Russia
The Kremlin is hiking taxes for the first time in twenty years
the Kremlin has approved a new budget that will greatly increase spending but has also used the cover of the coronacrisis to hike a variety of taxes, many for the first time.
International bond investors are selling off local EM debt in all but the best markets
Emerging markets capital markets have been through a revolution in the last decade, but the coronavirus pandemic and rising political and economic risks in some markets have seen these investors turn tail and flee.
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Disasters in the making
Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan among countries ranked most vulnerable by inaugural edition of Ecological Threat Register.
Russia's CBR keeps interest flat on geopolitical tensions
The Board of the Central Bank of Russia has resolved to maintain the key interest rate flat at 4.25% in its policy meeting of September 18. The economy is doing well, but geopolitical tensions are rising
Sberbank starts taking climate risk seriously
Russia’s Sberbank has set out its climate agenda, which aims to reduce the bank’s carbon footprint and put climate risk at the top of its investment strategy.
Lukashenko warns of war, closes the Western borders… not
Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko called on the people of Poland and Lithuania to “stop your crazy politicians”, who he warned are spoiling for war, and announced that he was closing the borders with Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine.
Novichok found in a water bottle in Navalny’s hotel room
Colleagues of anti-corruption blogger and opposition activist Alexei Navalny found a bottle of water containing traces of the nerve agent Novichok used to poison him in a water bottle in his hotel room in Tomsk.
FPRI BMB Russia: Russia approves a new federal budget with 4.4% GDP deficit
The Russian government approved the Ministry of Finance’s proposal for Russia’s 2021-23 budget on September 16, which has been amended to include a 4.4% GDP deficit
Turkey takes assertive role in Caucasus conflict
The shift is motivated in part by energy considerations and in part by nationalist politics.
Russia industrial production fall slows to -7.2% in August y/y
In August, Russian industrial production posted a 7.2% y/y decline. August brought the 8M20 dynamic to -4.5% y/y.
Navalny out of coma and off ventilator, says he wants to go home
Russia’s anti-corruption blogger and opposition activist Alexei Navalny is out of his coma, off the ventilator and said on September 14 that he wants to go home to Russia in his first post on social media since being poisoned.
Target Global bets on Russo-Estonian startup “to disrupt crypto payments”.
Mercuryo.io, a Russian-founded startup based in Estonia, announced in the first week of September the completion of its first round of funding, having received €2.5mn from Target Global
KYC start-up Sumsub secures $6mn from Russian investors
Sumsub, an identity verification start-up with Russian roots, announced in the first week of September the completion of a $6mn round of fund-raising, reports East-West Digital News (EWDN).
A third of Russians consider Russia to be a great power
About a third of Russians (37%) consider Russia a great power, another 29% think that the country will become one again in the next 15-20 years, according to the state owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM).
Early voting accounts for almost half ballots cast in Russia’s regional elections
The fact that there was such a high share of early votes cast in the September 13 elections raised concerns of vote rigging.
Lukashenko, Putin meet in Sochi, Russia grants $1.5bn bailout loan... and more?
Embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko flew to Sochi in Russia and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to broker a rescue deal on September 14.
STOLYPIN: Whatever is happening to Putin?
Something has changed, Russian president Vladimir Putin seem to have lost some of his finesse as his regime becomes more brutal and aggressive. Has he just been on the job too long?
Navalny’s smart voting scores rare successes in Russia’s regional elections
The “smart voting” tactics promoted by anti-corruption blogger and opposition activist Alexei Navalny delivered a few successes in Russia’s regional elections held on September 13.
The Belarusian Banshees
“You shall not pass!” chanted the shrieking women as the OMON riot police tried to push at least 20 women out of the way of a van full of detainees.
Russia to vote in 83 regional elections
Russia goes to the polls this weekend for important regional elections in 83 regions where the Kremlin will face a challenge due to the sinking popularity of the ruling United Russia Party.