Institute of Modern Russia

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Benefit in Support of Pussy Riot’s Political Statement

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11 September 2012

On September 10th, a benefit for the Pussy Riot feminist punk band took place in Lombard Freid Gallery in New York. The walls were covered in flat-screen televisions showing five original videos of the band's performances filmed in various locations in Moscow, culminating in their final, and most provocative, act at the Christ the Savior Church. The event, co-sponsored by Amnesty International, attracted a mixed Manhattan crowd of artists, journalists, human rights activists, and band sympathizers.

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The Education Controversy

New Russian law on education to significantly cut school and university opportunities

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10 September 2012

Olga Khvostunova

New legislation in Russia, scheduled to be implemented before the end of the 2012, is expected to result in drastic changes in the country's education system. These changes will affect all educational levels, from pre-schools to universities, with foreseeable reforms in both the schooling and school funding of such institutions. IMR analyst Olga Khvostunova and independent journalist Xenia Prilepskaya review the upcoming reforms.

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Pussy Riot Benefit at Lombard Freid

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06 September 2012

Lombard Freid Gallery is pleased to announce a one-time event for the benefit of the Pussy Riot Feminist Art Collective on Monday, September 10, from 6-10 pm at 518 W 19th Street, Manhattan, NY. All proceeds from the event will go to assisting the families and defense fund of the jailed band members.

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A Day Lost: The End of Russia's Tandem

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05 September 2012

Tatiana Stanovaya

On August 8, while Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was traveling to South Ossetia, a documentary was posted on the Internet charging him, the former Commander-in-Chief and President of the Russian Federation, with criminal neglect regarding South Ossetia on the eve of Russia’s 2008 war with Georgia. The influential military commanders interviewed in the film claimed that Medvedev’s delay in launching a military attack on Georgia significantly increased the war’s casualties. Who are these filmmakers, and why did they producethis film? Tatyana Stanovaya provides us with some possible answers found in the Russian media.

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“Corruption: Russia’s Own Special Way”

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29 August 2012

A recent Sunday Times op-ed on corruption by New York photographer Misha Friedman is essential reading for anyone who lives or runs a business in Russia. "I have been working on this project for the past six months," Friedman writes. "I see corruption as more than something done to people; it is something they participate in. It involves both a resignation to and a justification of a state of iniquity, insecurity and mistrust."

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IMR: The Pussy Riot case is a crucial link in a chain of crimes committed by Putin's regime

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24 August 2012

On August 17, three Pussy Riot band members were sentenced to two years in prison for their provocative punk prayer performed in Moscow's Christ the Savior Church. The trial, replete with numerous legal violations, and the harsh verdict triggered protests around the world. We feel that the Pussy Riot case represents a crucial link in an extensive chain of crimes committed by the current Russian administration.

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The 21st Anniversary

Forgotten Lessons of August 1991

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22 August 2012

Vladimir Kara-Murza

The anniversary of the Russian democratic forces' victory over the August 1991 attempted Communist/KGB coup d’état has rekindled a debate on the missed opportunities of the 1990s. Just eight years after the August revolution the putsch organizers’ ideological heirs managed to return to power. Political commentator and historian Vladimir V. Kara-Murza discusses the reasons for the pro-democracy leaders’ post-1991 failure, and the importance of historical lessons for Russia’s present-day opposition.

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Olympic Anxiety

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16 August 2012

Olga Khvostunova

The recent London Olympics saw an historic first: Russia’s failure to place among the top three countries in gold medals won; the U.S., China, and Great Britain all ranked higher. Elite sports and politics are interconnected, and the Russian team’s letdown highlights the current regime’s shortcomings. IMR's Olga Khvostunova discusses the implications of the Russian authorities’ unfulfilled promises.

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The Russian Orthodox Church and the Curse of the Mongol Yoke

A Primer on Collaboration with Despotism

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10 August 2012

Alexander Yanov

In the past few months, we have witnessed a resurgence of public debate on the rising influence of the Russian Orthodox Church ("ROC") on the Russian political and ideological landscape. On one hand, there are Russians that have increasingly embraced the church's ways of life and observances, with fervent support for its hierarchs' activities. On the other, numerous ROC actions and statements have led to increasing criticism by progressively-minded members of society.

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Pussy Riot: A Cause Célèbre

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03 August 2012

On July 31st, 2012 the trial of Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot started in Moscow. The court hearings have attracted a great deal of global attention: the U.S. State Department has called it politically motivated, while many world-famous musical acts, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sting, have voiced their support for the band. For Pussy Riot’s domestic and international supporters, the disproportionate reaction of the Russian authorities to a punk prank, a “prayer against Putin” performed in a Russian Orthodox church, appears ridiculous. Despite the serious charges against them, the punks seem to be stealing the agenda.