Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#231 :: 23 December 2013

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Johnson’s Russia List :: 2013-#231 :: 23 December 2013
E-Mail: davidjohnson@starpower.net
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POLITICS

1. RIA Novosti: Russians Do Not Trust Each Other – Report.
2. ITAR-TASS: Ombudsman: Decision to pardon Khodorkovsky to soften situation in country. (Lukin)
3. Moscow Times: Khodorkovsky Says No Plans to Return to Russia.
4. Moscow Times: Putin’s Confidence Brings Freedom for Khodorkovsky.
5. Reuters: Amnestied Pussy Riot pair criticise Putin after release.
6. Interfax: Russian Orthodox Church is open to dialogue with Pussy Riot, but without provocations.
7. Dozhd TV: Putin ‘concerned’ about Russia’s reputation, Khodorkovskiy tells TV.
8. http://mercouris.wordpress.com: Alexander Mercouris, KHODORKOVSKY -­ THE END OF THE AFFAIR?
9. ITAR-TASS: Politicians, experts expect no serious consequences from Khodorkovsky release. Russian Press Review.
10. Interfax: Russian opposition figures differ on Khodorkovskiy’s political prospects.
11. www.russiatoday.com: Khodorkovsky sees himself as a second Solzhenitsyn ­- Alexander Rahr.
12. Moscow Times: Ordinary Russians React to Khodorkovsky’s Release.
13. Moscow News: Anna Arutunyan, Khodorkovsky and the Tsar. Why Putin’s pardon of his top foe doesn’t tell us anything that we didn’t know already.
14. Russia Direct: Khodorkovsky: Russia’s new spiritual leader? With the first post-release press conference attracting hundreds of journalists in Berlin, Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky has gained a place in the international spotlight. Russia Direct looks at how Russian and foreign media have been interpreting his pardon and its implications for Russia.
15. Moscow Rossiya 1 TV: Prominent journalist slams pardoned former Yukos chief on state TV. (Dmitriy Kiselev)
16. Economist.com: Mikhail Khodorkovsky. In from the cold.
17. Financial Times: Neil Buckley, Why Khodorkovsky’s release does not herald change in Russia.
18. Paul Goble: Window on Eurasia: Amnesties Reveal Fundamental Defects in Russian System, Novodvorskaya Says.
19. Moscow Times: What the Papers Say, Dec. 23, 2013.
20. ITAR-TASS: Duma should reach new quality level of lawmaking policy
21. ITAR-TASS: Russian authorities to step up struggle with corruption in state administration.
22. Paul Goble: Window on Eurasia: Russia has a 10-Year Window to Prevent Demographic Collapse, Experts Say.
23. Moscow Times: Public Chamber Report Says Russians Don’t Want More Human Rights NGOs.
24. Interfax: Amnesty fully applies to Serdyukov – source.
25. Moscow News: Anna Arutunyan, RIA Novosti overhaul sends shockwaves.
26. Moscow Times: Soviet Nationality Issues Live On in Modern Russia. (re Jeremy Smith’s “Red Nations: The Nationalities Experience in and after the USSR”)
27. RFE/RL: Brian Whitmore, Vladimir Ilyich Putin, Conservative Icon.
28. New York Times: Nancy Folbre, President Putin’s Patriarchal Games.

ECONOMY

29. Xinhua: News Analysis: Putin’s Pardoning Of Khodorkovsky Sends Positive Signal To Investors: Experts.
30. Moscow Times: Chris Weafer, Khodorkovsky Pardon Bodes Well for Economy.
31. www.russiatoday.com: Khodorkovsky release and Russia’s quest to nip offshore cash leaks.
32. Moscow Times: Victor Davidoff, Putin’s Amnesties Show His Concern for Economy.
33. ITAR-TASS: RF Finance minister tells what Russia strove for during its G20 presidency.
34. www.russiatoday.com: Russia files first WTO dispute over EU energy policy.
35. Reuters: For Chinese farmers, a rare welcome in Russia’s Far East.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

36. www.russiatoday.com: Majority in former Soviet states believe breakup was harmful mistake – poll.
37. Interfax: Russia is not telling West to live according to its patterns; it has many allies in advocating traditional values – Pushkov.
38. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Ukraine: What’s behind the protests. In the battle between east and west, Ukrainians need to closely examine what they really want.
39. ITAR-TASS: Ukraine Vice-Premier:Ukraine-RF latest agreements settle gas issues until 2019.
40. Interfax: Russian foreign minister on Ukraine’s place in Europe and Eurasia.
41. New York Times: Strategy Remains Elusive for Ukraine Opposition.
42. Bloomberg: Ukraine Opposition Starts Movement to Sustain Protest Spirit.
43. New York Times: Samuel Charap and Keith Darden, Kiev Isn’t Ready for Europe.
44. Washington Post editorial: A Russian human rights victory that shouldn’t be the last.