With Russia’s economy in shambles, President Dmitry Medvedev has been distancing himself from his predecessor and friend of 20 years, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. In doing so, Medvedev has fueled speculation that the former-KGB agent’s days in Moscow may be numbered.

Hey, Irwin…Did you notice that Russia was the only emerging market that was up in your index on Friday? Shouldn’t have been hard to spot that bit of green in the sea of red.

New Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wants better links with Europe.

BP PLC (TNK-BP Holding OAO, to a state-owned oil monopoly such as Gazprom OAO – the latest attempt by the Russian government to expand its energy monopoly and drive out international oil majors.