Putin Kills Google Deal

The Russian government blocked Google from acquiring contextual advertising firm Begun.

Google would have paid Russian portal Rambler $140 million for its subsidiary, but Russian authorities say Google failed to provide "documented information about individuals that may influence the business group Google."

A Rambler shareholder told Russian newspaper Vedomosti that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin actually blocked the deal because he did not want to see US company Google take over the Russian market as it has elsewhere.

Why do we find that so easy to believe?

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