Eastern Europe / News
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Russian Olympic athletes should be allowed to compete under the Russian flag says businessman Alisher Usmanov
Russian oligarch and president of the Olympic fencing committee Alisher Usmanov weighed into the doping scandal on December 6, sending a letter to the Olympic committee saying competing under the national flag is a right, not a privilege.
Putin accuses Bulgaria of deliberately delaying Turkish Stream
Russian president claims Bulgaria is under "international pressure" to delay pipeline project, while section via neighbouring Serbia is nearly finished.
The price Europe pays for Russian gas fell to its lowest level in 15 years
The price Europe pays for Russian gas fell to its lowest level in 15 years, according to Russian national gas company Gazprom’s accounts.
Attacks on the National Bank of Ukraine escalate
The attacks and intimidation on the National Bank of Ukraine, allegedly being carried out by oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, went up a notch on December 3 when protestors targeted the private residence of NBU governor Yakiv Smolii.
Russia's $55bn Power of Siberia gas pipeline to China comes online
Russia’s Gazprom flagship Power of Siberia gas pipeline mega-project that connects Russia’s Siberian gas fields with China came online on December 2, after the investment of billions of dollars that will earn the company billions more
Ukraine, Russia discuss new gas transit deal at bilateral meeting
Ukrainian and Russian ministers extended talks for a new natural gas supply contract though Ukraine at a bilateral meeting in Vienna on November 28, Ukraine's energy ministry said in a press release that day.
Lukashenko, Putin agree on setting up a single market mechanism, merging some government functions
Belarus and Russia are a step closer to forming a single market, based on the same principles as the European Union, after Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an integration deal.
Aeroflot reports improving results, wins two travel industry Oscars
Russia’s national airline Aeroflot reported improving third quarter results and announced that it had won two awards in the so-called travel industry Oscars for best airline brand and best business class service.
GAZ workers leave for a two week road trip to Germany in bid to save the company
Ten workers from the GAZ car factory set off from the company’s home town of Nizhny Novgorod on a two week road trip via Belarus, Poland, Czechia and Austria to Germany to raise awareness of the company’s plight.
National Bank of Ukraine accuses oligarch Kolomoisky by name of attacks and intimidations
Ukraine’s National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) for the first time directly accused oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky for orchestrating a sustain campaign of physical attacks and “terror” intimidations against the bank’s current and former staff.
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Pompeo “concerned” by reports of F-16s flying over Ankara to test Russian S-400s
Meanwhile, head of Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport refers to “big plans” for military technical cooperation between Moscow and Ankara and report emerges of Turkey blocking Nato defence plan for Poland and Baltics.
Chinese flock to Lake Baikal on holiday
Russia has become a favourite holiday spot for the newly affluent Chinese middle class, as they find it inviting and cheap.
Russia to launch world's cheapest e-car Zetta in 2020
Russian Engineering and Manufacturing Company will launch the first domestically made electric car Zetta (Zero Emission Terra Transport Asset) in 2020
IMF leaves Kyiv without a deal again
Talks floundered on concerns about the hold oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky has over the president, the independence of the National Bank of Ukraine and the exclusion of foreigners from the mooted creation of a land market.
Mystery buyer snaps up 3.6% of Gazprom with discount in second SPO this year
Russian natural gas giant Gazprom sold 3.59% of its quasi-treasury shares at RUB220.7 per share, making a sizable 13% discount to market. Notably, the buyer of the stake is not disclosed, making it the second mystery SPO this year in Russia's largest
Russian Rosatom nuclear agency eyes maritime shipping market
Russian state nuclear power agency Rosatom is planning a massive expansion in the maritime shipping market with an investment of up to $7bn
Baring Vostok cancels plans for $1.3bn sixth fund
Leading Russian fund Baring Vostok has cancelled plans to raise a sixth fund that could have been worth $1.3bn, as five of its senior managers face fraud changes and three of them languish in prison.
Russians involved in large-scale intelligence operation in Serbia, President Vucic says
Vucic says “no logic” to spy affair that surfaced days before his visit to Moscow, given warm relations between two states.
Putin says humanity will end up in caves if it abandons hydrocarbons
If humanity completely abandons hydrocarbons in the energy sector it will “end up in caves”, Russian President Vladimir Putin told delegates at the VTB Russia Calling investment summit.
EU brands Belarus parliamentary elections "lost opportunity", Lukashenko's girlfriend becomes MP
The European Union has joined the chorus of critics of the November 17 elections in the lower chamber of parliament in Belarus, which are widely believed to be rubber-stamped by the nation's authorities.