All Articles - Institute of Modern Russia

Putin Steps Up For the Third Term

Details: News

Putin Steps Up For the Third Term

Details: 26 September 2011

The most important question in Russian politics was finally answered at Saturday’s party session of United Russia. Current President Dmitry Medvedev announced that he is stepping down to make way for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russia’s No. 1 politician for the last ten years, to return to the office of the presidency in 2012.

“The outcomes of the elections in Russia are predetermined”

Details: News

“The outcomes of the elections in Russia are predetermined”

Details: 24 September 2011

On September 22, the Helsinki Commission of the United States held a briefing on the upcoming elections in Russia. Russian experts shared their views on the procedural side of the elections, their possible outcomes and their importance for the United States and Russia.

Liliya Shevtsova: Russia:The Logic of Decline

Details: Nation

Liliya Shevtsova: Russia:The Logic of Decline

Details: 22 September 2011

Last week Novaya Gazeta published a remarkable article by Liliya Shevtsova, a fellow of the Carnegie Center in Moscow. Shevtsova analyzes the nature of the Russian political regime and makes a disappointing prognosis: the regime’s failure is unavoidable.

INSOR and its Critics

Details: Nation

INSOR and its Critics

Details: 22 September 2011; Alexander Yanov

For a person of liberal convictions — if he is not a competitor like Gleb Pavlovsky (Foundation for Effective Politics), or a moderate nationalist like Alexander Privalov (Expert magazine), or a historian like myself — there really is nothing with which to compete in the works of INSOR (Russia’s Institute of Contemporary Development) — whether it be “The Image of the Desired Tomorrow” or “Attaining the Future.” (Of course, the democratic opposition also has no small number of caustic words addressed to the Insorian faith in Medvedev — without the Putinite “noose around the neck” — but for now it cannot offer an even remotely real alternative to this faith. A very precise notion about this is given by Semyon Novoprudsky’s essay “Jesters of the Republic”: “As sad as this may be, for now the only strategy for Russia is seen as a relatively painless, yet fundamental demolition of the current system.” But the author himself does not communicate just how this “painless, yet fundamental demolition” might look. Nor, alas, do his colleagues from the democratic camp.)

No Chance for Russian Opposition

Details: News

No Chance for Russian Opposition

Details: 19 September 2011; Olga Khvostunova

On September 16, Institute of Modern Russia and the Harriman Institute (CU) hosted a discussion panel entitled “Russian Elections 2011-12: Is There a Chance For Political Opposition”. The answer to that question was, unfortunately, no — unless there are some substantial changes in the political system.

Pavel Khodorkovsky: Authorities are afraid of cataclysms

Details: Politics

Pavel Khodorkovsky: Authorities are afraid of cataclysms

Details: 18 September 2011; Caterina Innocente

Pavel Khodorkovsky, the oldest son of Russia's No. 1 political prisoner, spoke with Caterina Innocente about his views on the prospects for the social movement and political change in the country.

Democracy Under Care

Details: News

Democracy Under Care

Details: 16 September 2011

On September 15, Parliamentary Forum for Democracy convened on Capitol Hill to explore current challenges to democratic development. Experts and officials of several former Soviet republics shared their views on the problems in their countries.

Jackson-Vanik is “Next Big Question In U.S.-Russian Relations”

Details: World

Jackson-Vanik is “Next Big Question In U.S.-Russian Relations”

Details: 14 September 2011

On September 13, a panel of prominent American experts convened at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs to discuss the Jackson-Vanik amendment that has been a stumbling block in U.S.-Russian relations for 37 years. According to the expert discussants, the amendment will finally be lifted as a Cold War-era relic upon Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

The New York Times: President Medvedev Doesn’t Seize the Moment

Details: Nation

The New York Times: President Medvedev Doesn’t Seize the Moment

Details: 13 September 2011

Last weekend in Russia was marred by a horrible tragedy. An airplane crash killed a hockey team from Yaroslavl. By coincidence, it was Yaroslavl, where a political forum hosted by the Russian president, was taking place.

Details: Nation

Ariel Cohen: Russia Squanders Its Chance at Democracy

Details: 08 September 2011

In his recent article in National Interest, Ariel Cohen, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, discusses the opportunities that went by the wayside of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s road to democracy.

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