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Mobilization of Russia’s Opposition

Details: 05 May 2015; Alexander Podrabinek

On April 17, Mikhail Kasyanov’s Republican Party of Russia—People’s Freedom Party (RPR-Parnas) and Alexei Navalny’s Party of Progress announced the creation of an oppositional coalition, which has since been joined by other opposition forces, in preparation for Russia’s upcoming elections. However, according to writer Alexander Podrabinek, under the current political regime even unified opposition forces have very slight chances of winning. The April 28 decision by Russia’s Ministry of Justice to bar the Party of Progress from registering in the upcoming elections proves this point.

Details: Nation

A New Wave of Emigration: The Best Are Leaving Part 2

Details: 23 April 2015; Ksenia Semenova

In the first part of this special research project on Russian emigration, we talked about the extent to which emigration is occurring, and media coverage, expert opinions, and the nature of statistics pertaining to this topic. In the second part of the research, journalist Ksenia Semenova analyzes the results of a survey conducted among those who left Russia in the period from 2012 to 2014. Many of these people still do not call themselves emigrants.

Details: World

The Iran Deal: Moscow Crossed Another “Red Line”

Details: 21 April 2015; Donald N. Jensen

On April 13, Russian president Vladimir Putin cleared the way for the long-postponed delivery of Russian S-300 missiles to Iran. He thus demonstrated his determination to boost Russia’s economic and security ties to Tehran in the wake of a new interim deal curbing Iran’s nuclear program. Donald Jensen, resident fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, argues that Russia is likely to be the big loser from such a deal over the long term.

Details: Nation

Why Doesn’t Russia Censor the Internet Like China?

Details: 15 April 2015; Ezekiel Pfeifer

Freedom of information abuse is among the key problems in Russia today. While the Kremlin established control over the country’s traditional mass media a while ago, restrictions on the Internet have gone into place quite recently. Independent Russia analyst Ezekiel Pfeifer evaluates the Kremlin’s current tactics in handling online information.

Details: Law

Risks of Delayed Lustrations

Details: 14 April 2015; Ekaterina Mishina

Ukraine’s lustration process has given rise to much unfavorable criticism and triggered heated discussion. IMR advisor Ekaterina Mishina analyzes the experience of lustration, or the purging of government officials previously associated with the Communist Party, in the post-Soviet space and points out its risks in Ukraine.

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