Today in Russian Business – March 23, 2010

Putin has warned government officials against allowing construction costs to escalate on large infrastructure projects and has threatened to dismiss those responsible for allowing increases to occur.  Deputy Regional Development Minister Sergei Kruglik is the first to face the sack.  A new transatlantic shipping line has opened between Russia and Denmark in a sign of improved ties.  The Prime Minister, according to Ria-Novosti, hopes to see prices of goods from Latin America fall as a result.  RusHydro shares have had a sudden boost as Putin signaled the restart of another unit of the Sayano-Shushenskaya station.  Russian Sea seafood maker is planning a $200 million IPO.  Putin is apparently considered a villain by 28,000 people in Siberia, who are angered by his decision to re-open the Baikal paper mill, which, in the eyes of commentator Vladimir Ryzhko, is polluting and unprofitable.   Evening Standard owner Alexander Lebedev has lambasted Russian’s ‘primitivism’.  How French tabloid France-Soir is enjoying a massive cash injection under its new owner Alexander Pugachyov, son of Sergei.