Month: November 2013

MEDIA TELECONFERENCE EVENT: Ground Truth Briefing: Ukraine and Europe [Monday, December 2; RSVP requested]

Europe, EU, Events, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
EU Map

Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 From: Wilson Center <wwics@wilsoncenter.org> Subject: Ground Truth Briefing: Ukraine and Europe Ukraine and Europe: A Turning Point? Dear Media Professional, Despite months of intense wrangling between Kyiv and EU capitals, it is now highly unlikely that Ukraine will sign the EU association agreement during the November 28-29 European Union Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius. Moldova […]

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EVENT: The EU’s Eastern Partnership: A Post-Vilnius Assessment [Tuesday, December 3 in Washington, D.C., RSVP required]

Europe, EU, Events
Woodrow Wilson Center Facade file photo

From: Joseph Dresen <Joseph.Dresen@wilsoncenter.org> Subject: Reminder: Wilson Center event invitation: “The EU’s Eastern Partnership: A Post-Vilnius Assessment” Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 “The EU’s Eastern Partnership: A Post-Vilnius Assessment” The Kennan Institute and the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program are pleased to invite you to a panel discussion with top experts and officials to analyze the results of the third […]

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ANNOUNCEMENT: New White Papers [re: Terrorism, Caucasus, Sochi Olympics, Boston Marathon bombing]

Chechnya, Dagestan, North Caucasus, Sports, Olympics, World Cup, Terrorism
File Photo of Sochi Olympics Banner Near Highway in Warm Weather with Vehicle and Cyclicsts Nearby

Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 0 From: GORDON HAHN <gordon-hahn@sbcglobal.net> Subject: New white papers ANNOUNCEMENT The Geostrategic Forecasting Corporation has posted the first of its white papers: Gordon M. Hahn, The Caucasus Emirate Comes to America: The Boston Marathon Bombing (Chicago, Ill.: GFC, October 2013 Gordon M. Hahn, The Caucasus Emirate Threat to the Sochi Winter Olympics (Chicago, Ill.: GFC, […]

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Hope Springs Eternal Even On The Very Brink Of Winter

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime
Russian Constitutional Court file photo

Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 Subject: Hope Springs Eternal Even On The Very Brink Of Winter From: Robert Teets <rmtlaw@gmail.com> Hope Springs Eternal Even On The Very Brink Of Winter Today saw the first snowfall in Moscow, albeit with its melting as soon as the snowflakes touched the still unfrozen earth. With a constitutional jubilee soon to be upon us, […]

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Yanukovych to Explain U-Turn on EU as Premier Denies Russia Deal

Europe, EU, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
EU Map

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Daryna Krasnolutska – November 26, 2013) Ukraine’s president vowed to explain his snub of a European Union trade pact as Prime Minister Mykola Azarov denied a financing package had been completed with Russia, which opposed the accord. Viktor Yanukovych, who hasn’t spoken publicly since Ukraine decided last week to abandon plans to sign an EU association […]

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Interfax: “Kudrin: Ukraine to lose from association with EU in the first 5-10 years”

CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Alexei Kudrin file photo

(Interfax – November 26, 2013) Ukraine might have had short-term losses from its association with the European Union but gained in the long-term, former Russian Finance Minister, head of the Committee for Civil Initiatives Alexei Kudrin said. “I think that the reasons mentioned by the Russian president and Ukrainian entrepreneurs are quite rational. Most probably, Ukraine will lose from entering […]

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Interfax: Economic problems worst issue in Ukraine’s EU drive – Yanukovych

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

KYIV. Nov 25 (Interfax) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said economic problems are the most difficult issues in Ukraine’s European integration. “We have passed a long way and we have yet to go a long distance. Economic problems have been the most difficult issues on this road,” he said in an appeal to the nation, posted on his website. “But […]

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RIA Novosti: Ukraine-EU Association Deal Still In View – Foreign Minister

Europe, EU, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
EU Map

KIEV, November 26 (RIA Novosti) ­ Ukraine has not abandoned plans to sign a landmark trade deal with the European Union, the country’s top diplomat said Monday. “Ukraine is not rejecting the agreement on association [with the EU], we are simply talking about suspension of its signing,” Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara told reporters in the capital, Kiev. “Neither Ukraine nor […]

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Ukraine’s president tries to calm tensions as clashes continue

Europe, EU, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Map of Ukraine and Environs and Ukrainian Flags

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – November 26, 2013) Huge pro-European crowds were out on the streets across Ukraine for a second night running on November 25, resulting in more clashes with riot police, who struggled to keep order. Seeking to diffuse some of the popular anger against his government’s decision to freeze talks with the EU about an association […]

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Putin to Meet Pope Francis as Church Relations Warm

Religion
Pope Francis Portraits on Four Vatican Stamps

(Moscow Times – moscowtimes.com – Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber – November 25, 2013) President Vladimir Putin will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday as part of his state visit to Italy, an encounter that could help fuel further warming in relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches. Since the election of Pope Francis to head the Vatican in […]

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Putin Paves Way for Gazprom Purge as Economy Weakens

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy
Russian Gas Facility file photo

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Evgenia Pismennaya – November 24, 2013) Vladimir Putin wasn’t having a great day. The Russian president had spent the August morning in a helicopter over Khabarovsk, near the Chinese border, surveying flood damage that had left tens of thousands of people homeless. Then he met with senior advisers who were on the trip, for a briefing […]

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Documentary Highlights Corruption in Sochi Construction

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Sports, Olympics, World Cup
File Photo of Sochi Olympics Banner Near Highway in Warm Weather with Vehicle and Cyclicsts Nearby

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Anna Dolgov – November 25, 2013) A documentary about extortion and threats surrounding the construction of the Sochi Olympic Village is slated to premiere in Moscow next month, despite what its producer said were attempts to bribe her into canceling a screening at a European film festival this week. The film, titled “Putin’s Games,” features […]

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Interfax: Kudrin could establish party of his own – newspaper

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Kudrin file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 25 (Interfax) – The all-Russia civil forum Agenda for Russia, organized by the Committee of Civil Initiatives, could become a basis for establishing a new liberal party, the Izvestia newspaper reported on Monday. According to the information of the newspaper, the Center of Political Technologies has begun researching the topic of party building and possible leadership of Alexei […]

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Interfax: Premier explains suspension of association agreement signing by economic situation in Ukraine

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Map of Ukraine and Environs and Ukrainian Flags

KYIV. Nov 22 (Interfax) – Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said that the government’s decision to suspend preparations for the signing of an association agreement with the European Union is tactical and stems from the current economic situation in the country. “The decision to suspend the signing of the association agreement with the EU was difficult, but it is […]

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RIA Novosti: Ukraine Hopes Russia Reviews Gas Contract ­ PM – Azarov

Oil, Gas, Energy, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
File Photo of Blue Flame from Natural Gas

KIEV, November 24 (RIA Novosti) ­ Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Sunday his country had secured Moscow’s pledge to review a gas contract Kiev believes to be unfavorable. “We have been persistently trying to persuade the Russian Federation to review the contract,” Azarov told Ukrainian TV channel ICTV. “Now, generally speaking, there is such a pledge, and we hope […]

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Interfax: Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, U.S. Department of Justice agree on possible ways to resolve extradition issue

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
FBI Headquarters Building file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 22 (Interfax) – The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice have agreed on ways to resolve extradition issues, which is a serious obstacle in the criminal justice cooperation of the two countries. “During the negotiations with substantial delegations of the U.S. Department of Justice held recently in Moscow, an agreement has been reached on […]

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“The far right, gangsters, and monopolists”: the Soviet interpretation of the Kennedy assassination

History, Soviet Union, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Map of Ranges of Soviet Missiles on Cuba

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Ivan Tsvetkov – November 22, 2013) Dr. Ivan Tsvetkov is an associate professor at the School of International Relations of St. Petersburg State University and an expert in U.S. domestic policy. Thanks to John F. Kennedy’s actions during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which allowed the Soviets to save face, the reporting on his […]

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Interfax: Putin urges government, experts to determine practical steps for stable economic development

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

NOVO-OGARYOVO. Nov 21 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said he urged the government and experts to determine practical steps to ensure stable economic growth of the country. “The work on development tasks should be regular and systemic. Deep expert elaboration of our strategic guides, proposals on practice steps able to ensure stable development of the country and competiveness of […]

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‘Stalingrad’ Blockbuster Revives Russia’s Trauma, Glory

History, Soviet Union, Life in Russia, Culture, Arts
Battle of Stalingrad file photo

(Voice of America – James Brooke – November 19, 2013) A foreign correspondent who has reported from five continents, Brooke, known universally as Jim, is the Voice of America bureau chief for Russia and former Soviet Union countries. From his base in Moscow, Jim roams Russia and Russia’s southern neighbors. Seventy years have passed since the Battle of Stalingrad, the […]

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Interfax: Greenpeace has noble goals but wrong methods – Putin

Arctic, Environment, Human Rights, International Law, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Oil, Gas, Energy, Russia & the West
File Photo of Polar Bear on Ice and Snow with Water Nearby

MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax) – The actions of the Greenpeace environmentalists who tried to climb an oil platform in the Arctic posed a threat to the lives of the people who are working there, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. “When they climb the platform and create an emergency situation, there could be not just one mistake of an operator but […]

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Interfax: There is no persecution of political views in Russia, but ‘law can’t be violated with actions’ – Putin

Human Rights, Life in Russia, Culture, Arts, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said that no one is imprisoning anyone for their political views in Russia, but no one allowed to take actions that break the law. “No one is grabbing anyone and no one is imprisoning anyone for ideas, for political views, and we will never allow that. We will never go back […]

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Russian opposition parties’ leaders praise meeting with Putin

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Valdai Club 2013 Meeting, Adapted from Screenshot of Valdai Club Video at youtube.com

(Interfax – Moscow, November 21, 2013) [Non-parliamentary] opposition parties’ leaders have welcomed yesterday’s [20 November] meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying it was constructive and expressing hope for [positive] outcome. As the co-chairman of the RPR-Parnas party Vladimir Ryzhkov told Interfax, “the impressions from the meeting with the president are good”. “Some changes have been made for the first […]

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From Economic Crisis to Political Crisis: Changing Middle-Class Attitudes in Moscow and St. Petersburg, 2008­-2012

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Institute of Modern Russia – imrussia.org – Sasha de Vogel, Managing editor of the Journal of Globalization and Development – November 19, 2013) [Charts and notes here http://www.imrussia.org/en/society/605-from-economic-crisis-to-political-crisis] During the 2011­-2012 electoral cycle, Russia saw unprecedented mass protests by representatives of the country’s growing middle class calling for more democracy and less corruption. Political scientists point to the unraveling of an […]

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Russia to Build Disposal Facility for Soviet-Era Nuclear Waste

Environment, Military, Nuclear, Missile Defense, Oil, Gas, Energy
Radioactivity Symbol

MOSCOW, November 22 (RIA Novosti) ­ A spokesman for Russia’s state nuclear corporation said Friday that a facility for the disposal of Soviet-era radioactive waste is to be built in the country’s Far East. Officials said they made the announcement to quell media speculation that a site was being set aside for the dumping of nuclear waste from abroad. Those […]

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Ukraine halts EU trade talks, asks for three-way meeting with Russia

Europe, EU, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
EU Map

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – November 22, 2013) Ukraine shocked European officials on November 21 when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych announced he was freezing negotiations with the EU and called for a three-way summit that includes Russia. Tensions have been rising ahead of an EU summit due to be held in Vilnius on November 28-19 at which Kyiv is […]

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Interfax: Moscow Patriarchate hopes Putin’s Vatican visit will make Orthodox-Catholic ties stronger

Religion
Saint Peter's Basilica file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 22 (Interfax) – The Moscow Patriarchate expects Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican to give an additional impetus to relations between Orthodox people and Catholics. “We would like to hope that President Putin’s meeting with the Pope will help strengthen relations between Russia and the Vatican, as well as relations between the […]

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US asset management giant pulls $100M from Russia

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Cash, Calculator, Pen

(RIA Novosti – November 22, 2013) US asset management giant BlackRock pulled more than $100 million from its Russian investments over a seven-day period beginning last week, the Prime news agency reported Friday. The amount is about a third of the investment that BlackRock, the world’s largest money manager, has in Russia, Prime said, citing figures from Emerging Portfolio Fund […]

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Enthusiastic Kudrin Returns to Kremlin’s Policymaking Table

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Kudrin file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 22, 2013) Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, brimming with enthusiasm about breathing life into the gasping Russian economy, returned to the Kremlin’s policymaking table on Friday for an inaugural meeting of President Vladimir Putin’s economic council. The meeting, which lasted about four hours, did not produce any specific recommendations and was predominantly academic in […]

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Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#211 :: Friday, 22 November 2013

JRL Tables of Contents, Russian News
Map of Russia

[check back for updates, including more links; links also posted to facebook and twitter] Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#211 :: 22 November 2013 E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net A project of the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES) at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs: www.ieres.org JRL homepage: russialist.org JRL on Facebook: facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support […]

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Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#210 :: Thursday, 21 November 2013

JRL Tables of Contents, Russian News
Map of Russia

[check back for updates, including more links; links also posted to facebook and twitter] Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#210 :: 21 November 2013 E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net A project of the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES) at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs: www.ieres.org JRL homepage: russialist.org JRL on Facebook: facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support […]

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Interfax: State of public security in Russia is unstable, extremism is main source of threat – public security policy

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Race, Ethnic, Extremism, Xenophobia
Biryulyovo Riots file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) – The necessary level of public security has not been reached in Russia, says Russia’s public security policy that was approved by the president. “The state of public security in Russia is characterized as unstable. Despite the efforts made by the state and society to combat crime and other illegal encroachments and prevent and contain emergencies, […]

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For Russia, size matters; Why some lawmakers want to make promoting separatism illegal

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Race, Ethnic, Extremism, Xenophobia
Russian Duma Building

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Anna Arutunyan – November 21, 2013) Anna Arutunyan is an editor and correspondent at themoscownews.com Earlier this month, a lawmaker known for his loyalist legislative proposals introduced a bill that would criminalize even talking about separatism in Russia. In an apparent attempt to emulate the law that bans promotion of non-traditional sexual relations among minors, […]

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Interfax: Putin may include far-reaching objectives in annual address to Federal Assembly in December

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin Speaking with Flag Behind Him and Microphones in Front

MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin does not rule out that his annual address to the Federal Assembly he plans to deliver in December might contain objectives not only for the coming year but for a more distant future. “I am holding a series of meetings with parliamentary factions and virtually with everyone, and this is related […]

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Interfax: Putin: direct gubernatorial elections a key political trend but specific features of regions must be taken into account

Population Disaster, Demographics, Regions, Cities, Municipalities
Arm and Torso of Person in Brown Sweater Placing Paper Ballot into Ballot Box

MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) – Direct elections of governors will remain a key provision of the Russian electoral system, President Vladimir Putin President Vladimir Putin has said. “The right of voters to elect the heads of regions is the main political trend. We will undoubtedly follow it,” he said at a Wednesday meeting with the leaders of nonparliamentary parties in […]

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Interfax: Corruption is called systemic threat in Russian public security policy

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime
Cropped File Photo of Two Men in Business Suits Shaking Hands and Passing Cash

MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) – The level of corruption in Russia remains high and criminal schemes continue to involve officials and representatives of the Russian and foreign business communities, Russia’s draft public security policy, which is available for viewing on the Kremlin website, says. “We are seeing stable tendencies towards the merging of the interests of businesses and officials and […]

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Interfax: Patriarch Kirill denies accusations of church dictate, says he is anti-clericals’ main target

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Religion
Patriarch Kirill file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) – Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill says he sees no grounds for criticism by those who believe that the church is putting pressure on society and is growing into the state. “Look around you, at what surrounds you, at the TV programs, advertising, lifestyle, full restaurants during Lent. The church is not dragging anyone […]

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Putin opposed to nationalizing companies privatized in auctions in 1990s

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
Empty Boardroom

MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) – President Vladimir Putin is opposed to the nationalization of companies sold at loans-for-shares auctions at the end of the last century. At his meeting with representatives of nonparliamentary parties acting chairman of the Right Cause Vyacheslav Maratkanov invited owners of companies that were bought at such actions “with gross abuses” in the early 1990s “to […]

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Russia’s Tax Climate Rated 56th in the World

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

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 21, 2013) Russia has risen eight points to rank 56th best country in the latest survey of taxation environment, which is part of the World Bank’s Doing Business effort. The improvement was thanks to a reduction of administrative red tape, but the survey of 189 countries found that it still cost Russian companies too […]

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RIA Novosti: Russia Concerned at US Plans for Bases in Afghanistan

Afghanistan, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Allied Troops on High Ground Overlooking Afghan Valley

MOSCOW, November 20 (RIA Novosti) ­ A senior Russian diplomat has voiced concerns over US plans to retain nine military bases in Afghanistan after their planned withdrawal from the country. Russia’s presidential envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, told RIA Novosti in an interview Wednesday that the bases would “exert a serious influence on the whole vast Asian region and become […]

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Interfax: Russia not against Ukraine’s association with EU, would object to NATO membership – Putin

Europe, EU, NATO, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Russian Naval Vessel in Ukrainian Port

MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax) – Russia is not against Ukraine becoming an associated EU member, but it would object if Ukraine decided to join NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. “We are not against Ukraine’s sovereign choice, whatever it is. We are talking about something absolutely different. If we heard that Ukraine joins NATO, then we would really be against […]

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Has Siberia had enough of Russia?

Far East, Siberia, APEC
Siberian Natural Scenery, with River, Trees, Hills

(opendemocracy.net – Aleksei Tarasov – November 21, 2013) Aleksei Tarasov is correspondent for Novaya gazeta based in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. In 2008 he was awarded the prestigious Golden Quill prize for his investigative work. With Siberia’s enormous natural resources being mercilessly exploited by Russia, and now China as well, Aleksei Tarasov wonders if the region might some day amount to more […]

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NEWSLINK: Ukraine drops plan to go West, turns East

CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Europe, EU, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
EU Map

[Ukraine drops plan to go West, turns East – Reuters – Richard Balmforth and Pavel Polityuk – November 21, 2013 – reuters.com/article/2013/11/21/us-ukraine-eu-idUSBRE9AK0S220131121] Reuters reports on Ukraine’s sudden shift from a pending deal with the European Union back towards Russia: Ukraine’s government announced it was suspending preparations for a landmark trade pact with the European Union … [saying] it would renew […]

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RIA Novosti: 90% of Russians Asking for US Visas Obtain Them – Ambassador

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Ambassador Mike McFaul file photo

MOSCOW, November 20 (RIA Novosti) ­ Most Russians asking for US entry visas obtain them, the US ambassador in Moscow said Wednesday. Michael McFaul said at a meeting with students in Moscow’s Foreign Literature Library that more than 90 percent of those applying for visas were granted them. He noted that the figure is higher in Russia than in many […]

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RIA Novosti: Ukraine Ditches Plans for EU Deal, Turns to Russia

Europe, EU, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
EU Map

KIEV, November 21 (RIA Novosti) ­ Ukraine’s government decided Thursday to call off the planned signing of landmark agreements with the EU that could have weakened the former Soviet nation’s bonds with Russia. The Cabinet said in a decree that the decision was motivated by the need to consolidate economic ties with Russia and members of the Kremlin-led Customs Union […]

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Interfax: McFaul angry with Russian mass media reports on U.S. sponsoring opposition in Russia

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Ambassador Mike McFaul file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax) – U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said he was angry with mass media reports on Washington supporting the Russian opposition. McFaul said at a public meeting in Moscow on Wednesday that nothing made him angrier about the Russian media than propaganda about the U.S. government sponsoring Russian opposition. According to the ambassador, he saw Russian […]

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TRANSCRIPT: [Putin] Meeting with leaders of non-parliamentary parties

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin Speaking with Flag Behind Him and Microphones in Front

(Kremlin.ru – The Kremlin, Moscow – November 20, 2013) [Complete transcript of meeting in Russian here http://www.kremlin.ru/news/19659] Vladimir Putin met with the leaders of non-parliamentary parties. Taking part in the meeting were representatives of Civic Platform, Communists of Russia, Right Cause, Patriots of Russia, the Republican Party of Russia ­ Party of People’s Freedom, Motherland, Russian Party of Pensioners for […]

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RIA Novosti: Detained Greenpeace Activists Deserve Clemency – Putin

Arctic, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Environment, Human Rights, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Oil, Gas, Energy, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Polar Map Showing Permafrost Areas, Adapted From NOAA.gov Graphic

MOSCOW, November 21 (RIA Novosti) ­ The Greenpeace activists detained in Russia over a protest at an Arctic oil rig should be granted clemency, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday as 10 of them were released and many others granted bail. When asked to comment on their case at a meeting with Russian writers, publishers, critics and booksellers, Putin said […]

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Interfax: Putin praises “liberalization” of Russian political system

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladimir Putin file photo

(Interfax – November 20, 2013) Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the liberalization of the Russian political system, the privately owned Russian television channel REN TV reported on 20 Nov on 20 November. Speaking at a meeting with the leaders of parties not represented in the Duma in Moscow, Putin said that although some people complained about the large number […]

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Putin Meets for First Time With Nonparliamentary Opposition

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Valdai Club 2013 Meeting, Adapted from Screenshot of Valdai Club Video at youtube.com

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com –  Natalya Krainova – November 21, 2013) President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday met with leaders of major nonparliamentary parties for the first time in his 13 years in power, to discuss issues that will be addressed in his state-of-the-nation speech to be delivered next month. Participants in the meeting, who included billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov of Civil […]

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Interfax: Astakhov Criticizes Western Juvenile Justice, Nontraditional Families

Children, Adoptions, Orphans, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Russia & the West
Pavel Astakhov file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 19 (Interfax) – The Western form of juvenile justice will not work in Russia, Russian children’s rights commissioner Pavel Astakhov said. “My principled stance is that the Western style, a virtually bankrupt form of juvenile justice is not viable,” Astakhov told reporters on Tuesday. “It is not viable in Russia because the equality between parents and a child […]

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