“The FBI and Justice Department concur with DNI Ratcliffe that the laptop is not part of a Russian disinformation campaign.” “The FBI … possess[es] … […]
Headlines
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Khabarovsk [Protests]” – BMB Russia
“… [Khabarovsk] protests … against the arrest of former local governor Sergei Furgal have … been ongoing for … 100 consecutive days … remarkable … […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin: Russia-China military alliance can’t be ruled out” – AP
“… Putin said … there is no need for a Russia-China military alliance now, but noted it could be forged in the future. … signal[ing] […]
RUSSIALINK: “Putin: Russia’s Rise in Coronavirus Deaths Due to Improved Methodology” – Moscow Times
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Oct. 22, 2020) Coronavirus deaths are on the rise in Russia partly because of improved cause-of-death methodology, President Vladimir Putin […]
Muscovites More Attached to Their City than They were a Decade Ago, Polkanov Says
(Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, Oct. 21, 2020) This month marks the tenth anniversary of Sergey Sobyanin’s time as mayor of the […]
RUSSIA NEWS & INFORMATION – Johnson’s Russia List contents & links :: JRL 2020-#191 :: Friday, 23 October 2020
To inquire about a subscription to the full Johnson’s Russia List e-mail newsletter, e-mail David Johnson at davidjohnson@starpower.net Support the JRL: russialist.org/funding.php Donate Online: click […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. Broadens Sanctions to Thwart Completion of Russian Gas Pipeline” – Wall Street Journal/ Brett Forrest
“New measures target companies that would provide services or funding for vessels working on Nord Stream 2” “… [2019] U.S. Sanctions … focused on pipe-laying […]
‘Crisis Of Trust’: Russia’s Pandemic Fatigue Combines With Wariness Of Expert Advice
Across the world, a growing ‘pandemic fatigue’ appears to be exacerbating the spread of the coronavirus …. Many governments have brought back restrictions they had lifted …. But while many European countries have imposed stringent measures again … Russia has in many ways carried on as normal […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Kyrgyzstan Sets New Polls as New PM Reassures Russia” – AFP
“Kyrgyzstan’s electoral authorities said … parliamentary polls … would be repeated [Dec. 20] …. [A]cting leader Sadyr Japarov moved to assure Russia of the two […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Battle for borshch: Ukraine lays claim to soup dish amid identity war with Russia” – Atlantic Council/ Mark Raczkiewycz
“Borshch has long been a staple of Ukrainian cuisine and Kyiv officials now hope to … secur[e] UNESCO recognition of the soup’s Ukrainian roots. … […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Why Russia – and Putin – might be worried about a Biden presidency” – CNBC/ Holly Ellyatt
“At the very least, analysts expect that a victory for Biden would increase tensions between Washington and Moscow, and would raise the probability of new […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Call Putin’s Bluff on Election Interference; The United States Should Take Russia Up on Its Offer to Sign a Pledge” – Foreign Affairs/ Anna Arutunyan
“The Kremlin has … pushed proposals for the United States and Russia to work together to protect elections against hacking …. Putin expanded the proposal […]
RUSSIA NEWS & INFORMATION – Johnson’s Russia List contents & links :: JRL 2020-#190 :: Wednesday, 21 October 2020
To inquire about a subscription to the full Johnson’s Russia List e-mail newsletter, e-mail David Johnson at davidjohnson@starpower.net Support the JRL: russialist.org/funding.php Donate Online: click […]
RUSSIALINK: “Peskov denies that Russia could have shipped defective ventilators to U.S.” – Interfax
MOSCOW. Oct 21 (Interfax) – Russia could not have shipped defective ventilators to the United States, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “This couldn’t have happened. […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Is a Bad Omen” – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace/ Paul Stronski
“With the United States shrugging off its erstwhile role as the world’s policeman, can anyone stop the fierce fighting now raging between Armenia and Azerbaijan?” […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russia’s population will decline by 352,500 people this year – 11 times more than in 2019” – Meduza
“Russia’s population is expected to decline by 325,500 people this year – 11 times more than in 2019 (when the number of Russians fell by […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “With unrest on all sides, Russia’s regional muscle is being tested” – Washington Post/ Isabelle Khurshudyan
“… As Russia’s interests abroad have focused on building the country’s standing as a player on the global stage – including malicious operations such as […]
Russian Students View Russia Today as Unjust but aren’t Inclined to Fight It Personally, New Study Finds
(Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, Oct. 17, 2020) A survey of more than 6,000 Russian university students finds that many of them […]
RUSSIALINK: “Moscow Mayor: Return to Full Lockdown ‘Impossible'” – Moscow Times
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Oct. 19, 2020) Moscow will not return to a full coronavirus lockdown like it did in spring as long as […]
RUSSIA NEWS & INFORMATION – Johnson’s Russia List contents & links :: JRL 2020-#188 :: Monday, 19 October 2020
To inquire about a subscription to the full Johnson’s Russia List e-mail newsletter, e-mail David Johnson at davidjohnson@starpower.net Support the JRL: russialist.org/funding.php Donate Online: click […]
JRL NEWSWATCH:”Putin proposes yearlong extension of nuclear pact with U.S.”- AP
“… Putin … made a strong call to save the last existing nuclear arms control pact between his country and the United States, proposing to […]
RUSSIALINK: “In Crisis-Hit Kyrgyzstan, Russia Weighs Its Influence and Intentions” – Moscow Times
A whirlwind two weeks of post-election violence and fierce power struggles in Kyrgyzstan has political observers at odds over Russia’s role and true intentions […]
On Social Justice, Russia Now Split into Two Nations, ‘TV Russians’ and ‘Internet Russians,’ Shelin Says
… According to the survey, … 48 percent of Russians rely on state television for their news and information while 44 percent rely on the Internet […]
RUSSIALINK: “2 in 3 Medics Say Russia Unprepared for Second Coronavirus Wave – Poll” – Moscow Times
Around two-thirds of Russian medics believe that the country is not ready for a second wave of the coronavirus, according to a survey published by the VTimes news website Thursday […]
Assassinations
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Alexei Navalny Supporters Probe How the Russian Opposition Leader Was Poisoned” – Wall Street Journal/ Thomas Grove, Ann M. Simmons
“Team scoured his hotel room and found a water bottle they say has traces of Novichok, a nerve agent” “… [A]fter … Navalny collapsed … […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Post about Love” – Alexey Navalny/ Instagram
“Julia and I had our anniversary … 20 years of being wed … You, of course, have seen this a hundred times … one loving person lies in a coma … the other brings him back to life with her love and incessant care […]”
RUSSIALINK: “Russian prosecutors ask German counterparts to interview Navalny, find out who planned Tomsk trip” – Interfax
MOSCOW. Sept 21 (Interfax) – The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has asked the relevant German authorities to learn certain important details related to the incident […]
RUSSIALINK: “‘I Didn’t Recognize People’: Navalny Says Long Recovery Ahead in Latest Health Update; Opposition leader says he has trouble walking, can’t use his phone or pour a glass of water.” – Moscow Times
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Sept. 19, 2020) Alexei Navalny has said he has difficulty performing everyday functions and that he faces a “long road” […]
Belarus
JRL NEWSWATCH: “With unrest on all sides, Russia’s regional muscle is being tested” – Washington Post/ Isabelle Khurshudyan
“… As Russia’s interests abroad have focused on building the country’s standing as a player on the global stage – including malicious operations such as […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Alexander Lukashenko changes tack in Belarus stand-off” – Financial Times/ James Shotter, Max Seddon
“Meeting imprisoned opposition leaders is departure from previous hardline approach” “After … weeks in the Belarusian KGB prison, tech executive Dmitry Rabtsevich and a dozen […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin Loses His Footing in Russia’s Backyard” – Wall Street Journal/ Thomas Grove
“Washington has watched Russia expand its global influence, but along its borders, Moscow is losing its monopoly on power.” “… Putin has long tried to […]
BELARUS: NOW IT GETS DICEY
From: Kirk Bennett …. Moscow faces a number of unpleasant scenarios in Belarus […]
U.S.-Russian Relations, U.S.-Ukrainian Relations
JRL NEWSWATCH: “FBI in possession of Hunter Biden’s purported laptop, sources say” – Fox/ Jake Gibson, Brooke Singman
“The FBI and Justice Department concur with DNI Ratcliffe that the laptop is not part of a Russian disinformation campaign.” “The FBI … possess[es] … […]
Russia & Ukraine
JRL NEWSWATCH: “FBI in possession of Hunter Biden’s purported laptop, sources say” – Fox/ Jake Gibson, Brooke Singman
“The FBI and Justice Department concur with DNI Ratcliffe that the laptop is not part of a Russian disinformation campaign.” “The FBI … possess[es] … […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Battle for borshch: Ukraine lays claim to soup dish amid identity war with Russia” – Atlantic Council/ Mark Raczkiewycz
“Borshch has long been a staple of Ukrainian cuisine and Kyiv officials now hope to … secur[e] UNESCO recognition of the soup’s Ukrainian roots. … […]
Rebuttal: Ukraine Is Emerging as Critical Node for White-Supremacy Extremists
(Russia Matters – russiamatters.org – Mollie Saltskog, Colin P. Clarke – Sept. 24, 2020) Mollie Saltskog is a senior intelligence analyst at The Soufan Group, […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Lukashenko rhetoric shows fallout between Minsk and Moscow”- Financial Times/ Max Seddon, James Shotter
“Arrest of 33 Russians comes as Belarusian president’s strategy of playing Russia and the west off each other founders.” “… Belarus authorities arrested the [Russian] […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. Lawmakers Offer Bill to Boost Aid for Ukraine Military” – Reuters
“… [S]enators [from both parties] introduced legislation to back Ukraine with $300 million of annual military financing …. The bill also authorizes up to $4 […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Ukraine Cease-Fire Begins in Tense Climate” – Wall Street Journal/ Thomas Grove
A cease-fire between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists … offer[s] the prospect of an end to a slow-burning conflict … claim[ing] thousands of lives in Eastern Ukraine … [Remaining] [p]oints of friction … includ[e] Russia’s control of … Crimea and Kyiv’s resistance to holding elections in separatist strongholds […]
Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Khabarovsk [Protests]” – BMB Russia
“… [Khabarovsk] protests … against the arrest of former local governor Sergei Furgal have … been ongoing for … 100 consecutive days … remarkable … […]
Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. Broadens Sanctions to Thwart Completion of Russian Gas Pipeline” – Wall Street Journal/ Brett Forrest
“New measures target companies that would provide services or funding for vessels working on Nord Stream 2” “… [2019] U.S. Sanctions … focused on pipe-laying […]
Oil, Gas, Energy
JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. Broadens Sanctions to Thwart Completion of Russian Gas Pipeline” – Wall Street Journal/ Brett Forrest
“New measures target companies that would provide services or funding for vessels working on Nord Stream 2” “… [2019] U.S. Sanctions … focused on pipe-laying […]
Nuclear, Missile Defense
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin: Russia-China military alliance can’t be ruled out” – AP
“… Putin said … there is no need for a Russia-China military alliance now, but noted it could be forged in the future. … signal[ing] […]
Human Rights
RUSSIALINK: “Russia Returns to UN Human Rights Council After 4-year Absence” – Moscow Times
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Oct. 14, 2020) Russia has been re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) following a four-year absence, Moscow’s […]
Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Alexei Navalny Supporters Probe How the Russian Opposition Leader Was Poisoned” – Wall Street Journal/ Thomas Grove, Ann M. Simmons
“Team scoured his hotel room and found a water bottle they say has traces of Novichok, a nerve agent” “… [A]fter … Navalny collapsed … […]
Chechnya, Dagestan, North Caucasus
RUSSIALINK: “Chechnya Outperforms Kremlin’s KPIs Nationwide – Reports” – Moscow Times
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nov. 12, 2019) Russia’s republic of Chechnya has the highest trust ratings toward its leaders and President Vladimir Putin among […]
Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Alexei Navalny Supporters Probe How the Russian Opposition Leader Was Poisoned” – Wall Street Journal/ Thomas Grove, Ann M. Simmons
“Team scoured his hotel room and found a water bottle they say has traces of Novichok, a nerve agent” “… [A]fter … Navalny collapsed … […]
Media, Social Media, Internet
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Call Putin’s Bluff on Election Interference; The United States Should Take Russia Up on Its Offer to Sign a Pledge” – Foreign Affairs/ Anna Arutunyan
“The Kremlin has … pushed proposals for the United States and Russia to work together to protect elections against hacking …. Putin expanded the proposal […]
On Social Justice, Russia Now Split into Two Nations, ‘TV Russians’ and ‘Internet Russians,’ Shelin Says
… According to the survey, … 48 percent of Russians rely on state television for their news and information while 44 percent rely on the Internet […]
RUSSIALINK: “In Wake of Suspected Poisoning, Navalny’s Allies Vow to Soldier On” – Moscow Times
But if the Kremlin critic is unable to return to health, Russia’s opposition will lose its most recognizable leader. (Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Evan […]
U.S. ‘Deeply Concerned’ By Russia’s Targeting Of ‘Foreign Agent’ Media
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Washington is “deeply concerned” by fresh efforts by Russia to target foreign media operating there […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “The contest after the vote; Eight major takeaways from the immediate aftermath of the Belarusian presidential election” – Meduza
“… Belarusian election officials published … preliminary results … [indicating that] Lukashenko … won more than 80 percent …. radically contradict[ing] [opposition] reports … say[ing] […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Chat Group Becomes Target of Moscow’s Wrath as Security Crackdown Widens” – New York Times/ Andrew Higgins
“The group started out as an online discussion of hobbies, schoolwork and sometimes politics. But then it was infiltrated by an informer for Russia’s all-powerful […]
RUSSIALINK: “Share of Russians who never use home PCs drops from 53% to 25% over decade – poll” – Interfax
MOSCOW. Aug 6 (Interfax) – Over half of Russians (58%) use their home PCs at least several times a week, as against 43% in 2010, […]
Report: U.S. Officials Say Russia-Backed Websites Spread Coronavirus Disinformation
U.S. officials have identified three English-language websites that they say Russia is using to spread disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic to exploit the U.S. struggle to contain the outbreak […]
JRL NEWSWATCH: “Russian Intelligence Agencies Push Disinformation on Pandemic” – New York Times/ Julian E. Barnes, David E. Sanger
“Declassified U.S. intelligence accuses Moscow of pushing propaganda through alternative websites as Russia refines techniques used in 2016.” “… Russian military intelligence, … the G.R.U., […]
YouTube Blocks Accounts Of Pro-Kremlin Analyst, Orthodox TV Channel In Russia
YouTube has blocked accounts of the Tsargrad TV channel in Russia and its former chief editor, pro-Kremlin analyst Aleksandr Dugin. … Google, which owns YouTube, said … that the accounts were blocked due to the violation of laws on sanctions and trade regulations […]
Europe, EU
JRL NEWSWATCH: “U.S. Broadens Sanctions to Thwart Completion of Russian Gas Pipeline” – Wall Street Journal/ Brett Forrest
“New measures target companies that would provide services or funding for vessels working on Nord Stream 2” “… [2019] U.S. Sanctions … focused on pipe-laying […]
Health, Alcohol, Smoking, AIDS, Epidemics
RUSSIALINK: “Putin: Russia’s Rise in Coronavirus Deaths Due to Improved Methodology” – Moscow Times
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Oct. 22, 2020) Coronavirus deaths are on the rise in Russia partly because of improved cause-of-death methodology, President Vladimir Putin […]
Life in Russia, Culture, Arts, Theater, Music
What Do Siberian Millennial and the Perestroika Generation Professionals Have in Common?
Subject: What Do Siberian Millennial and the Perestroika Generation Professionals Have in Common? Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2020 From: Sarah Lindemann-Komarova <echosiberia@gmail.com> What Do Siberian […]
Religion
RUSSIALINK: “Fire and Brimstone: The Rise and Fall of Russia’s Coronavirus-Denying Rebel Priest” – Moscow Times
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Samantha Berkhead – July 29, 2020) In a forest outside Yekaterinburg, pilgrims chant and wave banners in their annual midnight […]
