Archive

September 15, 2010

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – September 15, 2010

TODAY: Surprise checks on human rights groups prior to regional elections; Microsoft to hand out free software to NGOs; United Russia meeting offers wholesale support to Luzhkov.  Russian Defense Sec in Washington as START ratification pressu...
September 14, 2010

Energy Blast – September 14, 2010

Lukoil is celebrating news that it will receive much sought-after tax breaks for its North Caspian fields, of a similar nature to those enjoyed by rival companies in East Siberia.  Next spring will herald the construction of Russia’s fi...
September 14, 2010

Today in Russian Business – September 14, 2010

A boost to the long-term development of the car industry?: Oleg Deripaska has bagged Siegfried Wolf, co-chief executive of Canadian auto-parts maker Magna International, and backer of the failed Magna-Opel bid for GM, as the new board chairman at ...
September 14, 2010

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – September 14, 2010

TODAY: UN human rights chiefs chides Russia on activist slayings; Microsoft to institute changes following NY Times allegations; Luzhkov pledges to sue; new ruling reduces pressure for income declarations; law to release ill suspects deemed vague....
September 13, 2010

Putin’s Political Secret? Body Slamming.

So what political advice could Vladimir Putin share with Barack Obama to tightly grip power for more than a decade?  Steve LeVine has some good suggestions. Is it possible to translate the Putin magic to America? After all, if you pay attenti...
September 13, 2010

Austrian Bank Drawn into Russia Corruption Case

For several years now we have been closely following the state theft/tax fraud perpetrated against Hermitage Capital Management and its CEO William Browder by members of the police and Interior Ministry, which eventually resulted in the death in p...
September 13, 2010

When Russia’s Bad Image is Good

The most common complaint of Russia obsessives is that the international media seems to often present the country in such a negative light, creating a perception that is entirely out of whack with the reality of day-to-day life.  But some mar...
September 13, 2010

Vladimir Milošević

An interesting quote from Vladimir Kara-Murza on Vladimir Putin’s apparent dwindling support in the Levada opinion polls, however the implausible fantasy of charging the president with crimes is a strong motivation to simply stay in power. &...
September 13, 2010

Energy Blast – September 13, 2010

The chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Federation Council of Russia has attempted to quell controversy surrounding Russian investment in the Bushehr nuclear power plant, arguing, ‘if we cooperate with Iran in the field of nucle...
September 13, 2010

Today in Russian Business – September 13, 2010

An inability to reach Western corporate governance standards means that Russia will continue to be a ‘pariah market’ for foreign investors, says an article in Reuters.  ‘Everybody hates the damn place’ concurs Jim O...