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Articles by Irina Filatova
news
Moldova Asks Moscow to Reconsider Booze Ban
Moldova's prime minister on Wednesday asked Russia to join in talks about reversing Moscow's ban on imports of Moldovan wine.
news
Bach Becomes IOC Head Amid Sochi Olympics Controversy
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday elected German fencing champion Thomas Bach as its new president as tensions remain high around...
news
Report Sees Possible Economic Upturn
The Russian economy might see a slight pickup by the end of this year driven by expanding investment and a possible easing of monetary policy by the...
news
Syria and BRICS Mark Start of G20 Summit
A military strike in Syria would have a destructive effect on the global economy, sending oil prices up, China warned in a gesture of support to President...
news
Putin Doesn't Rule Out Support for Syria Strike
As the leaders of the world's major economies are flocking to St. Petersburg for the G20 summit, scheduled to begin Thursday, President Vladimir Putin...
news
Moscow Behind European Capitals in Terms of Life Quality
Despite the government's ongoing efforts to lure foreign investors to Moscow, the city remains behind most European capitals in terms of the quality...
news
Housing Affordability Remains Elusive
Despite reports of steadily increasing personal income, saving up to buy an apartment remains a major challenge for most Russians as housing here...
news
Uralkali Owner Wanted, Faces 10 Years in Prison
Billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, the largest shareholder of Russian potash giant Uralkali, has been placed on an international wanted list and faces up...
news
Belarus to Prosecute Uralkali Owner
The conflict around Uralkali's breakup with its Belarussian partner took another dramatic twist Thursday after Minsk announced their intention to open...
news
Uralkali Arrest Ratchets Up Moscow-Minsk Tension
The Russian Foreign Ministry warned Tuesday that detention of the chief executive of potash giant Uralkali in Minsk could cause Moscow's relations...
news
Road Project Brings Hope and Problems
The Kremlin's move to revive ambitious Luzhkov-era plan to build a gigantic circular highway 50 kilometers beyond the Moscow Ring Road is bringing...
news
Sberbank to Finance Commodity Trading
Two major traders on Thursday welcomed Sberbank as a new player in financing commodity supplies after the lender announced its plans to get on the...
news
Kremlin Aide Threatens End of Free Trade With Ukraine
Russia could annul a free trade regime with Ukraine and scrap joint projects in a number of industries if Kiev signs an association agreement with...
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Gorky Park Prepares for Another Radical Makeover
Groups of workers squatting on their haunches surrounded by piles of sand and broken tarmac is a common picture for downtown Moscow these days.
news
Russian Investors Flock to Virgin Islands After Cypriot Crisis
The British Virgin Islands accounted for 47 percent of total investments by Russian residents abroad in January through March.
news
Sovereign Funds to Finance Road
The Russian Direct Investment Fund could provide $1.8 billion for the project, and foreign sovereign funds will also take part.
news
Economic Growth Slows Again, Sparking Recession Fears
Russia has recorded another quarterly decline in its economic growth rate, fueling concerns about a possible recession and casting doubt on President...
news
Sobyanin Daughter's Apartment Triggers Controversy
A seven-story apartment complex on a quiet Moscow street just a five minute walk from the Cabinet building is widely known as the White House, not...
news
Onexim Mulls Buying Stake in Svyaznoy
Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov's Onexim Group is considering buying a 50 percent stake in cell phone retailer Svyaznoy in a deal that would allow Onexim...
news
Hungarian Trade Office Deal Probed
Investigators opened a criminal case into the purchase of a former building of the Hungarian trade office in downtown Moscow by the Regional Development...
news
37 Businessmen Challenge Kremlin by Openly Backing Navalny
More than 30 business owners and top executives have come together in support of opposition mayoral candidate Alexei Navalny in a country where the government...
news
TV Launch Prompts Shakeup at Izvestia
The newspaper Izvestia, one of the oldest brands in Russia's media industry, is facing its second significant reshuffle in two years following an announcement...
news
Expats Shun Housing Despite Lower Costs
Foreigners buying high-end apartments in Moscow have to pay the lowest associated costs compared with other world capitals, according to a survey released...
news
Owners of Movie Rights Have No Luck With New Anti-Piracy Law
Hours after a new law targeting online piracy went into effect last week, it became clear that it was having problems as claimant after claimant was...
news
Skolkovo Foundation to Get $15Bln in 2013-2020
Despite the controversy around the ongoing corruption probe into the Skolkovo Foundation, it will get over 500 billion rubles ($15 billion) in state...
news
IT Firms See Risks in State Regulation
A highly contested law allowing the courts to block online resources suspected of having pirated content came into force on Thursday amid claims...
news
Potash Giants End Alliance, Market in Turmoil
The breakdown of Uralkali's joint venture with Belaruskali has been called a "revolution" on the potash fertilizer market.
news
Sobyanin Plans Largest Park in Europe Amid Mayoral Race
As the mayoral race came into full swing, acting Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has promised that Moscow would get the largest city park in Europe.
news
Capital Inflow Slows Following Navalny Verdict
Foreign investors have been wary of purchasing Russian securities in the wake of the verdict against whistleblower Alexei Navalny, with capital inflow...
news
Moscow Ranked Second Most Costly City for Expats
A popular post that appeared in Russian social networks a while back is likely to hit home with anyone who has purchased substandard groceries in Moscow...
news
G20 Ministers Focus on Tax Evasion, Stimulus Measures
The fight against tax evasion by multinational corporations and measures to ensure recovery amid the global economic turbulence came into the limelight...
news
Navalny Sentence a Blow to Business
The Russian stock market reacted pessimistically Thursday following the ruling of a regional court that sentenced opposition leader Alexei Navalny to five...
news
Finance Ministry Wants to Limit Welfare Fund Use on Infrastructure Projects
The Finance Ministry on Wednesday criticized President Vladimir Putin's idea to use up to half of the $86.5 billion stored in the National Welfare...
news
Medvedev Seeks Higher Domestic Demand for Steel
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday pushed for boosting domestic demand for iron and steel amid the global economic turbulence and better protecting...
news
Expectations High for New Moscow One Year On
A little over a year after the territory of the city of Moscow more than doubled in size, real estate prices are stabilizing, and expectations for improving...
news
Snowden Calls Meeting at Sheremetyevo Airport
Former U.S. intelligence analyst Edward Snowden on Friday invited representatives of Russian and international human rights organizations and lawyers...
news
Tax Holiday in the Works for Small Entrepreneurs
Individual entrepreneurs starting businesses from scratch are soon likely to be exempted from paying taxes for two years, after Prime Minister Dmitry...
news
Audit Chamber Says Evraz Unit Owes $600M of Tax for Undermining
A coal mining subsidiary of steel giant Evraz owes the federal budget over 20 billion rubles ($600 million) in taxes, an investigation by the Audit...
news
Rising Financial Literacy among Russians is a State Priority
The name Lyonya Golubkov is well-known to many Russians from the 1990s television advertising campaign that encouraged millions of people to put their...
news
Audit Chamber Says Trade Discrimination Against Russia Still a Problem
Despite its accession to the World Trade Organization last year, Russia has a long way to go before it benefits from membership, with the high level...
news
Island Properties Bring Customers in From the Cold
A new real estate trend sees wealthy Russians purchasing their own floating islands, but with prices from $10 million, some opt to rent.
news
Laboring in Sochi No Slice of Heaven
The problems on Ruslan Zokhidov's mind are not typical for a young man of his age: he is the least likely person to be found nattily dressed at a...
news
Putin Fields Questions in Nationwide Call-In Show (Blog)
Moscow Times reporters ran a live blog on President Vladimir Putin's 11th televised call-in show, the first since he returned to the presidency last...
news
Sberbank Forum Assembles Old Friends and New Problems
Personal memories mixed with hot discussions about the prospects of the global economy Thursday as high-profile visitors like former British Prime Minister...
news
Sale of VTB Stake for $3Bln Expected in Months
The government will proceed with its ambitious privatization plans despite challenging market conditions, Federal Property Management Agency chief Olga...
news
Cabinet Under Fire After Putin Threatens Reshuffle
The Cabinet came under attack from State Duma deputies Wednesday as Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev addressed the lower house of parliament for the first...
news
Moscow and Washington Find Commonality in Real Estate
Moscow has debuted on the list of world capitals with the largest amount of quarterly commercial real estate investment after it saw a total of $3...
news
Q&A: Ritz General Manager Allan Federer Enjoys Moscow Reception
Sitting in a quiet restaurant at his hotel a stone's throw from the Kremlin, Allan Federer pours himself green tea from a snow-white ceramic teapot...
news
Steel Market Could Begin Recovery This Year
Hit by Europe's debt crisis, global steel demand is likely to start recovering this year driven by emerging economies like China and Russia, with the pick...
news
Russian Post Seeks Customs Help Clearing 500 Tons of Parcels
Russian Post demanded on Tuesday an increase in the number of customs officers in airports and its offices handling international mail after about...
news
Topless Women, Gay Rights Activists Greet Putin in Europe
President Vladimir Putin's visit to Europe made headlines worldwide on Monday after hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Hanover and Amsterdam...
news
Putin to Open Russian Pavilion at Hanover Show
Foreign investors attending the opening of the Russian pavilion at the international commercial exposition that kicks off in Hanover, Germany on Monday...
news
Sochi Hotel Room Seekers Come in Last Place
The paint on the walls of similarly designed hotels surrounded by the picturesque Caucasus Mountains at the Rosa Khutor ski resort built by billionaire...
news
Sberbank, VTB-24 Brush Aside Cypriot Crisis Concerns
Sberbank and VTB-24 dismissed concerns Thursday that the Cypriot crisis could negatively affect their financial performance amid reports that big clients...
news
Medvedev Calls Cyprus Plan 'Absurd'
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday intensified his criticism of a plan by European financial authorities to rescue the Cypriot economy, labeling...
news
Cypriot Finance Minister Departs as Deadline Looms
Cyprus failed to strike a deal to secure financial aid from Moscow, with the delegation lead by Finance Minister Michalis Sarris heading home Friday...
news
Government Finalizing Luxury Tax Plans
The government has proposed that a tax on luxury vehicles be calculated based on the car's price and brand, not its engine capacity, as had been initially...
news
Cypriot Finance Minister in Moscow to Propose Assets-for-Bailout Deal
Cypriot Finance Minister Michalis Sarris plans to offer a wide range of benefits to Russia in exchange for its help to rescue the island's financial...
news
Russian Lenders Face Billions in Losses Due to Cypriot Levy
The proposal by the Cypriot authorities to introduce a levy on the country's bank deposits as part of a plan to bail out its economy drew harsh...
news
Q&A: Ambassador McDonagh Well-Versed in Trade and Spirit
While Irishmen around the world are looking forward to the St. Patrick's Day bash on Sunday, Philip McDonagh is preparing for a busy weekend in Moscow...
news
Russia Remains in Last Place for Public Trust
The level of trust in government officials and business executives remains dramatically low in Russia, with most residents saying they are more inclined...
news
De Beers Ex-CEO Becomes Norilsk Chairman
The shareholders of Norilsk Nickel reached a landmark deal Monday, with a former De Beers chief executive being elected as the nickel producer's chairman...
news
Glass and Steel Loom High Above Moscow Countryside
If you own a dacha in the picturesque countryside near Moscow you might find yourself surrounded by mountains of glass and concrete in the future...
news
Czechs Start Construction of $910M Business Park in Expanded Moscow
A Czech development group on Wednesday announced plans to invest more than 700 million euros ($910 million) in a project to build a business park in expanded...
news
Severstal 2012 Net Down 63% to $762M
Billionaire Alexei Mordashov's Severstal saw a 63 percent drop in net profit last year to $762 million as a result of weak metal prices and a decline...
news
Unrest Looms on RusAl Optimization Plans
The world’s largest aluminum-maker, RusAl, announced plans Monday to cut output by 7 percent this year amid oversupply and a drop in metal prices, a...
news
Rostelecom Gains on Malofeyev Stake Sale to Rotenberg
The shares in Rostelecom gained more than 2 percent at the beginning of Friday trading outperforming the benchmark MICEX index on the news that billionaire...
news
Aeroflot Won't Take Baby on Board
An eccentric move by billionaire Alexander Lebedev resulted in a wave of bloggers' irony Wednesday after the banker nominated his 1-year-old son to the...
news
Putin Ally Chemezov Likely to Join Norilsk Board
Russian Technologies head Sergei Chemezov is likely to get a seat on Norilsk Nickel's new board of directors after majority owners agreed to support...
news
Largest Commercial Estate Deal Inked
The domestic commercial property market received a massive cash injection with the sale of one of Moscow's largest shopping centers, Metropolis, to Morgan...
news
Kremlin in Talks on LNG Exports to China
Russia is negotiating to supply liquefied natural gas to China, and the two countries expect to reach a long-coveted gas cooperation agreement within...
news
Bastrykin Calls for Creation of Financial Police
First there was the police. Then the traffic police and the tax police. Now Russia's top investigator wants to establish the financial police.
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IMF More Upbeat Than Medvedev on GDP Growth
The International Monetary Fund took an optimistic stance at Russia's prospects Wednesday, saying that its economy could demonstrate a faster pace...
news
Dvorkovich Denies Resignation Rumors
Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich got in the spotlight Tuesday amid rumors that he might have to resign in the wake of the recent scandals in the...
news
OECD Accession Progressing Slowly but Surely
The head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development promised Friday that accession to the club of the world's most economically...
news
$7Bln Business Travel Market Set to Boom
The country's $7 billion market for business travel is likely to grow over the next few years, with domestic and foreign companies saying their executives...
news
Even Russians Need a Visa for Sochi
If you're the lucky owner of tickets for the most popular competitions at next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, then you must be a holder of a Visa...
news
Public Satisfied with State's Efforts to Attract Foreign Investment
One-fifth of Russians believe that doing business in the country is easier for foreigners than for local businessmen, a survey has revealed.
news
Probe Opened Over Yves Rocher Disclosure in Navalny Case
The Investigative Committee opened a probe against Novaya Gazeta reporter Irek Murtazin, claiming that he might have revealed secret details of the investigation...
news
Internet Leads in Advertising Growth
The amount spent on advertising in 2012 reached 297.8 billion rubles ($9.9 billion), up 13 percent from the previous year, according to figures released...
news
In Show of Force, Putin Sacks Olympics Official
The countrywide celebrations marking the one-year countdown to the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi were overshadowed Thursday by a high-profile...
news
Sochi Scorecard: Lots of Progress, But Lots to Be Done
An inflatable 8-meter brown bear floating off into the Moscow sunset followed by applause from the stands during the closing ceremony of the1980...
news
Mosinzhstroi Seeks to Tap into Indian Market
Moscow's engineering and construction giant Mosinzhstroi is bidding for the right to build a $930 million elevated metro line in India in an effort...
news
No Obama Visit Planned Before G20, Kremlin Says
The Kremlin said Friday that it does not expect U.S. President Barack Obama to visit Russia before the Group of 20 summit in September.
news
Officials Call for Budget Discipline
Finance Ministry and Central Bank officials on Thursday called for strict adherence to existing budget policy, saying the measure is critical to achievement...
news
Qiwi Lands in Manhattan
A new wave of Russian immigrants has landed in the United States, but they represent a technical accomplishment and not huddled masses.
news
Sharonov Reports Progress for Business
Moscow made significant progress over the past year in easing conditions for doing business, a result that is expected to upgrade Russia in the World...
news
Potanin Asks Putin to Exempt Norilsk from Duties
Norilsk Nickel's new chief executive, Vladimir Potanin, asked President Vladimir Putin to exempt his company from export duties to free up approximately...
news
'Millionaire' Doctors Part of Solution to Demographic Problem
A total of 8,000 doctors in Russia became ruble millionaires over the last two years, as the government seeks to attract young specialists to rural...
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Q&A: Nenad Pavletic Follows A Very Long Term Plan
Hit by a severe heat wave in the summer of 2010, Russia did not seem very welcoming to Nenad Pavletic, who had come to Moscow to take a new position...
news
Report: Kudrin on Shortlist to Become Central Bank Chairman
President Vladimir Putin is considering three candidates to replace Central Bank head Sergei Ivgnatyev, whose final term in office expires in June,...
news
Aeroflot Begins Wi-Fi Rollout
Aeroflot will begin to install wireless Internet in its jets this year as part of its wide-ranging program to improve service, the state-controlled...
news
Medvedev to Address Various Scenarios at Davos
Russian officials visiting the World Economic Forum 13 years ago were puzzled by U.S. journalist Trudy Rubin's famous question about the newly elected...
news
Davos Calls for Efficient State
Improving the work of the government and fighting corruption should be key priorities on Russia's reform agenda for the next few years, participants...
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OECD Chief Says Accession Is a Learning Process
Accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development provides a good chance for Russia's decision-makers to identify weaknesses...
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World Bank Praises 'Doing Business' Progress
Russia is on the right path to radically improve its business environment and move up 100 notches within the next five years in the global rankings...
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Medvedev Wants Economy to Grow 5% Annually
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday urged the Cabinet to ensure stable economic growth of at least 5 percent a year in the near future, a goal...
news
Moscow Expansion Spurs Residential Market
Growing housing stock caused by Moscow's territorial expansion resulted in the city seeing an increase in the number of deals involving existing residential...
news
Firms Fail to Supply Arms Worth $474M
A number of defense suppliers failed to deliver weapons worth a total of about 14.5 billion rubles ($474 million) to the country’s armed forces this...
news
Putin Calls on AAR to Invest TNK-BP Proceeds in Russia
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for the billionaire owners of the Alfa-Access-Renova consortium to invest the $28 billion cash they will get...