Kommersant
Russians dissatisfied with quality of life
Russians are stressed, dissatisfied with their incomes, emotional health and the environment, says a recent quality of life poll conducted in 30 countries, which was held in Russia for the first time this year. It is of slight consolation that the Turks, Italians and Japanese are even more dissatisfied than the Russians.
Philips and Ipsos global research experts polled 1,000 adults aged 18-64 in 30 countries in March-April 2011. The result of their efforts is a health and wellbeing index.
Respondents answered 47 questions about their jobs and careers, family and friends, health, including emotional health, and the environment. The answers were assessed on a zero- to 100-point scale. The researchers focused on both the importance of the criteria and the respondents’ level of satisfaction. A country with 100 points is an ideal place to live, where people are satisfied with everything they consider important. This year’s leaders are the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, while Russia, with 37, points is closer to the bottom, though still above Turkey, Italy and Japan.
The key consideration for Russians is the cost of living (90% of respondents), relationships with their families and friends, and health (89% each). Less important considerations are the health of family members, emotional health, the environment and income. People in most surveyed countries do not consider the cost of living very important. Respondents in France, the Netherlands, Britain and Germany rated health above all other parameters, while Brazilians and Poles focused on emotional health. People in the United States and India highlighted relationships with their families and friends.
The survey shows that Russians are mostly dissatisfied with the things they consider vital. Only 25% of respondents are satisfied with the cost of living and their incomes, and some 20% give a high rating to the state of the environment (roads, crime, ecology, the availability and quality of hospitals and schools). Russians are completely dissatisfied with their emotional health.
Their attitude to health is passive. Over 75% of respondents are concerned over growing healthcare costs, and only 25% said they are satisfied with their doctors. At the same time, only 41% agree that their health is their own responsibility, which is much less than in the United States, Brazil, China or India. About one-third of respondents have never had medical checkups or have them rarely, and just as many seek medical information not only from doctors but also from their family and friends. Most respondents across Russia visit their dentists once every two or three years.
Finally, the researchers point out that Russians undersleep and a shocking 86% of them suffer from stress. Though Russians are not health conscious, over half of them are satisfied with their health and expect to live longer than their parents – at least until 70. Civil passivity can help them achieve this goal: less than one-third of Russians take an interest in politics, the government and world news.
Vedomosti
Deripaska complies with London court’s anti-suit injunction, loses case in Russia
A London court has banned Oleg Deripaska’s companies from supporting a lawsuit against BNP Paribas in Russia. The Russian businessman was unable to contravene the order.
It appears that apart from hearing disputes between Russian businesses, London justices also prevent them from continuing proceedings in their own country. The London High Court of Justice on November 24 issued an order prohibiting Russian Machines and Ingosstrakh Investments (both controlled by Russian billionaire Deripaska) from supporting an appeal against BNP Paribas' claim at a Moscow commercial court.
Both litigations, in London and Moscow, center on a loan guarantee contract signed between BNP Paribas and Russian Machines in October 2008 to secure the $1.2-billion loan. In August 2010, the bank filed a lawsuit with the London court, seeking to recover $88 million in principal debt as well as interest and legal expenses. Ingosstrakh Investments, the asset management company that manages 0.14% of Russian Machines’ shares, has been asking Russian courts since December 2010 to recognize the guarantee contract null and void, claiming that Russian Machines had failed to submit the contract for all shareholders’ approval. BNP Paribas claims this was not required because all the shareholders are affiliated.
While the London court proceedings continue, Deripaska’s companies have lost two cases in Russia.
Russian lawyers and judges are clearly growing increasingly irritated by the British system of justice interfering in Russia’s jurisdiction. Alexei Melnikov, who represented two of Russian Machines’ shareholders at a Moscow hearing, said BNP Paribas showed contempt of Russian court by asking a London court to interfere in its competence. His request to fine the French bank representatives 100,000 rubles was denied.
Anton Ivanov, head of Russia’s Supreme Commercial Court, said in an interview with Gazeta.ru that British courts have assumed the role of “the entire planet’s judicial gendarme, taking on cases beyond their jurisdiction.” He was referring to a dispute between billionaire businessmen Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich.
Judge Oleg Smirnov almost snapped at a BNP Paribas representative who said that the British court has recognized Russian Machines shareholders’ being affiliated.
Anti-suit injunction, an order preventing an opposing party from hearing a dispute in a different jurisdiction, is frequently used to avoid conflict of jurisdictions, said Vladimir Khvalei, a partner at Baker & McKenzie. Two countries’ courts may pass opposing rulings, he explained. If a party contravenes such an order, it has few chances of winning the case. It may also face a contempt of court order, which may result in fines and even prison time.
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