Institute of Modern Russia

Details

Opinions

Why the cancellation of Nord Stream-2 will punish Russian citizens, not the Kremlin

Details

24 September 2020

Vladislav Inozemtsev

The poisoning of Alexey Navalny and political consequences it entails for Russia have caused heated political debates in the West. At the center of discussion is the question of whether or not to cancel the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project that many of the Kremlin opponents have been campaigning against. However, there are reasons to believe that such sanctions will not have the desired effect on Moscow’s politics, but instead will result in ordinary Russian citizens paying the price.

Details

Opinions

Revenge of Stalinism

Details

11 September 2020

Leonid Nevzlin

Belarus and Russia are the two hotspots of the post-Soviet space, where Stalinism has claimed full revenge. The Lukashenko and Putin regimes are rooted in neo-Stalinism, which holds millions of people hostage. Amidst mass protests in Belarus and the declining ratings of the Russian authorities, the peoples of these countries now face a crucial historical choice: a free society or a neo-Stalinist dictatorship.

Details

Analysis

How to Win Votes and Mobilize People in Russia

A closer look at the September regional elections

Details

10 September 2020

András Tóth-Czifra

On September 13, Russia will hold its annual “single day of voting” with dozens of regions electing representatives to a range of public offices. While few Western observers pay close attention to Russian regional politics, these elections may prove more interesting than usual.

Details

News

IMR is hiring

Details

02 September 2020

IMR would like to announce a new vacancy position in the capacity of president of the organization. The potential candidates should have at least 10 years of relevant experience, profound knowledge of Russian politics, and understanding of the current US media and political landscape. Please refer to the full job description below.

Details

Analysis

Russian Compatriots in the US: Soft Power Tools or Trojan Horses?

Details

02 September 2020

Anna Williams

Over the last decade, Russia’s compatriot policy—officially represented as a soft power tool for advancing Russian culture—has been increasingly used by the Kremlin as a cover to promote its geopolitical interests. Analysis of the activities of the Russian compatriot organizations in the US shows that they tend to speak on behalf of the entire Russian diaspora, hijacking a good-natured debate on US-Russian relations and conflating the often diverging interests of the Russian Americans.

Details

Opinions

Why the Concept of “Psychological Torture” Needs a New Official Russian Translation in UN Documents

Details

26 August 2020

Peter Barenboim, Ekaterina Mishina

A recent video address from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya recorded under evident psychological pressure from the Lukashenko regime highlights the need to adopt a more precise official definition of the concept of “psychological torture” in the post-Soviet space. Legal experts believe that the United Nations’ (UN) and Russia’s differing definitions of this concept lead to human rights violations.

Details

Analysis

What Putin wants from Lukashenko

Details

25 August 2020

Dmitry Shlapentokh

Despite its proclaimed support for the Lukashenko regime, the Kremlin is increasingly frustrated with the Belarusian president, who has skillfully avoided integration with Russia and engaged in a multivector foreign policy with the West. A democratic alternative to Lukashenko with a proper privatization program will likely be accepted by Moscow as it seeks to gain access to key assets of the Belarusian economy.

Details

Analysis

COVID-19 in Russia: appearance vs reality

Details

21 August 2020

Robert Ian Abbott

Russia scores headlines as it has registered first COVID-19 vaccine, but this would-be “Sputnik moment” is undermined by the country’s questionable coronavirus statistics. According to some estimates, over 50 percent of coronavirus-related deaths remain underreported.

Details

Analysis

U.S. Oil Deal in Syria Angers the Kremlin

Details

18 August 2020

Ksenia Svetlova

In early August, the U.S. firm signed a surprise deal with the Syrian Kurds to revamp oil fields in northeastern Syria. The deal clearly irritated Moscow, which doesn’t hide its intentions to gain control over oil production in the country and prop up Bashar Assad’s heavily oil-reliant regime. As the Syrian economy continues to deteriorate, U.S.-Russia tensions in the region are likely to grow.

Details

Opinions

Boris Kuznetsov: “Authorities should not lie—that’s the main lesson of the Kursk submarine disaster”

Details

11 August 2020

On August 12, 2000, during Russian Northern Fleet military exercises in the Barents Sea, a torpedo explosion sank the Kursk nuclear submarine. As a result of Russian authorities’ inadequate actions, all 118 sailors on board died. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, IMR editor Olga Khvostunova spoke with Boris Kuznetsov, who represented 55 families of the deceased crew. According to the lawyer, two decades after the Kursk disaster, the Kremlin has not yet learned its main lesson.