TODAY: Churov blasts ‘unfair’ US electoral system; academics caught taking bribes; Putin cancels annual Q&A. Virgin Group plans major Russia investment; Sistema buys Argos group; an end in sight for Norlisk Nickel dispute? Orthodox Church business activities under scrutiny 

Icy conditions are apparently the reason why President Putin has decided to cancel his annual question-and-answer session with the public this year.  Russia’s election ‘wizard’ Vladimir Churov has denounced what he views as the iniquities of US election practices.  The Foreign Ministry agrees that ‘the US electoral system is decentralised, fragmented and obsolete’.  Yesterday’s unsanctioned Strategy 31 freedom of assembly rally ended with the arrest of 12 participants from a group of around 70.  In the Coordination Council, ‘cooperation is inevitable’, says Boris Netmsov as he and Gennady Gudkov offer their views on the new formation.  Two high-ranking Moscow academics have been caught taking a $30,000 bribe by local police.