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A Return to Feudal Law?

Details: 16 January 2015; Ekaterina Mishina

This December, 14 Chechen police officers died during a counterterrorist operation in Grozny. Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov’s subsequent threat of retaliation against not only the terrorists but also their relatives sparked a massive public outcry. IMR legal expert Ekaterina Mishina analyzes the issue from a legal perspective.

Details: World

The Time Is Out of Joint

Details: 15 January 2015; Olga Melnikova

The year 2014 proved to be a dramatic one for Russian-Ukrainian relations. In a short timespan, the two neighboring countries virtually ceased to understand one another. Olga Melnikova reflects on the events of the past year and their ramifications for both countries.

Details: Politics

New Year, New Sentence

Details: 09 January 2015; Tatiana Stanovaya

On December 30, a Russian court sentenced Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his younger brother Oleg to three and a half years in prison on charges related to the Yves Rocher case. Alexei Navalny received a suspended sentence, while Oleg Navalny will serve the full prison time. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya reviews the case and its possible consequences.

Details: Opinions

The Price of Freedom

Details: 07 January 2015; Alexander Podrabinek

Over the past year, the Russian government has significantly increased its pressure on the country’s media. With ever-increasing frequency, the Federal Supervision Agency for Information Technologies and Communications (Roskomnadzor) has issued warnings to independent media outlets, which, in turn, obediently comply with the unlawful orders of Russia’s censorship body. According to writer Alexander Podrabinek, most Russian journalists simply don’t value free speech enough to defend it.

Details: World

The Kremlin Shifts Tactics in Ukraine

Details: 06 January 2015; Donald N. Jensen

Over the past three months, the Kremlin has appeared to shift its strategy from further military advances to negotiations. The reasons for this maneuvering, though, have not affected the Kremlin’s approach to the crisis, which remains situational and opportunistic.

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