New Report Cites Eroding Freedom and Accountability in Russia
Freedom House has just published a new report “Countries at the Crossroads 2007” which warns against the dangers of the rising “authoritarian capitalism” state model currently seizing both China and Russia. The Financial Times has reported on the release of the study, as has the Associated Press. Below is an excerpt from the introduction, the […]
RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Sept. 25, 2007
Russia’s newly appointed Health Minister Tatiyana Golikova, left, and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, right, are seen at a Cabinet meeting in Moscow, Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. (Photo: AP) President Vladimir Putin’s new cabinet has finally been announced. In a surprising development, the cabinet remains largely unchanged, with Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev keeping their same […]
The Sounds of Boots Marching in Step
The blog Darkness at Noon has been resurrected from its hiatus with an interesting post responding to today’s news that the Nashi youth brigades will be deployed on city streets across Russia to crack down on any anti-government protests during upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Predicting violence, Rubashov laments the Kremlin’s campaign to wipe out […]
New Yorker: Kasparov vs. Putin
Below are some excerpts from David Remnick’s extensive profile article of Garry Kasparov from the latest issue of the New Yorker (the full text of the article is available online for the time being). Remnick, the editor of the New Yorker, was a correspondent in Moscow for many years and is the author of the […]
Russia Makes a New Aeronautical Bid with the Sukhoi Superjet
While still well below the scale of Airbus or Boeing, Russia took a big step forward today in its quest to revive its position in the aeronautical industry with the roll out of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 – a 78 to 98 seat regional airliner designed to compete with established aircraft lines from companies such […]
RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Sept. 24, 2007
Russia’s team waves to the crowd during the rope medal ceremony of the group apparatus final at the 28th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in the city of Patras, southern Greece, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. (Photo: AP) There has been a delay in announcing the new Russian government. In the run-up to the elections, the pro-Kremlin […]
Where’s My Kalashnikov?
From a long feature article on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez: The tinted window rolls down at a military checkpoint, and startled troops snap to attention when they see their president at the wheel. “Fatherland, socialism – or death! Good afternoon, my commander-in-chief,” a National Guardsman blurts out, saluting with an expression of shock. “Why haven’t […]
Lithuania Finds Yukos Case Politically Motivated
From a RIA Novosti report on Lithuania’s refusal to extradite a former Yukos shareholder to Russia: “Upon analyzing the materials on the Yukos case, we have concluded that this case is politicized and Mikhail Brudno has been persecuted, may be because of other people involved in the Yukos affair, and we have decided that the […]
Word on the Street in Moscow
Photo: AFP My well-informed contacts in Moscow have reported to me that a palpable sense of panic is sweeping many government ministries in Russia these days. It seems clear that the master plan for President Putin’s succession remains a very tightly-held secret. Prime Minister Zubkov’s theatrical performance last week, tearing strips off officials for not […]
Putin’s Dubious Popularity
Below is a letter to the editor published in the International Herald Tribune in response to a recent Serge Schmemann opinion article. Putin’s dubious ‘popularity’ Serge Schmemann’s article “A visit with Putin” (Views, Sept. 17) presents a view of Vladimir Putin that reflects the public image Putin strives to project, but it is not an […]
Russia News Blast
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – February 24, 2022
Today in Russia: Invasion. Will the world respond?
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – February 23, 2022
Today in Russia/CIS: Ukraine calls up reservists; Levada Center Director Volkov on public opinion in Russia; Erdogan says Turkey won’t accept Russian moves in Ukraine; EU and US latest sanctions; Russia-Ukraine crisis as viewed Uzbekistan; Israel walks a tightrope on its Ukraine position
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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – February 22, 2022
but which borders?;’ History professor (and President) Putin delivers fiery speech; Lavrov re-writes the rules of international sovereignty; UK and EU roll out initial sanctions, and Washington plans big moves; Nord Stream 2 finally meets its end after a slow, painful death; Zelensky’s speech; White House: On second thought, that’s an invasion; How will China respond?; Russia to evacuate all diplomatic staff from Ukraine
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