Recently, overall oil production in Russia has decreased.

Oil and gas companies in Russia are taxed on the basis of $80 on oil market, when in reality actual price is significantly low.

More than 60% of country’s budget is based on tax and other income, obtained from oil and gas sector. Therefore, crude oil market price sensitivity affects country’s overall economy, including strategic economic development plan till 2020 proposed by Russian government, which mainly is supposed to be financed from country’s oil income (and calculations are made considering much higher oil prices on market). In addition to all this, world GDP (gross domestic product) is expected to decline first time for several decades, leading to decreased oil production worldwide. OPEC already decreased oil production and thinks to follow that direction in near future.

How Russian government used its easy money last 15 years? They increased country’s foreign currency and gold reserves (almost $600 bl) in addition to enlarging stabilizing fund. Nowadays, while global crisis just star to affect real economies in the world, Russia is loosing $15 b weekly (from above mentioned sources)to support its economy, financial institutions and inflation, which is higher than expected.

What else Russian government did with this easy money? NOTHING ELSE. Country lives in 1990s reality. Maybe someone has some illusions (for ex: Moscow is the most expensive city in the world in 2008), but population there is around 15 m, while in Russia it is about 150 m. Russia is not only Moscow and Sankt Peterbourg, an it is biggest country in terms of geography. So … can someone list more than 2-3 cities in Russia n briefly describe what happens there? There happens NOTHING. In Siberia they even do not know who is their president. At the end, after 17 year, first time Russian president visited Russia’s far east part (Medvedev). They even do not know what happens there.

It is endless topic with countless arguments. However, the main point is: how many out of 140 m people in Russia want to live in present conditions, current prospects for future and existing ideology?! Or people just want financial/social security, freedom of choice and long life instead of unpredictable temporary existence.

But who cares, they play in war strategy from Kremlin.
It is not about politics, ideology and culture. It is about power of INDIVIDUALS rather than population.

Telemont: “If there’d been no [address by Medvedev on Nov. 5], all the commentators would’ve been discussing the U.S. election, and domestic realities would have inevitably been compared to the American ones.”

Telemont: You are correct! It seems that the Kremlin prefers to announce or strike while the U.S. is engaged in other things. First the Olympics and now the Presidential Election. They seem to use our press as a their smoke screen.

As far as deploying defense systems, that has been going on for decades. Russia and the U.S. aren’t going to nuke each other. That would mean the destruction of the other country, as well.

putin up with this: “Now Medvedev increases the term limit for president from 4 to 6 did anybody else have a say in this? besides putin and a few others?
Russia no need to be jealous or worried of america
the usa is broke! russia is rich!”

Russia is rich, but Russians are only as rich as Medvedev allows them to be. No you have no say in 4 to 6 years, or a lifetime. It is called a dictatorship. No?

While America is moving forward, it seems the Russians are moving back. I feel sorry for the Russian people; I thought they had evolved.

Its a hint of jealousy
at the American election they make fun of American
elections in Russia and thought with mccain it would be proven that American ideals were gone but with barack
they see a classy gentleman a considerate leader that gave America instant credibility. Now Medvedev increases the term limit for president from 4 to 6 did anybody else have a say in this? besides putin and a few others?
Russia no need to be jealous or worried of america
the usa is broke! russia is rich! with petro dollars
Barack is not going to invade the kremlin next week relax.
The usa agenda now will be repairing the damage brought by bush. Focus on the real world problems of climate change and disease @ prosperity for the masses. Barack would want to sit down with Russia and scale down the amount of nuclear weapons each country possess. The next question is will Russia continue to attack its neighbors even when the external threat has vanished with a peaceful united states!?