Year: 2008

December 8, 2008

Video: Who Runs Russia?

During his appearance on Meet the Press yesterday, President-elect Barack Obama is asked about who he thinks is running the show over in Moscow.  A sensitive question, and an easy dodge.  Fast forward to 1:45 to skip the Iran engagement ...
December 8, 2008

German Views on War in Georgia

There is a new paper worth checking out from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, which gathers together several articles to debate the various perceptions of the Russian invasion of Georgia and its policy implications for ...
December 8, 2008

The New Tepid War

National Review Online has posted a symposium asking various experts whether or not they believe that Russia’s naval deployment in the Panama Canal (the first time since WWII) this weekend means that Moscow has made a clear declaration of a ...
December 8, 2008

Vasily Alexanyan Released from Prison?

There are early reports in the Russian media that the former general counsel of Yukos, Vasily Alexanyan, who has been held unjustly in prison on pre-trial detenion for years and denied medical attention, has been released on bail.  Only six w...
December 8, 2008

Grigory Pasko: The Common Touch of a Tsar

It must have been a month or so ago that my wife brought to my attention that the towel-dryer in our bathroom wasn’t working [all Russian flats have an exposed hot-water pipe on the bathroom wall for hanging wet towels and clothes on–T...
December 8, 2008

Today in Russian Business – Dec 8, 2008

Mining group Mechel, which has previously had difficulties with the state, is back in the hot seat as a new investigation by anti-monopoly authorities will target it as well as SUEK following complaints from power firms on prices.  The Kremli...
December 8, 2008

Energy Blast – Dec 8, 2008

Lukoil’s interest in Spain’s Repsol is continuing to provoke debate, but some warn that the media hysteria over the risks of Russian ownership are overblown, especially if the deal is viewed as an insurance policy:  But LukoilR...
December 8, 2008

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Dec. 8, 2008

TODAY: National mourning of the patriarch continues, Switzerland helps soften Russia-Georgia relations, a hostage siege in Dagestan ends with fatalities, more asset seizures on the horizon, fingers point to FSB in Politkovskaya trial, and Russia j...
December 5, 2008

The Kremlin’s Magic Talisman

From Radio Free Europe: “The Kremlin can say — and it has said many times — that there is no financial crisis in Russia. And the people are supposed to accept that. And the Kremlin itself partly believes what it says because in R...
December 5, 2008

The Economist: Courageous Protestors

It’s refreshing to come across articles about positive human rights developments in Russia.  There’s an optimistic piece in yesterday’s Economist, praising a number of recent protests by Russian citizens, including the juror...