Today in Russian Business – Feb 6, 2012

Vladimir Putin’s plan to buy back shares in VTB from small businesses whose investments led to losses has won little support in the Kremlin, with the bank’s deputy chairman saying it was ‘wrong’ to use state funds for such a transaction.  Putin’s decree giving farmers a 30% discount on certain fuels ‘is likely to increase the number of voters thankful to him in rural areas’.  Rostelecom may drop plans to list on the London Stock Exchange if Russia launches its own depository before next year: ‘Most big investment funds view the absence of a central depositary as the major reason why domestic companies seek listings abroad.’  Major companies still prefer television over Internet advertising.  The bankrupcty of Hungary’s Malev airline will affect some Russian flights.