Category: Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
NEWSWATCH Intellinews/Ben Aris: “Terrorism, bread and babies in Russia’s sights for 2016, Putin tells nation”
Ben Aris comments upon Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2015 State of the Nation speech. In a tight one-hour speech to more than 1,200 state officials and dignitaries gathered in the Moscow Kremlin, the Russian leader urged the international community to unite in ‘one mighty fist’ against the terrorist scourge, while leaving no doubt as to whom he blamed for its […]
» Read moreTRANSCRIPT: [Putin] Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly
(Kremlin.ru – December 3, 2015) Vladimir Putin delivered the Annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly. The Address was traditionally delivered at the Kremlin’s St George Hall before an audience of more than 1,000 people. Those present for the Address included members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, members of the Government, heads of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, […]
» Read moreNEWSLINK Kyiv Post: “Yatsenyuk ally says he will resign from parliament amid corruption scandal.”
‘Russia’s Future Not Connected with Ukraine or Syria,’ Inozemtsev Says
(Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, December 1, 2015) Russians have been so focused on events in Ukraine and now Syria that they have forgotten the most important thing: their future and that of their country is not connected with what is going on in those countries but what is taking place or not taking place in their […]
» Read moreNEWSLINK ReadRussia/Mark Galeotti: “Three Putins Leave Us All Guessing”
Why we should be confident that Putin is genuinely popular in Russia
(Professor Joshua Tucker of NYU – PONARS – IERES – Nov. 24, 2015) (WP) Tuesday brings yet another dramatic development in the story of Russia’s relationship with the West. Monday, it was the possibility of improving relations in the wake of French President Francois Hollande’s decision to visit Moscow to seek solidarity in the fight against the Islamic State. Tuesday, it is the specter of renewed conflict […]
» Read moreNEWSWATCH Reuters: “Khodorkovsky says Putin is leading Russia towards stagnation, collapse”
Reuters covers remarks by former Russian oil tycoon, former prison inmate, political activist Mikhail Khodorkovsky. President Vladimir Putin will survive Western sanctions and lower oil prices but the Kremlin chief has brought such stagnation that Russia could eventually collapse, former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky said …. Russia’s richest man, who was arrested in 2003 after falling foul of Putin and released […]
» Read moreWest Needs to End Its Illusions about Putin’s Power, Shevtsova Says
(Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, November 30, 2015) Many in the West still view Vladimir Putin as a powerful miracle worker who never loses at home or abroad, a perspective increasingly at odds with the facts and one that only partially conceals their own unwillingness to respond forcefully to his hooligan-like actions, according to Liliya Shevtsova. In […]
» Read moreRussian Minister: Security Concerns Justify Restricting Civil Rights
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Anna Dolgov – November 28, 2015) Russia’s interior minister said restricting civil rights is justifiable if security considerations demand it, according to a television interview that was broadcast Thursday night and prompted criticism from human rights advocates. Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev told NTV television that police and security agencies must “tighten the screws” in case […]
» Read moreSoros Foundation recognized as undesirable in Russia
(Interfax – November 30, 2015) The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has recognized undesirable several foreign non-profit organizations, such as the Open Society Foundation and the Assistance Foundation in Russia. “This decision was taken, following an address by the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly to the Russian general prosecutor, foreign minister and justice minister to inspect the organizations, which […]
» Read moreMuseum to Russia’s first president Boris Yeltsin opens to public
November 25 saw the official opening in Yekaterinburg of a museum dedicated to Boris Yeltsin, Russia’s first president. Besides documenting Yeltsin’s tenure as leader of the country, the museum also explores the turbulent history of the 1990s. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – MARINA OBRAZKOVA, RBTH – November 27, 2015) A museum to Boris Yeltsin has been unveiled in […]
» Read moreRussian President Putin to Give State of the Nation Address on Dec. 3
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Anna Dolgov – November 30, 2015) President Vladimir Putin will present his annual state of the nation address on Dec. 3, the Kremlin press office announced Monday. The speech will begin at noon in Moscow, Russian news agencies reported Sunday, but the Kremlin has not yet confirmed the start time. Putin will hold his annual […]
» Read moreMoscow and Ankara facing test of political nerve
Bilateral relations between Turkey and Russia have been seriously damaged by the shooting down of a Russian bomber near the Syrian border by the Turkish air force. However, despite a history of uneasy partnership, both sides will realize that it is not in their interests to allow tensions to spiral over the incident. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – […]
» Read moreRussia-Turkey crisis: What do ordinary citizens think?
The shooting down of a Russian jet by Turkey’s air force has left many Russians indignant and confused, while in Turkey the crisis in relations between Moscow and Ankara has also become the hottest talking point. RBTH looks at social trends and speaks to ordinary citizens to gauge opinion in the two countries. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – […]
» Read moreRussian Public Hawkish on Syria, Terrorism – Poll
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 26, 2015) Nearly half of Russians think that French authorities should respond to the terror attacks in Paris on Nov. 13, which left 130 people dead, by “stepping up its fight against IS and fostering international cooperation in combating terrorism,” according to a poll by independent Russian pollster the Levada Center, the Kommersant newspaper […]
» Read moreDowning of Russian Plane has Serious Consequences for Putin at Home, in Central Asia, and in Ukraine
(Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, November 25, 2015) The shooting down of a Russian military plane by Turkish forces after Kremlin ignored repeated warnings from Ankara not to violate Turkey’s airspace not only increases the risks of a clash between Russia and the West but has serious consequences for Putin at home, in Central Asia and the […]
» Read moreNEWSWATCH International New York Times/Maxim Trudolyubov: “Putin’s Emergency Politics”
Writing in The International New York Times, Maxim Trudolyubov comments upon Russia’s relationship with Europe and the United States, and policies towards Syria and Ukraine, in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in France. Much has changed for Vladimir Putin since the terror attacks in Paris. The trope that aggressions in Crimea and Ukraine show that he is more of a […]
» Read moreFormer Russian Finance Minister calls for reform of political system, NGO laws
(Interfax – November 21, 2015) Former Russian Finance Minister and leader of the Civil Initiatives Forum (OGF) Aleksey Kudrin, has called for a series of initiatives to reform the Russian electoral and political system, privately-owned Russian news agency Interfax reported on 21 November. Kudrin said the OGF was concentrating on working with civil society and was not ready to form […]
» Read moreTwo Anniversaries, Two Countries – Ukraine’s Maidan at Two, Russia’s Foreign Agents Law at Three
(Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, November 22, 2015) Anniversaries are occasions for recalling the past and thinking about the future, and they are especially instructive about both when two or more of them occur at the same time. That is the case this weekend when Ukrainians mark the second anniversary of the Maidan and Russians take note […]
» Read moreRussian Justice Ministry Report on NGO Memorial Heads to Court
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Joanna Kozlowska – November 21, 2015) The Justice Ministry report accusing the rights group Memorial of “undermining the constitutional order and calling for the overthrow of the Russian government,” following the ministry’s inspection of the NGO’s activities and dated Oct. 30, has been sent to a magistrates’ court in Moscow’s Tverskoy district, the RIA Novosti […]
» Read moreKyiv Must Seek Collapse of Putin Regime, Not ‘Restoration of Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity at Any Price,’ Portnikov Says
(Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, November 20, 2015) Ukrainian commentator Vitaly Portnikov argues that the goal of the Ukrainian government should not be “the restoration of territorial integrity at any price but rather the undermining of the economy of the aggressor country and the collapse of Putin’s political regime” (rus.newsru.ua/columnists/19nov2015/voprossroka.html). Western media say that the EU and […]
» Read moreRussian ombudsman probes into high-profile prisoners’ complaints
(Interfax – November 17, 2015) Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Ella Pamfilova has sent an official letter to the Russian prison authorities asking them to provide urgent medical help to the brother of prominent opposition activist Aleksey Navalnyy – Oleg Navalnyy, who is serving his prison sentence after being convicted for embezzlement, privately-owned Russian news agency Interfax news agency reported […]
» Read morePutin’s Pioneers: Push For Russian Youth League Stirs Debate, Doubt
(RFE/RL – Andrei Shary – November 15, 2015) As a youth growing up in Leningrad in the 1960s, Vladimir Putin was one of the few children in his school class who was not a member of the Soviet Young Pioneers. Now he seems determined not to let future generations of Russian children face such a fate. On October 29, the […]
» Read moreAnother Georgian native gets Ukrainian citizenship, high post in Ukraine’s national police
KYIV. Nov 15 (Interfax) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree giving Ukrainian citizenship to Giorgi Grigalashvili, who previously headed the Georgian patrol police. “You have demonstrated a result in the reform of the Georgian law enforcement system, you have to demonstrate it in Ukraine, too. I hope for your professionalism and decency,” Poroshenko said while signing the […]
» Read moreThe Code of Putinism
(PONARS – ponarseurasia.org – Brian Taylor – November 2015) Brian Taylor is Professor of Political Science in the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. [article also appeared at ponarseurasia.org/memo/code-putinism] [PDF version: ponarseurasia.org/sites/default/files/policy-memos-pdf/Pepm399_Taylor_Nov2015.pdf] Is Vladimir Putin a pragmatist or an ideologue? And if he is an ideologue, then what exactly is Putinism? Putin seems like an unlikely founder of an -ism, and […]
» Read morePlots against Russia (Book and Blog)
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2015 From: Eliot Borenstein <eb7@nyu.edu> Subject: Plots against Russia (Book and Blog) A brief announcement: I’m posting the first draft of my new book project, Plots against Russia: Conspiracy and Fantasy after Socialism, as a blog. This is while I write it, in real time. I explain the idea behind the project here: http://jordanrussiacenter.org/news/new-book-new-blog-plots-russia/#.VkPdLbcq2rV The blog/book’s […]
» Read moreRussia to focus on economics, security at EAS summit in Kuala Lumpur
(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – ALEXEY TIMOFEYCHEV – November 13, 2015) Russia’s will look for promote the Russian Far East as an investment destination at the upcoming East Asia Summit in Malaysia. Economic and investment cooperation will be high on Russia’s agenda at the 10th annual edition of the East Asia Summit (EAS), which will take place in […]
» Read moreTwo-thirds of Russians see Russian administration’s foreign policy success
(Interfax – November 13, 2015) Russians’ interest in foreign policy increased in the past month from 58 percent in September to 63 percent now, Public Opinion Foundation has reported. The poll, which surveyed 1,500 people living in 104 populated areas in 53 regions of Russia, was conducted on November 7-8. Thirty-five percent of the respondents (against 41 percent in September) […]
» Read moreMedvedev: Retirement age has to be raised sooner or later
(Interfax – November 11, 2015) Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has for the first time definitively supported the future raising of the retirement age without saying when this decision may be made. At present, the retirement age in Russia is 60 years for men and 55 years for women. The Finance Ministry insists there is no other way to resolve […]
» Read moreWhen In Doubt, Blame The West
(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Brian Whitmore – November 9, 2015) So Russia went there after all. The crash of Metrojet Flight 9268 in Egypt on October 31, which killed all 224 people on board, was more than the worst aviation disaster in the country’s history. Once it became clear that the cause of the crash was probably terrorism, it also […]
» Read moreKremlin’s Campaign against Russophobia Threatens both Russia and the West, Polish Experts Say
(Paul Goble – Staunton, November 11, 2015) The Kremlin’s revival of a campaign against what it calls “Russophobia” constitutes a threat not only to Western countries but to Russia’s future as well, according to two Polish experts. As such, they argue, it can properly be described as “a weapon of mass destruction.” In a new study, “Russophobia in the Kremlin’s […]
» Read moreNEWSLINK Foreign Affairs/ Valerie Sperling: “A Case of Putin Envy. Behind the Obsession With Russia’s Leader”
NEWSLINK Ukraine Today: “The Monster Is Dead: How Mikhail Lesin managed to kill Russian journalism.”
NEWSLINK The Daily Telegraph (UK): “Vladimir Putin’s use of sport for political ends is grotesque – but grimly effective”
Russian Justice Ministry Accuses Memorial Of Calling For Regime Change
(RFE/RL – rferl.org – RFE/RL’s Russian Service – November 10, 2015) Russia’s Justice Ministry has accused the prominent nongovernmental organization Memorial of “undermining the foundations of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation” and of calling for “a change of political regime” in the country. The ministry sent the Memorial Human Rights Center notification of the accusations on November 9 […]
» Read moreMember of Sever battalion Mukhutdinov charged in absentia in Nemtsov murder – lawyer
MOSCOW. Nov 9 (Interfax) – Investigators have charged in absentia Ruslan Mukhutdinov, a member of the Sever battalion, in the killing of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov. “Last Friday, investigators charged Mukhutdinov in absentia with organizing the Nemtsov murder. He was put on the federal wanted persons list,” Vadim Prokhorov, a lawyer for the victims, told Interfax on Monday. A source […]
» Read moreInterfax: Poll: Russians continue to lose interest in protests
(Interfax – November 9, 2015) Seventy-seven percent of Russians call unlikely mass protests against declining living standards and in support of their rights. This is the largest index since the end of last year (68 percent in December 2014), Levada Center told Interfax. The percentage of Russians who deem demonstrations focused on economic demands possible has reduced from 24 percent […]
» Read moreNEWSLINK Defensenews.com: “Russia’s ’16 Defense Spending To Remain Essentially Flat”
If the Russian Elite is to Preserve Itself, It Must Change,’ Gudkov Says
(Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, November 5, 2015) Many commentators are speculating on whether Russia’s elite groups, now threatened by Vladimir Putin’s policies, will find a way to remove him from office and install someone more to their liking. Andrey Piontkovsky has focused particular attention on this issue (nv.ua/opinion/piontkovskiy/putin-protiv-rossijskih-elit-78063.html). But this is only part of a larger […]
» Read moreMore Russians Attending Pro-Putin Rallies
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Peter Hobson – November 6, 2015) The number of Russians attending pro-government rallies has increased tenfold since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, a study found, while enthusiasm for opposition meetings has grown only slightly. A survey by the social research center at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration […]
» Read moreNEWSLINK Politico.eu: “Growing up in the shadow of ‘Brother Putin.’ He dominates Russian consciousness like no other, especially among children”
NEWSLINK The Economist: “Russia’s Sergei Shoigu. Master of emergencies. The trusty defence minister is the only person to serve in every government since the fall of the Soviet Union. He could be the next president.”
Vladimir Putin again tops list of world’s most powerful people
(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – YANA LUBNINA, SPECIAL TO RBTH- November 5, 2015) Vladimir Putin has been named the most powerful man in the world once again. The president of Russia took first place in Forbes’ annual ranking for the third year in a row. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Barack Obama took second and third […]
» Read morePutin Thinks He’s ‘Vladimir the Great,’ Condoleezza Rice Says
(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Sangwon Yoon – November 5, 2015) As U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice knew Vladimir Putin up close. One thing he liked to remind her during her time in the Bush administration was how Russia had “only been great when it has been led by great men, like Alexander II and Peter the Great.” Hearing him […]
» Read moreConfession of a Russian internet provider: A firsthand account of how the internet is monitored, regulated and blocked in the Russian Federation
(opendemocracy.net – Dmitry Okrest – November 5, 2015) Dmitry Okrest is a former staff writer with The New Times and currently works as an independent journalist. The internet is no longer free in Russia-that’s according to Freedom Net, a report recently published by Freedom House. Freedom of expression on the internet has been under threat for some time in the […]
» Read morePutin’s Fortress Russia Takes Its Toll
(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Leonid Bershidsky – November 5, 2015) It’s difficult to quantify the damage Western economic sanctions have done to Russia. The country’s slump is almost exclusively due to a drop in oil prices, which has led to a sharp currency devaluation and a jump in interest rates. Yet the sanctions have fueled the Kremlin’s paranoia, lending Russia’s […]
» Read moreNew Museum Stakes Claim to Russia’s Gulag Legacy
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Howard Amos – November 5, 2015) [Photos here http://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts_n_ideas/article/new-museum-stakes-claim-to-russias-gulag-legacy/542211.html] Russia’s largest museum devoted to the horrors of the Soviet gulag has opened, even as many Muscovites remain unwilling to talk about political repression. Moscow’s new Gulag Museum opened Friday even as the country remains polarized by the legacy of its brutal system of Soviet-era prison […]
» Read moreExiled Kremlin Critic Becomes EBRD Chief Economist
(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 4, 2015) Sergei Guriev, a former adviser to the Russian government who fled the country two years ago, has been appointed chief economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the bank said in a statement Tuesday. Guriev is to take up his post in summer 2016. He will become the first […]
» Read moreIntegration still a challenge in Russia
Russian society has yet to accept that mass migration is a fact, which makes it harder for those moving to the country to integrate into society, according to an expert on xenophobia. (Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Ilya Krol – November 2, 2015) The SOVA Center for Information and Analysis is one of the leading nonprofit organizations in […]
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