A New and Approved Authoritarian Russia
KAL’s weekly cartoon from the Economist:
Archive
Marketing Energy Imperialism and State Theft
In the first of a series of posts I plan on doing in regards to Vladimir Putin’s Annual Address to the Federal Assembly (Mark Mackinnon has already blogged about it), I wanted to address a claim that proceeds from the sales of Yukos assets w...
Grigory Pasko: Prisoner Interview
Twenty Chechens and One Khodorkovsky Grigory Pasko, journalist Convict Denis Yurinsky was the first work supervisor for convict Mikhail Khodorkovsky at Krasnokamensk general regime colony No. 10. It was during Denis’s watch that all manner of prov...
Robert Amsterdam Article in Die Welt
Yesterday, the German newspaper Die Welt published the attached article penned by Robert Amsterdam. Defending Khodorkovsky from Germany By Robert R. Amsterdam Would German gas consumers please help to assure the release from prison of Mikhail Khod...
Speaking Panel with George Soros
Yesterday I had the honor of participating in a speaking panel on philanthropy organized by the Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty along with George Soros, Zdenek Bakala, Vazil Hudák, and Alexandr Vo...
The End of the Post-1990 Diplomatic Order
From an FT editorial on Vladimir Putin’s decision to suspend the Nato arms pact. However, yesterday’s decision is strategically important because it signals Russia’s growing readiness to tear up the post-1990 diplomatic order. Mo...
The Palace that Never Was
Today Russian President Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin became the first Russian head of state to have a church service for his burial since Tsar Alexander III in 1894. The funeral was held at the gold domed Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and was atte...
Russia Is Not Ready for the OECD
Coinciding with a plethora of op/eds today either singing the praises of Boris Yeltsin or condemning his weaknesses (some articles did both), Deputy Prime Minister and presidential hopeful (is it possible to “hope” for a non-democratic appointment...
Truth and Fiction in Russia’s Appeal to the OECD
Today’s Sergei Lavrov column in the Wall Street Journal appealing for membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development contained a number of statements that we could help but choose some images to accompany. Stay tune...
Gideon Rachman on Russia and Georgia
Today FT blogger Gideon Rachman speculates that Russia is itching to manufacture a crisis with Georgia in order to have an excuse to stay in the presidency. Interesting theory, but a long shot, in my opinion. Does Putin have Georgia on his mind? Y...