I don't think it works that way...

Recently seen in Craigslist-Moscow:

wanted Freelance spy

Hi, we are a small start up espionage company that would like to find some local people that would like to get into the spy business.
As a freelance spy person we would expect you to" hang out" around KGB offices and other Secret government places, and just listen to secret conversations. You would also be trained to pull out "top secret" papers, that have been dropped in the waste baskets. You then would deliver all the secret stuff to us .Some travel would be expected as you would need to smuggle all information and documents out of the country . Then mail it to us .
We would furnish you with (1) over sized coat with extra big pockets to conceal all the secret stuff.You will also receive (1) pair of dark sun glasses. 

[Article] Russia and Belarus

"Long Pipelines Make Bad Neighbors" Foreign Affairs 12 Jan 2010. Here.

The existing contract for oil deliveries from Russia to Belarus expired Dec 31, and now everyone's up in a tizzy about renegotiating the terms. A third of Europe's oil comes from Russia, via Belarus, and the EU is worried about the Kremlin turning off the spigots.

Tensions have been mounting for a while:

• Belarus refused to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states
• Russia offered a $2billion loan to Belarus, then didn't deliver the final $500 million
• In response, Moscow banned Belarussian milk products
• Belarus announced an interest in joining the EU's Eastern Partnership

Upshot:

If Moscow were to succeed in completely taking over the Belarusian energy distribution network, it would not only be in a stronger position to influence Minsk's foreign policy, but the move would also improve Moscow's market power, and hence its political leverage, vis-à-vis Europe.

Rambling Russophile Alert

Edward Lucas, the Eastern Europe correspondent for The Economist, lauds Russia's ability to get traffic moving after a snowfall:

During my years in Moscow, the first sign of a night-time snowfall was that the incessant traffic rumble softened.

But within minutes, the grating, grinding noise of snow ploughs filled the air. Russia may have dreadful roads, but unlike in Britain, the authorities know that keeping them clear of snow in winter is a national priority.

  But then again, there's this from Dec. 21:

The total length of traffic jams in Moscow reached 1,700 kilometers during the four hours between 8:10 a.m. and 12:20 p.m., or more than twice the distance between Moscow and St. Petersburg, according to statistics compiled by the Yandex search engine, which provides constant updates on Moscow’s traffic.

The length of traffic jams in Moscow during winter morning hours usually reaches 700 to 800 kilometers, he said.

 Just saying.

[Article] Medvedev gets more airtime

"Medvedev Beats Putin in the Press" The Moscow Times, 29 Dec 2009. Here.

It may come as a surprise to westerners who only ever hear/talk about Putin, but according to one study President Medvedev topped Prime Minister Putin by 30,000 media references over the past year.

Vodka News

Kalashnikovs, strange deaths and DIY anti-radiation home remedies! Check it out:

• President Medvedev has raised the price for the cheapest half-liter bottle of vodka to 89 roubles (about $3). With about ten shots in a half-liter bottle, that's 30cents a shot.
• Don't know how I missed this - last fall a woman was charged with "beating her neighbor to death for selling off her boyfriend’s dog in order to buy a half-liter of vodka."
• Soviet scientists claim that they drank distilled spirits before nuclear testing in order to "stop the absorption of radioisotopes."
• Last but not least - celebrate the New Year with vodka poured from a glass AK-47:

[Article] Russia wants foreign weapons

"Russia's New Arms Dealers" Foreign Affairs - Gerrard Cowan, 6 Jan 2010. Here.


According to the author, Russia is looking to purchase new warships from the Netherlands, France and Spain. Estonia and Georgia aren't too happy, fearing they're the targets. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of France, Francois Fillon, makes a good point: "It would be impossible to call for continental stability in partnership with Russia if we refuse to sell armaments to Russia. A refusal would amount to contradicting our own discourse."

[Article] Autocracy in Russia?

"The Kremlin Kowtow: Why have western leaders and intellectuals gone soft on Russia's autocracy?" Foreign Affairs - Lilia Shevtsova, 5 Jan. 2010. Here.


Ms. Shevtsova wonders why so many western thinkers and politicians are willing to believe that Russia is progressing towards a more open democracy or, at the very least, are unwilling to criticize signs of autocracy and authoritarianism. It seems to me, however, that there are plenty of western critics of Russia; most media reports are likely to be skeptical or guarded when it comes to the Kremlin. And we don't need to think too far back (hints: McCain, missile defense, Georgian war) to find examples of flashpoints for Russia critics.