Today in Russian Business – Feb 3, 2011

According to the New York Times, Russia’s financial watchdog has unearthed almost $8 billion of financial violations by Moscow authorities under the leadership of fallen mayor Yuri Luzhkov.  Masked policemen have raided Deutsche Bank’s main Moscow office, apparently searching for documents related to parliamentarian Ashot Yegiazaryan, over allegedly fraudulent dealings the exiled lawmaker had with Moscow’s former mayor over the construction of the Hotel Moskva.  Dealbook highlights the rebarbative effects of such raids on foreign companies: ‘Sometimes, police wielding guns force stock analysts and economists onto the floors of their offices’.  A record rate of attendance at Troika’s Dialog’s international investment forum, which opened yesterday, suggests that the recent terrorist attack has not stymied investor interest, the Moscow Times argues.  Prime Minister Putin has urged the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service to expedite amendments to the ‘draconian’ law that regulates foreign investment, indicating that foreign funds would be heartily welcomed.  See Bloomberg for why ‘Black Swan’ author Nassim Taleb believes that Russia’s economic prospects could compare favorably with those of the US and China.  Domodedovo Airport has been valued at as much as $5.1 billion by Troika Dialog in a report on a possible merger with two other Moscow airports.  ‘Don’t be surprised if a Putin crony gets the job’ of running the possible airport conglomerate, says this Moscow Times op-ed.