TODAY: Putin signs deal forbidding Gazprom to cooperate with E.U. regulators, calls for end to investigation; Gazprom seeks to increase foothold in Germany; authorities approve March of Millions; VTB hits back at Navalny accusations; Russia ups Bulgaria compensation claim; Latynina on APEC.

Under a decree signed by Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has made it illegal for Gazprom (and all companies deemed ‘strategic’) to trade or exchange information with foreign entities without its permission, a move aimed at preventing any practices that are ‘capable of damaging the economic interests of the Russian Federation’, widely seen as a bid to protect Gazprom from the current European Commission investigation into its pricing practices in the E.U. because it implicitly forbids the company to co-operate with investigators.  Putin has called for a swift conclusion to the investigation, mixing reassuring statements about cooperation with a promise that Russia would ‘of course […] seek opportunities to sell our products in other markets’.  Gazprom itself accused the E.C. of using its investigation to ‘influence gas prices’.  The company is apparently looking to increase its stake in Germany’s Wingas – a move ‘likely to put the European Commission on alert’.  Putin has commented on U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s view of Russia as ‘enemy No 1’, saying that his critical stance justifies Moscow’s ongoing opposition to U.S. plans to build a missile shield in Europe.