The Moscow Times Top Stories

Georgia Plans Russian-Language Caucausus TV

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Moscow is unlikely to look kindly on a Georgian-run channel broadcasting to its southern republics, where it has fought two wars against Chechen separatists in the past 15 years and faces a growing threat from Islamist insurgents.

Failed Opel Deal Draws Ire From Putin

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

As thousands of auto workers protested at German factories, demanding independence from a company they said had betrayed them, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the about-face after months of talks would leave a bitter taste in some European mouths.

Justice Ministry Pushes U.S. on Extradition Rules

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Moscow and Washington agreed in 2007 to draft an agreement on the extradition of crime suspects, but further progress on the proposed deal is still pending.

Kudrin, Ulyukayev Take Eurobond Talk to London

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Officials say Russia could be ready for the sovereign eurobond issue by the end of February, but the timing of the actual placement will depend on the market, as will the maturity and the currencies — which could include euros as well as dollars.

Prokhorov's RusAl Stake Rises After Restructuring Talks

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

A source close to RusAl's shareholders confirmed that Prokhorov agreed to convert a total of $1.8 billion in debt into RusAl shares, which would raise his stake to 19.16 percent after an earlier share issue agreed upon in March.

Anti-Crisis Funds Moved From Banks to Industry

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said next week the Finance Ministry will submit changes to the 2009 budget to the State Duma that will redirect funds reserved for capitalizing banks through the use of government bonds and state guarantees.

Toys or Not Toys, but Still Art

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The "Not Toys?!" exhibit brings together fifty Russian artists and their toys as a way of telling the history of Russian art through the medium of the toy.

Service Sector Grows for 3rd Straight Month

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The headline PMI climbed to 54.3 in October — its highest since September 2008 — from 53.0 the previous month.

Spy Chief Warns of New Georgian Conflict

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Alexander Shlyakhturov, who in April took over command of the country's Chief Intelligence Agency — said the situation was strained and accused NATO of continuing to supply arms to Georgia.

CTC Sees Tough Times Ahead in 2010

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The company, which runs independent TV and production companies in Russia and other former Soviet states, said on Thursday that it expected advertising revenue in ruble terms to be 4 percent to 6 percent lower this year.

Brazilian Capoeira Dances Into Town

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Directed by Brazilians, the play �Brazilian Capoeira� shows the trajectory of this martial art developed by black slaves and disguised as a dance to fool the foremen of colonial Brazil.

Raw and Rude �Medea� Confronts, Tells Truth

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The notion of someone �liking� or �enjoying� Kama Ginkas� new play seems absurd, because the truths that it tackles are true, regardless of our reaction to them.

Bulgaria Warns on Balkan Pipeline

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

But the new center-right cabinet has put on review Bulgaria�s commitments to Russian-backed energy projects to see whether they matched national interests and were environmentally friendly.

LUKoil Expands Trading Into Asia

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The company, which just started exporting naphtha this year, has so far shipped out 120,000 metric tons of the petrochemical feedstock to Asia since January.

MTS Reaches Debt Restructuring Deal

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The company said the new terms provided for lower interest, longer maturity and a conversion of a significant part of the 300 million euro loan into rubles.

Gazprom Finds Gas in Venezuela

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The country is awaiting results from drilling by Inpex and additional tests to decide how to develop the gas reserves, Venezuela's oil and gas minister said.

Belarus Bans Import of Russian Pork

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The move was is intended to protect consumers from African swine fever, a spokeswoman for the country�s Agriculture Ministry said Wednesday.

Georgian Minister Returns Russian Passport

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Grigol Vashadze held dual Russian and Georgian citizenship, a fact that did not go unnoticed in Tbilisi when President Mikheil Saakashvili appointed him as foreign minister in the wake of the war with Russia.

Gorbachev Says He Averted War in �89

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

When asked by a reporter why he did not use force to halt the 1989 demonstrations that preceded the Berlin Wall's fall, Gorbachev said Tuesday that it would have sparked a catastrophic set of events and even a world war.

Zarubezhneft Inks Oil Deals With Cuba

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The company signed up with state-owned Cuba Petroleos for four almost contiguous blocks in the Gulf of Mexico just east of Cuba�s most prolific oil field in Varadero.

Government May Sell Less Debt

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The government is planning its first international debt sale since the 1998 default to help plug the country�s first budget gap in a decade.

Court Confirms 2 Held in Markelov�s Killing

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The Basmanny District Court was expected on Thursday to rule on extending the detention of the two suspects in the killing of Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova.

Governors Told to Find Funds for Social Work

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

President Medvedev on Tuesday said regional and municipal authorities could dig up the cash despite the economic crisis by reining in extravagant spending.

AvtoVAZ Gets Extra $2Bln in State Aid

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The government may allow Renault to take control of the struggling automaker as part of a broader development plan.

Buryatia Declares Flu Emergency

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The region has registered eight swine flu deaths, more than half of the dozen swine flu deaths registered across the country.