Archive

March 2, 2009

Energy Blast – March 2nd, 2009

Dmitry Medvedev says he will present a new energy charter at the G20 next month, designed to guard against disputes such as its row with Ukraine.  Spanish builder Sacyr has discussed selling its 20% stake in oil giant Repsol to Russia’s...
March 2, 2009

Today in Russian Business – March 2nd, 2009

Vladimir Putin has made a public example of Kremlin logic using the case study of Sakha Republic: in a meeting with its president, Putin said that the region’s economic problems would be solved by the fact that Sakha mines a lot of gold, and...
March 2, 2009

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – March 2nd, 2009

TODAY: Regional elections held over the weekend – low turnouts and accusations of cheating; Justice Minister slams European Court of Human Rights; Italy gives Russia a church; US and Russia to begin official talks at the end of the week; bus...
March 1, 2009

The Litmus Test of Russian Justice

From Owen Matthews in Newsweek: How serious is President Dmitry Medvedev about repairing Russia’s corrupt courts? A trial opening this week in Moscow could be a key test. Former Yukos oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was jailed in 2004 o...
March 1, 2009

The Impossible Case against Mikhail Khodorkovsky

From the Associated Press: But his lawyers say the allegations of a $25 billion theft border on impossible. Many believe Khodorkovsky’s real sin was to have violated an understanding with the Kremlin that powerful business leaders keep out o...
February 27, 2009

Holocaust Denial – without the Holocaust

Have you noticed how the Russians are constantly trying to be “just like the other kids”? Henry Ford built an automobile assembly line – the Russians bought it from him. The Netherlands had its Diary of Anne Frank – The Sov...
February 27, 2009

Putin Preoccupied by Protests

That P word just won’t go away in Russia, and the authorities are beginning to show their concern.  However with the latest threats to send out truncheon-wielding OMON to break up demonstrations, isn’t the Kremlin helping to make ...
February 27, 2009

RA’S Daily Russia News Blast – Feb 27th, 2009

TODAY: A year after Medvedev’s election, pundits are split over his status as a reformer; Putin says he wants Russia to conform to European human rights standards; a European court rules on a Russian judge’s unfair dismissal; the North...
February 27, 2009

Energy Blast – Feb 27th, 2009

Presidential economic adviser Arkady Dvorkovichhas says Russia has sufficient oil fund reserves to “live through this year without borrowing,” despite the possibility of a budget deficit. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian company Naftogaz wants...