Russia Monitor Articles
An Increase in energetic cooperation. Russians Enter the Iranian Oil Market
An Iranian state-owned National Iranian Oil Company signed a contract with a Russian state-controlled Zarubezhneft on the increase of production on two oilfields in the western part of Iran. This is the second deal between Iran and a foreign oil company in compliance with new regulations introduced after the agreement concerning the nuclear program and abolition of restrictions on oil cooperation with Iran.
Whipping Boys
According to the Russian Constitution a new government is formed after a presidential election. Everything indicates that the new government will be similar to the old one. Dmitry Medvedev is believed to keep his position. However, the political position of the government in Vladimir Putin’s new term will be weaker – and this is for a number of reasons.
Lukoil Teases Investors
Very good financial results in 2017, further foreign investments, development vision and high dividends – this is what Lukoil boasts about encouraging foreign investors. It became symbolic that this private concern managed to overtake Gazprom in terms of capitalization.
Nord Stream 2 more opponents
When PM Theresa May talked about possible sanctions against Russia for poisoning Sergei Skripal, she mentioned minimising the British dependence on the Russian gas supply. Not less important is the outright objection of the government in London to the Nord Stream 2 project – which is appealed for by a group of British MPs.
Tsar Vladimir and Ominous Perspectives
Long before the presidential elections in Russia, the Kremlin assumed that it would be preferable for Putin to win 70% of the vote with 70% turnout. And such a plan has actually been put into practice. Even if voter turnout leaves much to be desired, it was possible to award Putin with more than 75% of the vote.
“Russian FBI” and a turn of events in Bastrykin’s case
According to unofficial sources, the recent speculations about the changes in investigative structures in Russia might turn out to be true. There is every indication that a new government agency will be established, in which the structures and the investigative powers of the Investigative Committee (SKR), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and the Federal Security Service (FSB) will be merged into one.
Russia’s Ministry of Finance Attacks: Taxes for Oil Companies
Shortly after an unsuccessful meeting between representatives of oil companies and the government, Russia’s Ministry of Finance calls again for launching tax reform in the country’s oil sector.
Sechin wants another „gift”
An increase in fiscal burden, a fall of world oil prices and effects of sanctions from the West have a negative influence of the Russian oil sector. The situation has became so severe that the discussions about changes, which will invigorate the production and processing of oil in Russia, have started.
Rosneft’s problem with China. Cooperation in question
Almost at the same time, the largest Russian oil company lost two important foreign partners. U.S. oil company ExxonMobil is pulling out of a joint venture with Rosneft because of U.S. sanctions against Russia.
“I will buy a passport.” They flee from Russia
The information that a billionaire Oleg Deripaska was granted a Cypriot citizenship reminded of the intensifying practice of buying EU countries’ passports by the Russian regime beneficiaries. It concerns not only Cyprus, but also e.g. Malta.
A temporary decline in the Putin’s support
A decline in Vladimir Putin’s ratings in the biggest cities – where every fourth Russian voter lives in – was connected with the official beginning of the campaign and the occurrence of rivals, but also with a series of bad information for Kremlin, i.a. from Syria.
“People’s republics”. The end of the experiment?
Everybody in Moscow realises that a maintenance of the Russian occupation in the part of Donbass in a current shape does not bring political dividends and is expensive, instead.
A poison plot against Sergei Skripal. “Wetwork” With No Rules
Regardless of whether the perpetrators can be determined, a poison plot against Sergei Skripal seems to affect the image of the Russian state. It seems that a highly poisonous substance the man was exposed may indicate that Moscow had been involved in the attack on the former GRU officer.
Gazprom’s War: Challenge for Germany
For many years, Gazprom has been implementing the strategy of avoiding Ukraine in gas exports to Europe. Such a purpose could be achieved thanks to the Nord Stream pipeline while the Nord Stream 2 and the Turkish Stream projects will allow the Russians to almost completely resign from transit through Ukraine.
Warsaw Institute
