Today in Russian Business – April 22, 2008

Russia’s annual economic forum in London saw the country praised as “an island of stability” and “a rainbow in the storm”, although the hall was half-empty, sparking further speculation that the Kremlin had “actively discouraged Russians from attending the event last year.” Peter Hambro Mining, Russia’s second-largest gold miner, “surprised shareholders” by announcing its first dividend. Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov will hold a meeting to discuss improving tourism on the Black Sea coast. Alexei Pichugin, the former head of Yukos security, has been transferred to Moscow to testify in the case against former Yukos shareholder Leonid Nevzlin. Barclays wants to build on the recent $742 million acquisition of Russian retail and commercial bank Expobank.