November 10:
The dismissal of Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has thrown Russia’s existing weapons contracts into doubt. Only weeks after Iraqi and Russian officials signed a $4 billion arms agreement, Iraqi officials accused the deal of being “tainted” by graft, and announced that they were reconsidering the contract. According to the Associated Press, Iraqi media reports suggested that there were kickbacks for those involved in the original deal—an accusation supported by rumors that Serdyukov was dismissed over the distribution of billions of dollars of defense spending. The Iraqi deal represents a crucial step for Russia toward strengthening its presence in the Middle East, as its remaining ally, Syria, remains immersed in civil war.
November 12:
In the third quarter of 2012, Russia’s gross domestic product grew at the slowest rate since its economy began recovering in 2010, Business Week reports. “The downturn came as a result of slowing private consumption and investment,” one analyst said, as the Federal Statistics Service announced a mere 2.9 percent growth compared to the same period last year. “We expect a further slowdown, with growth dependent on consumption, and assuming there are no external shocks.” Other experts blamed lower agricultural outputs, which fell 24 percent from last year after a widespread drought plagued Russia's farmers all summer.
November 13:
Russian and Slovenian officials signed a final agreement to build the Slovenian stretch of the South Stream gas pipeline. State-owned gas titan Gazprom holds similar agreements with Hungary and Serbia, reports RIA-Novosti, and plans to begin construction by the end of this year on the pipeline, which will deliver gas from Russia to Europe via the Black Sea. The line will compete with the EU-backed Nabucco pipeline for the European market, and is expected to transport up to 63 billion cubic meters of natural gas to European consumers by 2018. The entire line will cost Russia up to $16 billion.
November 14:
Growing pains are making Russia’s controversial internet blacklist even less popular. Touted to make the Internet safer for children, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that so far blocked sites include an electronic library, and a popular satirical encyclopedia. Both were removed from the list after removing the objectionable material (which included an entry on the encyclopedia for marijuana), but administrators complained that no advance warning was given to remove the content before the sites were blocked. There is no public list of the blocked sites available, but analysts estimate the number is nearing 200. Russian Wikipedia is preparing an appeal to the Kremlin over widespread fears that the law will lead to censorship of the Internet.