Today in Russian Business – Sept 2, 2010

Aeroflot is seeking $3.67 million in compensation from the Moscow city government for the traffic jams that blocked the way to Sheremetyevo Airport in June.  A spokesperson for Mayor Yury Luzhkov called the lawsuit ‘the work of a truly sick mind‘.  Some grain exports will be allowed, but only under special circumstances such as humanitarian aid and feeding overseas workers.  Coca-Cola has acquired Nidan Soki, one of Russia’s largest juice producers, in a move that apparently rivals a similar acquisition by PepsiCo in 2008.  South Korean firm’s LG Electronics Russia branch is under investigation on suspicion of pirating software.  Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin says that the government will not sell its Alrosa diamonds this year because ‘we don’t have any problems with revenues‘.  Manufacturing rates are back up to April 2008 levels on strong domestic demand.  Expats in Russia are among the world’s richest, according to an HSBC survey.  The government has voiced its backing for a possible merger between potash producers Silvinit and Uralkali.