JRL Table of Contents :: Johnson’s Russia List 2012-#156 – 29 August 2012

Johnson’s Russia List
2012-#156
29 August 2012
davidjohnson@starpower.net
A World Security Institute Project
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Your source for news and analysis since 1996 In this issue

POLITICS

1. Interfax: Most Russians Not Expecting Political Repressions – Poll.
2. Moscow Times/BBC Monitoring: What the Papers Say, Aug. 29, 2012.
3. Moscow Times: Putin’s Taste for Luxury Compels Him to Stay in Power, Group Says.
4. Moscow Times: Wife of Opposition Activist Gets 8 Years on Drug Charges.
5. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. The court sentenced the opposition activist to eight years in prison that is twice longer than the prosecutor demanded.
6. Interfax: Human Rights Council Will Likely Stay in Opposition – Expert.
7. Vedomosti: DEMOCRACY. COORDINATING OPPOSITION COUNCIL: ELECTION IS NEARING.
8. Moscow Times: Georgy Bovt, Khimki Is a Litmus Test for Opposition.
9. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: BLOGGERS, BEWARE. United Russia aspires to control over the Internet.
10. www.opendemocracy.net: Asmik Novikova and Natalya Taubina, Russia’s police: new name, but can it change its spots?
11. www.opendemocracy.net: Grigory Tumanov, The dark doings of Russia’s Centre E.
12. AP: Kremlin’s rights council blasts Pussy Riot verdict.
13. Los Angeles Times: Randall Roberts, Critic’s Notebook: Pussy Riot is more about message than music. Pussy Riot is now Russia’s most famous punk band, but is its music any good? It’s retrogressive and poorly recorded, but the point is the politics.
14. The Guardian: Illana Ozernoy, Pussy Riot’s jailing is just the latest chapter as Russia’s church and state entwine.
15. Interfax: Erotic art museum attacked by Orthodox Christians.
16. Moscow Times: Lilia Shevtsova, Putin’s Law of Repression May Force His Demise.
17. RIA Novosti: As Putin Urges Ethnic Peace, Violence Persists.
18. Interfax: Dagestan almost fully under Wahhabi influence – expert.
19. St. Petersburg Times: City Approves Skyscraper, Prompting More Protests. Opponents of the project fear it will pave the way for the construction of more skyscrapers around St. Petersburg.
20. Stratfor.com: The Future of Russia’s Military: Part 3.
21. Moscow News: Putin assassination plot suspect changes his story.
22. PONARS Eurasia 2012: Gulnaz Sharafutdinova, American Lessons: On the Path Toward Russian “Progressivism”

ECONOMY

23. Kommersant: Banks Augment Reserves, Anticipate New Crisis.
24. RBC Daily: RETURN TO GAZPROM. Experts warn that the intended return of representatives of the state to Gazprom will do nothing to improve its efficiency.
25. Bloomberg: Russia’s Oldest Funds Quit Moscow as Investors Curb Risk.
26. Financial Times: Gazprom shelves Shtokman project.
27. The Voice of Russia: Russian Arctic resources.
28. RFE/RL: Arctic Oil Rush Poses Environmental Risks And Challenges.
29. Bloomberg: Soviet Bonds Haunt Putin as Investors Hunt $785B.
30. Moscow News: Shuvalov calls for Russia to look east. Russia needs to realize the untapped potential of its proximity to Asia, the deputy prime minister says.
31. ITAR-TASS: Preparations for APEC summit practically over.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

32. Valdai Discussion Club: Ján Karnogurský, Russia puts too much stock in the West’s opinion of it.
33. AP: US-Russia visa easing to start Sept. 9.
34. RIA Novosti: U.S. Hails Russia’s Readiness for Nuclear Cuts.
35. www.noozhawk.com: Tom Donohue, PNTR for Russia Would Put America Back in the Game. Business opportunities ­ and jobs ­ are there for the taking, and we must be ready to seize them.
36. www.foreignpolicy.com: Romney camp doubles down on Russia as “geopolitical foe”
37. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Consequences of U.S. attack on Syria are “unpredictable.” Arab studies expert Boris Dolgov spoke with Andrey Rezchikov of Vzglayd about the possible consequences of U.S. a raid on Syria’s chemical weapons bunkers.
38. Reuters: Tymoshenko loses appeal, stays in Ukraine jail.