RUSSIA & UKRAINE – Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2015-#215 :: Thursday 5 November 2015

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Johnson’s Russia List :: JRL 2015-#215
Thursday 5 November 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. Russia Direct: Why is Putin so popular among Russians? RD Interview: Valery Fedorov, director of the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (WCIOM), discusses the interconnection between foreign policymaking, media and society in Russia, the new historic high of Putin’s approval rating, and the cyclical nature of U.S.-Russia relations
2. Politkom.ru: Survey shows president’s rating up, Russians’ social expectations worsening.
3. TASS: Armed conflicts and inflation stoke Russian fears for the future – poll.
4. Kremlin.ru: Visit to an exhibition on Russia’s history in the first half of the 20th century.
5. Kremlin.ru: Active citizens’ forum Community.
6. Kremlin.ru: World Congress of Compatriots.
7. Moscow Times: New Museum Stakes Claim to Russia’s Gulag Legacy.
8. TASS: Russia considers speeding up privatization regardless of economic outlook – agency.
9. Russia Direct: World Bank: Uncertainty is the main challenge facing the Russian economy. RD Interview: Dr. Birgit Hansl, the World Bank’s lead economist for the Russian Federation, analyzes the key findings of the World Bank’s recent report on the Russian economy and explains what steps the Russian government needs to take next.
10. www.rt.com: Ruble will make ‘Made in Russia’ a global brand – World Bank economist.
11. Bloomberg: Leonid Bershidsky, Putin’s Fortress Russia Takes Its Toll.
12. Moscow Times: Most Russians Won’t Make It to Their 71st Birthday, OECD Report Shows.
13. Reuters: Russia lays foundations for carbon regulation amid calls for action.
14. Rossiya 1 TV (Moscow): Russian state TV talk show discusses corruption among officials.
15. BBC: Elton John ‘to meet President Putin’ to discuss LGBT rights.
16. www.opendemocracy.net: Dmitry Okrest, Confession of a Russian internet provider. A firsthand account of how the internet is monitored, regulated and blocked in the Russian Federation.
17. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Syrian crisis: Vienna-2 has brought UN, Iran and hope on board. Several months after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran’s nuclear program was concluded, the Austrian capital has once again become the center of global diplomacy. This time 19 global and regional powers have come together in an attempt to find a solution to the Syrian conflict, the ramifications of which are reverberating across the Middle East and beyond.
18. TASS: Foreign Ministry: Moscow does not consider all those fighting against Damascus terrorists.
19. TASS: Foreign Ministry: Preserving Syrian statehood is principally important for Russia.
20. AFP: Russia: Working With US, Rebels in Syria Air Campaign.
21. www.rt.com: Russian jet was avoiding air defense system when it entered Turkish airspace in October – Air Force.
22. Moscow Times: Mark Galeotti, What Could Possibly Go Wrong in Russia’s Syrian Gambit?
23. AFP: Money, patriotism drive Russians to join Syria mission.
24. Russia Direct: Dylan Royce, Is an Assad victory in Syria the lesser of two evils? Washington’s policies in Syria might backfire, making it almost impossible to come up with a compromise on the future of the Syrian regime that involves Syria’s moderate opposition.
25. Interfax: Moscow shocked by London’s unwillingness to share info that may shed light on A321 crash – Foreign Ministry.
26. New Eastern Outlook: West Secretly Elated Over Downed Russian Airliner.
27. www.rt.com: Pepe Escobar, What’s the big deal between Russia and the Saudis?
28. www.rt.com: Three-time winner: Putin tops Forbes’ ‘most powerful people’ list.
29. The Unz Review: Anatoly Karlin, Is Putin the Most Powerful Man in the World?
30. Bloomberg: Putin Thinks He’s ‘Vladimir the Great,’ Condoleezza Rice Says.
31. New York Times: Masha Gessen, Putin’s Forever Wars.
32. Dances With Bears: John Helmer, AFTER MERKEL FINISHES DESTROYING GERMANY, CAMERON EUROPE, AND AFTER OBAMA LOSES HIS WAR AGAINST THE KREMLIN, PUTIN WILL BE THE LAST MAN FLYING – THAT’S RUSSIA WITHOUT THE OLIGARCHS.

UKRAINE

33. http://112.international (Kyiv): Labour migration: Ukraine is losing people and future. Branches of transnational corporations and valuable employees leave Ukraine.
34. The Unz Review: Anatoly Karlin, Ukrainians Paying MORE Bribes After the Maidan.
35. Fort Russ: Poroshenko’s daughter is a Russian movie star.
36. AFP: Ukraine rebels complete small arms withdrawal.
37. TASS: Ukrainian military shells northern outskirts of Donetsk – media.
38. New York Times: Andrew Kramer, THE DISPLACED OLEG. At 11, he is living in the ruins of his former life.
39. Transitions Online: Council of Europe Slams Ukraine Probe of Odessa Deaths.
40. AP: Ukraine’s rebel center in limbo as fighting dies down.
41. TASS: West is changing attitude to Ukraine.
42. DFWatch: Former Georgian official appointed head of national police in Ukraine.
43. Politoco.eu: Maxim Tucker, Ukraine’s most popular politician. Mikhail Saakashvili wants to be the “standard-bearer for reforms” – and possibly the next prime minister.
44. www.rt.com: Leaked tape exposes Georgia ex-President Saakashvili for ‘inciting bloodshed’
45. Civil Georgia, Tbilisi: U.S. Embassy Statement on Saakashvili’s Leaked Wiretapped Recordings.
46. Russia Insider: Michael Lehner, Democracy in Ukraine: Dead on Arrival. Recent elections in the country merely reconfirm that Ukraine is now a failed state; wrecked by extremism backed by Western meddling.
47. Defenseone.com: Obama Should Have Given Weapons to Ukraine, Says Former Pentagon Russia Official. (Evelyn Farkas)
48. http://newcoldwar.org: Western media sees nothing, but food blockade against Crimea is real and ongoing.
49. Reuters: Ukraine must reform to get EU visa-free travel, says Juncker.
50. www.rt.com: Communists ask Russian govt to blacklist Ukrainians responsible for Donbass war.
51. https://davidrmarples.wordpress.com: David Marples, Communist Heroes of Ukraine.