TODAY: Lavrov in Kiev for OSCE meeting; EU Commission wants re-think on Gazprom South Stream; Lukoil Uzbek investment; rights group decries vagueness of gay law for Olympics visitors; budget hole to hit $300 billion; Samutsevich sues former lawyer; Medicare charges for diplomats.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended an OSCE summit in Kiev yesterday, but referred only indirectly to the current situation between government and protesters, and blamed it on European ‘hysteria’.  The European Commission wants EU member states to renegotiate the terms of their South Stream agreements with Gazprom over concerns that some aspects of the deals are unlawful.  Lukoil will invest $5 billion in energy projects in Uzbekistan over the next five years.  Human Rights Watch is concerned that the Kremlin still has not clearly detailed the possible penalties that might be in store for visitors and athletes who are perceived to break the ‘gay propaganda’ law – or even what breaking that law might involve.  A coalition of American investors is urging corporate sponsors of the Sochi Olympics to speak out against Russia’s law against ‘gay propaganda’ if they want to preserve their reputations.  Russian online retailers prepare for their first Black Friday.