Russia ratifies uranium deal with Mongolia; Russia and Spain expel two diplomats each on spying charges; Russian Tycoon Khodorkovsky gets six more years of jail term; West criticizes the extension of Khodorkovsky’s jail term
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    • The Russian government has ratified an agreement to establish a joint venture between Russian and Mongolian companies to develop Dornod, Mongolia’s biggest untapped uranium field1. Russian investment in the first stage of the project is close to 300 million US$ and production is expected to start next year. The agreement was signed in 2009 in Moscow between Rosatom Corp., Russia’s nuclear power company, Russia’s government-run Armuz-Uranium Holding and Mongolia’s state-owned KOO MonAtom. Dordon Uran is expected to produce 2,000 tons of uranium annually. The joint venture would be focusing on the Dornod deposit and the East Gobi fields in Mongolia.

    Reports noted that Spain and Russia have expelled two of each other’s diplomats on spying charges. The diplomats had been accused of economic espionage. However, the two countries have re-affirmed their decision to continue to work closely to improve their bilateral relationship. Meanwhile, at the start of the year 2011, Russia and Spain have decided to strengthen their cultural ties by celebrating ‘Year of Spain’ and ‘Year of Russia’ in their respective countries.2

    In another development, a Moscow court has sentenced jailed former oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky to another six years in prison till 2017. Khodorkovsky, the country's most famous political prisoner was convicted of convicted of theft and money-laundering. There was widespread backlash with both domestic and international condemnation pouring in, with the verdict being termed as illegal, disgrace and barbaric. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the outcome of the trial contradicts the stated intentions of Russia’s leaders for the country’s development. France called on Russia to consider the widespread international criticism of the case as Khodorkovsky’s legal team pursues an appeal.3

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