Category Archives: Business and Economy

What to Make of Putin’s Anti-Offshore Crusade

Posted on January 22, 2012 by

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

Strategic Sectors Law Update – Second Meeting of 2011

Posted on July 21, 2011 by

On July 20, 2011, the Commission on Foreign Investments met for the second time this year and reviewed 13 applications from foreign investors wishing to pursue business projects in Russia. Deals Reviewed Total S.A.–20.5%–>OAO “Yamal LNG” This is part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Business and Economy, economics, Foreign direct investment, foreign investment, Gazprom, Gazprombank, Law, legal update, legislation, Novatek, offshore, oligarchs, russia, Russian economy, strategic industries, Timchenko

Tip of the Spear – Can Big Business Battle Corruption in Russia?

Posted on March 26, 2011 by

Last year, there was a minor stir in the Russian and Western press when major European/American businesses and business associations involved in Russia signed an integrity pact pledging not to pay bribes in that country.  Many were skeptical at the … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-corruption legislation, bribery, bureaucracy, Business, Business and Economy, compliance, corruption, fcpa, Foreign direct investment, foreign investment, RECA

Truth or Consequences – IKEA as a Case Study of Russia’s Miserable Investment Climate

Posted on October 8, 2010 by

Earlier this year I wrote about IKEA’s corruption problems in Russia.  Two senior managers were fired after Swedish media reported that the managers had approved a bribe payment by their general contractor in order to obtain electricity service for a … Continue reading →

Posted in bribery, bribes, bureaucracy, Business, Business and Economy, corruption, Economic development, Foreign direct investment, foreign investment, IKEA, officials, russia, Russian economy | 3 Comments

What’s Wrong with Russia – Part I – Infrastructure

Posted on September 16, 2010 by

[Note: this the first in a series of posts covering what are, in my opinion, the most significant examples of 'what is wrong with Russia]. I’m not starting with the subject of infrastructure because it is necessarily the most significant … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Business and Economy, corruption, Economic development, economics, Foreign direct investment, foreign investment, Government of Russia, infrastructure, russia, Russian economy | 9 Comments