Tag: Putin

Putin Slams ‘Foreign Interference’ in Russian Politics

Foreign Policy, Security, Visas, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin Sitting at Desk

MOSCOW, December 12 (RIA Novosti) ­ President Vladimir Putin warned against foreign interference in Russia’s domestic affairs during his state-of-the-nation address Wednesday, casting local political actors who get money from abroad as a fifth column serving foreign interests. “Direct or indirect interference from outside in our internal political processes is unacceptable,” he said. Someone “who receives money from abroad for […]

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License To Steal – A Bug Or A Feature?

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Two Persons Shaking Hands and Exchanging Cash

(RFE/RL – Brian Whitmore – Dec. 12, 2012) In a meeting with supporters on December 10, President Vladimir Putin insisted the Kremlin’s anticorruption campaign was the real deal and not just for show. Arrests would be made, he added, and punishment for crooked officials was “inevitable.” Should we believe him? There are, of course, plenty of reasons for skepticism. First […]

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Russia’s Protests: Government Tactics Got Tougher with Time

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Moscow Winter Protest

MOSCOW, December 10 (RIA Novosti, Alexandra Odynova) ­ Amid last year’s large-scale opposition protests in Moscow, Russian leader Vladimir Putin jokingly compared himself to the powerful python Kaa from Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.” Since then, Kremlin critics have certainly felt a squeeze, with authorities employing anti-opposition tactics that have ranged from counter-rallies and media campaigns to tough new legislation […]

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Russian President Denies Trying To Resurrect USSR

History, Soviet Union, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Vladimir Putin file photo

(RIA Novosti – Dec. 10, 2012) President Vladimir Putin has rejected suggestions that Russia’s drive for closer ties with other former Soviet republics is an attempt to rebuild the Soviet Union. Speaking on 10 December at a meeting in Moscow with his “authorized representatives”, who acted as his election agents during this year’s presidential election campaign, Putin dismissed such claims […]

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Putin Says Anti-Corruption Efforts Must Be Consistent

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Two Persons Shaking Hands and Exchanging Cash

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Bratersky – Dec. 11, 2012) President Vladimir Putin spoke to supporters Monday about the recent wave of high-profile official corruption cases, saying they are not a “show-off campaign” but part of a systemic fight against government fraud. Addressing a group of more than 500 of his official representatives who campaigned for him ahead of […]

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NEWSLINK: President to deliver state-of-the-nation address to the Federal Assembly on December 12

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

[President to deliver state-of-the-nation address to the Federal Assembly on December 12 – ITAR-TASS – RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW – Dec. 6, 2012 – http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c142/590982.html] Itar-Tass covers plans for Russian President Vladimir Putin to deliver his state-of-the-nation address to the Federal Assembly on December 12: Experts are awaiting surprises which might become “the key priority” during the new presidential term. The […]

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Former protesters ready to support Putin under certain conditions – VTsIOM

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax) – The majority of people who attended protests staged by the Russian opposition said they would be ready to support President Vladimir Putin at elections if he agreed to implement some reforms, the director of the All Russian Center for Public Opinion Studies (VTsIOM), Valery Fyodorov, said. The center’s sociologists drew these conclusions after interviewing those […]

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Ombudsman tells Putin prison system needs reforming

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights
Russian Jail File Photo Showing Outer Wall, Windows, Barbed Wire

SOCHI, Russia. Dec 7 (Interfax) – Russia’s human rights ombudsman argued at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that the country’s prison system needs reforming, citing increasingly frequent protests by prison inmates, and asked for measures to prevent accidental explosions at military training sites. “This year there has been no big difference between the quantity and quality of […]

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NEWSLINK: Vladimir Putin tries to restore monopoly of power

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

[Vladimir Putin tries to restore monopoly of power – Matthew Rojansky – Valdai Discussion Club – Dec. 4, 2012 – Valdaiclub.com interview with Matthew Rojansky, Deputy Director, Russia and Eurasia Program, Carnegie Endowment – http://www.carnegieendowment.org/2012/12/04/vladimir-putin-tries-to-restore-monopoly-of-power/eqjp] Matthew Rojansky of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is interviewed on politics and corruption under Vladimir Putin. Rojansky notes the uptick in anti-corruption action, […]

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NEWSLINK: Purge and prejudice: What will the fate of military reform tell us about the anti-corruption campaign?

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Man Placing Stack of Large Bills into Inside Pocket of Suitcoat

[Purge and prejudice: What will the fate of military reform tell us about the anti-corruption campaign? – Mark Galeotti – Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Dec. 3, 2012 – Mark Galeotti (Twitter: @markgaleotti) is Professor of Global Affairs at New York University’s SCPS Center for Global Affairs. His blog, “In Moscow’s Shadows,” can be read at http://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com – full article […]

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Putin’s Health and the Future of Russian Power

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

(RIA Novosti – Fyodor Lukyanov – Dec. 6, 2012 – Fyodor Lukyanov is Editor-in-Chief of the Russia in Global Affairs journal ­ the most authoritative source of expertise on Russian foreign policy and global developments) We have seen growing speculation about President Vladimir Putin’s health over recent weeks. A break in his foreign trips and reports of a sports-related injury […]

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NEWSLINK: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: The revenge of the Soviet military

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Close-Up of Line of Russian Soldiers in Dress Uniforms for Parade

Far, far more serious than the shake-up’s implications for Russia’s military doctrine and modernization — and they are serious, because it is unlikely that Shoigu will succeed by retaining Soviet-era management practices — are its implications for the stability of the Putin regime and its reliance on clans, protection, corruption, and intimidation. The Serdyukov scandal is a hint that Putin is not in control, and that his political system has become vulnerable to fratricide.

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NEWSLINK: New Rules in Old Corruption Game

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Two Persons Shaking Hands and Exchanging Cash

[Yulia Latynina – Moscow Times – Dec. 5, 2012 – Yulia Latynina hosts a political talk show on Ekho Moskvy radio – http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/new-rules-in-old-corruption-game/472507.html] Yulia Latynina comments upon the shifting landscape in Russian corruption and how it is handled: Under the old rules, a public scandal involving Serdyukov would have failed to result in his dismissal. It also would have meant […]

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Skepticism greets Putin Net initiative: The president’s suggestion of a state fund for innovative online projects raises doubts over its political implications and its ability to attract private investment

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television
File Image of Stylized Eye Surrounded by Binary Code

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Dan Peleschuk – Dec. 3, 2012) Despite President Vladimir Putin’s newfound appreciation of the Internet as a useful tool to fight Russia’s “brain drain,” experts question how fair his proposed funding scheme will actually be. They argue his new proposal to help finance online start-ups may be little more than a cash cow for government-friendly […]

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NEWSLINK: After a year of protest, a different Russia beckons

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Moscow Winter Protest

[After a year of protest, a different Russia beckons – Washington Post – Will Englund and Kathy Lally – Dec. 5, 2012 – Click here for full article] The Washington Post covers the one-year anniversary of the large protests that broke out in Russia in December 2010: The political protests that suddenly began a year ago seemingly accomplished little concrete […]

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NEWSLINK: Constitutional changes possible but not yet necessary – Putin

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

[Constitutional changes possible but not yet necessary – Putin – Russia Today – Nov. 30, 2012 – http://rt.com/politics/president-state-mps-government-962/] Russia Today covers Russian President Vladimir Putin’s positions on how members of the Federation Council are chosen. Click here for the full article: http://rt.com/politics/president-state-mps-government-962/

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NEWSLINK: Corruption scandals dominate Russian headlines; Allegations have involved Russia’s defense and agriculture ministries and even the space program. Some wonder whether the regime is cracking down or fracturing

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Two Persons Shaking Hands and Exchanging Cash

[Corruption scandals dominate Russian headlines; Allegations have involved Russia’s defense and agriculture ministries and even the space program. Some wonder whether the regime is cracking down or fracturing. – Los Angeles Times – Sergei L. Loiko – Dec. 3, 2012 – http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/02/world/la-fg-russia-corruption-20121203] The Los Angeles Times covers recently exposed corruption scandals in Russia: … the news in Russia lately has […]

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Rumblings In The Republics: New Russian Nationalities Policy Sparks Outcry

Race, Ethnic, Extremism, Xenophobia
Map of Russia

(RFE/RL – Nail Khisamiev, Robert Coalson – Dec. 1, 2012) A potentially explosive political kettle has been simmering in Russia for months, and it may well boil over in the weeks to come. Shortly after his return to the Kremlin in May, President Vladimir Putin ordered the drafting of a new State Nationalities Policy. The document, which was to be […]

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Russia to offer substantive agenda during G20 chairmanship – Putin

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
G20 Summit Group Photo

(Interfax – Dec. 1, 2012) During its G20 chairmanship, Russia intends to offer a substantive agenda to its partners aimed at resolving problems facing all countries of the world. “We see the main objective of Russia’s chairmanship in concentrating the G20’s efforts on developing measures stimulating economic growth and the creation of jobs,” Putin said in a welcoming address for […]

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NEWSLINK: Putin visits Turkey amid differences over Syria

Arms Trade, Military Aid, Europe, EU, Middle East, North Africa
Map of Turkey

[Putin visits Turkey amid differences over Syria – AP – Vladimir Isachenkov – Dec. 3, 2012 – click here for full article] AP covers Russian President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Turkey, focusing on growing trade while also in the midst of concerns over the conflict in Turkey’s neighbor Syria, as well as questions about Putin’s health: The blossoming trade relationship […]

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Putin’s Anti-Corruption Campaign May Backfire

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Man Placing Stack of Large Bills into Inside Pocket of Suitcoat

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Vladimir Frolov – Dec. 3, 2012) It may feel like hitting a political trifecta. You defang the political issue that energizes your opponents. You restore your standing with the military and please your core supporters long clamoring for the corrupt elites’ heads. You anesthetize your governing team with a fear of being on the hit […]

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Putin Sets Parliamentary Address for Mid-December

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Duma Session file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Dec. 3, 2012) President Vladimir Putin told leaders of the four State Duma factions that he would make his state-of-the-nation address in mid-December. The address is traditionally held in November, but a Kremlin source told Kommersant in late October that the address might be delayed amid disputes about its content. The faction heads met Putin […]

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Rumors about Putin’s back are highly exaggerated, president’s ability to work unaffected – Peskov

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

MOSCOW. Nov 30 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to participate in sports as usual and the rumors about his back problems do not affect his ability to work, the president’s press officer Dmitry Peskov said. “We continue working and intends to continue working in the same mode. He has no intention of giving up sports. Like any sportsman, […]

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A ‘Kompromat’ War Of All Against All

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

(RFE/RL – Brian Whitmore – Nov. 29, 2012) Is it an anti-graft campaign? A purge of the elite? Or the start of a clan war? When police raided and searched the home of Rostelekom CEO Aleksandr Provotorov last week, it marked yet another chapter in what the Russian media has been describing as a Kremlin-backed war on corruption. The search […]

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Putin’s Repressive Power Is Tested and Found Lacking

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladimir Putin file photo

(Jamestown Foundation – jamestown.org – Eurasia Daily Monitor: Volume 9, Issue 217 – Pavel K. Baev – Nov. 28, 2012) A capacity for unleashing targeted repressions is crucial for the survival of authoritarian regimes, and President Vladimir Putin finds it increasingly difficult to demonstrate that he has such a capacity­or that he controls it. Health problems keep him confined to […]

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Russia’s Leadership ‘Tandem’ Losing Appeal – Poll

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone

MOSCOW, November 29 (RIA Novosti) – The two men who form Russia’s ruling tandem – President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev – have seen their credibility and approval ratings drop over the past 11 months, the Levada polling agency said on Thursday. Putin’s credibility ratings fell from 41 percent in January to 34 percent in November, and Medvedev’s […]

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Putin’s China Syndrome

Far East, Siberia, APEC, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

(RFE/RL – Brian Whitmore – Nov. 27, 2012) The Moscow punditocracy has had China on its mind lately. In fact, one leading commentator even confessed to suffering from “China envy.” When the Chinese Communist Party elected the country’s new top leaders earlier this month, with Hu Jintao relinquishing power to Xi Jinping, many in Russia’s chattering classes noted how favorably […]

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Putin to deliver video address Dec 1 on Russia’s presidency in G20 – newspaper

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Foreign Policy, Security, Visas
Vladimir Putin file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 27 (Interfax) – President Vladimir Putin’s video address on December 1 will highlight Russia’s priorities as the G20’s coordinator, the daily Kommersant wrote on Tuesday. “Putin’s special video address will highlight the strategy of Russia’s presidency in this organization,” the newspaper writes. Also, a Web site will be launched on December 1 to cover Russia’s G20 presidency, it […]

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Putin to Travel After 2 Months at Home

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – November 27, 2012) President Vladimir Putin is visiting Turkey and Turkmenistan next week, signaling that he is fit for travel again after a two-month hiatus that raised speculation about his health. Putin is expected to meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gül during a half-day working visit […]

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Roadmap to reform

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Ben Aris in Moscow – Business New Europe – www.bne.eu – November 27, 2012 – Ben Aris is the editor/publisher of Business New Europe) The Kremlin is scared. As the Russian economy emerges from the 2008 crisis, it is sliding smoothly and quickly into stagnation. In response, President Vladimir Putin challenged his government to implement 22 roadmaps to finally address […]

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Putin’s New Internet Initiative: More Money, More Problems

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Image of Map of Russia for Polling Place Webcams

MOSCOW, November 26 (Dan Peleschuk, RIA Novosti) ­ Despite President Vladimir Putin’s newfound appreciation of the internet as a useful tool to fight Russia’s “brain drain,” experts question how fair his proposed funding scheme will actually be. They argue his new proposal to help finance online start-ups may be little more than a cash cow for government-friendly initiatives, as well […]

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Putin’s last crane returning to Russia

Environment, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin and Pilot in Hang Glider Airborne Next to Flying Cranes

ASTANA. Nov 21 (Interfax) – A Siberian white crane from the project backed by President Vladimir Putin has been sent from Borovoye in the Kazakh northern Akmola region to Russia, the Kazakh Agriculture Ministry reported on Wednesday. Russian ornithologists will bring the crane back home. “An Akmola regional forestry and hunting inspection officer kept the crane at his Borovoye home […]

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Putin wants ineffective experts locked in submarine

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladimir Putin file photo

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Evgeniya Chaykovskaya – November 22, 2012) Russian President Vladimir Putin is unhappy with a development roadmap created by experts from the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI), particularly on improving effectiveness of customs supervision, RIA Novosti reported. “The practice of implementing roadmaps shows that not everything is going as smoothly as we would like,” Putin said. […]

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Shoigu Suspends the “Serdyukov” Military Reform

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Shoigu file photo

(Jamestown Foundation – jamestown.org – Eurasia Daily Monitor: Volume 9, Issue 213 – Roger McDermott – November 20, 2012) A near catatonic trance descended upon the Russian media in the aftermath of President Vladimir Putin sacking his controversial Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov on November 6, with a preoccupation on issues of corruption and speculation on the fallen minister’s private life. […]

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Interview: Legendary Russian Journalist Says ‘People On Top Are Scared’

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

(RFE/RL – November 17, 2012) As one of the most recognizable personalities on Russian television, Vladimir Pozner is no stranger to the spotlight. But the 78-year-old veteran journalist found himself in the midst of a controversy last month after lambasting the state of justice in the country during his popular show on state-controlled Channel One. Pozner harshly criticized the abduction […]

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Putin’s Power Stirs Russians Watching ‘Julius Caesar’

Life in Russia, Culture, Arts, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Bust of Julius Caesar

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Henry Meyer – November 18, 2012) Vladimir Putin, who has stirred up unprecedented protest to his more than decade-long rule in Russia, was not far from the minds of some watching the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “Julius Caesar” in Moscow. The story of betrayal and assassination of a dictator followed by civil war, set in a modern-day […]

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Putin and Merkel Trade Barbs in Kremlin Talks

Europe, EU, Human Rights
Angela Merkel file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – November 19, 2012) President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel traded barbs over Pussy Riot, human rights and democracy during Kremlin talks Friday that marked a turn in Berlin’s policy toward Moscow. Merkel, who had been under pressure not to be soft on Putin, seemingly enjoyed confronting her host about […]

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Corruption

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Anatoliy Serdyukov file photo

CORRUPTION. There are those who believe that one of the main reasons for Putin’s re-appearance in the President’s chair was that only he has the political muscle to really move on Russia’s widespread problem of corruption, especially corruption at the top. I have always said that we won’t know that the anti-corruption drive is serious until it takes down someone in an office near Putin’s or Medvedev’s. Do we start to see this? The OboronServis case is getting bigger. The case concerns skulduggery with the extensive number of military properties …

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With Anti-Corruption Drive, Kremlin Adopts Navalny Tactic

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Bratersky – November 16, 2012) When President Vladimir Putin was asked in an interview last month about anti-corruption lawyer Alexei Navalny, he indicated that he thought opposition leaders had achieved little of substance. “I’m not repudiating anyone, and I don’t want to cheapen the merits of any of the possible leaders of the opposition,” […]

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Putin Health Confusion Sparks Investor Concern

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Henry Meyer and Jason Corcoran – November 16, 2012) Russian government reticence to discuss President Vladimir Putin’s health issues is adding to investor concern about the lack of transparency in a country that’s losing $80 billion a year in capital flight. The Russian leader canceled or postponed five foreign trips over more than a month, including […]

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Putin Misses Business Group’s Forum

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Cash, Calculator, Pen

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Rachel Nielsen – November 15, 2012) At Wednesday’s congress of a major business lobbying group, the president of the country pulled a no-show, the first deputy prime minister told the group to avoid politics and a State Duma deputy personally fielded business complaints. The congress was the 10th annual gathering for Opora, a nationwide group […]

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Russian presidential aide gives details of Putin-Obama phone talks

United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Vladimir Putin Leaning Towards Barack Hussein Obama With Flags Behind Them

(Interfax – Novo-Ogarevo, 14 November) The Russian and US presidents, Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama, have agreed to discuss a range of bilateral relations when they meet in person, the Russian presidential aide Yuriy Ushakov has said. “In my view, the essence of their conversation was to agree on a separate meeting between them at which they would thoroughly discuss […]

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Russian premier says nothing has changed in his relations with Putin

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone

(Interfax – Moscow, 13 November) [Prime Minister] Dmitriy Medvedev has said that after stepping down as president and moving to the government, his relations with Vladimir Putin have not changed. “As regards about our relations with the president – I have commented on this topic many times – nothing has changed since I went to work in the government while […]

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Despite Putin’s ‘Promise,’ Anti-Treason Law Comes into Force

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Spies, Spy Allegations
Vladimir Putin file photo

MOSCOW, November 14 (Marc Bennetts, RIA Novosti) ­ A controversial law on state treason that critics fear could be used to stamp out political dissent came into force in Russia on Wednesday, two days after President Vladimir Putin told human rights workers he was ready to “review” it. The law, initiated by the Federal Security Service (FSB), and signed by […]

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Physicist Convicted of Espionage Gets Parole

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Science, Technology, Engineering, Spies, Spy Allegations
FSB Headquarters Building file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Natalya Krainova – November 14, 2012) Valentin Danilov, a Siberian physicist jailed on charges of espionage and treason amid a spying frenzy that swept the country in President Vladimir Putin’s first term, was granted parole Tuesday and could be freed next week. Human rights campaigners praised the ruling, saying Danilov should never have been imprisoned […]

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Putin Backs Russian Pension Revamp Opposed by Finance Ministry

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Two Elders Walking Outdoors

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Ilya Arkhipov and Olga Tanas – November 14, 2012) Russian President Vladimir Putin backed a planned pension overhaul opposed by the Finance Ministry, Economy Ministry and asset managers, who warn it would curb economic growth. The Labor Ministry plan would divert taxes from future retirement plans to meet current pension payments and narrow the state system’s […]

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Putin’s Human Rights Council Gets 39 New Members

Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Yekaterina Kravtsova – November 13, 2012) President Vladimir Putin’s human rights council gained 39 new members on Monday as its total membership count rose from 40 to 62 in a reshuffle that saw more than a dozen leave. A longtime head of the council told The Moscow Times that, in its expanded form, the panel […]

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Brezhnev’s Children

History, Soviet Union, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Leonid Brezhnev and Richard Nixon Sitting and Talking, as Nixon Gestures, with Third Man Standing and Leaning Closely Between Them

(RFE/RL – Brian Whitmore – November 8, 2012) In many ways, the current battle for Russia’s future began 30 years ago this week. On November 10, 1982, Leonid Brezhnev died, sparking a generational change in the Soviet leadership and setting in motion an ongoing cycle of reform and reaction in Russia that remains incomplete and inconclusive to this day. The […]

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Kremlin Human Rights Body Bound to Be Less Critical of Govt – Analyst

Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Russian Jail File Photo Showing Outer Wall, Windows, Barbed Wire

MOSCOW. Nov 12 (Interfax) – The new composition of the Council on Civil Society Development and Human Rights, a 39-member Kremlin consultative body, as approved by President Vladimir Putin “significantly devalues the presence of critics of the government” the council, an analyst said on Monday. “If one looks at who has been included in the council, one can say that […]

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Rumors in Moscow hint that new Defense Minister Shoigu may eventually replace Putin: Andropov’s Shadow over the Kremlin Clan Feuds

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, History, Soviet Union, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Shoigu file photo

(Jamestown Foundation – jamestown.org – Eurasia Daily Monitor: Volume 9, Issue 207 – Pavel K. Baev – November 12, 2012) The Russian political class had hardly any time last week to contemplate the consequences of US President Barack Obama’s re-election for a second term or to follow the tense atmosphere at the 18th Communist Party Congress in Beijing­it was the […]

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