JRL E-Mail Newsletter Table of Contents :: Johnson’s Russia List 2013-#37 – 22 February 2013

Map of Russia

Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#37 :: 22 February 2013 E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net JRL homepage: www.russialist.org JRL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support JRL: http://russialist.org/funding.php POLITICS 1. Scientific American: Siberian Caves Reveal Advancing Permafrost Thaw. Melting of significant portions of Arctic permafrost could accelerate climate change into a catastrophe. 2. Interfax: Medvedev says Russia is not autocracy. 3. Interfax: Chelyabinsk […]

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Wave of Resignations Foreseen in Duma

Russian Duma Building

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Yekaterina Kravtsova – February 22, 2013) The resignation of senior United Russia lawmaker Vladimir Pekhtin following accusations from opposition leader Alexei Navalny that he owned undeclared property in the U.S. triggered speculation that more lawmakers would quit their seats, throwing the ruling party into crisis. Pundits said Thursday that with lawmakers facing an increasing barrage […]

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Corruption Watch round-up; Russian crack-down escalates dramatically

File Photo of Two Persons Shaking Hands and Exchanging Cash

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – February 22, 2013) The Kremlin’s drive to crack down on corruption in the government has escalated dramatically in the last week and moved into a new phase. In addition to several high profile investigations into both government departments and large state-owned companies, senior officials have come out in recent days to indicate that the […]

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Medvedev Says Talk of Russia as Human Rights Violator ‘Frivolous’

Dmitry Medvedev file photo

(Moscow Times – themocowtimes.com – February 22, 2013) In an interview with the Brazilian daily O Globo, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said talk of Russia as a human rights violator was “frivolous” and suggested prison sentences received by Pussy Riot band members could have been less strict. “I do not believe that we are an absolutely perfect, model society and […]

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Russia Faces Same Macro-Economic Problems USSR Did 40 Years Ago, Moscow Economist Says

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, February 21, 2013 – http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2013/02/window-on-eurasia-russia-faces-same.html) The Russian economy today despite some very positive numbers over the last year suffers from four macro-economic problems that not only will be difficult to correct but also resemble those the Soviet leadership faced in the 1970s and 1980s, according to the rector of the Presidential Academy […]

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Police interference often disastrous for businesses – Russian Prosecutor General

Empty Boardroom

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) – Russian Prosecutor General Yury Chaika said he was concerned with groundless interference of police in commercial disputes. “The practice of opening groundless criminal cases, arresting enterprises’ accounts and assets hasn’t been eradicated,” Chaika said during his speech at the all-Russian prosecutors’ conference on protecting rights of businessmen. Chaika said that “the number of operational procedures […]

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McDonald’s could open 150 restaurants in Russia in three years

File Photo of Russian McDbnald's Crew with U.S. Diplomat

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) – McDonald’s plans to open at least 150 restaurants in Russia in the next three years, the company’s president for Russia and Eastern Europe, Khamat Khasbulatov, told a press conference. The company opened 46 restaurants in 2011 and 37 in 2010. It opened its first diners in the Lipetsk region and cities of Saransk, Izhevsk and […]

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Russian Foreign Ministry opens Facebook account

Russian Foreign Ministry Building Tower file photo

(Interfax – Moscow, February 21, 2013) The Russian Foreign Ministry has opened an official account in the social network Facebook, says a report published on the ministry’s website today. “Topical information about the Russian foreign policy, archive materials about the history of the Russian diplomatic service, helpful information for countrymen and Russians staying abroad will be posted there. We expect […]

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G20 tests Russia’s influence

G20 Logo

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – www.rbth.ru – Alexey Dolinskiy, special to RBTH – February 21, 2013) In 2013, Russia will host the G-20 summit for the first time ever. Russia’s official presidency started in December 2012, but high-level meetings, culminating in the September 2013 St. Petersburg summit, are just beginning. Leading a global institution of the world’s most powerful countries […]

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IMF More Upbeat Than Medvedev on GDP Growth

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Irina Filatova – February 21, 2013) The International Monetary Fund took an optimistic stance at Russia’s prospects Wednesday, saying that its economy could demonstrate a faster pace of growth over the next few years than the annual goal of 5 percent set by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. To attain those growth rates, the government should […]

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Putin’s Nationality Policy Won’t Work as He Intends

Migrant Workers file photo

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, February 20, 2013 – http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2013/02/window-on-eurasia-putins-nationality.html) Both the five specific planks of his nationality policy that Vladimir Putin outlined yesterday and problems underlying his entire approach to this issue guarantee that the Russian president will offend both Russians and non-Russians and produce the very outcome he says he is trying to avoid ­ […]

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The interior ministry attempts to professionalize and reform the Russian police; Inadequate Professionalism in the Police Forces Remains a Problem for the Russian State

File Photo of Russian Policeman with Face Turned Towards Van

(Eurasia Daily Monitor: Volume 10, Issue 32 – Jamestown Foundation – jamestown.org – Richard Arnold – February 20, 2013) New recruits to the Russian police will soon undergo mandatory polygraph tests in order to gain admission to the force. The requirement, introduced in June 2012 as part of a comprehensive reform of the police, will now be introduced in practice […]

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Nearly 90% of Russians support ban on foreign bank accounts of officials – poll

Cash, Calculator, Pen

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) – Support of the Russian public to President Vladimir Putin’s bill banning foreign bank accounts of civil servants is practically unanimous, the Public Opinion Foundation said. It polled 1,500 respondents in 100 towns and cities in 43 regions on February 16-17. Seventy-three percent heard about the bill, and 26% learned about it during the poll. From […]

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Damage from corruption in Russia exceeded 20 billion rubles in 2012 – Chaika

Hands Opening Envelope Containing Cash

MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) – The fight against corruption intensified in Russia in 2012 and the damage from corruption is estimated at more than 20 billion rubles, Russian Prosecutor General Yury Chaika said. “We have determined over 49,000 (corruption) encroachments, which is almost one-fourth more than was registered in 2011, and the number of people found to have committed corruption […]

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Anti-corruption action in Russia increasingly ineffective – prosecutor general

File Photo of Man Placing Stack of Large Bills into Inside Pocket of Suitcoat

MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) – Russia’s prosecutor general has accused law enforcement agencies of increasingly ineffective action against bribery. “It is for the second year running that we have been expressing anxiety at a decrease in the number of registered instances of bribery. Instances of offering bribes have not only been going down in number – by 21% – but […]

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Duma Requests Extremism Probe into Church Reform Article

Duma Session file photo

MOSCOW, February 21 (RIA Novosti) – Representatives of the four factions in the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, on Wednesday requested an extremism probe into an article on a Russian Orthodox Church reform by political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky. In the article published by the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily on February 15, Belkovsky says that the Russian Orthodox […]

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Russians support Putin, not happy with State Duma – poll

Russian Duma Building

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) – Sixty-five percent of Russians approve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s work, the Levada Center told Interfax on Thursday, following a nationwide survey conducted on February 15-18. Levada Center sociologists said that the approval rating of the Russian president gained three points, as compared to 62% in January. The approval rating of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev […]

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Situation with orphans in Russia is more important than debate on foreign adoptions – Putin

File Photo of Russian Orphans with Mr. and Mrs. Dmitry Medvedev

NOVO-OGARYOVO. Feb 20 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said the living conditions of orphans in Russia are much more important than the current debate on adoptions. “We are now actively discussing the work with foreign adoptions, which is, of course, an important thing, but not the main thing. What is more important is the way children, who have been […]

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Ulyanovsk Hub Not Getting Much Use by NATO

NATO Meeting file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – February 21, 2013) NATO and Russia pride themselves on cooperation over Afghanistan and the fight against terrorists and pirates, but a planned logistics hub to transport military hardware from Afghanistan is not taking off. Moscow and the Western military alliance will conduct a range of exercises this year, including a joint […]

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It’s too early to speak about cause of Maxim Kuzmin’s death – U.S. consul

United States Map

(Interfax – February 21, 2013) The results of the autopsy performed on Russian child Maxim Kuzmin who died in the U.S. have not been made public yet, Acting U.S. Consul in Russia Bill Bistransky said. Bistransky told Kommersant FM, commenting on the statement made by Russian envoy on human rights, democracy and supremacy of law Konstantin Dolgov saying that the […]

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U.S. Policy on Russia for Obama’s Second Term

File Photo of Vladimir Putin Leaning Towards Barack Hussein Obama With Flags Behind Them

(The Heritage Foundation – www.heritage.org – Ariel Cohen – February 20, 2013) Ariel Cohen, PhD, is Senior Research Fellow in Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Policy in the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, a division of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies, at The Heritage Foundation. Since Vladimir Putin’s third […]

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JRL E-Mail Newsletter Table of Contents :: Johnson’s Russia List 2013-#36 – 21 February 2013

Map of Russia

Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#36 :: 21 February 2013 E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net JRL homepage: www.russialist.org JRL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support JRL: http://russialist.org/funding.php POLITICS 1. Moscow Times: Irina Ratushinskaya, What to Do If Something Explodes in Russia. 2. Izvestia: Rogozin Warns Prime Minister of Asteroid Threat. 3. Interfax: Situation with orphans in Russia is more important than debate […]

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EU-Russia 2013: Stagnating political and economic ties

EU Map

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – www.rbth.ru – Sergey Sumlenny, special to RBTH – February 20, 2013) Russia and the EU are losing the ability to conduct effective political dialogue, say experts. While Russia still appeals to European businesses, it is also under unwelcome pressure to conform to European ideals of democracy and human rights. Meanwhile, Germany could be the key […]

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Russia stuck in Syrian conundrum; Moscow is looking for a force to take responsibility for the settlement in Syria

Syria Map

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – www.rbth.ru – Nikolay Surkov, special to RBTH – February 19, 2013) Nikolay Surkov is an assistant professor at Moscow State Institute of Foreign Affairs While Western actors push for the creation of an interim government in Syria, Russia is pessimistic about chances for improvement in the situation. Moscow sees no state willing to guarantee such […]

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Armenia Looks to Russia for Support

Map of Armenia and Environs

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – February 20, 2013) Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, re-elected in a landslide victory Monday, is expected to keep the promotion of Russian ties a priority during his second five-year term, as his country moves closer to clinching an Association Agreement with the European Union. Flare-ups in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, seized by Armenia […]

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Russian PM Medvedev Arrives in Brazil

Map of Brazil and Environs

BRASILIA, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Brazil’s capital Brasilia, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Wednesday. During his visit to Brazil on February 20-21, Medvedev is expected hold talks with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and co-chair with Vice-President Michel Temer the sixth meeting of the Russian-Brazilian high-level bilateral cooperation commission. The Russian premier […]

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Obama’s Dilemma: Trying to Breathe New Life into the “Reset”

File Photo of Vladimir Putin Leaning Towards Barack Hussein Obama With Flags Behind Them

(Institute of Modern Russia – imrussia.org – Donald N. Jensen – February 19, 2013) With the unraveling of its “reset” with Moscow, the Obama administration is seeking new ways to engage the Russian leadership, relying on the time-tested issue of arms control. According to Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins School […]

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Putin opposes restitution of Soviet confiscated property

File Photo of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Aleksandras Budrys – February 20, 2013) Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the country should not return cultural property confiscated by Bolshevik and Soviet authorities after the 1917 revolution to its previous owners. “If we now agree that such property of the Russian state will be transferred to someone, we will open a Pandora’s box. […]

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Adopted Russian Boy’s ‘Suspicious’ Death Raises Many Questions

Pavel Astakhov file photo

WASHINGTON, February 19 (By Maria Young for RIA Novosti) The January death of a young boy adopted from Russia last year by American parents was called “suspicious” on Tuesday by Texas authorities investigating the case, but they stopped short of confirming the graphic evidence of abuse some Russian officials have claimed and said the parents have not been charged with […]

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Latest Orphan Death Sparks Official Furor

Duma Session file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Jonathan Earle – February 20, 2013) With striking unanimity and furor, senior officials and lawmakers on Tuesday condemned the latest death of an adopted Russian child in the United States, saying the incident vindicates the government’s controversial decision to ban U.S. adoptions. “The death of one more Russian child in the United States has at […]

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Russian senators call for return of all Russian children adopted by U.S. families

File Photo of Russian Orphans with Mr. and Mrs. Dmitry Medvedev

(Interfax – February 20, 2013) The Federation Council’s meeting on Wednesday began with the issue of the death in the U.S. of Maxim Kuzmin, 3, who was adopted by U.S. citizens. Senators did not hide their outrage with what has occurred, and each of them tried to communicate his position on the matter. Nikolai Kondratenko, former governor of the Krasnodar […]

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Russia may create Arctic oil and gas field reserve

Map of Barents Sea and Polar Environs

MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) – Russia would form a reserve of oil and gas fields in its Arctic zone under a proposal contained in the Strategy for Development of Russia’s Arctic Zone and Ensuring National Security to 2020 published on the government website on Wednesday. The fund would help guarantee the nation’s energy security and ensure the steady development of […]

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Far East development program to 2025 sent back for revisions – paper

File Photo of People Working on Car Amidst Siberian Woodlands and Meadows

MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) – The government program for the Social and Economic Development of the Far East and Baikal Region for the Period to 2025, drafted by the Far East Development Ministry, was discussed at a meeting held by First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, business daily Vedomosti reported on Wednesday. “The document was not officially submitted to the […]

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Dvorkovich Denies Resignation Rumors

Arkady Dvorkovich file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Irina Filatova – February 20, 2013) Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich got in the spotlight Tuesday amid rumors that he might have to resign in the wake of the recent scandals in the energy sector, which he oversees. In comments posted on his Facebook account late Monday, Dvorkovich unequivocally dismissed speculation in social networks that […]

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Russia should stimulate supply, not demand – IMF

Cash, Calculator, Pen

MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) – Russia should not boost domestic demand more quickly than it increases the economy’s productive potential, Senior Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Russia Odd Per Brekk told reporters in Moscow on Wednesday. On the basis of its latest research, the IMF has arrived at the conclusion that the Russian growth model of […]

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Russia’s long-term budget strategy to be based on development forecast to 2030 – PM

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax) – The long-term forecast for Russia’s social and economic development in the period to 2030 will be the foundation for the country’s long-term budget strategy, as well as federal and regional programs, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. “Long-term budget strategy, federal and regional programs should be formed on the basis of this document, but we need […]

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Ten Commandments Party established in Russia

File Photo of Stained Glass Window Depicting Moses Holding the Tablets of the Ten Commandments

Moscow, February 18, Interfax – The inaugural congress of the Russian Ten Commandments Party took place in Moscow. The total of 134 delegates from 45 Russian subjects, including Christians of different confessions, Muslims, and Jews, participated in the inaugural congress on February 17. The political council, the decision making body of the party, was headed by Sergey Mezentsev, Ph.D. “I […]

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Corruption Crimes Rate In Russia Declines – Russian Supreme Court

Cropped File Photo of Two Men in Business Suits Shaking Hands and Passing Cash

(RIA Novosti – February 19, 2013) The number of convicts charged with corruption of all sorts is constantly declining, RIA Novosti news agency reported on 19 February, quoting the head of the Russian Supreme Court, Vyacheslav Lebedev. According to Lebedev’s data, a total of 10,000 people were charged with corruption in 2010, 7,500 people – in 2011, while in 2012 […]

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Hundreds of Officials, MPs Prosecuted in 2012

Duma Session file photo

MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s Investigative Committee (IC) initiated criminal proceedings against more than 800 state and government officials last year, including about 600 lawmakers on different levels, committee chief Alexander Bastrykin said on Wednesday. “Last year we took legal action against some 600 deputies and elected heads of municipalities and local self-government bodies, 19 deputies of regional […]

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Having Released ‘Obscurantism Genie,’ Putin Could Lose Control Over It, Gontmakher Says

Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, February 19, 2013 – http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2013/02/window-on-eurasia-having-released.html) President Vladimir Putin’s decision to give official support to some of the most reactionary and vicious groups in Russian society in order to counter the increase in the number of the middle class who are appalled by his policies in this regard carries with it great risks […]

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Sobyanin Touted as Possible Putin Successor

Sergei Sobyanin file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Winning – February 20, 2013) Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin is among the few politicians capable of appeasing warring factions within the ruling elite and becoming President Vladimir Putin’s successor, a report released Tuesday said. The report, drafted by the influential Minchenko Consulting Group, said that although there exists a broad consensus within Putin’s inner […]

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Russians getting ever more annoyed about daylight savings abolition – poll

Analog Clock Artist's Rendition

(Interfax – February 19, 2013) The decision to abolish daylight savings time, taken in June 2011 under then-President Dmitriy Medvedev and hotly debated since its implementation, is becoming increasingly more annoying for Russians, a survey by the pro-Kremlin All-Russia Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) pollster has found, the Interfax news agency reported on 19 February. The poll, posted on the […]

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Federation Council Passes Anti-Smoking Bill

Federation Council file photo

MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, approved a bill on Wednesday banning smoking in public places. The ban, which takes effect on June 1, was passed by 125 votes. Four senators voted against the bill and six abstained. The State Duma, the parliament’s lower house, passed the bill in its third and […]

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Most Russians support anti-smoking law – poll

No Smoking Symbol

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Aleksandras Budrys – February 20, 2013) Most Russians support measures aimed at restricting the advertising, sale and use of tobacco products contained in the new bill passed by both houses of parliament, but are divided about its outcome, a poll run by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) showed on Wednesday. It showed 79 […]

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ANNOUNCEMENT: Pussy Riot – New Issue of Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)

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

Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 From: “Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)” <newslist@isn.ch> Subject: No.122: Pussy Riot RUSSIAN ANALYTICAL DIGEST Newsletter 4 February 2013/No. 122 Pussy Riot To download this issue please click here: http://www.css.ethz.ch/publications/DetailansichtPubDB_EN?rec_id=2415 Analyses Failed for Now: Pussy Riot and the Rule of Law in Russia, by Caroline von Gall, Cologne The Pussy Riot Trial and the Russian Orthodox Church, […]

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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: New Russia Policy & Society MSc and PhD Programmes at King’s College London, King’s Russia Institute

File Photo of British Parliament Building Including Saint Stephen's Tower Containing Big Ben

From: “Samuel Greene” <samuel.greene@kcl.ac.uk> Subject: New Russia policy & society programmes in London Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 The King’s Russia Institute at King’s College London is now accepting applications for our MSc in Russian Politics & Society and our PhD in Russian & Eurasian Studies. Offering a unique, multi-disciplinary and globally integrated approach to the study of Russia’s most […]

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EVENT: New Approach or Business As Usual? US-EU-Russia Relations After Putin’s Crackdown – March 4, 2013, in Washington, D.C.

Dirksen Senate Office Building file photo

Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2013 From: Freedom House <FHEvents@freedomhouse.org> Subject: Upcoming Event- March 4 Forum: US-EU-Russia Relations After Putin’s Crackdown You are cordially invited to attend a forum hosted by the Foreign Policy Initiative, Freedom House, and the Institute of Modern Russia New Approach or Business As Usual? US-EU-Russia Relations After Putin’s Crackdown Date: Monday, March 4 Time: 3:00-5:30PM Location: […]

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EVENT: After the Failed Russian Reset: What Is Next? – February 21, 2013, in Washington, D.C.

File Photo of Vladimir Putin Leaning Towards Barack Hussein Obama With Flags Behind Them

Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2013 From: “The Heritage Foundation” <mailingFP@heritage.org> Subject: Invitation for Feb 21- After the Failed Russian Reset: What Is Next? The Heritage Foundation After the Failed Russian Reset: What Is Next? Featuring Vladimir Kara-Murza Commentator, World Affairs Stephen Blank, Ph.D. Research Professor of National Security Affairs, U.S. Army War College Katrina Swett, Ph.D. President, Lantos Foundation Hosted […]

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Georgia as Russia’s Future Asset

Georgia Map

(RIA Novosti – Fyodor Lukyanov – February 14, 2013) Fyodor Lukyanov is Editor-in-Chief of the Russia in Global Affairs journal ­ an authoritative source of expertise on Russian foreign policy and global developments – http://eng.globalaffairs.ru] Georgia has most likely entered the final stage of its political transformation. The next few weeks will show whether President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose term ends […]

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Discovering a tiny corner of America in Moscow

Stylized Russian and U.S. Flags with Number 200, 1807-2007

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – www.rbth.ru – Pavel Koshkin, RBTH – February 18, 2013) Despite growing difficulties in Russian-U.S. relations, interest in American culture remains strong ­ as evidenced by a growth in attendance at Moscow’s American Center. A bust of American writer Mark Twain and a cardboard cutout of U.S. President Barack Obama greet Russians who enter the American […]

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