I don't find it surprising, i had expected that for a while. Why? its very simple, if they don't control the money, they can't control people, it's as clear as that. If people are their own banks, why would they need banks, and therefore a goverment supplied currency? Bitcoun outdates the current monetary system and the powers that be are scared about people using it.

At least we are not seeing huge price drops every time we hear that Russia will ban us like it was the case when Chinese were banning us about 10 times in a row!

Whether or not Russia bans bitcoin is not important. No one legitimately with money wants to stay in Russia and it is known fact. There is a reason why U.K charges wealthy individuals Russians to move into their own country. Russian money (the rouble) is basically worthless. If you gave me free roubles, I wouldn't accept them. The economy and financial status of Russia is irrelevant.

It is very easy to understand. They cannot never own bitcoin. And any country cannot like or incentive a money not owned by them. Cannot be able to control it. So in the best of this kind of cases bitcoin can be legalized and regulated to be used together with the national money but always having everything within their control. So if bitcoin can become risky can be banned without problem in every moment. We have e few important, developed and influential countries which are not doing this but are on this point of view (USA, Germany, Swiss, Canada and hopefully soon even China). In the worst of cases we find the traditionally conservative countries lead by probably, hidden or openly appeared, dictators or closed mind leaders the most typical of whom is Putin and its country about which is talked in this thread. They want everything under their total control and is out of mind that can accept a symbol of freedom and Independence like bitcoin to be used free in their propriety named Russia. First of all because of their economic policies (affected and controlled by the politics). So make everything in their hands to stop it. Totally in vain effort. More they restrict the legal space of bitcoin much more increased the illegal space of the use of it. Cannot arrive to stop never the penetration and the use of bitcoin in Russia. Whatever can do.

Come on they can't ban piracy Piratebay,Kickass . How they are planning to ban Bitcoin?
Only if they stops internet connections. I don't understand?

They are gonna use it still but with much less integration in other life business that is very bad..
But soon will  realise that bitcoin is good and they will try to charge its use.
It is all about taxing..

Fucking authoritarian regimes can ban what they want but nobody listens to them anyway