Quote Originally Posted by hddscan View Post
On the contrary, there is plenty.
Russia is raiding its reserves to goose the ruble’s rally – Quartz
Russia's Central Bank Abandons Its Fight to Support the Ruble - WSJ
Russian central bank to stop burning reserves on supporting ruble, takes aim at speculators - 11/10/2014 10:48:20 AM | Newser
How do those articles dispute what I posted? The last even acknowledges various serious problems like inflated prices.

Quote Originally Posted by diogen_ View Post
Actually, even western mainstream media start to acknowledge the “oil conspiracy” against Russia and Iran. Obama is willing to sacrifice his own oil industry in order to harm Russian economy and preserve his bloated but brittle ego.))

Stakes are high as US plays the oil card against Iran and Russia | Larry Elliott | Business | The Guardian
So, it's Obama's fault for Russia's economic problems? LOL! Obama has his own problems at home. But, it has nothing to do with Russia. All I was saying is that Russia was heading towards economic decline amid a number of various problems (it was inevitable even before the sanctions) but it was even exacerbated by the sanctions and the intervention with Ukraine. With the sanctions and 'tough attitude' (more like fascade or phony stubbornness), the government (Putin et al.) have sacrificed Russians' economic prospects and conceded a lopsided deal with China plus sacrificing lives literally with the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. I figure that some of the Putin supporters will eventually change their outlook when these problems have a more personal consequence for them.