The Russian government has decided to integrate the Federal Service for Financial Markets into the structure of the Central Bank within one and a half to two years. This was announced on Friday, December 14, by Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, RIA Novosti reports. “There was a discussion in the government about a single mega-regulator. We agreed on a plan of action.

The official representative of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Vladimir Markin, confirmed on Friday that searches are being carried out as part of a criminal case against Alexei Navalny and his brother Oleg. “Indeed, searches are being carried out at the Kobyakovskaya wicker weaving factory, as well as in Oleg Navalny’s office,” Interfax quotes Markin’s statements. Before this, oppositionist and blogger Alexei Navalny himself wrote on his Twitter microblog about searches of his relatives.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman released an email on Friday saying he was resigning. “Although I know that I did not commit crimes... I decided to leave the posts of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister,” Interfax quotes Lieberman’s statement. Avigdor Lieberman expressed hope that his good name will be restored. Let us remember that the day before, Israeli Prosecutor General Yehuda Weinstein accused Lieberman of fraud and breach of trust.

photo by A. Voroshilov / Diver.ru Banker and farmland owner on why they go down to wrecks and icebergs Mikhail Shchegolevsky Co-owner of AM Group (mechanical engineering and agricultural business in Ukraine) and the Wild Orchid group of companies, dived in the North and South Poles The first phrase divers say after rising from the Arctic Ocean is: “Give me some vodka!” Yes, first of all it is needed for warming, because under the ice the water temperature is -1°C.

Over the past 24 hours, Gazprom set a historical record for gas supplies to Europe - 550 million cubic meters. This was announced on Friday, December 14, by the chairman of the holding’s board, Alexey Miller, RIA Novosti reports. “Since the beginning of December, there has been an unprecedented increase in supplies to the European market, and over the past 24 hours a historical record was set for the volume of Russian gas supplies to Europe - 550.1 million cubic meters.

General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel Vladimir Strzhalkovsky will receive compensation of $100 million upon leaving the company. about this . told Vedomosti Two sources close to Norilsk Nickel shareholders The company's board of directors will appoint Vladimir Potanin as CEO on Monday, December 17. Strzhalkovsky's departure was one of the conditions of the agreement between Interros and RusAl, which should put an end to the long-term conflict between Norilsk Nickel shareholders.

US President Barack Obama on Friday signed a law repealing the Jackson-Vanik amendment and the Magnitsky list. This law lifts restrictions on trade with Russia and simultaneously imposes sanctions against Russian officials involved in the death of Hermitage Capital auditor Sergei Magnitsky. This bill was passed by the US House of Representatives on November 16, 2012. On Thursday, December 6, the US Senate voted for the document.

The United States believes that the Russian social network Vkontakte threatens its economy because pirated products are freely available on its platform. This is stated in the extraordinary report of US Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Kirk argues that the spread of pirated and counterfeit products, including through the Internet, is hurting the US economy, harming the most creative and innovative entrepreneurs and companies, and threatening jobs for a large part of the American middle class.

The future is very close: the Internet with a speed of 1 gigabit per second is already working, and it will change the world of computers, phones and household appliances beyond recognition. All prerequisites for this are ready At the turn of the 2000s, while preparing to film his sci-fi neo-noir Minority Report, director Steven Spielberg gathered experts from various fields of knowledge and set them the task of imagining the world of 2054.

Photo by Photoxpress Majoritarian constituencies are returning, but the authorities will most likely be able to use them to their advantage The President of Russia in his message supported the idea of ​​returning a mixed electoral system in the elections of State Duma deputies. Considering the stable majority in the Duma of United Russia and the state of the opposition, the decision can be considered actually made, and the only question is its specific form.

The number of victims of the collapse of a building under construction in Taganrog, Rostov Region, has increased to 13 people, reports the press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Rostov Region. “As a result of the collapse of a building under construction in Taganrog, 13 people were rescued and 5 were killed,” the report notes.

First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov considers the current privatization procedure adequate and sees no point in changing its regulatory framework. “All procedures are now enshrined in federal laws, presidential decrees and government decisions. I am sure that such a regulatory framework is adequate to what should happen in privatization in the coming years; it seems to me that there is no point in strengthening it,” Interfax quotes Shuvalov .

The Investigative Committee confirmed on Friday evening that Oleg Navalny - the brother of opposition leader and blogger Alexei Navalny - is under interrogation. “Yes, indeed, Oleg Navalny is currently under interrogation by the Investigative Committee,” RIA Novosti quotes a statement from the official representative of the Russian Investigative Committee, Vladimir Markin. that Oleg Navalny is under interrogation .

The Moscow City Court found the former head of the 4th department of the Operational Search Directorate of the Moscow City Internal Affairs Directorate, Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, guilty of the murder of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya and sentenced him to 11 years in a maximum security colony. According to investigators, in 2006 Pavlyuchenkov organized surveillance of Politkovskaya on the order of the Chechen crime boss Lom-Ali Gaitukaev, receiving $150,000 for it.

The Ministry of Finance will prepare proposals for changing tax legislation to introduce a luxury tax during the spring session of the State Duma in 2013. The amendments will be able to come into force in 2014. Minister Anton Siluanov told reporters about this on Friday, December 12, Interfax reports. “Now a year has already passed for us to make changes to tax legislation, so proposals on a luxury tax must be prepared in the spring session,” Siluanov said.