Today in Russian Business – Sept 5, 2011

Why has Russia has finally recognized Libya’s provisional leadership?  Hint: Russia believes that the multi-million dollar contracts negotiated with the Qaddafi regime should remain in force.  Terminating a spate of long-running price disputes, the Defense Ministry and Russian Helicopters have reached an agreement and concluded a $4 billion deal.  The prospects for Russian arms exports to the Middle East may be less positive than they appear, argues this article.  Moody’s credit rating agency has a poor prognosis for Russia in terms of related-party lending.  Top lender Sberbank is apparently not considering buying Millennium and Kredyt Bank, two large Polish banks.