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Russia and the internet
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 29 Mar 2021

On March 10 Russia slowed down Twitter for several hours. The aim was to penalize Twitter for failing to remove prohibited content. Putin is keenly alive to the importance of controlling the media. Information warfare is being used more and more by governments, and the keyboard is apparently migh...

4 Ukrainian soldiers killed fighting
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 29 Mar 2021

On March 27 Ukraine annonced the deaths of the servicemen and that several more were wounded. There was shelling by separatists that killed the soldiers. 19 soldiers have been killed in 2021. Zelensky said he wanted the conflict to be de-escalated. Until now the ceasefire signed in July 2020 has ...

Flights from Russia to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan resume
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 28 Mar 2021

On March 27 it was announced that flights between the three countries shall restart on April 1, 2021. This will delight migrant workers from Central Asia who have been reduced to absolute poverty for the last 12 months. Flights will be less frequent than before the pandemic. They will start with ...

Russian personal debt at an all time high
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 27 Mar 2021

The percentage of personal income that Russians are spending repaying their debts is at its highest ever level. The Central Bank of Russia published this datum on March 26. The everage debt burden rose to 11.7% of a person's income. The debt burden has been growing for years. The pandemic is the ...

Russia to strengthen links with Myanmar
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 27 Mar 2021

On March 26 the Russian deputy defense minister visited Myanmar and expressed his country's wish to increase trade and cooperation. He was meeting the Mynmarese Army's commander in chief. Russia sells significant quantities of arms to Myanmar.At the UN, Russia has voted against any criticism of M...

Russian rocket launches UK telecomms into space
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 26 Mar 2021

On March 25 a rocket took off from the Vostochny cosmodrome in the Russian Far East bearing 36 British satellites for phone and internet connections. OneWeb is a UK company seeking to finish a group of low orbit satellites to improve broadband worldwide.The company is striving to complete the pro...

Russian public spending hits post Soviet record high
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 25 Mar 2021

On March 23 data was published showing that in 2020 public spending was at its highest in real terms since the end of the USSR. The government spent more to negate the impact of coronavirus.If you consider regional spending as well as federal spending as well as off budget spending by government ...

Russia to trade carbon credits
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 24 Mar 2021

On March 23 Moscow announced that it is setting up a digital platform to collate satellite and drone images and data about forests in the Russian Far East with a view to selling them on a carbon offsetting market. The system is called ''Lesvostok.rf'' which means ''forest east.'' It will be launc...

Russian oil sales to US overtake Saudi's
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 24 Mar 2021

On March 24 Bloomberg noted that in 2020 Russian oil shipments to the United States outstripped Saudi sales for the first time.US oil purchases from Russia make a mockery of US concern about the EU buying too much gas from Russia.Russia is now the third biggest oil exporter to the US. Russian oil...

Telegram gains USD 1 billion. RDIF among investors
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 24 Mar 2021

On March 23 the messaging app announced that it has sold bonds to foreign investors. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is among the buyers. Telegram which is based in Dubai is owned by Pavel Durov who also set up VKontakte. Durov says he wants the investment to allow Telegram to expand in...

Essential CIS Politics: March 2021
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 24 Mar 2021

* Russia’s economy continues to grow, and data shows that 2020 was better than expected. * FixPrice’s IPO in London has been a roaring success. * Ukraine is nationalizing Motor Sich, which will upset China. * Some EU countries are buying Sputnik V. * The Kyrgyz president has been ...

Ford to make first electric vehicles in Russia
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 23 Mar 2021

On March 22 Kommersant reported that the US carmaker will become the first company to produce electric vehicles in Russia. The company will be in partnership with a Russian company called Sollers. The Ford Transit will have an electric version made in Tatarstan from 2022.Sollers anticipated that ...

RUB falls due to row with the US
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 23 Mar 2021

On March 23 the RUB fell 2%. At one point it touched 73.6 to the USD. It fell to 90.6 to the EUR but then climbed. There has been 5% fall in 7 days. Biden's statement that Putin is a killer has spooked the markets. There is a risk of even more US sanctions.Oil prices are down slightly over the pa...

Ukraine sanctions its ex- president
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 22 Mar 2021

On March 19 Kyiv sanctioned Viktor Yanukovych and the former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and 23 others. The National Security and Defense Council drew up the list.Serhiy Kurchenko and head of the Russian administration in Crimea is on the list. Companies owned by Vitaliy Lupeto have been sanctio...

Bulgaria tells Russia to cease spying
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 21 Mar 2021

On March 20 the Bulgarian Prime Minister told Russia to refrain from espionage. On March 19 Bulgaria said it had arrested 6 Bulgarians who were spying for Russia. However, Sofia has not decided to expel any Russian diplomats this time which is what it has done several times over the past 2 years....

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