I've got some clips I've accumulated from Johnson's Russia List on this scandal that I don't want to forward to PEN-L for length and copyright reasons. Anyone interested, email me. And, in a phrase or two: yes it was insider trading of a sort, but there's also a political context - a fight over whether a stock-market or bank-centered system is best for Russia's capitalist future. Doug -- Doug Henwood Left Business Observer 250 W 85 St New York NY 10024-3217 USA +1-212-874-4020 voice +1-212-874-3137 fax email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> web: <http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html>