All Articles - Institute of Modern Russia

Russia’s Invisible Children

Details: Nation

Russia’s Invisible Children

The unrelieved plight of Russia's homeless youth

Details: 31 May 2012; Olga Khvostunova

Today, the number of homeless children in Russia is estimated to be between one and five million. Despite these shocking figures, the issue hardly appears on the political or public agenda. While government policy toward homeless children continues to be executed sporadically and essentially irresponsibly, the proportion of the Russian population living outside the law continues to grow, portending the possibility of a future crisis. IMR's Olga Khvostunova reports on youth homelessness in Russia today.

The Prime Minister's New Suits: Medvedev's Cabinet of Technocrats

Details: Politics

The Prime Minister's New Suits: Medvedev's Cabinet of Technocrats

Details: 28 May 2012; Pavel Ivlev

In the recently-announced Russian cabinet of ministers, led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, nearly three-quarters of appointees are new to their posts. Many of them had been deputy ministers during Medvedev's presidency, earning the new cabinet the nickname of "Cabinet of Deputy Ministers," while their former bosses have moved into the presidential cabinet. Russian attorney and business consultant Pavel Ivlev profiles the appointees, concluding that the competition among them is unlikely to lead to progress in the country.

Party Renaissance

Details: Nation

Party Renaissance

Details: 23 May 2012; Olga Khvostunova

This April, the Russian Duma passed a bill legislating new procedures for party registration. So far, over 150 new parties have submitted their applications to the Ministry of Justice. Although this may appear as a sign of political liberalization, some analysts warn that the power structure in Russia will not change radically in the near future.

Threats to Decisional Independence in the American Justice System

Details: Law

Threats to Decisional Independence in the American Justice System

Details: 22 May 2012; Ekaterina Mishina

Ekaterina Mishina discusses the threats to decisional independence in the American judiciary and how they are overcome, examining the lessons Russia can learn from the American system.

Russian-Speaking Americans: United to Help

Details: Nation

Russian-Speaking Americans: United to Help

Details: 18 May 2012; Xenia Grubstein

On May 6th, the American Russian-speaking Association for Civil & Human Rights (ARA) held its first national convention in New York. One of the founders, Xenia Grubstein, shed some light on ARA's mission and future.

Details: Economics

Going East

The State-Controlled Monster to Take Over Eastern Siberia and the Far East

Details: 17 May 2012

The Russian government has “developed” an unprecedented level of know-how in extracting resources in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. In the near future, a new state corporation is slated to get control 60% of the territory of Russia, including the largest oil and natural gas deposits, railroads, forests, and mines in the country. The corporation will essentially function as a state-within-a-state.

What Сan the New Decembrists Learn from Alexander Herzen?

Details: Nation

What Сan the New Decembrists Learn from Alexander Herzen?

Details: 15 May 2012; Alexander Yanov

Historian Alexander Yanov commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of 19th century Russian thinker Alexander Herzen with the dramatic tale of his rise and fall as an essential political commentator, a story that has far-reaching implications for today's opposition movement.

Details: Nation

The War Is On

Details: 09 May 2012

This year, the traditional May holidays in Russia were fraught with more than the regular dose of politics. Vladimir Putin was inaugurated to his third presidential term, Dmitry Medvedev returned to the post of the Prime Minister, and the protesters took to the street once again. The response to these demonstrations made it clear that the Russian authorities would no longer tolerate the opposition and their rallies. The protesters also made it clear that they were not going to give up. If the screws get any tighter, the political stand-off in Russia might turn into an ugly, and perhaps even bloody, confrontation.

IMR President Pavel Khodorkovsky on the police actions against peaceful protesters in Moscow

Details: News

IMR President Pavel Khodorkovsky on the police actions against peaceful protesters in Moscow

Details: 07 May 2012; Pavel Khodorkovskiy

"Vladimir Putin’s inauguration was marred by the repressive measures the Russian state police force has used to quash peaceful protests. His regime fails to understand that Russia in 2012 is a different place than it was in 2004, when he was last president. The Russian people are now seeing the future of our country beyond the bounds of autocracy and beginning to express themselves in a peaceful and democratic way."

The Simulacrum of a President

Details: Politics

The Simulacrum of a President

Details: 07 May 2012; Olga Khvostunova

On May 7th, Dmitry Medvedev, the third Russian President, officially left office. During his term, he launched a number of promising initiatives, including countrywide modernization, a war on corruption, and founding the Russian Silicon Valley. However, almost all of his endeavors led to the opposite of their intended result. IMR's Olga Khvostunova details Medvedev's progress through the political apparatus to show why these failures were inevitable.

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