Today in Russian Business – April 25, 2008

Oleg Deripaska, owner of Russian aluminium producer United Company Rusal, has successfully bought a 25% stake in Norilsk Nickel from Mikhail Prokhorov, its co-owner. It is thought that Prokhorov will receive a 14% stake in return. The deal is said to be worth $13 billion. More on the Inchcape/Musa deal. Russia’s plan to impose duties on raw timber exports could “potentially hurt its chances for a WTO entry.” An East Siberian court granted a request from prosecutors to extend a new probe against jailed Yukos co-founder Platon Lebedev until August 2.