Month: October 2012

Navalny, Kasparov Win Seats in Opposition’s ‘Shadow Government’

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Navalny file photo

(Moscow Times – October 23, 2012) Well-known opposition figures like anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny and former chess champion Garry Kasparov joined lower-profile personalities like former Kremlin G8 sherpa Andrei Illarionov and political analyst Andrei Piontkovsky in a new 45-member “shadow government,” according to election results. The online election, which was extended into a third day Monday after hacker attacks disrupted […]

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Rocking the vote? The opposition’s elections have been labeled a ‘toy project’ ­ but proved to be colorful

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Arm and Torso of Person in Brown Sweater Placing Paper Ballot into Ballot Box

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Yulia Ponomareva – October 22, 2012) In contrast with official polls, the transparency of the elections to the opposition’s coordination council has not been questioned by watchdogs ­ and this is beside the fact that all of the candidates faced off in televised debates. The results, however, will have little if any practical effect ­ […]

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Udaltsov Won’t Flee Russia, Lawyer Says

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Udaltsov file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – October 24, 2012) Opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov has no intention of violating the travel restrictions that currently bar him from leaving the country, his lawyer said Wednesday. Defense attorney Violetta Volkova said that her client ­ a prominent organizer of anti-Kremlin protests ­ was under constant surveillance, Interfax reported. Explaining why Udaltsov cannot be reached […]

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Russia’s Rising Red Dawn

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

MOSCOW, October 23 (Marc Bennetts, RIA Novosti) – The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 appeared to have sounded the death knell for the ideas of Marx and Lenin in Russia, but just over two decades on, a new wave of young and increasingly visible socialist activists are eager to hoist the red flag over the Kremlin once more. […]

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Valdai Experts Lament Poor Institutions in Russia

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

St. Petersburg, October 23 (RIA Novosti, Andrei Zolotov Jr.) – Lack of efficient institutions and the political will to reform them were the buzzwords among the strategists and experts in economics and public policy at the Valdai Club’s 9th annual conference on Russia’s trajectory. The Valdai Club, which is co-sponsored by RIA Novosti and the Russian Council on Foreign and […]

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Putin Foe Udaltsov Vows to Battle Charges

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Udaltsov file photo

MOSCOW, October 24 (RIA Novosti) – Russian firebrand opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov, who could face up to ten years in jail over charges that he plotted to spark nationwide mass disorder, has no plans to flee the country, his lawyer said Wednesday. “On Friday, October 26th, I am planning, along with Sergei, to be at the Investigative Committee,” lawyer Violetta […]

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Analysis: Political Winter Descends on Russia

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Kremlin and St. Basil's file photo

(Voice of America – James Brooke – October 23, 2012 – James Brooke is VOA Moscow bureau chief, covering Russia and the former USSR.) As gray winter skies descend on Moscow, Russians are adjusting to a political winter. Since taking office nearly six months ago, President Vladimir Putin has methodically reduced civic space in Russia by advocating new laws on […]

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MOSCOW BLOG: Liberals take off gloves in first clash with Kremlin old guard

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – October 24 ,2012) It was the first head-to-head clash between the young liberal team in Russia’s cabinet and the old guard Siloviki faction in the presidential administration. On balance, the liberals are seen as having sneaked a win. The battle lines have been drawn since Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev appointed a surprisingly reform-minded […]

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The nuts and bolts of it [Russian legal reform]

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime
File Photo of Russian Constitutional Court

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Natalia Antonova – October 22, 2012) Last week, we at The Moscow News hosted a debate on legal reform in Russia ­ and while the topic itself is a hot one, we were reminded of the fact that real reform is always pretty boring and prosaic. In our discussion, which involved the UN’s Senior Human […]

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Rosneft Deal Shows Ex-KGB Spy’s Influence Under Putin: Energy

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Spies, Spy Allegations
Igor Sechin file photo

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Matthew Campbell – October 24, 2012) As a small army of advisers from eight investment banks huddled in London last weekend to negotiate Russian state oil company OAO Rosneft (ROSN)’s agreement to acquire BP Plc (BP/)’s Russian venture, the deal’s most important player had already left the country. Igor Sechin, 52, a former Soviet spy and […]

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Foreign Ministry Slams U.S. on Human Rights

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Russian Foreign Ministry Building Tower file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Bratersky – October 23, 2012) A senior Foreign Ministry official harshly criticized United States authorities Monday for alleged human rights abuses while presenting a report on human rights in foreign countries. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov condemned what the report described as the often harsh conditions in American prisons, the use of the death […]

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Russia’s Lavrov Says Relations With USA Improving, Missile Defence Main Obstacle

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Missile Defense Control Room file photo

(RIA Novosti –  Moscow, 22 October) Relations with the USA have acquired very positive dynamics over the recent years, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Monday (22 October). In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper he noted that “a multi-aspect vector of development has emerged – this is the presidential commission which comprises 21 groups”. Lavrov added that one […]

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Russian Unemployment Spans From 0.6% in Moscow to 47.3% in Ingushetia

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Regions, Cities, Municipalities
Map of Russia

MOSCOW. Oct 19 (Interfax) – Differentiation between the levels of unemployment in Russia’s federal districts remains strong – the gap in the districts can surpass four-fold and in the regions 80-fold, the Federal State Statistics Service Rosstat said in a report on employment and unemployment in September. The lowest level of unemployment, in accordance with ILO criteria, was in the […]

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Victims of Stalin’s Terror to Be Remembered in Moscow

History, Soviet Union, Human Rights
File Photo of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin

MOSCOW. Oct 19 (Interfax) – Victims of Stalin’s terror will be remembered at the Solovetsky Stone monument on Moscow’s Lubyanka street on October 29 in a ceremony titled “The Return of the Names.” The ceremony will be held ahead of the Day of Memory for Victims of Political Reprisals, marked on October 30, and it is being organized by the […]

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Navalny threatens with a new “Magnitsky list” if the information on the torture of opposition activist is confirmed

Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Navalny file photo

(Interfax – October 22, 2012) Alexei Navalny, the founder of an anti-corruption fund, said the opposition will make a new “Magnitsky list” if the information on the torture of opposition activist Leonid Razvozzhayev is confirmed. “If the torture is confirmed, the Razvozzhayev case should become the first case on which we will do such serious work. We will take specific […]

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Putin Balks at Pension Threats as Aging Russians Hold Trump Card

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Two Elders Walking Outdoors

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Henry Meyer – October 21, 2012) Nina Sultankina is telling Vladimir Putin to ignore Russia’s ticking pensions time bomb. As the 50-year-old road supervisor counts the days until she can retire and tend to her failing health in 2016, she is refusing to work longer and not even the Russian president can change her mind. “I […]

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Less Than Quarter of Russians Content With Cabinet – Poll

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

MOSCOW. Oct 19 (Interfax) – Only 23% of Russians polled by the Public Opinion Foundation on October 13-14 in 43 regions gave good grades to the Cabinet. Moreover, 40% spoke negatively of Cabinet operations while 11% know nothing about the Cabinet’s work. Among ministries the best marks went to the Emergency Situations’ Ministry (56% were satisfied), the Ministry of Communications […]

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First Frost Forecast for This Week

Environment
Map of Russia

(Moscow  Times – themoscowtimes.com – October 22, 2012) With weather forecasters promising a rapid dip in Moscow’s temperature, traffic police urged drivers Monday not to delay installing winter tires on their cars ahead of an expected first frost. “With the arrival of fall, weather conditions have definitely become worse, which demands drivers be extra careful on the roads,” traffic police […]

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Rosneft to Replace Gazprom as Energy Driver on TNK Deal

Oil, Gas, Energy
File Photo of Rosneft and Russian Flags Next to Rosneft Banner

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Anna Shiryaevskaya – October 19, 2012) OAO Rosneft (ROSN)’s proposed acquisition of TNK-BP will accelerate the state oil company’s eclipse of OAO Gazprom (OGZD) as the dominant force in Russia’s energy industry. President Vladimir Putin used Gazprom, the world’s biggest natural gas producer, to assert Russia’s energy power over the past decade, winning pipeline deals and […]

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Environmentalists Recommend Russia to Stay in Kyoto Protocol

Environment
File Photo of Polar Bear on Ice and Snow with Water Nearby

MOSCOW. Oct 18 (Interfax) – Russia should stay in the Kyoto Protocol; its possible secession will have negative consequences, Greenpeace Russia Program Director Ivan Blokov told Interfax on Thursday. “The Kyoto Protocol is important to Russia. The world will shift to a low-hydrocarbon economy just the same. If we disregard the Kyoto Protocol and keep using fossil fuel, we will […]

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Russians oppose engagement in possible U.S.-Iran armed confrontation – poll

Iran
Map of Iran with Stylized Radar Sweep and Overlaid Radioactivity Symbol

MOSCOW. Oct 18 (Interfax) – Moscow should not interfere in a possible altercation between Tehran and Washington, but mediate the peace process, says a report from the Yuri Levada analytical center obtained by Interfax on Wednesday. Twenty-seven percent of Russians believe Russia should not engage in a possible armed conflict between Iran and the United States. Thirty-two percent think that […]

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After 20 Years of US Aid, Russia Goes Solo on Controlling Loose Nukes

Nuclear, Missile Defense, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Nuclear Mushroom Cloud

(Voice of America – James Brooke – James Brooke is VOA Moscow bureau chief, covering Russia and the former USSR – October 18, 2012) The day that Russia’s government decided last week to end its participation in the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program, a huge, mushroom-shaped cloud rose high in the air over Orenburg. In this case, the dust was […]

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Radio Liberty’s Fate Unclear

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo Adapted from State Department Image of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Poster

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – October 19, 2012) Soviet listeners tuned in to Radio Liberty, Voice of America and the British Broadcasting Corp.’s Russian service to get objective information. But since Voice of America and the BBC nixed their Russian radio broadcasts in favor of an online-only regime in 2008 and 2011, respectively, Radio Liberty, known […]

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Ivanishvili: Georgia’s Accession to NATO Needs Speeding Up

Georgia, NATO
Map of Georgia

TBILISI. Oct 18 (Interfax) – Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s likely next prime minister, insisted on Thursday that NATO speed up his country’s process of accession to the North Atlantic alliance now that the nation has carried out democratic parliamentary elections, a condition for joining the organization. “NATO should now take practical steps to enable Georgia to join the alliance as […]

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Medvedev Mulls Ending Kyoto Role

Environment
File Photo of Polar Bear on Ice and Snow with Water Nearby

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Roland Oliphant – October 18, 2012) President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a review of Russia’s involvement in the Kyoto Protocol, raising the possibility that the country could finally “wave goodbye” to the climate treaty altogether. “We have to admit that we did not get any special benefits from the Kyoto Protocol in the commercial sense,” […]

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Russia Hopes to Improve Doing Business Ranking Through Tax Administration – Minister

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Empty Boardroom

MOSCOW. Oct 17 (Interfax) – Russia hopes improve its ranking on the Doing Business index by improving tax administration, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said. In the last Doing Business index, Russia was number 120. The country’s authorities have selected this index as an indicator of the success of their efforts to improve the business climate. In his first instruction after […]

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Pope Supports Russian Church’s Position on Vandalism

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Religion
Russian Orthodox Cathedral Moscow file photo

MOSCOW, October 18 (RIA Novosti) – Pope Benedict XVI has agreed with the Russian Orthodox Church’s position regarding acts of vandalism in downtown Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral, the Church said. “Pope Benedict XVI has expressed solidarity with the Russian Orthodox Church’s position on the issue and perplexity over the reaction of a number of media to these events,” the […]

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Russia Faces ‘Battle’ Over Anti-Smoking Bill

Health, Epidemics, Substance Abuse
No Smoking Symbol

MOSCOW, October 18 (Dan Peleschuk, RIA Novosti)-The Cabinet of Ministers’ unanimous approval Thursday of a controversial anti-smoking bill was the latest salvo in the debate over how to tackle Russia’s tobacco addiction. As a result, some government officials are preparing for what they say will be a “battle” with Russia’s powerful tobacco lobby. “We will face an enormous amount of […]

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JRL Table of Contents :: Johnson’s Russia List 2012-#184 – 18 October 2012

JRL Tables of Contents
Map of Russia

Johnson’s Russia List 2012-#184 18 October 2012 davidjohnson@starpower.net A World Security Institute Project www.worldsecurityinstitute.org JRL homepage: www.russialist.org JRL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support JRL: www.russialist.org/funding.php Your source for news and analysis since 1996 In this issue POLITICS 1. University of Washington: Remembering Herbert J. Ellison, a guiding light in international studies. 2. International Business Times: Arctic Maritime […]

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JRL Table of Contents :: Johnson’s Russia List 2012-#183 – 17 October 2012

JRL Tables of Contents
Map of Russia

Johnson’s Russia List 2012-#183 17 October 2012 davidjohnson@starpower.net A World Security Institute Project www.worldsecurityinstitute.org JRL homepage: www.russialist.org JRL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support JRL: www.russialist.org/funding.php Your source for news and analysis since 1996 In this issue POLITICS 1. RIA Novosti: Arctic Sea Route to Open Year-Round in 2013 – Scientists. 2. Moscow Times: Medvedev Backs 3 Extended […]

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Eight Reasons Why Ukraine’s Party of Regions Will Win the 2012 Elections

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Ukrainians with Ukrainian Flag in Public Square Near Tower with Golden Dome

(Jamestown Foundation – jamestown.org – Eurasia Daily Monitor, Volume: 9 Issue: 189 – Taras Kuzio – October 17, 2012) Opinion polls have shown a gradual growth of support for the Party of Regions ahead of the October 28 parliamentary elections, which will give them a plurality in the legislature. The United Opposition (Fatherland and Front for Change­UO) and Ukrainian Democratic […]

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Ombudsman Unveils Program for Disgruntled Businesspeople

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Howard Amos – October 18, 2012) Blocked by bureaucracy? Not appreciated by officials? Look for the red button. Under a new initiative by business ombudsman Boris Titov, people sent packing by government agencies will have someone to help them try again. Due to be drawn up by the end of December, the Red Button program […]

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Udaltsov Calls for Pickets Over Aide’s Detention

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Udaltsov file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – October 18, 2012) Left Front leader Sergei Udaltsov, who investigators suspect of plotting mass riots on Russian soil, called on supporters to picket law enforcement agencies on Thursday in support of his assistant charged in the same case. “We must struggle to free Lebedev,” Udaltsov told Interfax on Thursday, referring to his aide Konstantin Lebedev, […]

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Medvedev Backs 3 Extended Holidays for 2013

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Dmitry Medvedev file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – October 17, 2012) The country will enjoy three extended public holidays next year: 10 days for the New Year, five days for May Day and four days for Victory Day, according to a decree signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday. After an extra working day on Saturday, Dec. 29, the 10-day New Year […]

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NEWSLINK: Russia’s Putin sacks member of Medvedev’s cabinet

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone

Russia’s Putin sacks member of Medvedev’s cabinet – Reuters – Gleb Bryanski – October 17, 2012 – http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/17/russia-putin-government-idUSL5E8LH6ZB20121017 Reuters covers a move by Russian President Vladimir Putin to remove a member of Dmitry Medvedev’s cabinet: Putin signed a decree dismissing Regional Development Minister Oleg Govorun, one of two ministers he had publicly criticised last month, and replacing him with Igor […]

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NEWSLINK: After Nosediving In 2011 Vladimir Putin’s Approval Rating is (Mostly) Holding Steady

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

“After Nosediving In 2011 Vladimir Putin’s Approval Rating is (Mostly) Holding Steady” – Forbes – Mark Adomanis – http://www.forbes.com/sites/markadomanis/2012/10/17/after-nosediving-in-2011-vladimir-putins-approval-rating-is-mostly-holding-steady/ Forbes.com looks at polls on Russian President Vladimir Putin: Now as you can see from the graph Putin is, at the end of 2012, arguably weaker than he’s ever been. It’s true that he’s previously been in the same territory in […]

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Arctic Sea Route to Open Year-Round in 2013 – Scientists

Arctic, Environment
Polar Bear on Ice

ST. PETERSBURG, October 17 (RIA Novosti)-The record reduction in Arctic pack-ice this year has created favorable conditions for year-long navigation along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in 2013, offering major savings to shipping operators, Russia’s Arctic Institute said on Wednesday. The ice coverage in the Arctic reached its record minimum of 3.41 million square kilometers (1.32 million square miles) in […]

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Trial of Prison Warden Where Magnitsky Died to Continue in Moscow

Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Memorial Flowers and Photo of Sergei Magnitsky

MOSCOW. Oct 16 (Interfax) – Moscow’s Tverskoi Court on Tuesday will continue hearings of the criminal case against a former deputy head of Butyrka prison, Dmitry Kratov, who is the only suspect thus far to have been accused of negligence leading to Hermitage Capital lawyer Sergei Magnitsky’s death. Evidence is expected to be provided by investigator Oleg Silchenko, who probed […]

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Politkovskaya Murder Suspects to Seek Jury Trial

Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Chechnya, Dagestan, North Caucasus, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Mourners with Photo of Anna Politkovskaya

MOSCOW. Oct 16 (Interfax) – The people accused of murdering Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya will ask for a jury trial. “We will certainly make a motion for a trial by jury. Legislation allows us to do so,” Alexei Mikhalchik, a defense lawyer for one of the suspects, told Interfax. According to the Russian Code of Criminal Procedure, a request […]

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Russian Business Climate, Corruption Hold Back Rating, S&P Says

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Two Persons Shaking Hands and Exchanging Cash

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Scott Rose – October 16, 2012) Russia needs a better business climate to bolster economic growth and win an upgrade of its investment-grade credit rating, according to Standard & Poor’s. The government must deal with “structural impediments” to growth by fighting corruption, scaling back the state’s role in the economy and improving the judiciary, while moving […]

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International Energy Agency: U.S. gas exports might reach a third of Russian exports in future

Oil, Gas, Energy, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Russian Gas Facility file photo

(Interfax – October 17, 2012) The amount of gas that the U.S. exports might reach a third of the amount that Russia exports in the medium term, Laszlo Varro, Head of the Gas, Coal and Power Market Division at the International Energy Agency (IEA), said at ‘Gas Day’ at Skolkovo. American gas exports will play an important role in the […]

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Russia to Boost Defense Spending 59% by 2015

Military
Russian Nuclear Submarine file photo

MOSCOW, October 17 (RIA Novosti)-Russia plans to boost annual defense spending by 59 percent to almost 3 trillion rubles ($97 billion) in 2015, up from $61 billion in 2012, the head of the State Duma’s Defense Committee told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. “Targeted national defense spending as a percentage of GDP will amount to 3.2 percent in 2013, 3.4 percent […]

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JRL Table of Contents :: Johnson’s Russia List 2012-#183 – 17 October 2012

JRL Tables of Contents

Johnson’s Russia List 2012-#183 17 October 2012 davidjohnson@starpower.net A World Security Institute Project www.worldsecurityinstitute.org JRL homepage: www.russialist.org JRL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support JRL: www.russialist.org/funding.php Your source for news and analysis since 1996 In this issue POLITICS 1. RIA Novosti: Arctic Sea Route to Open Year-Round in 2013 – Scientists. 2. Moscow Times: Medvedev Backs 3 Extended […]

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Pussy Riot and the party line: Why was Samutsevich set free? The answer is simpler than you think

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Pussy Riot Members in Courtroom Enclosure, With Man Showing Papers to One While Female Guard Looks On

(Moscow News –  themoscownews.com – Anna Arutunyan – October 15, 2012) Sometimes, the best indication of what’s going on in Russian politics ­ and Pussy Riot is clearly a case of Russian politics ­ comes from simply reading the official line. Forget the experts and the oppositionists, just turn on the TV, curb your instinctive vitriol, and try to take […]

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Towns Face Budget Battles They Can’t Win

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Cash, Calculator, Pen

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Rachel Nielsen – October 16, 2012) In a recent comedy sketch show, a police officer forks over the pay raise that he hid from his wife after she hears President Vladimir Putin announce the increase on TV. “Vladimir Vladimirovich,” the policeman mutters on the “6 Kadrov” television show, “thank you for raising our salaries, but […]

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Getting tough on drunk driving: The deadly accident involving actress Marina Golub has officials pulling out all the stops

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Health, Epidemics, Substance Abuse
Shelf of Alcoholic Beverages with Red and White Tape Across It

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Yulia Ponomareva – October 15, 2012) In the wake of high-profile road accidents in Moscow, United Russia is pushing ahead with a tougher drunk driving bill. On Monday, representatives of United Russia, which holds the absolute majority in Russia’s parliament, confirmed that the party is moving ahead with its set of amendments toughening the DWI […]

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Russian Middle Class to Number 74 Million by 2050, HSBC Predicts

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Olga Tanas – October 15, 2012) Russia’s middle class will double to 60 percent of the population by 2050, benefiting hotels and restaurants, according to a report by HSBC Holdings Plc. (HSBA) By that time, about 74 million Russians will earn between $3,000 and $15,000 a year, making them part of the middle class, according to […]

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[TRANSCRIPT: Putin] Meeting with Central Election Commission Chairman Vladimir Churov

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladimir Putin file photo

Kremlin.ru –  October 15, 2012 – photo is a file photo Meeting with Central Election Commission Chairman Vladimir Churov Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region Mr Churov briefed Vladimir Putin on the results of elections held in a number of regions around the country. Local and regional elections took place in 77 regions around Russia on a single voting day on October 14. […]

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Kudrin Criticizes Prevalence of Social, Military Spending in Budget

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Kudrin file photo

MOSCOW. Oct 15 (Interfax) – International Expert Council for Russia Chairman Alexei Kudrin said at a World Economic Forum session, attended by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, that the prevalence of social and military spending in the Russian budget had its shortcomings. “It was noted (during discussions on Sunday) that the structure of the budget was weak and that there […]

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Investigators Wrap Up Politkovskaya Case

Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Chechnya, Dagestan, North Caucasus, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Mourners with Photo of Anna Politkovskaya

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – October 16, 2012) Investigators announced Tuesday that they have wrapped up a second inquiry into the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya and charged five suspects with murder and illegal possession of weapons. “The investigative team has collected enough evidence to draw up an indictment,” Vladimir Markin, the official spokesman for the Investigative Committee, said in […]

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