Russia

August 9, 2010

START Incites Accusations

Another possible hurdle for the New START treaty: The Russian Foreign Ministry is accusing the US of breaching weapons treaties over the last ten years in a report publicised on Saturday. The US rejects the claims. Apparently, the report is a reac...
August 9, 2010

Iran Sanctions Create Opportunities for Russia and China

This insightful piece published on Bloomberg today takes a look at the unintentional (but surely somewhat predictable) effect of the sanctions recently imposed on Iran: new business opportunities for Russia and China. Experts quoted in the article...
August 9, 2010

Audio: Where There’s Smoke, There’s Moscow

Julia Ioffe speaks with National Public Radio on the problematic smog and air pollution circumstances which have hit Moscow as a result of nearby peat bog fires and a record breaking heat wave.
August 9, 2010

Video: Ten Years after the Kursk

Below are some interesting clips and archival footage from the latest documentary by Journeyman Pictures about the sinking of the Kursk submarine.  The tenth anniversary of this tragedy is on Thursday.
August 9, 2010

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Aug 9, 2010

TODAY: Pollution drives embassy workers out of Moscow, no sign of improved conditions, doctors told not to diagnose patients with heat or pollution-related illness; Strategy 31; new laws to curb police violence; Medvedev marks Georgian war with vi...
August 6, 2010

Communication Breakdown

Basic competency in governance is by no means a given in a democracy.  Any visitor to the New York State Legislature could tell you that.  But conversely, authoritarianism does not always function as the perfect conveyor belt of executiv...
August 6, 2010

What’s in a Name?

Medvedev announced today he wants the Russian police to be called by its pre-communist era name. “We need professional people. We need personnel who work efficiently and honestly,” RFE/RL quotes Medvedev. “So I believe that the t...
August 6, 2010

Russia’s Influence in the Caucasus

Writing in the Financial Times, Thomas de Waal takes a look at Russia-Georgia relations two years after the war. He argues that the conflict ended up weakening Russia’s position in the region and that Russia is now moving away from trying to...
August 6, 2010

Bringing the Near Abroad Closer to Home

Here’s some fodder for Russia apologists: In Foreign Policy this week, Leland R. Miller argues that Russia is using the Collective Security Treaty Organization, an often-overlooked alliance of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan...
August 6, 2010

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Aug 6, 2010

TODAY: Fire death toll hits 50 as compensation draws criticism; Kremlin silent on Strategy 31 criticism from the US; two years on from Georgian war, Medvedev has no regrets; debate with Japan continues; embezzlement witness killed; Chirikova fined...