Ruble’s weakening due to slowdown in economic growth in Russia – Siluanov

Cash, Calculator, Pen

SYDNEY. Feb 23 (Interfax) – The ruble’s weakening observed since the start of the year is due to slowdown in Russia’s economic growth in the first place, not over the curtailment of the Quantitative Easing (QE) program by the United States, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told reporters. “What happened to the ruble’s exchange rate at the start of the […]

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Interfax: Major sporting events boost Russians’ sense of dignity, nation’s openness to world – Putin

File Photo of Sochi Olympics Banner Near Highway in Warm Weather with Vehicle and Cyclicsts Nearby

SOCHI. Feb 24 (Interfax) – Events such as the Sochi Olympics demonstrate to the whole world that Russia is no stranger to hospitality and success, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. “Events such as this are certainly of a nationwide nature, uniting people around absolutely positivity, boosting our sense of dignity while at the same time showing our country’s openness to […]

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Kremlin to tighten screws in wake of Kiev unrest

Kremlin and Saint Basil's

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Anna Arutunyan – February 24, 2014) A Moscow court sentenced seven people on Monday to prison terms ranging from one to four years for their roles in protest riots on the city’s Bolotnaya Ploshchad in May 2012, in a ruling seen as an indicator of whether government pressure would increase on the opposition in the […]

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Moscow urges crackdown in Ukraine on “extremists” in government

Russian Foreign Ministry Building Tower file photo

MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) – Moscow on Monday urged the Ukrainians to bring back the situation in their country into “the legal framework” and “crack down on the extremists who are trying to get established in power.” “We earnestly call upon all those who are involved in the crisis in Ukraine to show the maximum sense of responsibility, to take […]

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Russians Overwhelmingly Oppose Moscow Intervention in Ukraine but Also Say There Won’t be a Maidan in Russia

Kremlin and Saint Basil's

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, February 24, 2014) More than seven out of ten Russians say that Moscow should not intervene in Ukraine, but at the same time, a slightly larger number say that events like those which have taken place in Ukraine are impossible in the Russian Federation, according to results of a new VTsIOM poll. […]

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New Suzanne Massie Book – “Trust, but Verify: Russia, Reagan, and Me”

File Photo of Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan at Table Signing Documents

Subject: New Suzanne Massie Book — “Trust, but Verify: Russia, Reagan, and Me” Date:     Fri, 21 Feb 2014 From:     Mitchell Polman <mitchpolman@gmail.com> Suzanne Massie, author of “Land of the Firebird”, has written a new book on her days as an informal advisor on the Soviet Union to President Reagan.  It is a fascinating account of the discussions Suzanne had with […]

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Radicals may push aside Ukrainian moderate opposition – Margelov

Mikhail Margelov file photo

MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) – The Federation Council believes that the victory in Kyiv and western Ukraine has been won by radicals and militants and the systemic opposition may soon be pushed aside. “As Maidan [people] refuse to leave and to lay down their arms, it seems the winners think they still have tasks to accomplish. The situation is developing […]

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Ukraine Hopes for $35 Billion in Western Aid

Map of Ukraine and Ukrainian Flag

KIEV, February 24 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine said Monday that it has asked Western powers to provide at least $35 billion in urgent financial aid as it struggles to cope with a severe political and economic crisis. Interim finance minister Yuriy Kolobov said in a statement that Kiev has urged the United States and countries in the European Union to […]

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Ukraine: Pyrotechnics all over

Maidan Square file photo

Subject:  Ukraine: Pyrotechnics all over Date:     Sat, 22 Feb 2014 From:     Claudiu Secara <claudiu@algora.com> We all are trying to make sense of the events in Ukraine, but let me share some of my thoughts/impressions. 1. One has a feeling that there are a lot of farcical elements to the whole story. Something is not real, just like many of the […]

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Johnson’s Russia List with links :: 2014-#38 :: Sunday, 23 February 2014

St. Basil's file photo

Johnson’s Russia List :: 2014-#38 :: 23 February 2014 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 JRL: russialist.org/funding.php Sochi Olympics 1. AFP: Putin’s Games sparkle despite shadows of doubt. 2. […]

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Unless Kremlin Learns Lessons of Ukraine, a Russian Maidan is Inevitable, Nemtsov Says

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, February 23, 2014) Viktor Yanukovich was “100 percent” responsible for the rise of the popular movement that overthrew him, Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov says, and unless the Kremlin learns the lessons from what has taken place in Ukraine, “a Russian Maidan is inevitable” and it will be the fault of no […]

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As Pace Of Political Change Picks Up In Kyiv, Eastern Ukraine Balks

Maidan Square file photo

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Robert Coalson – February 22, 2014) While lawmakers in Kyiv were adopting resolutions and making appointments with breakneck speed, including dismissing President Viktor Yanukovych, a rump group of local officials and lawmakers from the formerly ruling Party of Regions met in the eastern city of Kharkiv for a hastily assembled congress. The officials from all levels […]

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Specter of Money Haunts Ukraine’s Turmoil

Maidan Square file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ben Aris – February 22, 2014) Ben Aris is the editor of Business New Europe. It is critical to understand the economics of the current crisis in Ukraine. Ukrainian hard currency reserves have dwindled from $35 billion to $17 billion – not enough to ensure the stability of the government. Ukraine is bankrupt. Under the […]

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RIA Novosti: Ukraine Says Economy in ‘Critical State,’ Russia Uncertain Over Aid

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW/KIEV, February 23 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine’s parliament speaker and interim president said on Sunday the national economy was in a “critical state” hours after Russia made it clear that it was yet undecided on planned financial aid to its neighbor. “The situation in Ukraine, first of all in its economy, is disastrous. The rule of [Viktor] Yanukovych has driven […]

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Interfax: Tymoshenko could restore stability if appointed PM – Russian lawmaker

Yulia Tymoshenko file photo

MOSCOW. Feb 23 (Interfax) – Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko could restore stability in Ukraine if she becomes prime minister again, a Russian lawmaker said. “The situation in Ukraine has been developing at a supersonic speed. I do not rule out that the Ukrainian parliament will nomine Yulia Tymoshenko for prime minister of the coalition government and confirm this […]

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Ukraine’s Acting President Warns Economy Is in Dire State

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Daryna Krasnolutska, Kateryna Choursina and Ilya Arkhipov – February 23, 2014) Ukrainian lawmakers gave presidential powers to parliament Speaker Oleh Turchynov, who urged political parties to agree on a new government and warned of the “catastrophic” state of the nation’s economy. The U.S., Europe and the U.K. said they would help with financial aid when a […]

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RIA Novosti: Ukraine’s West, Crucible for Protest and Model of New Order

Maidan Square file photo

LVIV, February 22 (Howard Amos, RIA Novosti) – As battles raged on the streets of Ukraine’s capital in the bloodiest week of a three month-long uprising, the city of Lviv was already installing a new order. Lviv, situated about 500 kilometers west of Kiev, has served as a crucible for the movement that looked Saturday to have chased President Viktor […]

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Johnson’s Russia List with links :: 2014-#37 :: Friday, 21 February 2014

St. Basil's file photo

[check back for updates, including more links; links also posted to facebook and twitter] Johnson’s Russia List :: 2014-#37 :: 21 February 2014 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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The 10 most well-known Russian words

Map of Russia

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Alexey Mikheev, special to RBTH  – January 30, 2014) Words like vodka and Kalashnikov are know around the world. But how many people realize that they come from the Russian language? Russian actively borrows words from other languages, mainly English. But there are also Russian words that travel in the opposite direction and […]

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Ten more well-known Russian words

Kremlin and Saint Basil's

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Alexey Mikheev, special to RBTH – February 20, 2014) Following the publication of my earlier piece “The 10 most well-known Russian words”, readers have responded with suggestions of more Russian words that have become known and used internationally. So in response to these requests I have written about them too. Babushka In Russian, […]

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RIA Novosti: Russian Economy Seen Pulling Out of Stagnation By Mid-Year

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW, February 21 (RIA Novosti) – A top Russian official sounded a bullish note Friday on the underperforming economy, predicting a return to robust growth toward the middle of this year. Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Klepach said at a conference in Siberia’s Altai region that the Russian economy was expected to pull out of its current stagnation in the second […]

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Putin Adopts a New Strategy for Governing in an Era of Scarcity

File Photo of Vladimir Putin Sitting at Desk

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, February 21, 2014) The stagnation of the economy is leaving Vladimir Putin without the resources he earlier had to buy off the population and forced him to try to awake in it “an unselfish love for the authorities by using massive brain washing, according to a professor at the European University in […]

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Petition against Adelina Sotnikova mean-spirited

Sochi 2014

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Natalia Antonova – February 21, 2014) Following the Sochi women’s figure skating finals, I am having a “Leave Britney Alone” moment. “Leave Britney Alone,” of course, was a popular meme that resulted when a fan upset about criticism of Britney Spears took to YouTube to support the singer and voice his hysterical frustration with her […]

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Critics Fear Post-Sochi Crackdown

Kremlin and Saint Basil's

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Natalya Krainova – February 21, 2014) With three days to go until the Winter Olympics in Sochi draw to a close, fears are growing among many Russians that the apparent tolerance of President Vladimir Putin toward critics of his government in the run-up to the games will dissipate after the last foreign participant leaves. The […]

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Lavrov calls on West to condemn ‘extremists’ among protestors in Kiev

Sergei Lavrov file photo

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Igor Rozin, RBTH – February 21, 2014) Russia’s president, prime minister and foreign minister all spoke out against the violence in Kiev on Thursday and now wait for details of an accord intended to restore peace. An agreement between the Ukrainian government and opposition leaders has supposedly been reached, with a signing scheduled […]

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Interfax: Right Sector does not believe Yanukovych, vows to continue fight against authorities

Viktor Yanukovych file photo

KYIV. Feb 21 (Interfax) – The ultra-radical movement Right Sector has stated it does not trust Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and will continue fighting against the current authorities. To settle the domestic situation we are initiating a return to the 2004 Constitution and announcing an early presidential election, Yanukovych said earlier on Friday. Our movement tends to see Yanukovych’s statement […]

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Interfax: Ukrainian politicians capable of settling crisis on their own – Russian diplomat Karasin

Maidan Square file photo

(Interfax – February 21, 2014) The Russian Foreign Ministry has urged foreign actors not to push the Ukrainian opposition into the further destabilization of the country. “We believe that the primary need of Ukraine is tranquility, not escalation. And foreign forces, who are actual curators of the incumbent Ukrainian opposition, should not tempt it into further destabilization with the purpose […]

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Russia Pledges to Fight for Crimea if Ukraine Splits

Russian Naval Vessel in Ukrainian Port

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – February 21, 2014) Russia has warned the West that it is willing to fight a war over Crimea, a Ukrainian region where 60 percent of the population is ethnically Russian and where Russia’s Black Sea fleet is stationed. “If Ukraine breaks apart, it will trigger a war,” a senior government official told the Financial Times […]

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Ukraine Edging Closer to Civil War?

Ukraine Map and Flag

Subject: Ukraine Edging Closer to Civil War? Date:     Thu, 20 Feb 2014 From:  Vlad Signorelli <vlad@brettonwoodsresearch.com> Ukraine Edging Closer to Civil War? Protests in the capital of Ukraine turned deadly Tuesday with at least 25 dead and more than 240 injured. Bloody street fighting is transpiring between government police forces and the Western-leaning opposition. As the political crisis of the […]

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Johnson’s Russia List table of contents :: 2014-#36 :: Thursday, 20 February 2014

St. Basil's file photo

[check back for updates, including more links; links also posted to facebook and twitter] Johnson’s Russia List :: 2014-#36 :: 20 February 2014 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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NEWSLINK: Kiev crisis reminds Russians of what could have been; Kiev crisis seen as a coup attempt of radicals egged on by the west

Maidan Square file photo

[“Kiev crisis reminds Russians of what could have been; Kiev crisis seen as a coup attempt of radicals egged on by the west” – Financial Times – Kathrin Hille – Moscow – February 20, 2014 – ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/58dce628-997e-11e3-b3a2-00144feab7de.html] The Financial Times examines Russian reactions to the crisis in Ukraine, including bias favoring the Ukrainian government: Since the very beginning of the […]

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NEWSLINK: Is Putin pushing for a crackdown in Ukraine? The Kremlin has said that it will not intervene in Ukraine, but the escalating violence in Kiev may force their hand

Maidan Square file photo

[“Is Putin pushing for a crackdown in Ukraine? The Kremlin has said that it will not intervene in Ukraine, but the escalating violence in Kiev may force their hand.” – Christian Science Monitor – Fred Weir, Correspondent – Moscow – February 19, 2014 – csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0219/Is-Putin-pushing-for-a-crackdown-in-Ukraine] The Christian Science Monitor and Fred Weir examine whether Russia is prodding the Ukrainian regime […]

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Protesters in Lviv Raise the Stakes in Ukraine’s Crisis

Maidan Square file photo

(Stratfor.com – February 19, 2014) As the standoff in Independence Square continues in Kiev, the western part of Ukraine has added a more serious element to the country’s internal struggle. On Wednesday, several administration buildings were taken over by protesters in the west, including in Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Uzhhorod and Ternopil. Meanwhile, demonstrators from an opposition group called People’s Rada in […]

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A reset for U.S.-Russian trade?

U.S. Map

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Viktor Kuzmin, special to RBTH – February 20, 2014) Russia’s Economic Development Minister heads to Washington next week for a series of talks in increasing bilateral trade relations. Russia and the United States will make another attempt early next week to revitalize bilateral trade during a working trip to Washington by Economic Development […]

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RIA Novosti: Ukrainian Police Authorized to Use Live Ammo as Battle Rages

Maidan Square file photo

KIEV, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine’s Interior Minister confirmed Thursday he had signed a decree to issue service firearms to police officers and authorized the use of live ammunition. The statement came in the wake of numerous reports from Kiev of both anti-government protesters and police officers being shot dead in ongoing clashes, in which at least 50 people […]

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Russia sees Ukraine violence as coup d’etat attempt – Putin’s spokesman

Map of Ukraine and Ukrainian Flag

(Interfax – February 19, 2014) Russian President Vladimir Putin blames “extremists” for the latest events in Ukraine, his spokesman Dmitriy Peskov told privately-owned news agency Interfax on 19 February. “The president thinks that it is extremists who are fully responsible for what is happening in Ukraine now. Moscow has supported and keeps supporting a dialogue with all civilized political forces […]

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Interfax: Putin talked to Ukrainian president but not interfering in crisis – spokesman

Viktor Yanukovych file photo

(Interfax -February 19, 2014) Russian President Vladimir Putin talked to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych about the situation in Ukraine on the night of 18-19 February, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitriy Peskov has said. But the information published about this conversation is untrue, he added. Peskov was speaking to journalists on 19 February, as reported by privately-owned Russian news agency Interfax. “As […]

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BNE: Russians say protests harm Ukraine – poll

Maidan Square file photo

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – February 20, 2014) Two-thirds of Russians (63%) believe that protest rallies are harmful for Ukraine’s development, the Russian Public Opinion Study Center (VTsIOM) said. It polled 1,600 adults in 130 populated areas in 42 regions on February 1-2. Negative implications were mostly mentioned by elder citizens (73%) and people with primary education (73%). Respondents […]

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TRANSCRIPT: [Putin at] Meeting with economists of the Russian Academy of Sciences

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Kremlin.ru – Feburary 19, 2014) Vladimir Putin had a meeting with an expert panel of economists from the Russian Academy of Sciences. During the meeting, the academicians shared their vision of the key areas of the nation’s further socioeconomic development. In particular, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Fortov delivered a report on the possible options of creating […]

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Russian Economic Troubles Deepen Amid Investment Slump

File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti) – Concerns about the Russian economy grew following data published Wednesday showing that investment by Russian companies fell 7 percent last month as compared with January 2012. The data, published by state statistics service Rosstat on its website, reinforced fears that the economy has become mired in stagnation. Russian business newspaper Vedomosti cited an unnamed […]

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TRANSCRIPT: [Putin at] State Council Presidium meeting on family, motherhood and childhood policy

File Photo of Russian Expectant Couple with Mother in Hospital Bed

(Kremlin.ru – February 17, 2014) Vladimir Putin held a State Council Presidium meeting on family, motherhood and childhood policy, in particular with regard to implementing the May 2012 Presidential Executive Orders. Taking part in the meeting were Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets, Presidential Aide Igor Levitin, the heads of federal ministries and agencies, and a […]

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Kiev History Museum Looted During Night of Chaos

Ukraine Map and Flag

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – D. Garrison Golubock – February 20, 2014) The holdings of the Kiev History Museum were looted by unknown intruders during the night of Feb. 18-19, museum management said, Art Ukraine reported. “The first thing we saw, entering one of the vaults, was an 18th century ikon of the holy apostles wrapped in a brocade dress […]

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Interfax: Western media coverage of Ukraine “perverted” – Lavrov

Sergei Lavrov file photo

BAGHDAD. Feb 20 (Interfax) – Moscow is concerned by how the West has been trying to impact on the situation in Ukraine, and also notes that the situation in this country is being misrepresented, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. “We are most deeply concerned by what is going on in Ukraine, and in particular by how Western capitals have […]

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Russia Slams West’s ‘Conniving Politics’ in Ukraine

Ukraine Map and Flag

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Allison Quinn – February 20, 2014) The Kremlin on Wednesday denounced ongoing violence in Ukraine as an “attempted coup by radicals,” as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashed out at the West and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych declared Thursday a day of mourning. By Wednesday evening, at least 26 people were confirmed dead during clashes in […]

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Sochi: Come in, sit down, have a drink! – Russia Beyond the Headlines

Sochi 2014

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Andy Potts, special to RBTH – February 19, 2014) The friendly atmosphere and general lack of restrictions on what spectators can take into the venues at Sochi make a refreshing contrast to the usual experience at sporting events in Russia. At first glance, the sight of a sports fan sitting in an arena […]

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RIA Novosti: Russians Consider Their Country Free, Developed, Rich – Poll

Map of Russia

MOSCOW, February 19 (RIA Novosti) – The majority of Russians believe their country is developed, rich and free, according to a survey published by a state-run pollster Wednesday. Fifty-seven percent of respondents told the Public Opinion Foundation that their country is developed, 58 percent described it as rich and 60 percent said they live in a free country. Fifty-one percent […]

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Sharon Tennison Russia Report, February 2014

File Photo of Sochi Olympics Banner Near Highway in Warm Weather with Vehicle and Cyclicsts Nearby

Subject: RUSSIA REPORT FEBRUARY 2014 Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 From: Sharon Tennison <sharon@ccisf.org> Friends, despite the fact that Ukraine is burning as I finish this report, I want to complete my thoughts about the Sochi Olympics before giving opinions on the Ukrainian issues. The Sochi Olympics have been a high point in this new year for me. And I […]

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Japan-Russia Ties/Johnson’s Russia List 2014-#34

Japan Map

Subject: RE: Johnson’s Russia List 2014-#34/Japan-Russia Ties Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 From: Joseph Ferguson <jodyferg@earthlink.net> Regarding an article posted on the JRL on the 18th of February (#34) from the Moscow Times, “Japan-Russia Ties: An Opportunity for the U.S.” by Jeffrey Mankoff, I wanted to post the following comments. I know this topic seems peripheral at best given current […]

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NEWS SUMMARY: Russia Heartbeat – Wednesday 2.19.14

Stylized EEG Image Showing Heartbeat Pulse

Ukraine A Wall Street Journal editorial comments that as Ukraine gets “ugly” with rioting and a regime crackdown in Kiev, the EU and U.S. are staying on the sidelines … … the Washington Post argues in an editorial that violence in Ukraine shows need for negotiated settlement … writing in The Guardian, Mary Dejevsky, Ukraine is now in a potentially […]

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Johnson’s Russia List with links :: 2014-#35 :: Wednesday, 19 February 2014

St. Basil's file photo

[check back for updates, including more links; links also posted to facebook and twitter] Johnson’s Russia List :: 2014-#35 :: 19 February 2014 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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