Institute of Modern Russia

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Opinions

Daniel Fried: “This List Is a Missed Opportunity”

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01 February 2018

Olga Khvostunova

Imrussia.org's editor-in-chief Olga Khvostunova spoke with Daniel Fried, distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, former State Department's Coordinator for Sanctions Policy, about the contents and the meaning of the "Kremlin report," which was released by the U.S. Treasury on January 29.

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Event Briefings

How to Succeed in the Art of Sanctions

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01 February 2018

Olga Khvostunova

On January 30, following the release of the U.S. Treasury’s “Kremlin report,” the Harriman Institute (Columbia University) held a discussion on a timely book titled The Art of Sanctions with the author Richard Nephew and former Coordinator for Sanctions Policy Daniel Fried, who discussed U.S. sanctions and the Treasury’s “Kremlin report.”

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World

U.S. Congress Is Upset with the Kremlin Report

Congressmen demand clarity on Russia sanctions under CAATSA from the Trump administration

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31 January 2018

On January 29, the U.S. Treasury released the so-called “Kremlin report,” which includes a list of Russian officials and businesspeople who may be sanctioned under Article 241 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). As the Treasury underscored in its official statement, “this report is not a sanctions list.” Which means it “does not impose sanctions on [the included] individuals or entities. Nor does it create any other restrictions, prohibitions, or limitations on dealings with such persons by either U.S. or foreign persons.”

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Media Must-Reads

Davos-2018, Boycott or Ghetto, Putin's Technocrats

Russian media roundup, January 20-26, 2018

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26 January 2018

In this week’s roundup: Oleg Bouklemishev explains why the Russian elite does not aspire to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos; Vladimir Pastukhov examines the evolution of Putin’s inner circle, arguing that today, the military holds a dangerous level of power; Alexander Kynev discusses Ksenia Sobchak’s and Alexei Navalny’s campaign strategies, each presenting a very different future; Vladimir Gelman details how the Kremlin sees the “digital revolution” as the missing link in ameliorating state management; and Lilia Shevtsova argues that instead of an imminent “reset” with the U.S., Russia should expect only a sharp downturn in the international sphere.

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Event Briefings

Freedom in the World 2018: Democracy in Crisis

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24 January 2018

Daniel Frey

On January 16, Freedom House, along with the American Enterprise Institute, Center for American Progress, and a group of internationally renowned experts, unveiled its latest report, “Freedom in the World 2018.” The report notes that 2017 marked yet another year of decline for freedom worldwide—the 12th consecutive one on record, by Freedom House’s count—as well as a continuation of democratic backsliding in the United States itself. Among the event’s notable panelists and speakers were Open Russia’s Vladimir Kara-Murza and U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE). 

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Opinions

Anders Åslund: “Sanction People Who Do Bad Things in Russia, Not Russians.”

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23 January 2018

Olga Khvostunova

On January 29, the U.S. Treasury is set to submit the so-called “Kremlin Report,” a highly anticipated list of Russian individuals facing sanctions under Section 241 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The report is already causing anxiety in the Russian elite. Olga Khvostunova spoke with Anders Åslund, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, co-author of the report “How to Identify the Kremlin Ruling Elite and its Agents.”

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Media Must-Reads

Big Reshuffle, “Kremlin Report,” Putin and 2018 Elections

Russian media roundup, January 12-19, 2018

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19 January 2018

In this week’s roundup, New Times discusses the reshuffling expected in the Kremlin and the government after the March 18 elections; Vladimir Frolov writes about the new round of U.S. sanctions and the Kremlin reaction to it; Alexander Baunov argues that in the upcoming elections Vladimir Putin is planning to beat an issue, not an opponent; Alexander Rubtsov of the Center for the Study of Ideological Processes contends that Putin needs a resounding victory; and in another piece this week, Rubtsov discusses the role of ideology in the Russian political process. .

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Media Must-Reads

Russia-2042, Fight for the Ballot, the Kremlin’s Foreign Policy

Russian media roundup, January 1-12, 2018

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12 January 2018

In this week’s roundup: Anton Shirikov assesses the likelihood of Russia turning into a full democracy or a rigid dictatorship in 25 years; New Times discusses the fight to reserve a spot on the presidential ballot; Dmitry Oreshkin argues that Navalny’s call for a boycott is good step for him, but not for voters; Dmitry Trenin summarizes Russia’s 2017 foreign policy; Natalya Zubarevich evaluates the 2018 outlook for the country’s regions.

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Media Must-Reads

100 Years of Cheka, Ulyukayev’s Verdict, Bloggers as Foreign Agents

Russian media roundup, December 16-22, 2017

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22 December 2017

In this week’s roundup, Alexander Vereschagin reviews the history of Russia’s special services, including the Cheka, KGB, and modern-day FSB; Konstantin Gaaze explains the rationale behind Alexei Ulyukayev’s guilty verdict; Vladimir Pastukhov discusses what the verdict in Ulyukayev’s case reveals about Russia’s political system; New Times writes about Russia’s State Duma recent bill to label bloggers as foreign agents; and Vitaly Gorokhov discusses the impact of the IOC’s ban on the Russian Olympic team.

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Media Must-Reads

Intrigue-2024, Putin 4.0, Navalny’s Platform

Russian media roundup, December 9-15, 2017

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15 December 2017

In this week’s roundup, Andrei Kolesnikov argues why Putin’s reelection won’t change much in Russia; Alexander Morozov describes the main problems for Putin's electoral performance; Tatyana Stanovaya outlines five rules of survival for the state oligarchs; New Times surveys political scientists on their expectations of Putin's fourth term; and Andrei Movchan analyzes Alexei Navalny’s presidential platform.