JRL E-Mail Newsletter Table of Contents :: Johnson’s Russia List 2013-#6 – 9 January 2013

Johnson’s Russia List
2013-#6
9 January 2013
davidjohnson@starpower.net
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In this issue

POLITICS

1. ITAR-TASS: Russian Orthodox Christians to celebrate arrival of Jesus Christ for 12 days.
2. Slate.com: Merry (Russian Orthodox) Christmas! Why do many Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7?
3. RIA Novosti: Housing Problems Bother Russians Most – Poll.
4. Yezhednevnyy Zhurnal: Pundit Examines ‘Dictatorial’ and ‘Democratic’ Post-Putin Scenarios. (Georgiy Satarov)
5. Moskovskiy Komsomolets: Opinion Poll Head Interviewed on Putin Popularity Ratings. (Valeriy Fedorov)
6. Kommersant: MIXING THE DUMA. VLADIMIR PUTIN WANTS THE LAWMAKER ELECTION SYSTEM REARRANGED AGAIN.
7. www.russiatoday.com: Opposition daily close to initiating State Duma dissolution.
8. RIA Novosti: Russians to March Against US Adoption Ban.
9. BBC Monitoring: Russian protest veteran slams planned march against US adoption ban.
10. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. Moscow will form its Hyde Parks.
11. RBC Daily: NAVALNY-ORIENTATED. THE POWERS-THAT-BE ENCOURAGE THE SO CALLED LOYAL HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.
12. RIA Novosti: Opposition Activist Charged with Coup Plot Sent to Siberia.
13. Paul Goble: Window on Eurasia: Bukovsky Deluded about Chance of Rapid and Radical Change in Russia, Pavlova Says.
14. Paul Goble: Window on Eurasia: Protests, Political Pressure on Media Behind Rise of ‘New Russian Journalists’
15. Jamestown Foundation Eurasia Daily Monitor: Pavel Baev, Russia Takes Pause After Incredible Year of Discoveries and Disappointments.
16. Jamestown Foundation Eurasia Daily Monitor: Roger McDermott, Russia’s Armed Forces: Reflections on 2012.
17. Izvestia: ASTAKHOV’S PROGRAM DROPPED. PAVEL ASTAKHOV’S PROGRAM DRAWN TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ORPHANS IN THE COUNTRY REMAINS NEGLECTED BY THE AUTHORITIES.
18. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Summing it up: RBTH’s top 20 stories of 2012.

ECONOMY

19. Bloomberg: Russian Consumer-Led Expansion to Slow in 2013, BNP Says.
20. www.russiatoday.com: Russia’s inflationary bogey remains attractively low in 2012.
21. Russia Beyond the Headlines/Kommersant: Finance Minister talks on Russia’s financial prospects in 2013. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov tells Kommersant about why Russia needs a financial mega-regulator and how the auhorities plan to privatize state-owned companies in 2013.
22. Interfax: YEAR IN REVIEW: Electricity sector between a rock and a hard place.
23. www.opendemocracy.net: Dmitry Travin, Whatever happened to Russia’s economic miracle?
24. Christian Science Monitor: Does Depardieu herald Russia as a tax haven for Europe?

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

25. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. The authorities are not ready to make adjustments to the law banning the adoption of Russian children by Americans.
26. Interfax: U.S. can help Russian children through culture, education, and medical programs – Astakhov.
27. Boston Globe letter: Soviet collapse was a setback for kids.
28. ITAR-TASS: U.S. couple to face trial for abusing their son adopted from Russia.
29. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Russia to create new missiles to compete with U.S.. While the United States is building a global missile defense system, Russia is preparing for a radical renewal of its strategic nuclear missile arsenal.
30. RIA Novosti: Russia, China Plan to Boost Cooperation on Missile Defense.
31. www.russiatoday.com: Robert Bridge, Moscow, Beijing reconnect as reset with US fizzles.
32. CNN.com: Lucian Kim, How Russia fears being forgotten.
33. Al-Monitor: Fyodor Lukyanov, Russia Still Key to Syrian Transition.
34. The Jerusalem Post. : Analysis: Russia struggles to remain relevant in Mideast.
35. Politkom.ru: Moscow Website: Russia Has Lost Role as ‘Serious Geopolitical Player’ in Mideast.
36. The National Interest: Paul Saunders, How to Work with Russia on Syria.
37. RFE/RL: Robert Coalson, Invigorated Customs Union Presents Russia’s Neighbors With Stark Choice.