TODAY: New Year's opposition rally ends in detainment, greeted with international censure; sad new year for vodka drinkers as prices rise.  Yushchenko uses presence of Russian fleet as tool against rival Tymoshenko; the conundrum of teaching orthodoxy in schools; could political satire be returning to Russian screens? According to ITAR-TASS, 30 New Year's Eve marchers were detained by police during an opposition rally (or 60 according to the Other Russia), among them veteran 82-year old rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva, dressed as Snegurochka, Father Frost's female assistant.  The unsanctioned rally was in protest against the government's flouting of the 31st article of the Russian Constitution guaranteeing freedom of assembly.  The protesters were labeled 'Bad ...

MDM bank and Ursa Bank have completed a merger which makes the new $16 billion enterprise Russia's second biggest non-state bank after Alfa.  The bank may sell a minority stake to investors and plans to increase its loans portfolio by 20-25%.  President Medvedev has reemphasized the importance of Russia diversifying its economy away from a dependence on raw materials.  Japan's Mitsui and Mechel are set to work on several joint steel projects together.  Saving Russia's fisheries industry, which catches in the Far East, but needs to sell in Russia's West, is a complicated affair, says the Moscow Times.  Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov says that car-maker Avtovaz needs further government assistance to prevent social unrest.  Car sales in Russia fell 58% in July in comparison with last year's figure.  Workers at RegionAvtoTrans-Kurgan have resumed ...