magnitsky’s Alleged Killers Lose their Visas

At the end of last month, Sen. Benjamin Cardin requested a visa ban against the 60 or so members of the Russian government who stand accused of ignoring the plight of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died following medical mistreatment in prison. ...
May 4, 2010

Obama’s Russia Policy Becomes Fodder for Republicans

It really wasn’t a question of if, but when.  Today the AFP has picked up on some speech notes that Rep. Eric Cantor is planning to deliver before the Heritage Institute in Washington, which may signal that the Republicans are going to ...