Spotlight | Russia
The Old Believers, Russia's informal diplomats in the Vatican

The Corporate Intelligence Village Voice
Roux de Bézieux tours France, Goût gets 'Back to Russia', Danone in Moscow, Bangkok

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: every Wednesday, we report on events big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community.

ParisRoux de Bézieux promotes economic security

Moscow/Paris/RomeHow to get ‘Back to Russia'

MoscowA new head for Accor in Russia

Paris/BangkokArnaud Leaveau's Alta Strategies bridges gap between Europe and Indo-Pacific

Russia, Vatican
Unlikely alliance in Moscow pushes for Pope Francis Nobel Peace Prize nomination

The World Union of Old Believers in Moscow, which maintains mixed relations with the Kremlin and the Orthodox Church, has joined forces with the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winning journalist Dmitry Muratov to campaign for the pontiff to be nominated for the prestigious prize.

Russia
Russia's religious institutions clash over military draft exemption

Mobilisation continues to divide Russia's ruling class and, behind it, the country's influential religious groups, who are actively taking part in the political debate on the war. Both the Orthodox Church and the Old Believers are trying to weigh in on discussions through their respective networks.

Russia, Ukraine
War in Ukraine puts Russia's Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch community under pressure

European branches of the Orthodox Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch religious community are very actively engaged in Ukraine, putting the movement's Russian branch in a tight spot with the Kremlin.

Russia, San Marino, Vatican
War in Ukraine: San Marino offers to be Vatican's diplomatic pedestal

Two consultants, one French, the other Russian, are working to shape and then promote Pope Francis's mediation efforts with Moscow and Kyiv. They would like to see the microstate of San Marino play host to future talks.

Europe, Russia
Russian Orthodox Church bounces back via Budapest posting

Russian Patriarch Kirill and his Hungary-based right-hand man Hilarion have taken stock of their faux pas at the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and are manoeuvring on various fronts to try to emerge from their religious and diplomatic isolation.

Russia, Vatican
Moscow ready to welcome the pope...but only after the war

Pope Francis had to hold off plans to visit Russia as part of his efforts to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church, which also wants to play a role in resolution of the conflict, is trying to adopt a more open position.

Russia, Vatican
War in Ukraine: Vatican and Patriarch of Moscow rally their networks

While the Vatican is trying to position itself as a neutral negotiator between Moscow and Kyiv, the Patriarch of Moscow is looking for ways to counter his own increasing isolation.

Europe, Somalia
Garda and Aegis forge partnership in Somalia

According to our sources, the private security firm GardaWorld is planning to team with Somsec to carry out the contract [...]