December 17, 2007 By Robert Amsterdam

Ehrenfeld: Russia’s New ‘State Oligarchy’

Rachel_Ehrenfeld.jpgDr. Rachel Ehrenfeld, director of the American Center for Democracy, has a devastating new piece about the Kremlin’s business activities in Human Events: On June 2, 2006 proposing that Russia should retain control over strategic companies, according to Itar-Tass, Medvedev (then First Deputy Prime Minister) admitted the government is “not the most efficient proprietor.” However, he insisted that Russia should control companies “vital for the country.” … Buyers, bankers and regulators, however, would be wise to investigate the provenance of Russian assets offered by state-owned companies and subservient Kremlin businessmen — and ask how long Russia will take before “legally” confiscating their potential investments.