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Gleb Sitkovsky: ‘The Government Believes That If It Gives Money to Theaters, It Has the Right to Make Demands’

Details: 18 August 2015; Polina Surnina

In recent years, the Russian government has begun to interfere more significantly in the work of cultural institutions. As part of the Institute of Modern Russia’s ongoing interview series, journalist Polina Surnina spoke with theater critic Gleb Sitkovsky about manifestations of patriotism in theater, anonymous zealots of morality, and attempts by the Culture Ministry to exercise control over the creative process.

Details: Media Must-Reads

Cold War Spy, Russian Startups, and Soviet War Myth Debunked

8–14 August 2015

Details: 14 August 2015

In this week’s media highlights, writer David E. Hoffman tells the story of Adolf Tolkachev, who became one of the CIA’s most valuable spies in the Soviet Union. Also, journalist Aleksandr Gorbachev writes about the rising wave of Russian entrepreneurs coming to start businesses in the West.

Details

Opinions

Discussion

Georgy Satarov: ‘The Opposition Needs to Put the Authorities in Zugzwang’

Details: 12 August 2015; Olga Khvostunova

As part of the Institute of Modern Russia’s ongoing interview series with Russian and Western experts, imrussia.org editor-in-chief Olga Khvostunova sat down with INDEM Foundation president Georgy Satarov to talk about social discontent, the consequences of the law on ’’undesirable organizations,’’ the principle of simplification in Putin’s politics, and the chances for a real opposition to emerge in Russia.

Details: Nation

The Ebbing of the Patriotic Wave

Details: 11 August 2015; Donald N. Jensen

President Vladimir Putin has seen his approval rating reach a record-high of 89 percent in recent months, riding a wave of so-called “patriotic mobilization” triggered by Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. But are Russians truly enthusiastic about Putin’s policies, or are they merely passive supporters? Donald Jensen, resident fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, analyzes the situation and finds that public support for the Kremlin may be broad but not strong.

Details: Law

The Right to Total Lawlessness

Details: 10 August 2015; Ekaterina Mishina

Police reform in Russia began in 2009 and in a sense is still underway, as is the discussion of its results and achievements. The latest set of draft amendments to the federal law “On the Police” may completely undo the attempts at reform, however. In the opinion of IMR legal expert Ekaterina Mishina, the proposed amendments could lead to the total failure of police reform and the triumph of the “police state.”

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