Home - Institute of Modern Russia

Is Russia Planning a Summer Offensive in Ukraine?

Details: 17 July 2015; Luke Johnson

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has been simmering for months, but speculation has risen that the Kremlin could order a major attack on Ukrainian positions in the coming weeks. Independent journalist Luke Johnson interprets the mixed signals coming from Moscow and the separatist “people’s republics,” finding that there may be strategic logic behind the rebels’ current holding pattern.

Details: Media Must-Reads

Putin’s Role in the Iran Deal, KGB Hallucinations, and MH17 Crash

11–17 July 2015

Details: 17 July 2015

Why exactly did the Kremlin play such a helpful role in the Iran nuclear talks? The New York Times examined the issue in an insightful analysis, one of this week’s media highlights selected by IMR. Also, journalist Oleg Kashin looks at how a top Russian official fabricated an incendiary quote and attributed it to former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Details: News

Introducing ‘The Rundown,’ Your Guide to the Best Recent Content on Russia

Details: 15 July 2015

The Institute of Modern Russia is introducing a new section on imrussia.org called “The Rundown,” which features digests compiled by IMR experts of the best content related to Russia. The section contains four categories: media must-reads, research recaps, event briefings, and book reviews.

Details: Economics

Why Russians Should Be Protesting the Same Thing as #ElectricYerevan

Details: 15 July 2015; Ezekiel Pfeifer

A series of protests broke out in Armenia last month over a seemingly insignificant increase in the price of electricity. But this increase is part of a larger trend of rate hikes by utility companies that have the pernicious effect of driving up inflation. As IMR analyst Ezekiel Pfeifer explains, these rate hikes have a particularly destructive effect in Russia, where demonstrations may just break out next.

Details: Law

Realm of Darkness

Details: 15 July 2015; Ekaterina Mishina

On July 8, the Dynasty Foundation, Russia’s largest private donor supporting science, was shut down after the Ministry of Justice added this organization to its list of foreign agents. Earlier, Dynasty founder Dmitry Zimin announced that he is ceasing its financing, and left Russia. IMR legal expert Ekaterina Mishina analyzes recent changes in the legislation, arguing that they are damaging to the country.

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.