The Moscow Times

Market Matters: Struggling Stocks Spur New Record Oil Prices
Oil hit another record of just under $143 as global stocks tumbled last week, with the Dow briefly dipping into bear market territory as investors sought safety in gold, government debt and the Swiss franc.

News

AIDS Treatment Hard to Get Behind Bars
By Svetlana Osadchuk / Staff Writer Facing embezzlement and tax evasion charges, former Yukos executive Vasily Aleksanyan claims that he was deliberately denied medical treatment for AIDS while in detention as punishment for not testifying against his bosses, Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev.

Lavrov Says Russia Won't Back Down
By Nikolaus von Twickel / Staff Writer Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that the country would not soften its stance in major international disputes, slamming the Western position on Kosovo, NATO activities and the behavior of the British Council as outside international law.

Belarus Foils Ring Smuggling Parrots
Reuters Border guards in Belarus said Wednesday that they had foiled an attempt to smuggle 277 parrots into the former Soviet state -- aboard a bicycle.

Thain Says Russia Not Immune
By Max Delany / Staff Writer Amid the financial blizzard that swept through global markets this week, Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain brought a sobering message to Moscow on Wednesday, warning that the Russian economy was not immune to the crisis.

Winter Hits Hard This Year in Central Asia
By Roman Kozhevnikov / Reuters With no heating and three hours of electricity per day, Malokhat Atayeva is struggling to survive the coldest winter in three decades in her small town in Tajikistan.

Safe From Seizure, Works Go to Britain
By Jill Lawless / The Associated Press Works by Matisse, Van Gogh, Cezanne and other masterpieces from Russian museums are finally hanging in a London gallery after high-level reassurances and a last-minute legal change eased Moscow's fears that the paintings could be seized in legal action if they traveled to Britain.

Tanks to Make Victory Day Return
Combined Reports Tanks and missiles will rumble across Red Square during the May 9 Victory Day parade for the first time in 18 years, as Russia asserts its military might at the close of Vladimir Putin's presidency.

Human Rights Activists Going to Court Over British Council
Reuters Human rights campaigners are suing the government for closing down the British Council's regional offices, one of the activists said Wednesday.

Zhirinovsky Engages in Street Theater
By Kevin O'Flynn / Staff Writer In a protest in front of the British Embassy, the LDPR leader charged the country with most of the world's ills.

Troubles Increase for Kasyanov
By David Nowak / Staff Writer Nizhny Novgorod region authorities have found problems with almost 50,000 signatures gathered there in support of former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov's presidential bid, an election official said Wednesday, Gazeta.ru reported.

Zyuganov Says Not Pulling Out of Race
By Natalya Krainova / Staff Writer Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov on Wednesday denied reports that he was pulling out of the March 2 presidential election over the lack of media coverage his campaign is receiving, despite comments from party officials that the option was being considered.

Business

Exporters Selling Fuel at Home
Reuters Some of the country's largest fuel exporters are redirecting volumes to the domestic market in a rush to cash in on high prices at home while recession fears drive a downturn on international oil markets.

Norilsk to Elect New Board in April
Bloomberg Norilsk Nickel, the mining company that may be acquired by United Company RusAl, called an extraordinary shareholders' meeting to elect a new board.

Eventica Rebrands London Forum
The Moscow Times The organizers of the Russian Economic Forum said Wednesday that they were rebranding the London-based event in an apparent attempt to rekindle interest in the annual gathering that saw a last-minute pullout of participants last year.

Apple Pitches for a Bigger Russia Slice
By Tai Adelaja / Staff Writer Computer giant Apple made its first direct pitch to Russian consumers Wednesday, showcasing a line of new products in Moscow.

Gas Transit Fee Called Too Low
Reuters Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko suggested on Wednesday that the price Russia pays to transit gas through Ukrainian territory to Europe was too low and called for talks with Moscow.

Worries Over Golden Telecom Deal
Reuters VimpelCom, the county's second-largest cell phone operator, is hoping turbulent markets will not threaten a $4.3 billion planned acquisition of fixed-line compatriot Golden Telecom, the company's CEO said Wednesday.

Russian Markets Drop by 4% in 7th Straight Day of Losses
Bloomberg Russian stocks sank for a seventh day on concern that a weakening economic outlook in the United States will hurt demand for metals and energy. Oil producers Surgutneftegaz and Tatneft led the declines as crude dropped below $88 per barrel.

RusAl IPO Seen Likely Moving to Hong Kong
Combined Reports United Company RusAl is considering moving its initial public offering from London to Hong Kong, a senior executive at billionaire Oleg Deripaska's holding company said.

Kudrin Says Gold Can Save the World
By Lynn Berry / The Associated Press Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said Wednesday that Russia and other countries with large gold and currency reserves could help the world economy weather the current crisis.

French Ease Freeze on CB Money
Reuters France has unfrozen one of the Central Bank's accounts in French commercial banks, frozen as part of a suit by Swiss trading firm Noga, a Russian financial source familiar with the situation said Wednesday.

Always a Dissident

The Lessons of 1968
By Boris Kagarlitsky Although the usual custom is to celebrate 50-year and not 40-year anniversaries, 1968 was such an important year that it would be a shame to postpone discussing it for another decade.

Business in Brief
Ivanov Criticizes GlonassOnexim's Nanotech FacilityCherkizovsky to Be ClosedSerbian Leaders to VisitNew Chelyabinsk RefineryIndustrial Output Up 6.3%RZD May Borrow $11BlnKM Invest LiquidationVTB to Expand AbroadGaz de France Eyes TGK-10Rosneft to Raise $2BlnSt. Pete Port Dispute EndedNaftogaz Wants More TimeCarrefour Store in Tyumen

Russia's Safe Haven
By James Beadle The benchmark RTS index has dropped 16 percent since peaking at 2339.79 on Jan. 14.

Icon: Tarkhun
By Maria Antonova Bright green, the color of the carbonated drink Tarkhun, was never exactly a natural food color, hence its wild popularity among kids in the Soviet Union.

A Bit of East and West
By Nathan Toohey / Staff Writer Mixture's self-stated aim is to provide exactly what its name suggests. The restaurant wants visitors to feel that, upon entering, they have embarked on a round-the-world journey, taking in all manner of familiar and unfamiliar experiences.

News in Brief
Medvedev Polls Over 80%NATO Invites Putin to MeetCease-Fire Line ShootoutMiddle East Peace HostU.S. Supports Kiev Bid

What to Do: Krusovice Musketyr Festival
By James Marson A winter beer festival celebrating Czech beer Krusovice Musketyr is running from Thursday to Feb. 9 at a number of restaurants. This beer, with a strong golden color and full body, is imported especially for the festival.

Hitting New Slopes
By James Marson / Staff Writer The rapidly growing resort of Bukovel in eastern Ukraine is seeking to challenge Europe's skiing monopoly.

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