POLITICS
Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili did not rule out a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during the next Davos forum. Experts say Ivanishvili is trying to improve relations with Moscow.
(Kommersant)
Experts said it is unlikely that the Magnitsky List will be expanded to include Russian State Duma deputies as the current US system of electronic complaints does not mean that the authorities have to respond to petitions from citizens.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Rail monopoly Russian Railways may participate in the privatization of Bulgaria’s largest rail cargo carrier BZD Cargo. In the summer, the asset was being sold for $135 million, and no one bought it, but now the price has been halved.
(Kommersant)
The number of Russian tourists who went on vacation abroad has risen by some 25 percent this year due to in increase in demand for trips to Egypt and an expansion of regional programs. Some 11 million people bought tours from tour operators.
(Vedomosti)
India agreed to buy $2.9 billion worth of Russian weapons, as President Vladimir Putin visited the longtime ally. Under the larger deal, India will purchase assembly kits for 42 Sukhoi-30 fighter jets for $1.6 billion. The other contract is for 71 Mi-17 helicopters worth $1.3 billion.
(The Moscow Times)
Russia and the United States have signed an agreement obliging them to shut down websites with counterfeit content and prosecute providers who host pirates.
(Vedomosti)
SOCIETY
The conflict over the “Dima Yakovlev bill” banning US adoptions of Russian children has been escalating.
(Rossiiskaya Gazeta)
A third criminal investigation has been opened against opposition leader and anti-corruption lawyer Alexei Navalny, with the Investigative Committee claiming he stole money from a political party in 2007.
(The Moscow Times, Kommersant)
A prosecutor requested that the only remaining defendant in whistle-blowing lawyer Sergei Magnitsky's death be acquitted of criminal negligence.
(The Moscow Times)
SCIENCE
Amendments banning motorists from attaching objects to their windshields have been submitted to the State Duma. This could cut sales of video recorders and navigators but the amendment is unlikely to be adopted.
(Vedomosti)
Russian space agency Roscosmos experts say the destruction of a bearing inside the turbopump of the Briz-M upper stage's engine is the most likely reason for the initial failure of Russia’s Yamal-402 satellite to reach its designated orbit.
(Kommersant)
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