RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Feb 2, 2016
TODAY: Russia weathering low oil price for now? Kremlin preparing the way for seven privatisations; unemployment passes 1m, Russia falls in economic freedom index; magazine fined for publishing piece about Putin’s daughter; Merkel says no sanctions lift until fighting stops in Ukraine, UK accuses Russia of hindering peace effort in Syria; Kremlin denies knowledge of latest Kadyrov opposition attack.