Having initially predicted contraction of 3%, Citigroup Inc. now believes the Russian economy will shrink by at least 6.5% this year.  VEB will provide over 300 billion rubles in loans to Russian enterprise over the course of 2009.  The company will also begin to place eurobonds as of next month and may increase the issue to $10 billion.  A Siberian court has rejected a stay motion by Telenor to block the sale of its stake in Vimpelcom.  Oleg Deripaska's British van maker LDV looks may well go into administration this week, the Times reports.  Gazprombank reported a loss of $1.8 billion in 2008, the first major Russian bank to do so.  Potash producer Uralkali has announced profits of $653 million, with a 172% increase on last year.  Evraz group saw net profit decrease by ...

TODAY: Khodorkovsky parole appeal rejected. Russia submits draft resolution to UN over Georgia; Russia likely will sell weapons to Syria. Saakashvili interview. Healthcare crisis. Former Yukos executive Mikhail Khodorkovsky has has his parole appeal rejected by a Siberian court, on grounds that he had not taken part in a prison education program specializing in sewing. The decision can be appealed within ten days. Khodorkovsky had told the court that, if freed, he would quit the oil business, and devote himself to humanitarian work and family life.