• Russian Capital Outflow Increased By 30 Percent Last Week Amid Ruble Crisis

    The total outflow of means from funds invested in Russian assets increased to $91.8 million during the week beginning January 14th. According to Interfax, based on data provided by the Emerging Portfolio Fund Research (EPFR) analysts, last week investors withdrew $70 million from Russian investments—an outflow of means increased by 30%.

    Sberbank CIB estimates the total net cash outflow from funds investing only in shares of the Russian Federation also increased to $42.1 million from January 14 …

  • Authorities in Moscow reject application for anti-Kadyrov rally

    City authorities in Moscow have rejected an application submitted by the liberal Yabloko party to hold a public rally to call for the removal of Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic.

    Radio Free Europe reported that Yabloko instead plans to hold a rotating one-person picket on January 26th in front of President Putin’s administration building, as public demonstrations in Russia of more than one person must be approved by the authorities. Russian opposition groups report that it is …

  • Russian Army to Add Four New Divisions

    The Russian Defense Ministry announced a significant expansion of staff of their ground forces "in response to the increasing intensity of the NATO countries’ training." There are currently no Russian ground troops in Crimea.

    The Russian Federation ground forces will be strengthened by combining existing sections of the Army into four new divisions, said the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, January 22nd. "In 2016, three divisions will be formed in the Western territory and one in the …

  • Gazprom: Ukraine's Transit Fine Is an Attempt to Exert Pressure

    Gazprom claimed that the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) has no authority to regulate the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. This was reported by Interfax, citing the press service of Gazprom on Friday, January 22nd. The Russian gas giant said that the decision of the AMCU to impose a $3.47 billion fine upon Gazprom was an "attempt to exert pressure."

    "This arouses extreme surprise, because Gazprom does not carry out any business activities on the territory of Ukraine by passing …

  • Russian Court to Consider Extending Natalia Sharina's House Arrest

    The Russian investigative committee is asking the court to extend the house arrest of the Director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow, Natalia Sharina, for another three months, her lawyer Ivan Pavlov reported.

    "On January 27th, the Presnensky Court of Moscow will consider the extension of the house arrest of Natalia Sharina. The investigative committee asked the court to extend this period for another three months," Pavlov said. According to him, the court will begin hearings …