Month: June 2013

Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#103 :: 7 June 2013

JRL Tables of Contents, Russian News
Map of Russia

Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#103 :: 7 June 2013 E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net A project of the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES) at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs: www.ieres.org JRL homepage: www.russialist.org JRL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support JRL: http://russialist.org/funding.php POLITICS 1. BBC Monitoring: Putin announces end of marriage on Russian TV. […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , ,

Nearly One Russian in Four Now Wants to Move Abroad, Survey Finds

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Population Disaster, Demographics
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, June 7, 2013) Twenty-two percent of Russians say they would like to move to a foreign country to live and work, up from only 13 percent in 2009, and an indication that the deteriorating political situation in Russia is forcing not only high profile figures like Gari Kasparov but many others as […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

Moscow Slams Western Support for Syria Opposition

Syria
Syria Map

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, June 7, 2013) Western support for Syria’s armed opposition will only fuel violence in the war-torn country, Russia’s foreign minister insisted on Friday. “We are disturbed by statements coming from leaders of the so-called Free Syrian Army as well as from some US representatives, to the effect that support for the armed opposition will continue in […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , ,

U.S. shields won’t stop Russia’s new missiles from reaching their targets – Russian Deputy Premier

Nuclear, Missile Defense, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Missile Defense Launch file photo

(Interfax – June 7, 2013) U.S. missile defense shields will not be able to stop Russia’s new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which was test launched successfully on June 6, from reaching its target, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in his lecture as part of the Civil University project on Friday. “We closely watched last night’s events. They were […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

Ukrainians have trust in church, media, army – poll

Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
File Photo of Ukrainians with Ukrainian Flag in Public Square Near Tower with Golden Dome

(Interfax – KYIV, June 6, 2013) Only three social institutes – the Church, the media and the Armed Forces – enjoy confidence of Ukrainians, according to the survey done by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Center. Some 31.7% trust the Church fully, 38.4% are inclined to trust, 10.6% are not inclined, and 9.3% have no confidence […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

Revised Russian ‘Gay Propaganda’ Ban To Be Put To Key Vote On 11 June

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Russian Duma Building

(RIA Novosti – June 6, 2013) A controversial piece of Russian legislation banning the promotion of homosexuality among children has undergone significant changes since it won preliminary approval in January and is to be put to its key second reading in parliament on 11 June, Russian news agencies reported on 6 June, quoting senior MPs involved in pushing for the […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

More than one in five Russians want to emigrate – poll

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Population Disaster, Demographics
Map of Russia

(Interfax – June 6, 2013) The share of Russian citizens who would like to emigrate has risen to 22 per cent, up from 13 per cent in 2009, private-owned Russian news agency Interfax reported on 6 June, quoting the latest Levada Centre opinion poll. Among students, the figure reaches 45 per cent. The poll was conducted on 23-27 May among […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

Russian rights veterans issue statement in support of ‘foreign agent’ NGOs

Human Rights, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Interfax – Moscow, June 6, 2013) A number of Russian rights activists have stood up for the Golos NGO and other organizations that have been labelled foreign agents, saying that their work should not be labelled political. “Accusations about NGOs taking part in political activities strikes out citizens’ constitutional rights,” reads Rights Council statement released in Moscow on Thursday (6 […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

Sobyanin has more supporters than opponents amongst Muscovites – poll

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Aerial View of Moscow From Beyond Stadium, file photo

(Interfax – MOSCOW, June 6, 2013) The Moscow mayor’s rating has grown over the past few months, sociologists said. Thirty percent of Muscovites support Sergei Sobyanin at present. The number was 26% in March, shows a Superjob.ru portal survey done on May 17-20 amongst 2,000 economically active respondents. Men (31%) are more inclined to approve of the mayor’s work than […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

Putin wants information about ministries’ work to be made public

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin Sitting at Desk

(Interfax – MOSCOW, June 7, 2013) The ministries and executive agencies’ work and its results must be made open to the public, said President Vladimir Putin. The government presented a plan to Putin in the Kremlin on Friday for implementing the presidential decrees passed in May 2012, followed by Putin’s remarks. “A concrete and clear picture must be drawn to […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , ,

Putin Slams Ministers’ 5-Year Plans

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, June 7, 2013) ­ Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he was not satisfied with the quality and contents of plans compiled by Russian ministers to show what they intend to do within the next five years in order to fulfill the tasks set by the president in May 2012. On May 7, 2012, the […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

Russians React With Humor To Putin’s Divorce Announcement

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladimir Putin and Lydumila Putin file photo

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – June 7, 2013) Within hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila announced their divorce on state television on June 6, jokes about their separation became a big hit on social media, particularly on the microblogging site Twitter. RFE/RL’s Central Newsroom has compiled a selection of some of the more notable tweets and comments. […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , ,

Putin’s spokesman Peskov calls for treating president’s life with respect

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladimir Putin and Lydumila Putin file photo

(Interfax – MOSCOW, June 7, 2013) Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov has called for treating the president’s private life with respect and not intruding into it. Peskov refrained from answering Interfax how Vladimir and Lyudmila Putin’s daughters had taken the news about their divorce. “Anything that concerns Vladimir Putin’s private life concerns only him, and he has […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Court Extends Detentions as Bolotnoye Trial Begins

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow TImes – themoscowtimes.com – Yekaterina Kravtsova – June 7, 2013) The trial against 12 people charged with violence against police and participation in alleged mass riots in the so-called Bolotnoye case ­ a case observers say is one of the largest politically motivated trials in recent history ­ opened at the Zamoskvoretsky District Court on Thursday. More than 400 […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , ,

Can Alexey Kudrin Be The Next Russian Prime Minister?

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Kudrin file photo

(Institute of Modern Russia – imrussia.org – Donald N. Jensen – June 6, 2013) As Russia’s economy slows, corruption worsens, and current Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev’s political stature shrinks, former finance minister Alexei Kudrin’s name is mentioned more and more frequently as a potential candidate for Russia’s next prime minister. However, Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , ,

Russia Wants Tourism, Not Terrorism, for Embattled Caucasus

Chechnya, Dagestan, North Caucasus
Map of Dagestan, Georgia and Environs

(Voice of America – James Brooke – June 6, 2013) A foreign correspondent who has reported from five continents, Brooke, known universally as Jim, is the Voice of America bureau chief for Russia and former Soviet Union countries. From his base in Moscow, Jim roams Russia and Russia’s southern neighbors. Car bombs and shootings make Dagestan the leader in political […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

FSB cooperates with FBI, CIA in Boston terror attack investigation – Bortnikov

Spies, Spy Allegations, Terrorism, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Boston Bombings Aftermath with Ambulance and Security Personnel

(Interfax – KAZAN, June 6, 2013) The Federal Security Service is cooperating with the U.S. security services in the investigation of the Boston terror attack, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov said. “We are cooperating very actively with our FBI and CIA colleagues, responding to their requests and assisting in the arrangement of necessary procedures on the Russian territory,” he said on […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

Russia Invests in American Cows

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Cattle Grazing

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – June 7, 2013 – Anatoly Medetsky) The right species of foreign agent can get incentives to prosper and propagate in Russia, as shown by a deal announced Thursday. A unit of state-controlled lender Sberbank said it agreed to loan 1 billion rubles ($33 million) to an agricultural company for expanding its herd of U.S. bovines. […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

Moscow wants clarity from Turkey on detention of militants with sarin – Lavrov

Syria, Turkey
Sergei Lavrov file photo

(Interfax – PIONERSKY, Kaliningrad region, June 6, 2013) Turkey has still not clarified reports that militants possessing sarin were detained on its territory some time ago, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. “I would like to seize this opportunity to remind you that we still expect full information from our Turkish partners regarding reports, which came about a week ago, […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , ,

RIA Novosti: UN ‘Welcomes’ Russian Peacekeepers in Golan Heights

Israel, Gaza, Hamas, Palestine, Middle East, North Africa, Military, Syria, United Nations
Partial Map of Portions of Northern Israel, Golan Heights, Syria, Lebanon

(RIA Novosti – New York, June 7, 2013) ­ The United Nations would welcome Russian peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, UN spokesman Farhan Haq told RIA Novosti on Friday. “The UN welcomes any contribution by the world community to peacemaking efforts in the Golan Heights, and the UNDOF [UN Disengagement Observer Force] is very important for the maintenance of peace […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

Turkey won’t have ‘Arab spring’ – Senator Shnyakin

Europe, EU, Middle East, North Africa
Turkey map

(Interfax – MOSCOW, June 6, 2013) Valery Shnyakin, military expert and deputy head of the Federation Council committee on international affairs, believes the situation with protests in Turkey will gradually stabilize and will not follow the “Arab spring” scenario. “Turkey is a special country in the Arab world. It’s a secular and democratic state and I think Prime Minister Erdogan […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

Tbilisi says supplies of Georgian wine to Russia to resume next week

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Georgia
Tblisi, Georgia, File Photo with Building with Tower on Hillside and City Buildings in Valley in Distance

(Interfax – TBILISI, June 6, 2013) A first batch of Georgian wine will be sent to Russia next week, Head of the National Wine Agency of the Georgia Agriculture Ministry, Levan Davitashvili, said at a briefing on Thursday. “Two Georgian wine enterprises have already received Russian excise stamps and plan to begin supplying their products to Russia next week,” Davitashvili […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

Lyudmila Putina Once Called Her Husband a Vampire

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladimir Putin and Lydumila Putin file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – June 7, 2013) Lyudmila Putina once called President Vladimir Putin a vampire, while he in turn has suggested that anyone who could put up with her for three weeks was heroic and deserved a monument. These and other observations about the private family life of the Putins were detailed in a 2001 book that provided […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

On Intolerance to “Others”: An Ideological Portrait of Modern Russia

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Institute of Modern Russia – imrussia.org – Boris Bruk – June 3, 2013) The principal idea that consolidates different parts of Russian society is xenophobia and intolerance to “others.” Such, at least, was the conclusion of a new study on Russia’s “ideological portrait.” IMR Advisor Boris Bruk, who has analyzed the study, is skeptical about predictions of a “fascist” future […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

WWF Identifies Threatened Areas

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Map of Russia

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – June 6, 2013) Ten ecologically pristine zones in Russia are at risk of becoming polluted, according to a report that the World Wildlife Fund released Wednesday, as the nation celebrates ecologist day. Krasnodar, Irkutsk and Kamchatka regions lead the list with two endangered areas each. The paper mill at Baikalsk on Lake Baikal is the […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , ,

Science For Others

Science, Technology, Engineering
Adaptions of Image from Livermore.gov of Element 118 Atoms

(Institute of Modern Russia – imrussia.org – Olga Khvostunova – June 4, 2013) The system of Russian science is deteriorating, despite the government’s claims that the country is modernizing. This April, Thomson Reuters published a report revealing that Russia is absent from leadership groups in the 100 top-ranked specialties in the sciences and social sciences. Another report, produced by the […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , ,

Bloggers Claim Photos Show Yakunin Mansion

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Bratersky – June 4, 2013 – photo here: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/bloggers-claim-photos-show-yakunin-mansion/480966.html) Bloggers have published pictures of a luxury mansion, believed to be owned by Vladimir Yakunin, the head of Russian Railways and powerful member of President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. The three-story marble-clad mansion, occupying 70 hectares of land near the Moscow suburb of Domodedovo, was […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Putin Boosts Russian Role in Global War on Drugs

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas
Russian Drug Den File Photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – June 6, 2013) In an effort to enhance its image as a global player in combatting drug flows, Moscow welcomed 120 top anti-drug officials from around the world on Wednesday to discuss possibilities for cooperation in curbing an issue responsible for an estimated 200,000 deaths annually. Addressing participants at the International Drug […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Kasparov ‘Refrains’ From Returning to Russia Over Bolotnoye Case Fears

Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Older File Photo of Garry Kasparov

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Natalya Krainova – June 6, 2013) Garry Kasparov, the world chess champion-turned-political-opposition-stalwart, told a news conference in Geneva that he would not return to Russia for fear of criminal prosecution for his political activities, his website reported Wednesday. Kasparov’s announcement comes amid fears of a new wave of emigration of opposition-minded intellectuals, a fear intensified […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Memorial wants independent evaluation of May 6, 2012 events in Bolotnaya Square

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Interfax – MOSCOW, June 6, 2013) The human rights center Memorial has called for an independent legal evaluation of the events that occurred in the Moscow Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012 and the trial of the people charged in the riots, which is now beginning. “We believe it is extremely important to conduct an independent legal evaluation of the […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , ,

In Russia, World Environment Day Marred By Pressure On Green Groups

Environment, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's
Siberian Natural Scenery, with River, Trees, Hills

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Lyubov Chizhova and  Claire Bigg – June 5, 2013) On June 5, “green-minded” people around the planet are marking World Environment Day, created in 1972 to raise awareness about the need to protect nature. But in Russia, the mood among ecologists is sour. Russia established its own Ecologist Day, also held on June 5, six years […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

About 20 environmental NGOs named as ‘foreign agents’

Environment, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's
File Photo of Polar Bear on Ice and Snow with Water Nearby

(Interfax – June 5, 2013) Around 20 Russian major environmental non-governmental organizations (NGO) have received prosecutors’ requests to register as foreign agents. “Around 20 environmental organizations have received prosecutors’ requests. Those who sound familiar, who comprise the environmental movement and who are not of just regional importance have received the requests,” Director of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

Golos received money from Switzerland, Norway – Justice Ministry

Europe, EU, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Interfax – MOSCOW. June 5, 2013) Rosfinmonitoring is monitoring the receipt by Russian NGOs of funding from abroad and reports to the Justice Ministry on a monthly basis, Justice Ministry official Tatyana Vagina said. Rosfinmonitoring provides information to the Justice Ministry for internal use, Vagina said. “If an NGO does not provide information on funding received from abroad despite information […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

The art of remaining Moscow mayor

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Sobyanin file photo

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – David Burghardt – June 6, 2013) Sergei Sobyanin made an unexpected move by resigning as the Moscow mayor and instigating snap elections for September in order to secure the next five years in City Hall. In actuality, Sobyanin holds a solid popularity rating of well over 50 percent among Muscovites, has done a lot to […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

Medvedev sticks to his viewpoint on daylight saving time

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Analog Clock Artist's Rendition

(Interfax – MOSCOW, June 5, 2013) Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says his viewpoint on the daylight saving time remains unchanged. “You know my opinion about daylight saving time; there has been no change,” he told the Open Government on Wednesday. “I think everyone must bear one’s responsibility: experts are responsible for validating their standpoint. And the government is responsible […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , ,

Russian Scholars Wary After Top Economist Flees Country

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Education, Academia, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Guriev file photo

(Howard Amos, RIA Novosti, MOSCOW, June 6, 2013) ­ When investigators summoned prominent Russian economist Sergei Guriev for questioning in February, his first thought was that his professional work could be paralyzed if they confiscated his computers and documents. “With other experts, they took everything away so they could not function,” Guriev told RIA Novosti by telephone from Paris, where […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Almost Half of Russian Students Dream of Emigrating – Poll

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Education, Academia, Population Disaster, Demographics
Moscow State University

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, June 6, 2013) ­ Nearly half of Russian students (45 percent) and some 38 percent of businessmen would like to leave Russia, according to a survey by the Levada Center independent pollster published on Thursday. A total of 22 percent of all respondents in the poll want to emigrate from Russia to other countries, not including […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , ,

Russia Dwarfs West in Intolerance of Gays – Survey

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(RIA Novosti – WASHINGTON, June 5, 2013) ­ Russians are dramatically less tolerant of homosexuality than are people in eastern and western Europe or North America and that intolerance has risen rapidly in recent years, according to a new global survey by the US-based Pew Research Center. Of the 996 Russian adults surveyed over a two week period in March, […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , ,

Government Proposes New Grounds for NGO Raids

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – June 5, 2013) The government’s legislative commission has approved a draft amendment giving the authorities additional grounds on which to carry out unscheduled inspections of nongovernmental groups that violate Russian law, the Justice Ministry said Tuesday. According to the draft amendment, checks can be undertaken if violations are not fixed within time limits set by […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Soft targets

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Guriev file photo

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Natalia Antonova – June 3, 2013) The departure of Sergei Guriev is ultimately an illustration of what happens when powerful institutions steadily lean toward the irrational. To recap, Guriev is an economist who co-authored a report that criticized the treatment of imprisoned tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. When Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was president in 2008-2012, Guriev […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

In Moscow Election, The Fix Is In — Or Is It?

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Aerial View of Moscow From Beyond Stadium, file photo

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Brian Whitmore – June 4, 2013) It’s pretty obvious why Sergei Sobyanin announced today that he will resign as Moscow mayor and run in a snap election in September. What isn’t so clear is whether the gambit will pay off. Appointed in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev and rubber-stamped by the Moscow City Duma, Sobyanin could […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,

Sobyanin Calls for Early Mayoral Vote

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Sobyanin file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Jonathan Earle – June 5, 2013) Mayor Sergei Sobyanin will ask President Vladimir Putin to declare early mayoral elections, the first in Moscow since 2003, in a move analysts said would help ensure Sobyanin’s election in September amid a worsening political climate for the mayor. Sobyanin said his decision was made in the spirit of […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

WTO policy on GMO food fuels fears in Russia

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Health, Epidemics, Substance Abuse
Field of Grain file photo

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Marina Obrazkova, special to RBTH – June 5, 2013) With GMO products paving their way into Russia, people become concerned with the trend. While some support GMO products, others express their doubts. Russia is gradually starting to fulfil its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). One of these obligations […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Arrest of Makhachkala Mayor Seen as Sign of Changing Tide

Chechnya, Dagestan, North Caucasus, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights
Map of Dagestan, Georgia and Environs

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – June 4, 2013) As the fallout from the arrest of the leader of Dagestan’s capital continued on Monday, experts agreed that the event would likely send tremors throughout all of Russia. Makhachkala Mayor Said Amirov, 59, was detained Saturday with the help of special forces sent by Moscow, who blocked all of […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , , , ,

Windows on Eurasia: Russia’s Future Belongs Not to the Opposition but to the Stalinized Young, Pavlova Says

Children, Adoptions, Orphans, History, Soviet Union, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, June 5, 2013) The supporters of Stalin and those who want to continue his political approach have in fact “triumphed” in today’s Russia, and these people consist not of the older generation but of the young who have grown up in the course of the re-Stalinization of the country during the last […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Smoking Ban Met With Skepticism

Health, Epidemics, Substance Abuse
No Smoking Symbol

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Yekaterina Kravtsova – June 5, 2013) The new anti-smoking law that came into force last week and is seen by the government as a measure to fight population decline has been met more with skepticism than strict implementation. The measures that took effect on June 1 are the first phase in a large-scale program designed […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , ,

Russians More Optimistic About Future Than Ever, Survey Says

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Crowd of Russians with One Waving Russian Flag

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, June 4, 2103) ­ Russians are now happier than ever with their lives, according to a new poll released on Tuesday by the state-run public-opinion researcher, VTsIOM. The index of the population’s social optimism has risen sharply from 67 in early spring to 74, a record high since the poll was started in 2005, beating the […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , ,

Russian poll shows worsening entrepreneurial climate

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Cash, Calculator, Pen

(Interfax – June 3, 2013) In the past four years Russians have taken a more negative view of the conditions for the development of private enterprise in their city, town or village, Interfax news agency quoted VTsIOM pollster as saying on 3 June. While in 2009 the situation was regarded as bad by 44 per cent of the people polled, […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , ,

Ignatiev Sees Russian Easing Hindered by Economy’s Crosscurrents

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Scott Rose -June 5, 2013) Russia’s central bank faces a “very difficult choice” when it meets next week to review interest rates as conflicting economic data undermine the case for monetary stimulus, outgoing Chairman Sergey Ignatiev said. “The decision won’t be simple because the situation in the economy isn’t that simple,” Ignatiev, who steps down as […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , ,

Russian Capital Flight Continues Unabated – Central Banker

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(RIA Novosti -ST. PETERSBURG, June 5, 2013) ­ Russian capital flight remains rampant, with no signs of slowing down, Central Bank chief Sergei Ignatyev said on Wednesday. “Unfortunately, capital outflow remains very high, I dare say. No fall in this trend can be seen,” Ignatyev said. He made headlines in February when he claimed a small group of well-connected individuals […]

» Read more
Leave a comment , , , , , ,
1 … 5 6 7 8