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Selling Your Soul to Mr. Putin

Details: World

Selling Your Soul to Mr. Putin

Details: 24 June 2015; Elena Servettaz

The Kremlin’s propaganda machine has been disrupting public discourse in the European Union not only through media outlets like RT and Sputnik, but also by luring European journalists, analysts, and even popular actors to support Russia’s stance. Elena Servettaz identifies several Putin apologists in the French media.

December Complex

Details: Politics

December Complex

Details: 22 June 2015; Tatiana Stanovaya

On June 16, at the Kremlin’s initiative, the Constitutional Legislation and State Development Committee of the State Duma recommended the adoption of a bill rescheduling the 2016 parliamentary elections from December to September. Communist opposition to this draft seems hardly likely to prevent this change from being implemented. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses the underlying reasons of yet another Kremlin initiative.

Why the “Putinization” of Turkey Has Failed

Details: World

Why the “Putinization” of Turkey Has Failed

Details: 18 June 2015; Marina Sevalneva

The results of Turkey’s recent parliamentary elections came as a surprise to many. For the first time in the last twelve years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party received only 41 percent of the vote, thus losing its simple majority in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Political analysts characterize both Turkey and Russia as hybrid regimes; however, a comparative analysis of the two countries shows that despite him being an admirer of Putin’s policies, Erdogan is not destined to follow in the Russian leader’s footsteps.

Weapons of Mass Deception. Part Two

Details: Politics

Weapons of Mass Deception. Part Two

Details: 17 June 2015; Vasily Gatov

In part one of his essay, prominent Russian media analyst Vasily Gatov explained the origins of Putin’s anti-Western narrative and the current Russian propaganda campaign. In this second installment, he focuses on the twisted logic behind this narrative and the mistakes of the West, and he provides recommendations on how to counter the Kremlin’s offensive.

Weapons of Mass Deception. Part One

Details: Politics

Weapons of Mass Deception. Part One

Details: 16 June 2015; Vasily Gatov

The overwhelming scale and deeply destructive nature of the Kremlin’s information war has only recently drawn attention of the Western mainstream media and policymakers. In part one of his essay, prominent Russian media analyst Vasily Gatov, visiting fellow at the Center of Communication Leadership and Policy, University of Southern California, explains the origins of the Russian propaganda and Putin’s anti-Western narrative.

Will Anyone Come to Russia’s 2018 World Cup?

Details: Politics

Will Anyone Come to Russia’s 2018 World Cup?

Details: 10 June 2015; Ezekiel Pfeifer

Just as the International Federation of Association Football, better known as FIFA, is being hit by an enormous corruption scandal, Russian football is facing its own turmoil as well. Struggling with its own corruption issues, the economic recession, and construction delays in preparations for the 2018 World Cup, Moscow is having a hard time playing it cool. Given the country’s growing international isolation as a result of the Ukraine crisis, Vladimir Putin’s new “image project” might turn into another stress test for the regime.

The Secret Protocol That Changed the World

Details: Law

The Secret Protocol That Changed the World

Details: 10 June 2015; Ekaterina Mishina

During celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin defended the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, saying it was meant to protect the USSR’s national security interests. IMR legal expert Ekaterina Mishina analyzes the pact, and the implications of its secret protocol, which are among the darkest and most shameful pages in Russian history.

Is the U.S. Softening its Approach toward Russia?

Details: World

Is the U.S. Softening its Approach toward Russia?

Details: 29 May 2015; Donald N. Jensen

The visit of two high-level U.S. officials to Russia in mid-May suggests that Washington has decided to play a more active role in settling the Ukraine crisis and that relations between the U.S. and Russia, strained since the fighting began, may be improving slightly. Donald Jensen, resident fellow of the Center for Transatlantic Relations, predicts that the deadlock will continue, but the Kremlin will retain the initiative in this matter, no matter how engaged U.S. diplomacy might be.

The Label of An Enemy

Details: Nation

The Label of An Enemy

Details: 28 May 2015; Denis Volkov

Less than three years ago Russia passed a law on so-called “foreign agents.” On May 23, 2015, Vladimir Putin signed another bill restricting the work of nongovernmental organizations, known as the law on “undesirable” organizations. Levada Center sociologist Denis Volkov analyzes the consequences of these repressive measures and concludes that the process of deinstitutionalization of the civil sphere has already started in Russia.

“Divine Totalitarianism”

Details: Law

“Divine Totalitarianism”

Details: 22 May 2015; Ekaterina Mishina

In recent years, religion and the state in Russia have tended to be closely intertwined, with the state using the church as an instrument of manipulation. This is evidenced by the recent conflict over the staging of Tannhӓuser at the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater. IMR legal expert Ekaterina Mishina analyzes the relationship between the government and the church in today’s Russia and draws parallels with totalitarian and fascist regimes of the recent past.

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