Today in Russian Business – May 20, 2010

According to the Moscow Times, Medvedev-approved legislation preventing the arrests of businessmen may not actually assist them, as courts are refusing to acknowledge that some suspects were engaged in entrepreneurial activity.  The U.S. Department of Justice has given Moscow prosecutors documents supporting its claims that Daimler AG paid bribes to Russian officials.  Russian presidential adviser Veniamin Yakovlev has recommended that the CIS states create a single economic space like the European Union.  Industrial output reportedly shot up in April, signaling positive steps forward in the economic recovery.  Oleg Deripaska’s molybdenum producer, Strikeforce Mining & Resources, has received a $122 million loan from a group of five banks as part of a restructuring accord.  Urals Nickel plans to build the country’s first new nickel plant since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.   Has Russia run out of palladium?  The State Duma has passed a bill which will allow banks and stock exchanges to sell federal property alongside the Federal Property Management Agency.  Mikhail Prokhorov woos the NBA with wisecracks.  Russian Technologies has put a high valuation on truckmaker KamaZ.  Bud beer has a crack at the Russian market.