Russia's economy shrank at the slowest monthly pace this year in September.  Apparently the Lada has become the quickest growing car brand in Germany since the fall of the Berlin Wall, spurred on by Merkel's cash-for-scrap program.  Putin has offered more funding to Avtovaz, but it is unclear as to whether Renault will participate.  The Russian automaker's management claim the company has no intention of dismissing employees whose retirement age is long-off.  VTB has acquired a controlling interest in Cristall's 11 distilleries, which make Stolichnaya vodka.  Steel maker Severstal says that production at its mills is regaining momentum.  Russia plans to restructure fixed-line operator holding company Svyazinvest by spring 2011.  Sheremetyevo Airport could be privatized to shore up the budget deficit.  The Times reports on the story of Sergei Frank, former transport minister, ...

Norilsk Nickel shareholders have voted to invite a state representative, Vasily Titov, deputy chairman of state-run VTB Group, to their board, to give the company additional support during the crisis.  Russian Railways chief Vladimir Yakunin has recommended the government consider nationalization of crisis-hit industries to alleviate social tensions.  Four minority shareholders of High River Gold Mines have asked the company to reject Severstal's offer of 19 US cents per share, saying that the Russian steelmaker should raise the bid fivefold.  GAZ Group, the main employer in the Nizhny Novgorod region, will make around 6,500 people from its main production site redundant.  A high-ranking executive at ratings agency Fitch says that Russian banks will need $20 billion to $80 billion in extra capital this year.  The Magna-Opel deal is said to be in jeopardy as GM Europe ...

The Russian Finance Ministry says that all of the major tax breaks have been introduced and there will be 'no sensations' in tax proposals over the next three years.  Rusal claims to have cut costs by $554 million in the first quarter, but workers suggest this is affecting safety and efficiency.  According to Ria Novosti, Rusal has seen a decrease in its primary aluminum output by 7.2% year-on-year in January-March.  Alfa Bank has restructured 5% of its loan portfolio, according to Reuters the figure stands at 15%.  Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works has agreed to restructure car maker Avtovaz's outstanding debt in a long term cooperation agreement.  Vladimir Yevtushenkov's Sistema is apparently hoping to bid for control of telecoms giant Svyazinvest.  Sberbank issued 16.5 billion rubles in mortgage loans in the first quarter.  The ...