Author: JRL Russia List

Low Voter Turnout Shows Russians ‘Intuitively’ Recognize that Kremlin Controls All Politics, Pavlova Says

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, October 1, 2013) Sergey Ivanov, head of the Russian Presidential Administration, said today that the low voter turnout for the September 8 elections was a healthy phenomenon and reflected the increasing sense of well-being of the Russian people. “Thank God, “we have approached” that situation (regnum.ru/news/russia/1714111.html). But Irina Pavlova, one of the […]

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The Gulag within: Harsh realities of Russian penal colonies

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Anna Arutunyan – October 1, 2013) For 22-year-old Lena Ivanova, work at a penal colony sewing military uniforms began at 8:30 a.m. and could last well into the night. “There were situations when there was a big [production] order, and the warden would call everyone outside [into the square] rain or snow, and we were […]

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In Russia, the consumer reigns supreme

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Natalia Orlova, Chief Economist at Alfa Bank in Moscow, special to RBTH – October 1, 2013) How Russia’s macroeconomics indicate it’s a booming consumer, not oil, economy. Although Russian economic growth slowed to a mere 1.4 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2013, the domestic consumer trend remains solid. Russia’s current economic […]

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How Russia leads the G20 in support for business

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Russia-Hosted G20 Banners Outdoors Before Yellow and White Facade of Historic-Looking Building

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Alexander Ivlev, special to RBTH – September 30, 2013) EY’s country managing partner on how Russia took 1st place among the G20 countries for coordinated business support and why it’s easier to file taxes here than in the U.S. There is a growing recognition among the G20 countries of the invaluable role played […]

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TRANSCRIPT: Dmitry Medvedev’s interview with Rossiya 24 TV channel

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Dmitry Medvedev file photo

(Government.ru – Sochi, Krasnodar Territory, September 28, 2013) Anna Schneider: Good afternoon, Mr Medvedev. Thank you for finding the time to come here. Dmitry Medvedev: Good afternoon. Anna Schneider: The forum is about to complete its work. What results have been achieved? What are your personal impressions? How is this year’s forum different from the previous ones in terms of […]

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Russian judicial authorities should win citizens’ trust – Medvedev

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of YUKOS trial judge and courtroom staff

(Interfax – MOSCOW, September 29, 2013) The problems of the Russian judicial system cannot be resolved by reform, specifically, by uniting courts, the judicial administration should become competitive and win people’s confidence, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. “I believe this work is very difficult. It is not reduced to the signing of a law or even, for example, uniting […]

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Putin’s ‘We’ll see’ plan

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Valdai Club 2013 Meeting, Adapted from Screenshot of Valdai Club Video at youtube.com

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Anna Arutunyan – September 26, 2013) Stop thinking Putin has everything figured out, because he doesn’t Sometimes, President Vladimir Putin says – or does – a bunch of stuff, and everyone gets really, really confused. It happens all the time, particularly when there’s a major global controversy, like whether someone needs to intervene in Syria’s […]

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Shuvalov: Russia to suspend megaprojects, develop transport infrastructure

Budget, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Igor Shuvalov file photo

(Interfax – VLADIVOSTOK, September 28, 2013) – Russia will take a break in megaprojects under the current complex circumstances but will continue to develop its transport infrastructure. “There will be no such megaprojects as the Sochi Games in 2014 but there will be other very important projects, such as transport infrastructure for greater passenger and cargo mobility. They will not […]

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Russians are still afraid of terrorist acts – poll

Terrorism
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Interfax – September 30, 2013, 2013) Over half of the Russians polled by Levada Center (62 percent) said they believe they or their relatives and loved ones could be hurt by terrorist attacks, Levada Center told Interfax. The poll, which was conducted on September 20-24, surveyed 1,601 people in 130 populated areas of 45 regions of Russia. Only 12 percent […]

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Dmitry Medvedev’s article: The time of simple solutions is past

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev Before Gold Flag with Elaborate Design

(Government.ru –  Dmitry Medvedev – September 27, 2013) [English translation of commentary published in Vedomosti, September 27, 2013] 1. The beginning Five years ago it became obvious that a global economic catastrophe was beginning. I remember very well the first G20 anti-crisis summit meeting in Washington and the views which I and the majority of my colleagues expressed there. From […]

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Medvedev Bets on Private Business in Hard Economic Times

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Dmitry Medvedev file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – By Anatoly Medetsky – September 28, 2013) Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned Friday that the economy had fallen on hard times and identified the private sector as the engine for future growth. Medvedev made what was one of the key political statements of his premiership at the annual International Investment Forum in Sochi after numerous […]

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Russia Gets Poor Marks for Wellbeing of its Elderly – Report

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Health, Epidemics, Substance Abuse, Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Two Babushkas file photo

(RIA Novosti – Karin Zeitvogel – WASHINGTON, September 30, 2013) Russia earns low marks on a global index that rates countries by the quality of life and wellbeing of their old folk, ranking 78th out of 91 countries in the first-ever Global AgeWatch Index released Monday. The index, which lists Sweden at number one and Afghanistan at rock bottom, ranks […]

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TRANSCRIPT: Medvedev at Twelfth International Investment Forum Sochi-2013

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Government.ru – Sochi, Krasnodar Territory – September 27, 2013) The main focus of the forum is economic growth and quality of life, including foreign direct investment, comprehensive regional development and expansion of transport infrastructure through private investment. The participants also discussed social issues, including healthcare, participation of private medical organisations in the mandatory medical insurance system, social development policies for […]

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Kremlin Chief of Staff Ivanov Surprised but Not Alarmed by Navalny

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Alexei Navalny file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Andrew McChesney – October 1, 2013) Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Ivanov has expressed surprise about the opposition’s growing political clout, particularly Alexei Navalny’s strong showing in Moscow’s mayoral election this month, but indicated that President Vladimir Putin was unconcerned by any threat to his grip on power. Ivanov, who made the comments in an […]

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U.S. Embassy in Moscow Offers Assurances Amid U.S. Shutdown

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Artist's Rendition of U.S. Embassy, Moscow, with the Russian Foreign Ministry in the Background

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Andrew McChesney – October 1, 2013) The U.S. Embassy has offered assurances that a congressional standoff that led to a partial shutdown of the federal government Tuesday would not halt embassy support to U.S. citizens in Russia and the issuance of U.S. visas to Russians. U.S. Congress, mired in a battle over government spending, failed […]

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Moscow to Conduct Its Own Probe into Syria Chemical Attacks

Chemical Weapons, Biological Weapons, ChemBio, Syria, WMD Proliferation
File Photo of Bashar al-Assad and Sergei Lavrov

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, October 1, 2013) ­ Russia announced Tuesday it will carry out its own investigation into chemical weapons attacks in Syria as an international disarmament inspection team, reportedly comprising one Russian, arrived in the Middle Eastern nation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow wanted to establish who was behind the August poison attack and criticized Western […]

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New START treaty must be implemented before further nuclear disarmament moves are made – Moscow

Nuclear, Missile Defense, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Stealth Bomber in Flight

(Interfax – MOSCOW, September 29, 2013) The New START Treaty on strategic offensive arms reductions must be implemented before further large-scale steps are taken in nuclear disarmament, a Russian diplomat said. “The Russian nuclear disarmament priorities remain unchanged. Before taking further large-scale steps in nuclear disarmament, the implementation of the New START Treaty must be ensured and its effectiveness and […]

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FOCUS GROUP EVENT: Meet Russia Direct editors at a focus group in Washington, D.C., October 7

Events, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television
File Photo of U.S. Capitol Dome

On Monday, Oct. 7, we invite you to participate in a short focus group in Washington, D.C. with Russia Direct editors who will be coming in from Moscow. This is your chance to provide feedback on our website and also learn about upcoming editorial plans. A catered lunch will be provided as well as a $25 American Express gift certificate […]

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Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#177 :: Friday 27 September 2013

JRL Tables of Contents, Russian News
Map of Russia

Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#177 :: 27 September 2013 E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net A project of the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES.org) at The George Washington University‘s Elliott School of International Affairs JRL homepage: russialist.org JRL on Facebook: facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support JRL: russialist.org/funding.php POLITICS 1. Wall Street Journal: Medvedev Gives Economic Warning. Russian Prime Minister Says […]

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An Old Game With New Rules In Russia’s Backyard

Armenia, CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Map of European Portion of Former Soviet Union

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Brian Whitmore – September 27, 2013) A former Soviet republic has its sights set on moving closer to Europe, a move staunchly opposed by Moscow. With the Kremlin’s tacit support, one of its majority ethnic-Russian cities votes to secede, sparking fears of violent conflict. Officials in Moscow vow to defend the rights of its smaller neighbor’s […]

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Despite U.S.-Russia Tensions, Visa Deal Called a Success

Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Truck at Russian Border Crossing

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Natalya Krainova – September 27, 2013) As U.S. and Russian officials enter the umpteenth month of wrangling over how to address the Syrian civil war, and politicians from the former Cold War foes maintain their hostile rhetoric, one of the countries’ last bilateral agreements is turning one year old, and its success is showing that […]

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Americans Say Putin Most Effective Leader on Syria, Obama Least – Poll

Syria, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Vladimir Putin Leaning Towards Barack Hussein Obama With Flags Behind Them

(RIA Novosti – WASHINGTON, September 26, 2013) ­ Americans think Russian President Vladimir Putin was far and away the most effective world leader in dealing with the Syrian chemical weapons crisis, with US President Barack Obama trailing him in a distant second place, a new poll shows. Nearly half of 1,000 American adults polled ­ 49 percent ­ said Putin […]

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Risk of not implementing new development model the main risk for Russia – Ulyukayev

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Interfax – SOCHI, September 27, 2013) Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said the main risk for the Russian economy was the risk of not implementing a new economic development model. There are external and internal risks that can affect the rate of economic growth, he said. “But I think the major risk us the risk that we will nit […]

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Current History October Issue; Can Putin Keep His Grip on Power?

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 Subject: Re: Current History’s October issue From: Joshua Lustig [Managing Editor] <JoshuaLustig@currenthistory.com> Current History’s October 2013 issue, devoted to Russia and Eurasia, is available at www.currenthistory.com, in print, and via Kindle. It includes the following essays: Can Putin Keep His Grip on Power? by Daniel Treisman Moscow’s Soft Power Strategy, by Andrei P. Tsygankov Russia’s […]

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World Bank: Russian Energy Strength is Economic Weakness

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Oil, Gas, Energy
Oil Well file photo

(OilPrice.com – Daniel J. Graeber – September 26, 2013 – article also appeared at http://oilprice.com/Finance/the-Economy/World-Bank-Russian-Energy-Strength-is-Economic-Weakness.html; a version of the article also appeared in The Christian Science Monitor as “Is Russia’s economy running out of gas?” at http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0926/Is-Russia-s-economy-running-out-of-gas) The head of the World Bank in Russia said Wednesday he was alarmed by the slowdown in the Russian economy.  The bank said the […]

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Putin chief of staff: 1993 constitution saves Russia’s ‘sovereignty and unity’

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, History, Soviet Union, Human Rights, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Parliament Building Billowing Smoke in 1993

(Interfax – MOSCOW, September 26, 2013) President Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff has credited Russia’s 1993 constitution with making it possible to “preserve the sovereignty and unity of Russia.” “The constitution has made it possible to preserve the sovereignty and unity of Russia. It has made it possible to step back from a very dangerous point and put political processes […]

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TRANSCRIPT (continued): [Putin at] meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club (transcript concluded)

China, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Europe, EU, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Syria, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Valdai Club 2013 Meeting, Adapted from Screenshot of Valdai Club Video at youtube.com

(Kremlin.ru – Novgorod Region, September 19, 2013) [Complete transcript here http://eng.kremlin.ru/transcripts/6007] VLADIMIR PUTIN: And one more question for our American friend and colleague. What will the United States do about the budget deficit, the debt that has reached an incredible size? It is the largest debt in the United States’ post-war history. How will the situation unfold moving forward? This […]

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Moscow Ranks as Refreshingly Honest in ‘Lost Wallet’ Test

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Life in Russia, Culture, Arts
Aerial View of Moscow From Beyond Stadium, file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – September 27, 2013) Russia might have an international reputation as a cauldron of stewing corruption, but people in Moscow appear to be more honest than their counterparts in Zurich and Lisbon. That was the finding of an experiment conducted by Reader’s Digest magazine that saw its reporters drop 192 wallets in 16 cities around the […]

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Medvedev Bemoans Fear of ‘Incomprehensible,’ ‘Unpredictable’ Russia

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Dmitry Medvedev file photo

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, September 27, 2013) ­ Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said that investors have an “irrational fear” of Russia, a country he described as “incomprehensible” and “sometimes unpredictable,” in a long opinion piece published Friday in a Russian newspaper. The article of over 3,000 words was titled “The Time of Simple Solutions Has Passed” and focused […]

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Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#176 :: Thursday 26 September 2013

JRL Tables of Contents
Map of Russia

Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#176 :: 26 September 2013 E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net A project of the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES.org) at The George Washington University‘s Elliott School of International Affairs JRL homepage: russialist.org JRL on Facebook: facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support JRL: russialist.org/funding.php POLITICS 1. Moscow Times: Michael Pudaloff, My Eyewitness Account of White House Attack. […]

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Russia Pushes for Further Arctic Exploitation

Arctic, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Environment, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Oil, Gas, Energy
Polar Bear on Ice

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Yekaterina Kravtsova – September 26, 2013) It is impossible to stop Arctic exploitation, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday, adding that Russia guaranteed that there would be no environmental catastrophe, since the most innovative technologies would be used. SALEKHARD, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District ­ The time for an industrial breakthrough has come in the Arctic, President Vladimir […]

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Floods in Sochi Cast Doubt on Olympic Infrastructure

Disasters, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Environment, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Sports, Olympics, World Cup
File Photo of Sochi Olympics Banner Near Highway in Warm Weather with Vehicle and Cyclicsts Nearby

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – September 26, 2013) A state of emergency has been declared in Sochi as water and mudslides have blocked the Olympic resort’s newly built main roads, just as International Olympic Committee inspectors arrived for their final assessment ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. Many local residents could not travel to work Wednesday […]

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Kremlin Policies Increasingly at Odds with Values of Russians, Polls Suggest

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, September 26, 2013) The findings of the latest Levada Center survey show, Moscow commentator Sergey Chernyakhovsky says, that most Russians support the values of the left even as Moscow is pursuing policies of the right, a divergence that raises questions about the nature of the country’s political system and its future stability. […]

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Abkhazia, South Ossetia to be Surkov’s only responsibilities – Ivanov

Georgia, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladislav Surkov file photo

(Interfax – SALEKHARD, Russia, September 25, 2013) President Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, has denied that Vladislav Surkov will have any other duties in his new capacity as a presidential aide than those relating to Russia’s economic relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “I have answered this question a hundred times, but let me answer it for the […]

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Navalny

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Navalny file photo

From: “Michael Herzen” <mikeh@4herzen.net> Subject: Navalny Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 Re: JRL #145 of August 9, items 24 and 25: “ALEKSEI NAVALNY ­ AN EXAMINATION OF HIS TRIAL AND CONVICTION”, By Alexander Mercouris Surprised and dismayed that no one has commented on this “examination”, I will have to do so myself, though I am no legal scholar. Why this […]

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RIA Novosti: Russian Experts Split On Iranian President’s Statements In New York

Iran, Nuclear Proliferation, United Nations, WMD Proliferation
UN Building file photo

(RIA Novosti – September 25, 2013) Several Russian experts interviewed by state news agency RIA Novosti have said that they believe that the statements made by Iranian President Hasan Ruhani in New York that his country is ready to start effective talks on the nuclear programme, as well as his recognition of the Holocaust as a historical fact show that […]

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Science Reform Bill Passes Federation Council

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Science, Technology, Engineering
Federation Council file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Allison Quinn – September 26, 2013) The Federation Council on Wednesday approved a controversial bill to reform the Russian Academy of Sciences, paving the way for it to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, as opponents of the bill protested against it outside the upper house of parliament. The bill has prompted numerous […]

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Russian volunteerism: An uphill battle

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Russian Volunteer Effort, With Group of People Outdoors with Boxes

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Anna Arutunyan – September 26, 2013) When a devastating flash flood killed 155 people in the southern Russian town of Krymsk in July 2012, it was a summons for journalist Dmitry Aleshkovsky, who joined hundreds of volunteers flocking to the area. When Aleshkovsky created the “Nuzhna Pomosh” (Need Help) project in September 2012 to bring […]

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TRANSCRIPT continued: [Putin at] Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club (partial transcript continued)

Education, Academia, Europe, EU, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Sports, Olympics, World Cup
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Valdai Club 2013 Meeting, Adapted from Screenshot of Valdai Club Video at youtube.com

(Kremlin.ru – Novgorod Region, September 19, 2013) TELEVISION PRESENTER KSENIYA SOBCHAK: Mr President, the first post-Soviet generation grew up during your time in power. This generation has shown that it is prepared to invest time in politics. We see that these people ­ largely urban university graduates, middle or high income ­ are willing to work as volunteers and election […]

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How former Soviet countrymen resettle in Russia

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Population Disaster, Demographics
Map of European Portion of Former Soviet Union

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Lyudmila Nazdracheva, special to RBTH – September 26, 2013) This year, thanks to a program that facilitates the return of nationals to Russia, around 15,000 people have moved back to the country. The plans for the program estimated the influx of returning émigrés to be in the hundreds of thousands per year, and […]

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Russia’s UN Delegation Walks Out During Saakashvili’s ‘Crazy’ Speech

Georgia, United Nations
UN Building file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Andrew McChesney September 26, 2013) [Video of speech here http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russias-un-delegation-walks-out-during-saakashvilis-crazy-speech/486649.html] Outgoing Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili assailed Russia as “the last authoritarian empire in the world” during a speech to the UN General Assembly, and predicted that President Vladimir Putin would disappear from Russian politics, prompting the Russian delegation to walk out in protest. Russia’s ambassador […]

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Bill Clinton Offers Rare US Praise for Putin

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Valdai Club 2013 Meeting, Adapted from Screenshot of Valdai Club Video at youtube.com

(RIA Novosti – WASHINGTON, September 25, 2013) ­ Former President Bill Clinton offered some rare words of praise Wednesday from a US politician about Vladimir Putin, describing the Russian president as “very smart,” “brutally blunt” and true to his word. “Mr. Putin … he’s very smart,” Clinton said in an interview with CNN talk show host Piers Morgan. “And, remarkably, […]

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RIA Novosti: Russia Says Sarin Gas in August 21 Syria Attack Was ‘Homemade’

Chemical Weapons, Biological Weapons, ChemBio, Syria, WMD Proliferation
Syria Map

(RIA Novosti – MOSCOW, September 26, 2013) ­ Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with a US newspaper published Thursday that homemade sarin nerve agent was used in a chemical weapons attack in Damascus on August 21, an attack that the United States maintains was carried out by the Syrian regime. Lavrov gave an interview to The […]

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Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#175 :: Wednesday 25 September 2013

JRL Tables of Contents, Russian News
Map of Russia

Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#175 :: 25 September 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: russialist.org JRL on Facebook: facebook.com/russialist JRL on Twitter: twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi Support JRL: russialist.org/funding.php POLITICS 1. RIA Novosti: Most Russians Satisfied With September Polls, Say Results […]

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Four Very Different Russias Moving in Four Very Different Directions, Zubarevich Says

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Regions, Cities, Municipalities
Map of Russia

(Window on Eurasia – Paul Goble – Staunton, September 25, 2013) Russia cannot be understood as a single whole, according to Natalya Zubarevich, but only as four different Russias whose increasingly different situations are pushing them in four different directions, a pattern that is often obscured by the use of data sets for the country as a whole. In yesterday’s […]

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United Russia Lawmaker Backs Amnesty for Bolotnoye Suspects

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Oleg Sukhov – September 25, 2013) A key United Russia lawmaker said Tuesday that he supported granting amnesty to suspects in the high-profile Bolotnoye case, echoing recent comments by President Vladimir Putin. Speculation about a possible amnesty for suspects in the case has grown since Putin said at the Valdai Club meeting last week that […]

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95% Russian natives returning to Russia are from CIS countries – Federal Migration Service

CIS, Customs Union, Eurasian Union, Population Disaster, Demographics, Race, Ethnic, Extremism, Xenophobia
Map of Western CIS/FSU and European Environs

(Interfax – MOSCOW, September 24, 2013) Over 18,000 applications of those wishing to move back to Russia within the framework of the state program to assist the voluntarily return of Russian natives from abroad were submitted in 2013. “Over 18,000 applications were taken this year. An analysis of the applications shows that the majority of (Russians) are of employable age. […]

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Denying Putin Wedding, Peskov Says Leave the President Alone

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Religion
Alina Kabaeva file photo, seated and posturing during gymnatics routine

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Andrew McChesney – September 25, 2013) People should focus on Vladimir Putin’s work as president and avoid prying into his personal life ­ not that he has one because he is so busy with his Kremlin duties, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Peskov, who made the appeal in a far-ranging interview published Wednesday in Izvestia, […]

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Navalny and the Moscow Mayoral Election – new issue of Russian Analytical Digest

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television
Alexei Navalny file photo

Subject: No. 136: Navalny and the Moscow Mayoral Election Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 From: “Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)” <newslist@isn.ch> RUSSIAN ANALYTICAL DIGEST Newsletter 16 September 2013/No. 136 NAVALNY AND THE MOSCOW MAYORAL ELECTION To download this issue please click here: http://www.css.ethz.ch/policy_consultancy/products_INT/DetailansichtPubDB_EN?rec_id=2712 Analyses Navalny’s Campaign to be Moscow Mayor, by Robert W. Orttung, Washington Re-Setting the Game: The Logic and […]

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New Issue of Konstitutsionny Vestnik on the the 20th anniversary of the Russian Constitution

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, History, Soviet Union, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Parliament Building Billowing Smoke in 1993

From: “Alexander Domrin” <adomrin@rumyantsevconsulting.ru> Subject: new issue of  Konstitutsionny Vestnik on the the 20th anniversary of the Russian Constitution Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 Dear David ­ I am pleased to tell you and JRL readers that a new Konstitutsionny Vestnik issue of  can be downloaded from the web site of the Russian Foundation for Legal Reform: http://www.rfcr.ru/news_upload/kv3.pdf The issue […]

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