By John Helmer, Moscow

There are only so many ways a Russian company can make its performance look better to the markets without resorting to magic tricks.
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by John Helmer - Friday, November 12th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow

Nord Gold, the Russian mining company owned by Alexei Mordashov, has run into a grave new legal challenge to one of its most valuable gold-mining operations in the West African Republic of Guinea. The bad news comes after the unexplained failure of Mordashov’s company to confirm that it has been approved by the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) to sell its shares on the London Stock Exchange.
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by John Helmer - Friday, November 12th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow

Negotiations between Surat Rough Diamond Sourcing Ltd (SRDSIL), one of the largest cutters and polishers of diamonds in the world, are under way with Alrosa and the Russian state stockpile agency Gokhran. And just a few days after they began in Moscow, the Indian move has triggered an unusual domestic protest. In a statement issued publicly, the Russian diamond manufacturers have announced their concern that SRDSIL may cut into the domestic supplies which the Russians are counting on from the state stockpile.
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by John Helmer - Thursday, November 11th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow

Metalloinvest, the steel and iron-ore holding controlled by Alisher Usmanov, has issued a press release summarizing what it claims are audited financial results for the six months to June 30. The good news has been timed, and also trimmed, to boost Usmanov’s attempt to find market demand and regulatory approval for an initial public offering; or for a takeover and reverse listing transaction with London-listed Vallar.
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by John Helmer - Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow

Sergei Generalov has once again proved to be the federal Transport Ministry’s Ninja, leaping out of his staid business-suit and spectacle disguise to toss his grappling-hook, and rescue the privatization of state-owned rail transport company, Transcontainer.
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by John Helmer - Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow

The Kremlin is thinking of bidding against Australia’s BHP Billiton (BHP) for control of Canada’s leading potash producer, Potash Corporation. But those promoting the bid in Moscow won’t say why they believe the Canadian government should agree to a takeover which the Russians admit they would ask Russia’s Control Commission for Foreign Investment to refuse, if the positions were reversed.
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by John Helmer - Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
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by John Helmer - Monday, November 8th, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow

If you’re wandering in the desert, and there isn’t enough water to go around, you need to be able to tell your friends at the well from your foes. The ancient Hebrew tribes found that circumcising their members was a particularly reliable device. They didn’t have to punch the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) toggle used in modern aircraft cockpits – they just pulled down their pants.
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by John Helmer - Sunday, November 7th, 2010
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by John Helmer - Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
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By John Helmer, Moscow

US statutes require the registration of American agents who are acting for foreign companies or foreign individuals in an attempt to influence US legislation, political debate, or government decision-making in favour of their clients’ interests. Camouflage and concealment are unlawful, and can verge on espionage in the minds of some US prosecutors.

Lobbying is generally legal, so long as the lobbying activities themselves – letter-writing, meeting officials, donations to political campaigns, etc. — are registered and regularly reported to the Foreign Agents Registration unit (FARA) at the US Department of Justice in Washington.
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by John Helmer - Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
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