http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=ausdQU.AkQ8c&pid=20601087 "Russia will use tax incentives and other free-market economic policies to turn the country into a destination for innovators from around the world, Medvedev told an audience" "The government will abolish taxes on capital gains from long-term direct investments starting next year" Income tax top rate of 13%. Sovereign debt of 10% of GDP. Isn't Russia a more free market jurisdiction than the west now, with more capitalist-friendly leadership?
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/rs-russia/cri-crime If only I could decide which mafia outfit to join, I might move there.
Medvedev also recently said Russia is not interested in investment in stocks and the capital markets. Only infrastructure investments...
Its a wee bit better than a decade ago more of a choice of what gang to pay off rather than join. Trying to work on the fundamentals of Russian companies on RTS is beyond funny in fact I suspect like China fundamentals are just poop. I have two friends that do a lot of business in Russia and fat brown envelopes are the norm rather than the exception.