Ever since Dmitry Medvedev became Russia's president and Vladimir Putin assumed the role of prime minister, Russian businessmen and foreign investors have wondered who is really in charge and whether anything would change. Mr Putin visited factories and farms, chatted with workers and lambasted an odd minister, but he looked distinctly bored. Was he loosening his grip? In the past few days Mr Putin has delivered a thundering answer.rnTo assert his supremacy Mr Putin chose Mechel, a steel giant listed in New York, with a market value of $15.2 billion. On July 24th Mr Putin publicly accused Mechel and its main shareholder, Igor Zyuzin, of selling its coking coal abroad more cheaply than at home and dodging taxes. He was particularly irritated that Mr Zyuzin, who was summoned to a government meeting, was said to be ill. "Of course, illness is illness, but I think he should get well as soon as possible.
展开▼
