The MICEX index, one of the main Russian stock market indicators, nosedived to a new low this March, going back to the May 2012 level, on the news from the OECD, says Vedomosti.

      According to the business daily, at 3.54 pm Moscow time MICEX stood at 1258.12 while RTS, another key indicator, dropped 1.3 percent to 1085.85.

      Among the worst hit are Sberbank (-3.08 percent), Rostelecom (-3,46 percent), FSK UES (-3.31 percent), Inter RAO UES (-6.33 percent).

      OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, announced it has suspended Russia’s accession process. The decision was made by the organisation’s board of directors at a meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2014.

      At the same time, the statement said the Paris-based body will intensify cooperation with Ukraine.

      The move comes amid heightening tension between Moscow and the West that has threatened Russia with sanctions over its Ukraine policy.

      Earlier, Moody’s has warned Russia could lose investment appeal and its current credit rating due to the uncertainty over the Ukraine crisis. According to the rating agency, Russia’s GDP can suffer as a result, with many private investors withdrawing their funds from the economy. The risk is exacerbated by the fact that many Russian banks and companies operate in Ukraine.

      Russia-IC also reported that a military invasion of Crimea would cost the Russian economy some three percent of GDP. The transit of natural gas to European consumers worth $30 billion may be disrupted, the Vedomosti business daily quoted an estimate by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In case of a military operation, the EU may block the construction of the South Stream pipeline and switch to other energy sources in a move towards an economic boycott. Public spending is bound to go up regardless of whether the Kremlin decided to send the troops to the Crimean peninsula.

      The Russian authorities have pledged financial aid to the residents of the autonomy whose budget is facing a $1 billion deficit.