Anna Arutunyan
President Hugo Chavez's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as sovereign states caused a stir in Moscow on Thursday, where the Venezuelan president was also on his annual arms shopping spree. President Dmitry Medvedev told Chavez that Russia would provide him with as much weaponry as he needed.
Later that day, Chavez visited his old friend Vladimir Putin, embracing the prime minister in a bear hug on the porch of his home. Kommersant reporter Andrei Kolesnikov wrote that Chavez was so happy to see the former president that he thought he heard a crunch when they embraced. "Beyond any doubt, this step confirms the independent nature of Venezuela's foreign policy," RIA Novosti quoted Putin as saying at the start of their talks.
The Georgian government brushed off the announcement. "We're not particularly worried that Chavez decided to recognise the sovereignty of our autonomous regions," Deputy Prime Minister Temuri Yakobashvili was quoted by Nezavisimaya Gazeta as saying. "[Chavez] is a well-known rogue in international politics."
A military source told RIA Novosti ahead of the talks that the sides would discuss a $500 million contract for up to 100 T-72 and T-90 tanks.
Venezuela has been getting increasingly cosy with Russia since 2005, buying at least $4.4 billion of weapons to sidestep a US embargo and beef up its military as the US plans to open a base in Colombia.
Chichvarkin released on bail
Regarded as one of Russia's most flamboyant businessmen, former Yevroset owner Yevgeny Chichvarkin has been wanted by Russian authorities since June. Now in London, the tycoon was arrested on kidnapping and extortion charges, only to be released, after posting 100,000 euros bail, Kommersant reported.
In January, Russian authorities accused Chichvarkin of involvement in a 2003 kidnapping of Yevroset's shipping agent, and have been trying to get him extradited. The businessman's extradition hearing is scheduled for September 22, the Russian Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti. N
Good week for
Chechen dads
Russia's latest celebrity custody battle took a turn when Alla Pugachyova's grandson, Dany, said he wants to live with his dad, Chechen-born businessman Ruslan Baisarov. The tycoon is demanding full custody of the 11-year-old from Pugachyova's daughter, Kristina Orbakaite.
Bad week for
Olympic PR
Georgia says it wants to organise a boycott of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, insisting that the "symbol of peace" shouldn't be held in a country that last year invaded its southerly neighbour. Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi is just 20 kilometres from Abkhazia, which declared independence along with North Ossetia shortly after Russia's war with Georgia.
