RUSSIA & UKRAINE – Johnson’s Russia List table of contents :: JRL 2018-113 :: Thursday, 21 June 2018

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Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2018-#113 :: Thursday, 21 June 2018
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.
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1. The Nation: Stephen Cohen, Russiagate’s ‘Core Narrative’ Has Always Lacked Actual Evidence. The unprecedented allegation that the Kremlin “attacked America” and “colluded” with its president in order to elect him is based on two documents devoid of facts or logic.
2. Christian Science Monitor: Linda Feldmann, Amid growing tensions with Russia, a push for meaningful dialogue. As US-Russian relations reach new lows, “citizen diplomats” are stepping into the breach. The Monitor’s Linda Feldmann joined a group of former ambassadors and others in an effort to advance bilateral dialogue on key issues.
3. TASS: Russia gets into knockout stage of World Cup 2018 ahead of schedule.
4. Russia Insider: Valeria Z. Nollan, World Cup a Huge PR Success – Firsthand Account from St. Petersburg, Russia. The city is alive with partying in many languages and well-wishers greeting each other in ways that do not need translation. [Text with photos: .russia-insider.com/en/society/world-cup-huge-pr-success-firsthand-account-st-petersburg-russia/ri23862]
5. Moscow Times: Ben Aris, Russia’s World Cup Will Pay Off. Just Not Today. A ruble for every kopeck?
6. Bloomberg: Leonid Bershidsky, World Cup Gives a Glimpse of a Happier Russia. The festive, friendly atmosphere won’t last beyond the monthlong competition, but it shows what could be.
7. Moscow Times: Michele Berdy, A Butterfly on the Football Field.
8. Deadspin: Drew Magary, Russia Is The Highest Scoring Team In The World Cup. INVESTIGATE?!
9. Moon of Alabama: Pity The Russophobe Journos Whom No One Believes. .moonofalabama.org/2018/06/pity-the-russophobe-journos-no-one-believes.html#more
10. New York Times: Alexey Kovalev, The World Cup Is Fun. Except for the Russians Being Tortured.
11. www.rt.com: Supreme Court experts recommend liberalizing Russian law on rallies.
13. Meduza: Russian lawmakers finally move forward with legislation that could release 100,000 prisoners.
14. The Unz Review: Anatoly Karlin Russians Don’t Want Incompatible Immigrants. [Text with charts and links: .unz.com/akarlin/russians-dont-want-incompatible-immigrants/]
15. https://halfreeman.wordpress.com: Hal Freeman, SPRINGTIME IN RUSSIA.
16. Russia Observer: Patrick Armstrong, YES, PUTIN ONCE DREAMED THE AMERICAN DREAM. [Text with links: .patrickarmstrong.ca/2018/06/20/yes-putin-once-dreamed-the-american-dream/]
17. Intellinews.com: Ben Aris, Half of Russians say they want Putin to stay on as president after 2024.
18. Meduza: The Kremlin isn’t all that afraid of mass protests against pension reforms – yet. Konstantin Gaaze explains.
19. RFE/RL: As World Watches Russia, Opposition Seeks To Score With Pension Protests.
20. Bear Market Brief: Second capital amnesty a hit with business.
21. Intellinews.com: Ben Aris, Russians get the investment bug
22. TASS: Kommersant: Draft project on Russia’s investment development in progress.
23. Xinhua: Russia to encourage return of compatriots amid dropping population.
24. Financial Times: Bolton to visit Moscow in sign of US-Russia summit preparation. Meeting between Putin and Trump could take place in July.
25. TASS: Izvestia: New approaches to US-Russian dialogue explored.
26. TASS: Kommersant: Visit of US senators to Moscow will fail if they intend to ‘teach’ Russian peers, says Federation Council head.
27. Wall Street Journal: Why Russia’s Middle East Gamble Has a Limited Payoff. To many countries, ties with Moscow are just a way to leverage stronger U.S. backing.
28. Russian International Affairs Council: Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era. Results of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and of the Russian Presidential Election. [http://russiancouncil.ru/en/activity/policybriefs/russia-and-china-cooperation-in-a-new-era-results-of-the-19th-national-congress-of-the-communist-par/]
29. Atlantic Council: Josh Cohen, Ukraine’s Got a Real Problem with Far-Right Violence (And No, RT Didn’t Write This Headline).
30. Russia in Global Affairs: Alexey Popov, What Has Happened to Ukraine. Inertial Scenario for Ukraine’s National and Political Identity. [Full text: .eng.globalaffairs.ru/number/What-Has-Happened-to-Ukraine-19606]
31. Russia in Global Affairs: Andrei Teslya, Transformation of the Big Narrative. When the Imperial Is Already Out, but the National Is Not Yet In. [Full text: .eng.globalaffairs.ru/number/Transformation-of-the-Big-Narrative–19609]
32. Washington Post: Former Obama officials warn Trump not to repeat their mistakes on Russia.
33. Mondoweiss: Philip Weiss, The ‘fake news’ story is fake news. [Text with links: mondoweiss.net/2018/05/fake-news-story/]

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