Election theme
Could the election result in Georgia also conceivably be pro-EU, since Russia does not seem to have managed to put together a large enough investment budget to win in Moldova?
Record-high policy rate in Russia. The Russian central bank on Friday raised its policy rate by two percentage points to 21 percent, a record high figure, AP reports.
This is in an attempt to combat the country's inflation, which is growing in line with the state's military spending, which has strained the economy's capacity to produce goods and services.
Inflation is significantly above the Bank of Russia's July forecast and that more interest rate hikes may be relevant in December. See the article on SVT Nyheter.
Here are three countries Vladimir Putin wants to steer in a Russian direction. Three countries that were previously part of the Soviet Union have ended up in Putin's sights. Now he wants to steer Armenia, Moldova and Georgia in a Russian direction.
This weekend's parliamentary elections in Georgia are described as a fateful election – should the country move closer to the West or strengthen ties with Russia?
The issue is also highly topical for the countries of Armenia and Moldova. Moldova has just voted yes to the EU and Armenia has joined the International Criminal Court, which could mean that Putin would be arrested if he went to the country. Vladimir Putin perceives the former Soviet countries' efforts to move closer to the EU and Europe as a threat to Russia. Watch the feature on SVT News.