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By John Helmer, Moscow Are they real teeth in the tiger’s mouth, or are they falsies? This is the question which shareholders of two Canadian-listed junior goldmining companies have been asking since the two companies, both apparently controlled by Russian mining entrepreneur Maxim Finsky (image), proposed an all-share merger on the basis of valuation of […]
by John Helmer - Thursday, March 31st, 2011
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By John Helmer, Moscow Russia’s price watchdog, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), plans soon to impose a hefty fine on the Evraz group’s lead mill at Nizhne Tagil (NTMK) for rigging the prices of steel profiles or sections in violation of the law on competition and non-discriminatory pricing. Maxim Ovchinnikov, head of the FAS industry […]
by John Helmer - Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
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By John Helmer, Moscow Elena Baturina won an unusual battle against Rupert Murdoch’s journalism last week. It is yet another demonstration that when it comes to dispensing Russian justice, the London courts are the only ones who do. The court case, decided by a three-judge panel of the UK Court of Appeal on March 23, […]
by John Helmer - Monday, March 28th, 2011
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By John Helmer, Moscow In bringing to a close yesterday six years of investigation and litigation, and more than $800 million worth claims by state shipping company Sovcomflot, Justice Andrew Smith of the UK High Court has issued two batches of rulings, totaling 478 pages of findings of fact and judgements of law. Together, they […]
by John Helmer - Friday, March 25th, 2011
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By John Helmer, Moscow A second judgement of the UK High Court, issued this morning by Justice Andrew Smith, has condemned Sovcomflot and dismissed a second round of claims, which the state-owned Russian shipping company argued over three days of hearings last month. The new ruling, issued in two parts, vindicates for the second time […]
by John Helmer - Thursday, March 24th, 2011
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By John Helmer, Moscow In his first extended interview since taking over Alrosa in July of 2009, chief executive Fyodor Andreyev said in a Moscow newspaper yesterday that Alrosa’s diamond investment strategy puts Russia first, Africa last. According to Andreyev, his predecessors’ efforts to build new diamond mines in Angola and explore for diamonds in […]
by John Helmer - Thursday, March 24th, 2011
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By John Helmer, Moscow Following the Fukushima disaster in Japan early this month, Russian government safety checks of all operating and experimental reactors have triggered skepticism that the experimental floating nuclear reactor vessel, Academician Lomonosov (right image), will be commissioned shortly, then towed to the Sea of Okhotsk, off the Kamchatka peninsula. Prime Minister Vladimir […]
by John Helmer - Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
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By John Helmer, Moscow At least two things are obvious about the Wikileaks disclosures on Russia – one is that a great many cables from the US Embassy Moscow are available in the quarter of a million files obtained by the Guardian newspaper of London; the second is that very few of these have been […]
by John Helmer - Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
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By John Helmer, Moscow Budding actors are usually taught to beware the unintended effects of spotlights. By focusing light, they can bring out an audience’s curiosity in what is going on in the dark, off stage, especially if the actor delivers lines that have been heard before, or delivered weakly.
by John Helmer - Monday, March 21st, 2011
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By John Helmer, Moscow It is now one week since Rusal obliged Norilsk Nickel to call an extraordinary meeting of shareholders for a fresh round of voting on the Norilsk Nickel board . This is the third such vote; the first was at the regular annual shareholders meeting of Norilsk Nickel on June 28, last […]
by John Helmer - Friday, March 18th, 2011
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