Today in Russian Business – June 3, 2011

Mikhail Prokhorov has promised to quit business activity if his Right Cause party wins the State Duma elections this December.  Canada is in talks with Russia to re-open a 65-year-old trade route.  Nissan and Renault could invest up to $2 billion in Russia by 2015, and are planning to take a combined stake of at least 50% in AvtoVAZ.  VTB Capital is expanding, with offices planned in Asia and the U.S. this year.  Russia will not lift its ban on E.U. vegetables until it has received the information its has requested, says Gennady Onishchenko, as grocery chain X5 says that the ban could lead to shortages and higher prices.  A ban on Egyptian potatoes is currently also in place over sanitation concerns.  Forbes debates whether or not a weak dollar is good for the Russian economy.