Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#122 :: 5 July 2013

Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#122 :: 5 July 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: 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. Business New Europe: World Bank and IMF added Russia to the list of rich countries.
2. Interfax: Putin: Defense programs must not be heavy burden on economy, social sector.
3. RIA Novosti: Medvedev Says He’s Pleased to Learn Future Pension Size.
4. Interfax: Poll shows Russians support bans on ‘gay propaganda’, hurting religious feelings.
5. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. Lawmakers continue clampdown throughout spring session.
6. Valdai Discussion Club: Corruption in Russia: Is there a way out? Interview with Vladislav Inozemtsev.
7. Moscow Times: Fiona Hill, Putin Sees His Role as Protector of a Great Nation.
8. New York Times: Matthew Rojansky and Nikolas Gvosdev, The Reset That Wasn’t.
9. Forbes.com: Mark Adomanis, 7 Reasons Why Russia Isn’t Egypt.
10. Moscow Times/BBC Monitoring: What the Papers Say, July 5, 2013.
11. Reuters: Russia’s Putin urges moderate changes in NGO ‘foreign agent’ law.
12. www.russiatoday.com: Foreign agents law is here to stay – Putin.
13. BBC Monitoring: Putin suggests new operator to distribute grants among NGOs.
14. Interfax: Veteran human rights defender: Russia should scrap ‘foreign agents’ law.
15. Vedomosti: Nonprofit Organizations Seen As Latest Target in Government Campaign to Stigmatize ‘Enemies’
16. Moscow Times: Golikova Odds-on to Head Audit Chamber.
17. Moscow Times: Case Against Yaroslavl Mayor Looks Legitimate, Rights Activists Say.
18. BBC Monitoring: Russian TV broadcasts evidence in extortion case against mayor.
19. RIA Novosti: Russia: Detained Opposition Mayor Pleads Innocence.
20. Reuters: Russian protest leader Navalny could face six years’ jail.
21. ITAR-TASS: Trial of Navalny aims to discredit political activist – lawyers.
22. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. Sobyanin asks municipal deputies to support opposition activist.
23. Institute of Modern Russia: Mikhail Kasyanov: “Tightening of the screws increases our chances”
24. The Economist: Russian justice. New show trials. The Kremlin is trying to frighten dissenters from taking to the streets again.
25. RIA Novosti: Magnitsky-Linked Official is Suspect in Fraud Case – Report.
26. Moscow Times: Vladimir Ryzhkov, Why Khodorkovsky Will Face a 3rd Trial.
27. Paul Goble: Window on Eurasia: Ethnic Identity No Longer Primary One for Russians, Tishkov Says.
28. RIA Novosti: Police Raid Academy of Sciences in Illegal Immigration Sweep.
29. ITAR-TASS: State Duma adopts bill on Academy of Sciences reform in 2nd reading.
30. Interfax: Academy reform to be done in 3 years, no dismissals planned – Duma committee head.
31. Moscow Times: Trans-Siberian Railroad Getting New Lease on Life.

ECONOMY

32. Interfax: Putin: Russia needs measures to restart economic growth.
33. www.russiatoday.com: Green light for financial mega-regulator in Russia.
34. Kommersant: Duma Approves Presidential Plan for Economic Amnesty; Business Leader Calls It ‘Big Step Forward’
35. Interfax: First businessmen to be released under amnesty in several days.
36. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. Strategy to be elaborated in Russia against offshorization of economy.
37. Russia Beyond the Headlines: A roadmap to success: discussing Russia’s special economic zones. An interview with Mikhail Trushko, CEO of the Russian special economic zone operator Russez. Having appeared in their present form only in 2005, Russia’s SEZs now count 57 foreign companies from 21 countries among their residents.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

38. ITAR-TASS: Putin calls to strengthen protection against cyber attacks.
39. Pravda.ru: Does Russia have external enemies?
40. Rossiyskaya Gazeta:”Russia Will not be a Bystander in the Arms Race.” (Dmitriy Rogozin)
41. RIA Novosti: Putin Congratulates Obama on Independence Day.
42. Russia Direct: Moscow joins celebration of U.S.-Independence Day. Russian and American pundits and business leaders explain how U.S. Independence Day can improve dialogue.
43. Moscow Times: After Egypt Revolt, Russia Says Justified in Arab Spring Skepticism.
44. Interfax: Arab Spring has led to chaos rather than democracy – Russian Duma deputy. (Alexei Puskhov)
45. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Russian experts predict prolonged military rule for Egypt. Pundits welcome army interference in the stand-off between Morsi and the opposition.
46. Ira Straus: Russia’s opportunity in Egypt.
47. Reuters: Russia increasingly impatient over Snowden’s airport stay.
48. Moscow Times: Daryl Kimball, Hitting the Re-START Button.
49. Reuters: Russia worried by lack of progress towards Iran nuclear talks.
50. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Improvement of Iran’s Relations With West Seen Furthering Russo-Iranian Nuclear Cooperation.
51. The Economist: The Eurasian tug-of-war. The EU is competing with Russia for the future of its eastern neighbours.
52. www.opendemocracy.net: Aage Borchgrevink, I Georgia a terrorist state? Was there a secret programme to arm and train North Caucasus militants under the previous Georgian government? A clash in the Caucasus last summer exposed secrets that Georgia needs to confront.