Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2015-#139 :: Wednesday 22 July 2015

Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2015-#139
Wednesday 22 July 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.
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RUSSIA

1. www.politico.eu: Peter Pomerantsev, We’re all Putin’s ‘useful idiots.’ Cold War comparisons play right into the Russian president’s hands.
2. The Independent (UK) editorial: Containing the bear: Major European nations have no appetite for conflict with Russia – diplomacy is still the best guarantor of peace.
3. The Guardian (UK): Daniel Kawczynski, I have no illusions about Russia, but the sanctions must stop. Not being on speaking terms – let alone trading terms – with a country as influential as Russia is not practical in a world crying out for global co-operation.
4. Moscow Times: Russians Can’t Decide Between Economic Development and Military Power.
5. Moscow Times: Gorbachev Urges Renewed Ties With West.
6. www.rt.com: PM Medvedev to lead United Russia list in 2016 parliamentary polls – report.
7. Al Jazeera: Despite animosity, Moscow’s Muslims change the city. At least 1.5 million Muslims in Russia’s capital form the fastest growing and most ethnically diverse demographic group.
8. Bloomberg: Russia Braces for Longest Recession in Decades With $50 Oil.
9. AP: Russian scientists squeezed by sanctions, Kremlin policies.
10. Interfax: Human rights NGOs hope to prove they are not foreign agents after Justice Ministry warning.
11. www.opendemocracy.net: Vyacheslav Kozlov, Will the patriotic stop list kill Russia’s NGOs? Since 2012, Russian NGOs receiving funding from abroad have had to register as ‘foreign agents’. A new patriotic ‘stop list’ might shut this funding off forever.
12. The International New York Times: Harley Balzer, Russia’s Scientists Fall Silent.
13. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Press Digest: Russian ruble may face further turmoil in coming months.
14. Russia Beyond the Headlines: MacArthur Foundation to close office in Russia over restrictive new laws.
15. Christian Science Monitor: Fred Weir, Iran nuke deal gives Russia a boost – for now. After years of supporting Iran in its efforts to reach a deal on its nuclear program, Russia comes away as a big winner in last week’s accord. But that isn’t likely to continue if and when Iran rejoins the global economy.
16. Valdai Discussion Club: Viktor Litovkin, Pentagon’s New Cold War Strategy.
17. Russia Insider/Katehon: Russia’s Sanctioned Conservative Philosopher Calls for Crusade Against Liberalism and Globalism (Dugin). Russia’s conservative Enfant Terrible says we are entering a post-modern age of theology and tradition. It’s all explained is his imaginatively titled “Fourth Political Theory”

UKRAINE

18. BBC: Ukrainians struggling as their economy shrinks.
19. Russia Direct: Nicolai Petro, From Maidan to Mukachevo: Evolution of the Ukraine crisis. The recent controversy surrounding the nationalist political party Right Sector is further evidence of the weakened political standing of the government in Kiev.
20. Sputnik: Tensions Between Kiev, Right Sector Harm President Poroshenko’s Authority.
21. Irrussianality: Paul Robinson, DENY, DENY, DENY. (re shelling claims)
22. TASS: More than half of Ukrainians negative about PM’s and president’s policy – opinion poll.
23. www.rt.com: Thousands of Ukraine ultranationalists gather on Maidan, announce ‘new revolution’
24. Interfax-Ukraine: Poroshenko orders signing deal on 30-km buffer zone in Donbas, withdrawal of tanks, artillery.
25. TASS: DPR completes withdrawal of weaponry of less than 100mm caliber from contact line.
26. TASS: Ukraine-style privatization: hypermarket with separate entrance ‘For Foreigners Only’
27. The Guardian (UK): Shaun Walker, Oligarchs nouveaux? Why some say Ukraine is still in thrall to an elite. The corrupt power enjoyed by a wealthy clique sparked the country’s Maidan revolution, but the transparent governance promised by Ukraine’s new leaders is proving difficult to deliver.
28. Sputnik: Saakashvili’s New Deputy Fails Ukrainian Litmus Test, Gets Cool Reception. (Maria Gaidar)
29. AFP: Interpol takes deposed Ukraine leader off wanted list. (Viktor Yanukovych)
30. Moscow Times: Georgy Bovt, Why Russia Opposed the MH17 Tribunal.
31. Wall Street Journal: Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 Crash Illustrates Different Realities in Russia vs. West. Russian media generates variety of theories, all blaming Ukraine.
32. http://readrussia.com: Mark Galeotti, Kiev Needs Self-Criticism and Tough Love.
33. Sputnik: Russia’s All for Team Work But Does US Want to Help Solve Ukrainian Crisis? (re Stratfor)
34. RFE/RL: Brian Whitmore, How Do You Solve A Problem Like The Donbas?
35. News Junkie Post: John Goss, What the Left Should Learn about Ukraine.
36. Novaya Gazeta: Ukraine conflict jeopardizes Russia’s strategic nuclear potential – daily.
37. The Vineyard of the Saker: Dagmar Henn, The Dark Side: “We should never be like them.” (Donbass videos)

 

 

Map of Commonwealth of Independent States, European Portion

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

 

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