Today in Russian Business – May 2, 2012

Outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev has announced he wants to put a stop to ‘mobile slavery’ by introducing laws which would oblige mobile providers to let customers keep their cell-phone numbers when changing providers.  The Moscow Times reports that despite a period of stops and starts, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has maintained that privatization will be the first priority of the new government.  Russia’s largest gold producer, Polyus Gold, has sold a 7.5% stake to two strategic investors, raising $635 million.  Russia’s largest online classified site Avito, has landed a $75 million funding, one of the biggest funding rounds this year, which will be channeled into marketing across Russia.  Thanks to the company’s expansion there over the course of 2011, Yandex, Russia’s largest search engine, is apparently aiming for at least 20% of Turkey’s search traffic.