Background

The policies adopted by the Russian Federation ('Russia') in dealing with its energy resources, notably in its gas pricing dispute with Ukraine and, more recently, its law on foreign investment in strategic industries, are the subject of worldwide publicity and comment.[1] Russia has signed the Energy Charter Treaty ('ECT'), but to date has no intention of ratifying it.[2] The advent of Dmitry Medvedev as President Putin's successor later this year is not expected to herald a change in Russia's stance on this matter. Whilst 'provisional application' is not a novel ...