Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook (FB +2.31%), met with Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev outside of Moscow on Monday, according to a New York Times report. The two chatted for about 20 minutes, and Zuckerberg later posted a picture of himself and the former president on his Facebook page.
Russia is considered to be a vital market for Facebook. It's the largest Internet market in Europe, and its users spend more money on games and virtual goods as a percentage of their income than even Americans do. The Russia-Facebook relationship isn't fraught with tension, but it's not exactly smooth, either. Facebook played an integral role in the civil unrest and political protests that the country saw last winter. Facebook is likely looking to nurture the relationship so that Russia does not become another China, which has banned the social networking giant altogether. It looks like such a drastic move by Russia is unlikely, as Russian Internet access is mostly unregulated; Prime Minister Medvedev is also a well-known fan of technology.
Our analysts have prepared a premium report on Facebook, outlining the risks and opportunities the tech behemoth faces today. If you're a potential Facebook investor or current shareholder, you should know about the possible pros and cons—find out what they are today, get your copy here.
