Archive

August 5, 2010

Possible Benefits of Privatization

Writing in the Moscow Times, Kim Iskyan argues that, despite many critics’ skepticism, the Kremlin’s recenlty-announced privatization plan could bring some positive developments, namely, help create a push for a better, less corrupt in...
August 5, 2010

Medvedev on Georgia

Speaking to the press just days before the two-year anniversary of the South Ossetia War, Medvedev blamed the unimproved relations between the two countries on Georgia’s leadership. Russia’s news agency reports: “Russia is not gu...
August 5, 2010

Kara-Murza and Opposition Nostalgia

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Solidarity leader, has published a new op/ed in the Wall Street Journal denouncing the terribly pointless arrest of Boris Nemtsov.  In the article, Kara-Murza draws comparisons between the 1960s dissident gatherings on ...
August 5, 2010

Energy Blast – Aug 5, 2010

‘If oil prices remain at $70 to $80 per barrel, Russia is likely to relive key features of the Brezhnev era of the 1970s and 1980s — with a stagnating economy and 70 percent to 80 percent approval ratings for its political leaders.R...
August 5, 2010

Today in Russian Business – Aug 5, 2010

According to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, foreign direct investment into the Russian economy has already hit $21 billion for 2010.  Wheat prices have hit their highest levels in almost two years thanks to the current drought, with Russia th...
August 5, 2010

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Aug 5, 2010

TODAY: Smog from wildfires chokes Muscovites; Medvedev fires officials and demands new fire safety measures; Putin offers to help blogger in exchange for his address; Khimki campaigner Yevgenia Chirikova detained; journalist Magomed Yevloyev’...
August 4, 2010

Video: Putin Accosted by Angry Victims of Wildfires

This video below presents a remarkable scene of Vladimir Putin being confronted outside a government building in Nizhny Novgorod (Hat tip, La Russophobe).  Dozens of local residents who had lost their homes in the fires had little patience fo...
August 4, 2010

Umarov Denies Retiring

It seems that Doku Umarov has changed his mind about retiring. According to media reports earlier this week, the Chechen rebel leader announced in a recent video that he was stepping down from his command position. He now says in a new video that ...
August 4, 2010

Stalling on START

Writing in Foreign Policy, Josh Rogin examines the repercussions of delaying the Senate Relations Committee vote on the New START: Committee chairman John Kerry, D-MA, told committee members at Tuesday’s business meeting that even though the...