[RussianConservative]

So combined, they total 17.6% Russian GDP...that not count this year 7% growth, others not show much growth. This year they equal 16.4%. With PPP calculation that make Russia 8th largest economy this year.

[Thane_Banquo]

RAO UES chief sees Russia as liberal empire

Looks like Berkeley beat them to it.

[MJY1288]

Hello fellow Freeper, I have a question for you.....

Do you currently live in Russia?

[Pubbie]

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/up.html

Wonderful.

Getting Ukraine and Belarus back would put an enlarged Russia's population at 203+ million people, making it by far the largest European nation in terms of population.

It would also reduce corruption in Ukraine and Belarus and lead to greater prosperity thanks to free trade.

And most importantly, it would create an enormous Orthodox Christian homeland.

[MJY1288]

The only reason why I ask is because I own a bodyshop and do some work for quite a few Russians in my area just outside of Washington D.C. and almost all of them do not speak highly of Mr. Putin. I was wondering if there is any talk like this in Russia or is there still fear of the Government for saying such things

[piasa]

On Jan. 18, 2011, a small green-energy company named Joule Unlimited announced Podesta’s appointment to its board. Months later, Rusnano, a Kremlin-backed investment fund founded by Vladimir Putin, pumped $35 million into Joule. Serving alongside [Hillary Clinton’s former campaign chief John] Podesta on Joule’s board were senior Russian official Anatoly Chubais and oligarch Ruben Vardanyan, who has been appointed by Putin to a Russian economic-modernization council. ——
Uncovering the Russia ties of Hillary’s campaign chief
NY Post ^ | 5 July 2017 | Peter Schweizer http://nypost.com/2017/07/05/uncovering-the-russia-ties-of-hillarys-campaign-chief/