Robert Amsterdam

Charles Wolf on Russia’s Economic Transition

By James Kimer | Published: January 15, 2007

Yesterday Charles Wolf of the RAND Corporation penned on a column on the economic transition currently occuring in Russia (hat tip Economist’s View). Russia’s status as a “market economy” may have been accorded for political reasons, says Charles Wolf In fact, a heated debate is currently under way within Russia concerning the direction of its […]

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Gazprom’s Arrogance, Lukashenko’s Buffoonery

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

From Alexander Arkhangelsky on Russia Profile: What’s the point here? The point is that the oil and gas spat that blew up between Russia and Belarus on the eve of 2007 could have produced some entirely unexpected psychological consequences. Comrade Alexander Lukashenko answered Gazprom’s cheerful arrogance with buffoonery – buffoonery that was, moreover, aimed not […]

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In Memoriam: Alexander Litvinenko

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

Here is a ten minute excerpt of a Dutch-produced documentary film titled “In Memoriam: Alexander Litvinenko.”

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Grigory Pasko: Nobody Forced Him to Say It

By Grigory Pasko | Published:

Nobody forced him to say it by Grigory Pasko, journalist Speaking recently at a session of the Council to Assist the Development of Institutions of Civil Society and Human Rights, president of Russia Vladimir Putin said that neither the people nor the president have much confidence in Russia’s correctional system. The members of the council, […]

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Grigory Pasko: Political Prisoners in Today’s Russia

By Grigory Pasko | Published:

Political Prisoners in Today’s Russia By Grigory Pasko, journalist Physicist Valentin Danilov Krasnoyarsk State Technical University staff member Valentin Danilov was arrested on 16 February 2001. According to story of the investigators of the regional administration of the FSB, having signed a contract with a Chinese precision engineering export-import corporation to develop a technology for […]

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Khodorkovsky 101: The Treatment of Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky at the Krasnokamensk Prison Camp

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

The Treatment of Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky at the Krasnokamensk Prison Camp The politically-motivated persecution of Mikhail Khodorkovsky has continued after his trial. Mr. Khodorkovsky is incarcerated in a remote Siberian prison, in contravention of Russian law. He has been repeatedly denied rights afforded to him as a prisoner under Russian and international law. A pattern […]

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Khodorkovsky 101: Summary of Motives Behind the Campaign Against Mikhail Khodorkovsky

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

[Editor’s note: this is the first in a series of background articles addressing the most frequently asked questions about Mikhail Khodorkovsky.] Summary of Motives Behind the Campaign Against Mikhail Khodorkovsky This summary outlines how interdependent strategic motives led to the imprisonment of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the confiscation of Yukos’ prime assets. Khodorkovsky was increasingly considered […]

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Irwin Stelzer Warns of “Opulence over Defence” in Russia

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

Stelzer: “EU free-traders who believe in the efficiency-enhancing effects of the free flow of capital see their theoretical belief foundering on the rock of their energy dependence.” From The Sunday Times: Hugging Russian bear may lead to a mauling for EU Irwin Stelzer American Account ADAM SMITH never met Vladimir Putin, but, as with so […]

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EBRD Declines Sakhalin Loan

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has announced it has decided not to invest in the $20 billion Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project, following the harassment debacle that gave Gazprom majority control. While numerous environmental groups are praising the decision, it seems that the decision was based on the attack on the market – […]

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