Alleged Russian Arms Dealer Arrested

Russian businessman Viktor Bout was arrested by Thai police in a U.S. sting operation after years of slipping past accusations that he operated an arms-trafficking network that fueled wars from Africa to the Balkans to Asia.

Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had been trying for nearly a year to lure Mr. Bout into showing up to finalize a fictitious $5 million deal to deliver a cache of guns and surface-to-air missiles to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrillas, or FARC, according to U.S. officials.

Mr. Bout, 41 years old, was arrested in Thailand yesterday along with an associate, Andrew Smulian, on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, according to court documents unsealed by federal prosecutors in New York's Southern District. U.S. authorities said they planned to seek the men's extradition to the U.S.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120482208786416853.html?mod=todays_europe_economy_and_politics

Now Comes The Tough Part In Russia

Two new works look at Russia’s economic progress as Dmitri A. Medvedev succeeds Vladimir Putin in the presidency.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/business/worldbusiness/02shelf.html?ex=1362200400&en=6e0855fc4bcf427a&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Putin Suffocates His Opponents

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — Shortly before parliamentary elections in December, foremen fanned out across the sprawling GAZ vehicle factory here, pulling aside assembly-line workers and giving them an order: vote for President Vladimir V. Putin’s party or else. They were instructed to phone in after they left their polling places. Names would be tallied, defiance punished. Over the past eight years, in the name of reviving Russia after the tumult of the 1990s, Mr. Putin has waged an unforgiving campaign to clamp down on democracy and extend control over the government and large swaths of the economy. He has suppressed the independent news media, nationalized important industries, smothered the political opposition and readily deployed the security services to carry out the Kremlin’s wishes.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/world/europe/24putin.html?ex=1361595600&en=9d8d2985e5c8966e&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Russia Creates $32 Billion Fund to Make Foreign Investments

MOSCOW — Russia has split its oil proceeds into two funds and cleared the way for one to invest in foreign stocks and bonds, officials said Thursday. But actual investments are not expected to begin until fall at the earliest.

The move sets up an investment pool with $32 billion, rivaling big American hedge funds and offering another sign of the dizzying wealth these days of oil-producing countries like Russia.

Officials here are already moving to address possible concerns from regulators in the United States and Europe about a government entity investing on the stock exchanges with such large resources.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/business/worldbusiness/01fund.html?ex=1359608400&en=1f661eeb9ba5a544&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink