Today in Russian Business – July 4, 2008

Michael Cherney, the former business partner of Oleg Deripaska, will sue for a 20% stake (worth $4bn) in Rusal in London, after a judge agreed that the case “could not be heard in Russia for fear [Cherney] could be assassinated or arrested on trumped-up charges.” Dmitry Medvedev wants to see fewer government officials and more independent directors on the boards of Russian state-controlled companies. Anatoly Chubais, former head of Unified Energy Systems, writes in today’s FT urging Europe to forge closer ties with Russia: “The beginning of EU-Russia talks presents a welcome opportunity to boost bilateral business relations”.