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What to Make of Putin’s Anti-Offshore Crusade

Posted on January 22, 2012

Last month, PM Putin addressed the Government Commission on Electricity Generation. At the meeting, Putin launched into a searing critique of Russian companies using offshore “front companies.” Indeed, Putin noted, “Taking the Russian economy and its strategic sectors out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Business and Economy, corruption, Dmitry Medvedev, Gazprom, goskorporatsii, legal update, offshore, PM Putin, President Medvedev, Rostekhnologii, russia, state corporations, utilities companies, Vedomosti, Vladimir Putin, war on corruption | 2 Comments

Tipping Points – Handicapping the Chances of an ‘Arab Spring’ in Russia

Posted on January 6, 2012

Who are the Protesters? VTSIOM recently published a survey of the protesters, conducted at the rally at Sakharov Prospekt on Dec. 24. The survey results confirmed other reports that the protesters are mainly drawn from educated, urbanized elites, prompting the … Continue reading →

Posted in duma, Government of Russia, protests, russia | 2 Comments

The Ghost of Medvedev’s Presidency Lives on … in Putin

Posted on November 12, 2011

Yesterday, PM Putin did his annual sit-down with the Valdai discussion club. Since its inception, the Valdai meeting has come to be seen as a forum where Putin relaxes the message discipline and says what he thinks without much of … Continue reading →

Posted in russia | 1 Comment

Strategic Sectors Law Update – Draft Amendments and Commission on Foreign Investment Meeting

Posted on November 10, 2011

Last week, PM Putin chaired the latest meeting of the Commission on Foreign Investment and the following day the draft amendments to the Strategic Sectors Law (SSL) entered their third reading, after languishing in 2nd reading purgatory since the summer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign direct investment, foreign investment, legal update, legislation, PM Putin, President Medvedev, prokhorov, Rostekhnologii, russia, strategic industries

Putin to Return to Presidency, Medvedev to be PM

Posted on September 24, 2011

So Russia’s elite has succumbed to ‘Titanic Syndrome’ – hoping to steal a bit more under the existing arrangement rather than squarely confront the serious problems that face their economy/society. It really is an unfortunate choice for Russia and do … Continue reading →

Posted in russia | 6 Comments