Today in Russian Business – March 5, 2012

Vladimir Putin’s victory led Russian stocks to a seven-month high, although concerns over the outcome of impending protests are keeping the ruble in check.  Putin swears that the privatization of state assets will be fairer than those carried out in the 1990s – although he does not know how this will happen. ‘We don’t want to sell state property for nothing.’  The sale of United Grain Co has begun, with the company being opened to interested parties.  The tender for Domodedovo Airport is still anonymous, although the deadline has now passed.  If Putin really wants state television to stop running advertisements, a serious boost could be on the cards for CTC Media, which owns Russia’s fourth-largest channel.  State-controlled VTB bank is closing down the accounts of Iranian Embassy staff in Moscow.