Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2015-#125 :: Thursday 25 June 2015

Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2015-#125
Thursday 25 June 2015
A project sponsored through the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES) at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs
The contents do not necessarily represent the views of IERES or the George Washington University.
JRL homepage: russialist.org
JRL on Facebook: facebook.com/russialist
JRL on Twitter: twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi
Support JRL: russialist.org/funding.php
Support for JRL is provided in part by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Open Society Foundations to the George Washington University and by voluntary contributions from readers.

RUSSIA

1. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Are schoolchildren in Russia afraid of exams? The Unified State Exam, one of the most controversial innovations in the Russian education system over the past few years, has still not managed to win the general public over. For their part, teachers and psychologists tend to think that the exam has not created more stress for school-leavers, albeit sometimes it does have irreparable consequences.
2. The Jewish Chronicle: Ben Frank, A long train trip: But a ride across Siberia uncovers thriving Jewish communities.
3. Deseret News (Utah): Cody Carlson, This week in history: Napoleon invades Russia.
4. Kremlin.ru: Meeting of the Council for Science and Education. Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Council for Science and Education on new challenges and priorities for developing science and technology in Russia.
5. Kremlin.ru: Meeting with Government members. Vladimir Putin met with Government members to discuss accessibility of social services, including in remote districts and rural areas.
6. www.rt.com: ‘Russia has no aggressive plans, will always prefer political settlement’ – Putin.
7. Moscow Times: Most Russians Want State to Remain Secular.
8. www.rt.com: Russians’ preferences for secular state become stronger.
9. Moscow Times: Communists Storm Out of Moscow Duma Hearing on Monument to Feared Secret Police Chief.
10. Carnegie Moscow Center: Konstantin Gaaze, Russia’s Early Election Snafu.
11. Interfax: Kremlin chief-of-staff against moving Russian presidential election.
12. Russia & India Report: Are early presidential elections likely? Former Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin has called for presidential elections to be held ahead of time. Kudrin’s opinion, traditionally heeded in Russia, is being opposed by parliamentary parties, while analysts are divided over the idea of early presidential polls.
13. Moscow Times: Konstantin Sonin, Chubais Is One of a Kind in Russia.
14. Dozhd TV (Moscow): Navalnyy, state corporation head Chubays clash live on Russian TV.
15. Business New Europe: Ben Aris, INTERVIEW: Etalon still building as world huffs, puffs, tries to blow Russia’s house down.
16. Russia Beyond the Headlines: The politics of emigration: Why are Russians packing their bags again? Russian President Vladimir Putin’s third term in office has seen a substantial increase in the number citizens emigrating, according to sociologists. Although the most common reason given by those leaving Russia is the current political situation in the country, experts say that other issues are also important factors in the decision to seek a better life abroad.
17. Vedomosti: Journalist examines why some civil activists choose not to leave Russia. (Mariya Eysmont)
18. Washington Post: Russians’ rite of passage – a summer abroad – a victim of strains with West. (DJ: There are Russian students working on Chincoteague this summer.)
19. www.rt.com: Presidential administration rejects ‘Internet tax’ bill – report.
20. TASS: Russia’s does not see West’s attempts to overcome confrontation – Medvedev.
21. TASS: Finance Ministry proposes to cut military spending in Russia’s 2016 budget.
22. Intersection: Vladislav Inozemtsev, The Russian Economy: Downturn Management. What is happening today in the Russian economy shows that the authorities have shifted policy from what can be described as ‘growth management’ to ‘downturn management’
23. Valdai Club: Oleg Zinovski, Europe and Sanctions against Russia: What Next?
24. Interfax: Extension of Russian countersanctions for one year meets interests of national economic development – Peskov.
25. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Business opportunities move Russia-Asia cooperation forward. Russia’s Asian Pivot is as much about economics as it is about politics. Although trade and investments between Russia and ASEAN countries are well below potential, there are several important projects in the pipeline.
26. Russia Direct: Can Europe help Russia develop energy efficiency projects? RD Interview: Gonzague de Pirey, a French entrepreneur in Russia and an expert on energy efficiency projects, talks to Russia Direct about the effect of sanctions on his business and how Europe can help Russia in developing energy efficiency projects.
27. Business New Europe: Russia gripes to WTO about EU gas market laws.
28. Rossiyskaya Gazeta: Commentary on Carter’s remarks sees “polar night” for Russian-US relations. (Yevgeniy Shestakov)
29. Gazeta.ru: Western attempts to use military methods to pressure Russia “futile” – pundit. (Vladislav Inozemtsev)
30. TASS: Will Iran turn into Russia’s competitor when sanctions end?
31. Moscow Times: Fears of Chinese Expansion Mar Budding Alliance With Russia.
32. TASS: US envious of China’s strengthening but trying to prevent crisis, say experts.
33. Moscow Times: Russian Films Burst Onto Chinese Stage.
34. Interfax: Armenian police sees no preconditions for revolution.
35. Pravda.ru: It was not the revolution that destroyed Emperor Nicholas II.
36. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Red Square is set to host its first ever book fair. The Year of Literature will be celebrated with the Books of Russia festival on June 25-28.
37. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Take a virtual stroll around Russian writers’ estates. Internet users are now able to take a virtual tour of the houses and estates that belonged to Tolstoy, Chekhov, Pushkin and other writers. RBTH explores the highlights.