[woodruffw]

I posted this in a different thread (on BP's divestment), but I think it applies here: this technique seems likely to backfire, since companies may view Russia as indeterminately risky and simply choose to value their holdings at $0.

I'm not sure what their end game is here, but buying back foreign interests in your country for pennies on the dollar seems like a much smarter move than triggering a crisis in faith. But maybe that's why I don't run the Kremlin!

[rmbyrro]

That also puts you on track to become the next Argentina, if you stay on the track.

[woodruffw]

Which country is "you" here? If you mean Russia, I agree: it's hard to see how this goes anywhere good for them.

[rmbyrro]

Yeah, Russia. They're doomed if they're really doing this. It's quite close to a default on national debt.

Ask Argentinians how it's like to live in a country that does that.

[idoo]

Russia defaulted in 1998 and it wasn't pretty for the population

[FastMonkey]

It's almost like they're sanctioning themselves!