Anna Arutunyan
Party problems
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned the ruling United Russia party not to be "promisers" who "get into power and then spend their time solving their own personal problems," after mass protests in Kaliningrad put the spotlight on United Russia.
In a meeting with United Russia Friday Putin urged legislators to stop promising voters "everything at once". But he added that voting for "untried" leaders could cause anarchy.
His meeting with the party, of which he is chairman, came days after United Russia deputies attacked Just Russia chief Sergei Mironov for his criticism of Putin.
More IPOs?
Two more Russian companies have joined the fad for IPOs with Gazprombank and Svyazinvest reportedly eying up offerings.
Britain's The Mail on Sunday quoted a source close to the gas monopoly's banking arm saying that it was seeking an advisor and could list in the next few months.
Meanwhile, Svyazinvest's CEO told an economic conference in Moscow on Thursday that the telecoms giant could offer its merged assets in 2011.
Warship deal on
Russia is looking at buying an amphibious assault ship from France after President Nicolas Sarkozy reportedly sanctioned the sale.
"Work on the matter is continuing," media quoted the Russian Navy's deputy chief of staff, Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev, as saying. If the Mistral is purchased, it would be the first such deal between Russia and a NATO country.
Romanian missile fears
Moscow is worried that a potential US missile shield could undermine ongoing talks on a new nuclear arms reduction deal. Romanian president Traian Basescu said Thursday that his country would discuss US plans to deploy interceptor missiles.
State Duma Defence Committee chairman Viktor Zavarzin said the plans could affect European security and talks on START-1 renewal.
Opposition editor questioned
The New Times' chief editor, Yevgenia Albats, was called in for questioning by Moscow police after her magazine published an article in which OMON riot police officers blew the whistle on alleged corruption by their superiors.
According to a summons posted on the magazine's site, Albats was to be questioned Tuesday over libel claims, filed by two officers the magazine indentified in its article.
Good week for...
Banking on Russia
The Russian government has chosen VTB, Citibank, Barclays and Credit Suisse to organise the Eurobond issue that officials hope will raise $17.8 billion.
Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin told reporters they chose banks "that proposed a more aggressive strategy", Bloomberg reported.
The issue is thought to be a chance for VTB Capital, the state bank's investment arm, to make an international name for itself.
Bad week for...
Gas field of dreams
Gazprom has delayed the start of planned output from the Arctic Shtokman field by three years due to changes in the gas market.
The venture will now come online in 2016 because "the gas market is weak at the moment" Ola Morten Aanestad, a spokesman for Statoil, which holds 24 per cent of the project, told Bloomberg.
The week ahead
Feb. 10 - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will travel to Finland to take part in the Action Summit on the Baltic Sea 2010, dedicated to environmental issues in the region.
Feb. 14-16 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due in Moscow for an official state visit.
February - The Arctic Sea cargo ship to make its first voyage after being hijacked by pirates last year.
