TODAY: Responses to Belykh’s government posting; Duma deputy could be stripped of immunity; Lavrov warns against ‘meddling’, praises ties with EU; Argentine President in Moscow; Yulia Latynina on ‘Putinomics’.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insists that Russia has no monopoly on relations with neighboring former Soviet republics, but warned Western countries against ‘meddling‘ and protecting those interests at Russia’s expense.  He also praised Russia’s ‘strategic partnership‘ with the EU, offering a ‘visa-free regime‘ to improve economic ties, and said that WTO membership remains a priority for Russia despite the financial crisis.  President Cristina Fernandez and a troop of Argentine business leaders are in Russia for a two-day state visit aimed at boosting trade, energy and mining agreements.