Analysis - Institute of Modern Russia

Latest Articles

Putin, Lukashenko and Kerimov: The Russian-Belarusian Triangle

Details: Politics

Putin, Lukashenko and Kerimov: The Russian-Belarusian Triangle

Details: 16 September 2013; Tatiana Stanovaya

An unprecedented situation is marring relations between Russia and Belarus. In late August, Vladislav Baumgertner, head of the Russian potash company Uralkali, was arrested in Minsk. On September 13, it became known that the company’s main shareholder, Suleyman Kerimov, sold his shares to Vladimir Kogan, a friend of Vladimir Putin. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses why Kerimov, one of Russia’s leading businessmen, was left out in the cold.

Will the Syria Crisis Revive the U.S.-Russia “Reset”?

Details: World

Will the Syria Crisis Revive the U.S.-Russia “Reset”?

Details: 13 September 2013; Donald N. Jensen

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have concluded their hastily assembled two-day talks in Geneva over Syria and announced their intention to meet again at the end of this month. Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, ponders whether the Syrian crisis can revive the relations between Washington and Moscow.

Putin, Syria and the G-20

Details: Politics

Putin, Syria and the G-20

Details: 11 September 2013; Donald N. Jensen

The G-20 summit in St. Petersburg was dominated by the Syrian crisis, which officially was not even on the agenda. Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, contends that Vladimir Putin faces a choice—continue to be a spoiler in world affairs or try to play a constructive role.

Russia’s Far East Goes Underwater

Details: Politics

Russia’s Far East Goes Underwater

Details: 10 September 2013; Tatiana Stanovaya

In Russia, nobody is prepared for natural disasters; the population gets no warning; the authorities cannot acknowledge the extent of the catastrophe and assume political responsibility, since that could have a negative impact on their poll standings. This is exactly what is happening in Russia’s Far East, where hundreds of thousands of people are affected by floods. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses the Russian authorities’ reactions to the natural disaster.

The Kremlin’s Point of No Return

Details: Politics

The Kremlin’s Point of No Return

Details: 09 September 2013; Vladimir Kara-Murza

On September 8, regional and local elections were held across Russia. Most of the attention was focused on Moscow, where opposition mayoral candidate Alexei Navalny received nearly 30 percent of the vote. IMR Senior Policy Advisor Vladimir Kara-Murza argues that September 8, 2013, will prove to be a turning point for the current regime—the day when a political alternative emerged in Russia.

An Old Tune: On Russia’s Political Prisoners

Details: Politics

An Old Tune: On Russia’s Political Prisoners

Details: 09 September 2013; Alexander Podrabinek

Russia’s current leaders, just as their Soviet predecessors, deny the existence of political prisoners in the country. Author and former political prisoner Alexander Podrabinek discusses the relationship between an authoritarian regime and its captives.

Russia without Lenin?

Details: Nation

Russia without Lenin?

Details: 06 September 2013; Alexander Yanov

The Institute of Modern Russia continues the series of articles about Russian nationalism written by the well-known historian Alexander Yanov. The first three essays, dedicated to Pan-Slavism, told the story of the birth of this ideology in Russia and its consequences for the country. The new installment explains how a great patriotic hysteria led the country to lose in the First World War and the consequent victory of Bolshevism.

Putin’s Foreign Asset Ban in Action

Details: Politics

Putin’s Foreign Asset Ban in Action

Details: 03 September 2013; Donald N. Jensen

The recently adopted law prohibiting Russian officials from owning foreign assets has come into force. Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, considers its effectiveness and its political consequences.

Three Objects of Aggression

Details: Nation

Three Objects of Aggression

Details: 03 September 2013; Boris Bruk

A recent study of the Center for Strategic Research showed that there is a high level of anxiety and aggression in Russian society, estimated at 65 percent in Russia and 84 percent in Moscow. The main “objects of aggression” are the United States, state officials, and migrants. IMR Advisor Boris Bruk discusses the reasons for this phenomenon.

Rosneft vs. Gazprom

Details: Economics

Rosneft vs. Gazprom

Details: 29 August 2013; Olga Khvostunova

In September, the Russian State Duma will review legislation that aims to liberalize liquefied natural gas exports, a move that would end Gazprom's long-standing monopoly in the field. One of the companies that have lobbied for this strategic move is Rosneft, which has been actively expanding into the gas sector. IMR Advisor Olga Khvostunova analyzes the recent shifts in the energy market and their consequences for Gazprom.

Our newsletter delivers a digest of analytical articles and op-eds published on our website, along with the latest updates on the IMR activities on a monthly basis.