Category: Politics, Government, Protests, Elections

Subject: Short reflections Ukraine, etc. Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2022 From: Ellen Mickiewicz <ellen.mickiewicz@duke.edu> Ellen Mickiewicz is James R. Shepley emeritus professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University. In 1999 the United States bombed Serbia That was a huge event leaving still raw wounds in (fellow Slavic) Russia. Every single time at moments such as now, the […]

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Feb. 4, 2022) Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings increased in January as tensions with the West grew over Ukraine, according to an independent survey published Friday. According to the Levada Center pollster, Putin’s job approval grew to 69% last month from 65% in December. Putin’s disapproval dropped to 29% in January from 34% the […]

“Ukraine’s leaders sought to reassure the nation that a feared invasion from neighboring Russia was not imminent, even as they acknowledged the threat is real and prepared to accept a shipment of American military equipment … to shore up … defenses. Russia has denied it is planning an assault, but … has massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine …. […]

Putin held his annual end-of-year press conference as soaring tensions with the West over Ukraine have sparked fears of an all-out war. Media outlets were not able to apply for accreditation. The Kremlin hand-picked around 500 international and domestic journalists […]

Russia is massing forces near its border with Ukraine and calling for “security guarantees” that would block NATO enlargement. Meanwhile, Russian authorities are in a major crackdown against independent media, civil-society groups, and political opponents […]

… [W]e remain gravely concerned with the large and unprovoked Russian buildup on Ukraine’s borders.  … We are also concerned about Russia’s increasingly harsh rhetoric and pushing a false narrative […]

Kremlin critics and experts on Russian politics say authorities use the prospect of bonuses as part of a carrot-and-stick approach to get teachers, and other state workers whose low pay makes them vulnerable to pressure, to vote in elections […]