Key Kremlin figure 'quits'

From the UK's BBC News:

The Kremlin's chief-of-staff has resigned, Russian newspapers reported on Wednesday, suggesting hardliners may be strengthening their position. Chief-of-staff Alexander Voloshin is seen as a member of the Kremlin's old guard - not among the powerful incomers appointed by President Vladimir Putin. His reported resignation is being linked to the storm over the arrest of Russia's richest man, Mikhail Khodorkovsy, at the weekend. Mr Voloshin is seen as a pro-business figure who has strong sympathies with the tycoon and his Yukos oil empire.

In a separate move, prosecutors asked a court to annul the election to parliament of a major Yukos shareholder, Vasily Shakhnovsky, which would remove his current immunity from tax evasion charges. That development was enough to drive down the price of Yukos shares by 8% in early trading on Wednesday. Prices had already taken a battering earlier in the week before recovering on Tuesday. The reports of Mr Voloshin's resignation were carried in several Russian newspapers. The daily Vedemosti quoted sources close to the Kremlin as saying Mr Putin had accepted his chief-of-staff's resignation.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3223847.stm

whatever it was he was doing in Russia.

Richest oil guy indicted.

Now an old guard (non-oligarch) resigns.

Interesting. Wonder what the grand plan will be.......

jump ship and resigned his directorship of Carlyle!

Never mind that Pickles went on a serious charm offensive to the Kremlin, followed by Cherie Booth's much hyped visit to some Russian culture gig...

Then (ok, tinfoilhatters, beware...) Poodle had a cardiac scare, spinned like mad about a breakthrough with the IRA and announced the following day that....it was all down the pan and the IRA weren't after all going to give up the ammo and say 'the war is over'...

The Other Bush Administration at Downing Street is in its death throes. Happy Halloween!