Today in Russian Business – Aug 3, 2011

President Dmitry Medvedev is flummoxed by the ‘administrative barriers’ that continue to crop up and hinder foreign investment, despite measures taken to reduce them.  Bloomberg TV will become the primary provider of business news for Russia’s 24-hour channel, RBC TV.  Citigroup is anticipating that Vladimir Putin will return to the Kremlin next year.  The value of Twitter’s funding from DST Global is being reported at $400 million.  Moscow has long upheld the practice of free on-street parking, but a federal law of July 25 is likely to change that within six months.  Mobile phone retailer Svyaznoy is considering a 2012 IPO and could offer up to 40% of its shares.  The government has approved new legislation that aims to encourage trade in mortgage-backed bonds.  Does Georgia’s chance for peace with Russia lie within the boundaries of healthy trade?