Russia

June 1, 2012

Energy Blast – June 1, 2012

BP says it is considering selling its TNK-BP stake, having received ‘unsolicited approaches’ from unidentified parties (Reuters suspects Gazprom and Rosneft to be involved).  TNK-BP co-owner Mikhail Fridman has been calling for an ownership restru...
June 1, 2012

Today in Russian Business – June 1, 2012

Vladimir Ashurkov speaks out about his support of Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Fund: ‘Our strategy has been to gather a critical mass of supporters who would not be afraid to say, ‘Yes, I have supported this foundation’. But of cou...
June 1, 2012

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 1, 2012

TODAY: Clinton to hold Russia accountable in event of Syrian civil war; many arrests at Strategy 31 rally; Olga Romanova interview; Putin in Belarus; United Russia to create ‘party school’; railway smoking ban, colonel convicted of spying, opposit...
May 31, 2012

Today in Russian Business – May 31, 2012

Sberbank has criticised as ‘incomprehensible’ a bank card designed to finance Alexei Navalny’s activities by channeling 1% of all transactions to his Anti-Corruption Fund.  Navalny has revealed the identities of literary and business figures ̵...
May 31, 2012

Today in Russian Business – May 31, 2012

Sberbank has criticised as ‘incomprehensible’ a bank card designed to finance Alexei Navalny’s activities by channeling 1% of all transactions to his Anti-Corruption Fund.  Navalny has revealed the identities of literary and business figures ̵...
May 31, 2012

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 31, 2012

TODAY: Russia says Syrian intervention would be premature; Duma’s idea of direct mayoral elections is not what voters want; Putin to snub London Olympics; activist jailed for spitting on Putin picture; Moscow unimpressed by McFaul; Barents Sea Cra...
May 30, 2012

Russia Balks At UN’s Tough Syria Stance

A few days ago, there were some analysts who saw a slight modification in Russia’s stance on its ally Syria when Moscow decided to support the UN resolution condemning the Houla massacre.  Those who are looking to see more cooperation from t...
May 29, 2012

Fridman’s Departure Shakes TNK-BP

Yesterday’s big news was the shock departure of oligarch Mikhail Fridman from the board of joint venture TNK-BP.  The partnership has been on the rocks for some time, principally due to the AAR consortium’s decision to block BP’s...
May 24, 2012

The Unfortunate Gift of Foresight

In popular culture the year 2012 is charged with impending apocalypse, largely thanks to its apocryphal significance in the Mayan calendar.  Could this be the year that sees Putinism lurch towards a grizzly end?  A new report today from the Moscow...
May 23, 2012

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 23, 2012

TODAY: ‘Energy tsar’ Sechin regains to directorship of Rosneft; Putin draws ex-ministers into presidential circle; bill on greater fines for protestors tentatively approed; Moscow city authorities start turf war with protestors; Poland...