Last week Russia’s Vnesheconombank (VEB) announced that it signed an agreement with the Export–Import Bank of China (China EximBank) for an “up to $3 billion” framework line of credit. The two banks are owned by their respective governments. The agreement was signed in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Li Keqiang, Premier …
While the Russian government and the central bank are preparing to regulate cryptocurrencies and ICOs — with a draft bill expected to be ready by mid-2018 — the authorities have taken steps to limit cryptocurrency trading in the country. Thus yesterday Roskomnadzor, the Internet and telecom regulator, announced that it has blocked access to 13 …
Russia blocks access to 13 cryptocurrency trading sites Read More
This past summer the Russian authorities banned technologies that make it possible to circumvent Internet censorship. The lawmakers, who supported the bill unanimously, argued that Russia’s existing system to block illegal content on the Web was “not effective enough.” Ksenia Idrisova of BBC Monitoring explains what exactly has been banned, how the new legislation works, and what …
The Russian authorities’ position about ICOs and cryptocurrencies, which has been subject to wide uncertainty and contradictory signals so far, should be clarified at last, according to President Putin’s decision to develop a legislative framework by July 1, 2018. Following a meeting on October 10 with Finance minister Anton Siluanov, Bank of Russia Head Elvira …
Putin sets deadline to legalize ICOs and cryptocurrencies in Russia Read More
Last week, following a period of mixed signals from the authorities about cryptocurrencies, the Russian communications minister Nikolay Nikiforov said that President Vladimir Putin has officially endorsed a Russian cryptocurrency, the ‘CryptoRuble.’ “We’re launching CryptoRubles for one simple reason: if we do not, then after two months it will be done by our neighbors in …
The presidential administration plans to use encrypted and anonymous Telegram channels to collect and monitor voter sentiment in the Russian regions, RBC daily reported on October 10 citing the draft of the project developed by a third-party contractor. Kremlin would turn Telegram from foe to friend, as previously the privacy-minded brainchild of exiled Russian tech …
President Vladimir Putin called for regulation of cryptocurrencies but stopped short of backing a broad ban as a debate rages over how Russia should handle the increasingly popular financial instruments, Bloomberg reported today. “The use of cryptocurrencies bears serious risks,” including money laundering, tax evasion and funding for terrorism, the news agency quoted Putin as saying …
Putin backs cryptocurrency rules and warns of “serious risks” Read More
Will Facebook be banned in Russia? This might happen next year, warned Roskomnadzor’s head Alexander Zharov yesterday, should the social network still fail to comply with the local legislation on personal data storage. “The law is mandatory for everyone. Either we will [have it] applied or the company will stop operating in Russia,” the RIA …
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev declared victory over opposition leader Alexei Navalny on social media and ‘real life’ on Monday, following a social media post comparing the politicians’ following on social media. The caption of an Instagram post shared by Navalny, which compares Medvedev’s 2.8 million Instagram followers to Navalny’s 236,000, reads “the ruling party is winning decisively …
Medvedev claims victory over Navalny on social media and in ‘real life’ Read More
Wikileaks has released a new cache of documents which it claims detail surveillance apparatus used by the Russian state to spy on Internet and mobile users. It’s the first time the organization has leaked (what it claims is) material directly pertaining to the Russian state. As ever, nothing is straightforward when it comes to Wikileaks. …
Wikileaks releases documents it claims detail Russia mass surveillance apparatus Read More
Following a directive from the Department of Homeland Security last week banning the use of Kaspersky Lab security software in the executive branch, the U.S. Senate has followed suit. On Monday, the Senate passed an amendment against Kaspersky Lab pushed forward by New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. The amendment was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) following a …
US senate votes to oust Kaspersky from federal use Read More
Last week at the Eastern Economic Forum three major Russian institutions – the Far East Development Fund, the fund of funds RVC, and nanotech giant Rusnano – signed a partnership to launch a new regional venture fund. Dubbed ‘Far East high tech development and implementation fund,’ the new investment vehicle aims to develop innovation and …
New state-backed venture fund aims to invest $175 million in the Russian Far East Read More
