Viktor Vekselberg has reduced his stake in two Swiss companies, Schmolz + Bickenbach STLN.S and OC Oerlikon OERL.S, from 43 percent to 19.9 percent. While he has remained a major shareholder in the two companies, his role in both has become less visible. As a result, activists have been targeting the company’s leadership and senior management.
Alexeyeva has made a decision to attend a memorial rally for the 39 people killed in the Triumfalnaya Ploshchad street, but not the Solidarity opposition rally on the same day. Opposition leaders have said that the time is not right for bloody PR. They have defended the president’s decision to send the government a message by addressing the victims of the bombing.
The Russian leader’s speech was followed by a statement in which Rechkalov urged people not to give credence to „false versions“ of events. He cited the FSB’s report on the 1998 apartment bombings, which preceded Putin’s first election as president. After his speech, the suicide bombing campaign was over, but Rechkalov was re-elected in 2004.