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January-2020: Memorial, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ingushetia Case

Details: 31 January 2020; Institute of Modern Russia

IMR is launching a new human rights project—a monthly digest dedicated to serious human rights violations in Russia. Many of these incidents take place in the regions and rarely end up in the national media in Russia, let alone in the West. Our goal is to bridge this gap.

Details: Analysis

Why U.S.-Iran Conflict Suits Russia

Details: 29 January 2020; Dmitry Shlapentokh

The January 3 drone strike that killed Major General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad triggered a sharp escalation between Iran and the U.S., causing an array of serious repercussions across the region, including the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet. While a slim majority of Americans support the strike, many are concerned with the increased risk of another U.S. war in the Middle East. Should it come to war, it would play directly into the hands of the Russian government.

Details: Analysis

Transit or Disguise?

Details: 27 January 2020; Institute of Modern Russia

Experts discuss what Vladimir Putin’s latest address means personally for the president and for the future of the Russian political system.

Details: Opinions

The Result of 20 Years of Putin: Russia as a Mafia State

Details: 24 January 2020; Leonid Nevzlin

Over the last week, Russia has gone through a political upheaval initiated by Vladimir Putin: proposal for constitutional reform, resignation of the government, appointment of a new cabinet. The pace and scale of these events led some commentators to call them a “constitutional coup.” However, if one is to follow the logic of the regime, the president’s latest decisions should not come as a surprise. As IMR trustee, businessman, and philanthropist Leonid Nevzlin points out in his analysis of Putin’s 20 years in power, the result of his rule is the transformation of Russia into a mafia state.

Details: Opinions

Russia Faces Change, But Putin Isn’t Going Anywhere

Details: 17 January 2020; Yana Gorokhovskaia

In his January 15 address to Russia’s Federal Assembly, Vladimir Putin revealed large-scale plans for constitutional reform, essentially for the transit of power beyond 2024, when his current, fourth (de-facto fifth) term is set to expire. Hours after Putin’s speech, the Russian government resigned and the name of a new prime minister was announced. Many of the fundamentals of this power overhaul still remain unknown, but there might be reason to be optimistic in the long run.

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.