Andrew Meier has penned an epic, wide ranging profile of the second trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky in The New York Times Magazine, which captures a sense of the courtroom, the personalities, and the historical context of the affair.  For readers of this blog it is unlikely to have new information, but it represents an important item of reference for those who want to learn about the case. Moscow would soon grow famous for operatic oligarchs and Byzantine intrigues, but Khodorkovsky never got caught in a compromising position -- never snared at an Alpine resort, a Moscow casino or on a Riviera yacht. Girls, power, even the money, seemed to hold no magic. Where others basked in pomp, he was shy and painfully soft-spoken; ...

TODAY: Youtube policeman faces slander investigation; Omsk students threatened with expulsion; Committee to Protect Journalists urge global attention to threats against media in Russia. Merkel thanks Gorbachev; Medvedev approves new military bill; advocates abolition of death penalty. Delay for Gazprom eyesore?; Nobel Prize winning physicist dies; Kalashnikov goes on; gangsters' idea of cemetery chic. Corruption-highlighting policeman Alexei Dymovsky is now facing three investigations after posting a video address to Putin lamenting the state of the police, including an Investigative Committee examination of whether the policeman's accusations hold any truth; another investigation is against Dymovsky himself, for slander.  Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev has already ordered an investigation into the Novorossiisk police force and suspended Dymovsky ...

Bob has an opinion article in today's edition of the Guardian stressing the importance of linking human rights with foreign relations during David Miliband's visit to Russia this week, and elsewhere in the same paper, Mikhail Khodorkovsky's mother has issued her own appeal to the foreign secretary.

At least one report confirms that Khodorkovsky's case will indeed be discussed.

Miliband has started on this path already, apparently. He met with human rights activists today where, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Libery, he "expressed his concern over the killings of activists of nongovernmental organizations in Russia and the pressure that is being imposed on civil society."

Miliband also pressed Russia to

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Canadian-based Validian Corp. has first-to-market technology that provides secure access, transfer and storage of digital information on wired, wireless or mobile networks over the internet. The company’s customizable solutions ensure end-to-end authenticity, integrity and custody of high-value digital assets.

The company today announced the commercial installation of its ‘Validian Protect’ product with three licensing agreements in Asia, Canada and the United States. Validian also reported that it is on track for ten installations by year-end which will produce a revenue stream for the company.

This is quite a good start for the ‘Validian Protect’ product which only became available in August 2009. One key selling point for the company’s product is its ability to be customized for each customer. Validian recognizes that digital assets require varying levels and forms of protection, depending upon the nature of the business and of the digital information itself.

Validian should find a ready market

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TODAY: Lavrov keeps eagle eye on Georgia; Netanyahu's fears about Russian rogue scientists; Chubais takes the fall for hydropower plant disaster.  Litvinenko widow despairs over apparent British moves towards rapprochement.  Luzhkov-Baturina to take Nemtsov to court. UN report pessimistic on Russia's demographic decline; Ban Ki-moon voices approval for ecological care.According to the Moscow Times, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that Russia will survey shipping in the Black Sea to monitor Georgian 'provocations' which are a 'serious concern'.  Jorg Himmelreich in the International Herald Tribune suggests that much analysis of last year's Georgia-Russia conflict has overlooked the crucial matter of President Bush's Georgia policy.  Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko says that he believes that the ratification of the Lisbon treaty would benefit ...

Euro Telecom Giants Swap Numbers, Agree Mega Merger

by Martin Denholm, Senior Editor

It’s Friday night…

French telecom firm Orange is standing at one corner of the bar, sipping a fine Bordeaux. Its German rival T-Mobile is propped up at the other, slugging down a hearty Hefeweizen.

Their eyes lock. The deal is on.

Before you know it, the two have swapped numbers and arranged to get together.

That’s the deal that has the European telecom sector buzzing at the moment, as Deutsche Telecom’s T-Mobile and France Telecom’s Orange have agreed to merge their British operations.

The result is a veritable cellular beast, boasting 24.8 million customers, vaulting it to the top of the pile in the U.K. and knocking Telefonica’s O2 into second place. The T-Mobile-Orange partnership would own almost 40% of the British mobile market and bring together two firms with combined annual sales

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In case you had not noticed, Germany has spent this Sunday electing a new government and judged by the incoming bulletins the current chancellor Angela Merkel will be getting another term, with another coalition mind, and thus the dubious honor of leading Germany out of its worst recession in a long time, here is the BBC's Gavin Hewitt; 

From the moment the first exit polls appeared, the celebrations began at the Christian Democrats' Headquarters in Berlin. Every good result was met with whoops and a clinking of beer glasses. They even managed to offer sausages with "CDU" branded on them! Angela Merkel's supporters had grown nervous in recent days that they might have to continue their awkward partnership with the Social Democrats.

Soon it sunk in that Germany would have a centre-right government. It was more than many at Mrs Merkel's party headquarters had dared to hope for. One woman

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A BBC News article reports that Volkswagon (ETR:VOW) is backing away from merger talks with Porsche (ETR:PAH3).

I first told you about this merger, which would consolidate company operations, back on May 8, here on the Emerging Markets Blog. The BBC reports that VW is suspending talks with Porsche saying that, “constructive negotiations were not possible at the moment.” Porsche has a significant amount of debt, and VW wants the luxury car company to reduce that debt. Ironically, Porsche took on about $12.2 billion in debt so that it could increase its stake in VW… The history between these two companies is long and complicated, and while VW says its backing away from the table, the two own stakes in each other and were founded by the same family. Porsche says the talks are

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TODAY: Medvedev denounces corruption as main problem in Russia, argues business mentality needs transformation, does not rule out standing at 2012 elections and hints at a possible U-turn on Iran.  NATO chief calls for closer cooperation with Russia; Medvedev suggests US was prime obstacle to WTO bid.  Military deal with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.  CPJ report highlights neglect regarding unsolved journalist murders.'We are not used to saying 'we have a dream' in my country ... but this is my political vision':  Medvedev has promised to 'squeeze' corruption out of Russia with a reform program laid out at a Valdai debate club meeting.  The President also told the audience that the ...

Remember the Ghost Ship story?  How all the explanations just didn't seem to add up?  The one Russian military journalist to piece together a coherent theory suggested that there had been no pirates involved in the hijacking of "The Arctic Sea" ship (which would have been the first pirate attack in the Baltic Sea in many decades), but rather separate groups moving on an illegal arms shipment arranged by high ranking members of the Russian government.As reported in our earlier news blast, now that journalist has been forced to flee Russia under alleged threat of arrest.  I guess that means his story must have been true?  From the BBC:

Mikhail Voitenko said he had been told

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