Meet the New Boss

Michael Idov loiters in Moscow on the eve of Dmitry Medvedev’s coronation

Georgia’s Messy Breakup

and why the August War was really a love story...

This Wednesday, January 28, a Russian court will consider issuing an international warrant for the arrest of Yevgeny Chichvarkin, former chairman of Euroset, the largest mobile phone retailer in Russia. Officially, Chichvarkin is wanted for the alleged 2003 kidnapping and extortion of a former employee. Unofficially, Chichvarkin is being told to “get out and stay out” for getting too big for his faded, designer britches.

As the economic crisis deepens in Moscow, Kremlin is rolling up its sleeves to likely reshuffle local governments that are sinking further into debt and defaulting on loans and mortgages. Kremlin officials are angered by the misuse of the funds Moscow had allocated to the regions to quell their financial crisis.

Just hours ago, ex-mobile phone mogul and exiled oligarch du jour Yevgeny Chichvarkin made his first public appearance since going AWOL last December. His re-emergence takes the form of a vaguely allegorical, highly effusive LiveJournal post. The somewhat odd story included some characters living in America, and dialogue about “following one's dreams” and “reaching one's potential.” Plus, a music link! (The song’s opening lyrics are: “The fog/the fog…”) With a warrant out for his arrest, we're not sure this is a wise move on Chichvarkin’s part, but it's nice to see him following in the literary footsteps of other famous Russian exiles. Like Trotsky.