Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2015-#140 :: Thursday 23 July 2015

Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2015-#140
Thursday 23 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. TASS: Putin gives Newfoundland puppy to Kyrgyz girl – Kremlin.
2. The Guardian: Vladimir Putin’s approval rating at record levels. Almost nine out of 10 Russians approve of their president, according to survey that also highlights support for Ukraine strategy.
3. www.rt.com: ‘Winning the Cold War with propaganda’: New Dutch-Polish ‘content factory’ to challenge Russia.
4. Moscow Times: Russian Election Monitoring NGO Golos Removed from Foreign Agents List.
5. Interfax: Russian human rights activists lodge appeals against law on “foreign agent” NGOs.
6. Business New Europe: Majority of Russians think it is impossible to make millions honestly.
7. Moscow Times: Putin frees small business from inspections for three years.
8. Moscow Times: Russian Single-Industry Towns Face Crisis.
9. TASS: Gazprom’s large-scale project plans suspended – experts.
10. TASS: Five Russian companies are in Fortune Global 500 rating this year.
11. www.rt.com: Cheaper ruble & oil make Russia more competitive than US and China – Boston Consulting.
12. Inside Higher Ed: In Russia, a crackdown on foreign funding and influence.
13. New York Times: MacArthur Foundation to Close Offices in Russia.
14. Moscow Times: Andrew Kornbluth, Russian Homophobia Is a Convenient Diversion.
15. Moscow Times: John Freedman, The Year in Theater: Murky Demons on the Loose.
16. Business New Europe: OBITUARY: Gennady Seleznyov, night rider of Russia’s rowdy parliament.
17. The National Interest: Salvatore Babones, Russia Opens Its Door…To Asia.
18. Sputnik: Political Tensions Have No Impact on Space Cooperation – Roscosmos.
19. Russia Beyond the Headlines/Izvestia: Trade turnover between Russia and United States falls sharply.
20. Russia Direct: Alexey Khlebnikov, Why Iran deal doesn’t threaten Russian energy interests in Europe. There are five reasons why speculation about the impact of Iranian nuclear deal on the global energy market is overstated.
21. www.tomdispatch.com: Pepe Escobar, The Eurasian Big Bang. How China and Russia Are Running Rings Around Washington.
22. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Success in the U.S.: How 3 young Soviet-born entrepreneurs made it. Strong family ties and work ethics were key for these young businessmen.

UKRAINE

23. Interfax-Ukraine: Pentagon preparing to send large radar to Ukraine.
24. Al Jazeera: Kristina Jovanovski, Ukraine conflict causes spike in domestic violence. PTSD and economic crisis are blamed for increase in violence – and stigma often prevents victims from seeking help.
25. Russia Insider: Alexander Merouris, Right Sector Vs. Ukraine Government: Battle Between the Fading Force and the Imploding Object. The conflict between the Ukrainian government and Right Sector is a factional one inside a revolution that is increasingly unpopular and discredited.
26. Fort Russ: Rostislav Ishchenko, Ukrainian junta losing people’s trust.
27. TASS: No weapons withdrawal by Kiev from contact line seen, despite Poroshenko promises – DPR.
28. Facebook: Ivan Katchanovski, Unreported Revelations from the Maidan Massacre Trial in Ukraine.
29. Moscow Times: Ukrainian President’s Russian Candy Factory Wins Case Against Russian Taxman.
30. Interfax: Ukraine to hold new local elections after decentralization amendments to constitution take effect – parliamentary speaker.
31. TASS: Kiev makes list of 567 artists ‘threatening Ukraine’s national security’
32. Paul Goble: To Save Their Own Country, Russians Must ‘Forget Ukraine,’ Inozemtsev Says.
33. www.rt.com: Russian senator proposes suing Ukraine over sanctions damage.
34. Rossiyskaya Gazeta: Moscow daily looks at Russia’s call for “compromise” resolution on MH17 probe.
35. New York Times editorial: Russia’s Empty Gesture on the Downed Malaysian Jet.
36. The Blog Mire: Rob Slane, News Corp Australia Inadvertently Puncture Another Hole in the Western Narrative of MH17.
37. Russia Insider/Politikus.ru: New Polish Blockbuster About Ukraine Nazis a PR Disaster for Kiev. During WW2, Ukrainian Nazis committed the most extreme atrocities against the Poles, murdering about 80,000 mostly defenseless civilians – children, women, etc. Babies on pitchforks, torture, terror – extreme stuff. Now it is going to be immortalized on film.
38. The National Interest: Steven Pifer, Russia’s Rising Military: Should the U.S. Send More Nuclear Weapons to Europe? NATO needs to pay attention to territorial defense and its own military capabilities. But deploying more U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe is not a good response.