By John Helmer in Moscow A blindfold has been tied over the whereabouts of Russian member of parliament and steelmaker, Vadim Varshavsky, as estimates of his liabilities multiply, and questions are raised of how his borrowings were spent, and where the money is now. The Rostov Electrometallurgical Works (REMZ), the newest of the mills of […]

by John Helmer - Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
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By John Helmer in Moscow Russia’s industrial and mining sectors are so thoroughly dominated by the handful of proprietors known as oligarchs, the only time that federal government regulators dare to interfere with their operations by attempting to enforce the law is when the regulators get their cue from a senior government official. And the […]

by John Helmer - Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
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By John Helmer in Moscow Despite sinking Russian consumer incomes, the banana is holding firm, enabling the St. Petersburg-based Joint Fruit Company (JFC), to increase its share of sales at the expense of its domestic rivals. With turnover of $500 million in 2007 (the latest figure JFC has released), JFC says there has been no […]

by John Helmer - Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
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