Analysis - Institute of Modern Russia

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Has Russia Divided the West?

Details: World

Has Russia Divided the West?

Details: 10 February 2015; Donald N. Jensen

On February 6, German Chancellor Merkel, French President Hollande, and Russian President Putin spent five hours negotiating a Ukraine peace deal in Moscow. At the end, the only thing they agreed on was to continue negotiations. Donald Jensen, resident fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, reviews the West’s latest diplomatic activity.

A Coup Against Putin?

Details: Politics

A Coup Against Putin?

Details: 04 February 2015; Donald N. Jensen

As Russia’s economy enters recession and its political stability starts to weaken, there is increasing speculation about the possibility of a regime change in the country. Donald N. Jensen, resident fellow of the Center for Transatlantic Relations, discusses Russia’s political climate and the options currently confronting Vladimir Putin.

Russia and France: Closer Ties Fated by Blood?

Details: World

Russia and France: Closer Ties Fated by Blood?

Details: 03 February 2015; Tatiana Stanovaya and Ksenia Semenova

The terrorist attack on the Paris headquarters of the satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo and the ensuing social and political reaction to this tragedy in Russia make an in-depth analysis of current bilateral relations between Russia and France particularly timely. In this article, Tatiana Stanovaya and Ksenia Semenova take a closer look at Russia’s new policy of double standards.

A Return to Feudal Law?

Details: Law

A Return to Feudal Law?

Details: 16 January 2015; Ekaterina Mishina

This December, 14 Chechen police officers died during a counterterrorist operation in Grozny. Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov’s subsequent threat of retaliation against not only the terrorists but also their relatives sparked a massive public outcry. IMR legal expert Ekaterina Mishina analyzes the issue from a legal perspective.

The Time Is Out of Joint

Details: World

The Time Is Out of Joint

Details: 15 January 2015; Olga Melnikova

The year 2014 proved to be a dramatic one for Russian-Ukrainian relations. In a short timespan, the two neighboring countries virtually ceased to understand one another. Olga Melnikova reflects on the events of the past year and their ramifications for both countries.

New Year, New Sentence

Details: Politics

New Year, New Sentence

Details: 09 January 2015; Tatiana Stanovaya

On December 30, a Russian court sentenced Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his younger brother Oleg to three and a half years in prison on charges related to the Yves Rocher case. Alexei Navalny received a suspended sentence, while Oleg Navalny will serve the full prison time. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya reviews the case and its possible consequences.

The Kremlin Shifts Tactics in Ukraine

Details: World

The Kremlin Shifts Tactics in Ukraine

Details: 06 January 2015; Donald N. Jensen

Over the past three months, the Kremlin has appeared to shift its strategy from further military advances to negotiations. The reasons for this maneuvering, though, have not affected the Kremlin’s approach to the crisis, which remains situational and opportunistic.

Russian Ruble Roulette

Details: Economics

Russian Ruble Roulette

Details: 30 December 2014; Tatiana Stanovaya

On December 16, the Russian market suffered one of its worst financial crashes, known as Black Tuesday. In the wake of an emergency move by the Russian Central Bank to raise its benchmark interest rate to 17 percent, Russia’s currency plunged unexpectedly to 80 rubles to the dollar and 100 rubles to the euro. According to political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya, in the face of these new challenges, the Russian government is proving both powerless and inept, while its inertness threatens to bring the country to the brink of chaos.

2014: A Year in Review

Details: Politics

2014: A Year in Review

Details: 30 December 2014; Olga Khvostunova, Daria Mattis

2014 was full of dramatic developments and unexpected turn of events. Some of them, such as the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, were hard to predict. Others, like Western sanctions, Russia’s expulsion from the G8, and the economic recession, had been ripening for a long time. Here, IMR recounts this year’s key events, month by month.

Putin’s Ratings: Anomaly or Trend?

Details: Nation

Putin’s Ratings: Anomaly or Trend?

Details: 23 December 2014; Denis Volkov

Vladimir Putin’s public approval rating reached 80 percent in March 2014 and has remained at this abnormally high level for almost a year, despite deterioration of the country’s economic and social situation. Levada Center sociologist Denis Volkov explains the underlying reasons for this phenomenal degree of support for the Russian president.

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