Institute of Modern Russia

Details

Nation

HIV/AIDS and TB: IMR Against Social Indifference

A Tribute to Vasily Aleksanyan

Details

30 July 2012

As part of IMR's AIDS and tuberculosis advocacy project, we present a tribute page for lawyer Vasily Aleksanyan, formerly the head of the Yukos legal department and briefly the company's executive vice president. Aleksanyan died from AIDS-related tuberculosis and lymphoma in 2011. Our tribute page includes the harrowing video of Aleksanyan's last interview with leading Russian newspaper "Kommersant" and the English transcript of his few but impactful words. On July 23rd, at the XIX International AIDS Conference of 2012 in Washington, DC, IMR presented Misha Friedman's photography exhibition and conducted a panel discussion on HIV / AIDS and TB in Russia, in order to continue raising international awareness of the worsening epidemic. On Wednesday, August 1st we will publish a summary account of our exhibition and panel discussion by IMR Director, Lidiya Dukhovich.

Details

Nation

My Perestroika DVD Now for Sale at myperestroika.com

Tracking Classmates From Soviet Childhoods To Putin's Russia

Details

24 July 2012

After festival screenings in over 30 countries, 'My Perestroika' has finally arrived on DVD. The film premiered at Sundance, was broadcast nationwide on PBS on the POV series, and received the prestigious 2012 Peabody Award. To purchase it, please visit 'My Perestroika' website, where the DVD is sold for purposes of both institutional/educational and home use. The DVD includes over an hour of deleted scenes and interviews. All DVDs are Region 0, and can be shipped overseas. "This is a small independent film, supported by grants and donations from individuals. Purchasing your DVD via myperestroika.com ensures that maximum assistance is provided to alleviate the production and distribution costs we’ve accrued", Hessman explains.

Details

Nation

Debunking Putin's Newest Myth

Details

18 July 2012

Alexander Yanov

There is an unspoken consensus in contemporary Russian political discourse that 'Putinism' does not constitute an ideology. However, this consensus may blind political observers to the emergence of a new approach of legitimizing Putin's regime, namely, a mythology of the unique nature of the Russian civilization. Historian Alexander Yanov discusses the philosophical foundations of this approach, decisively demonstrating that Putin's new ideological project has more bark than bite.

Details

Nation

Staggering Facts about Russian Corruption

Details

12 July 2012

The idea of Vladimir Putin as the safeguard of economic and political stability is deeply embedded in the Russian psyche. This groundless perception emerged during favorable economic times, and was used by the political elite to manipulate the public. Uncovering and publicizing the truth about the current situation has proved an essential and effective means of fighting corruption. IMR presents the latest fact sheet from Good Propaganda Machine, a project recently launched by opposition leader Alexei Navalny. This fact sheet features some of the most shocking numbers related to the current regime's corruption and the country's general deterioration.

Details

Nation

Russians Demand Change; Study Foresees Crisis

Details

11 July 2012

This May, the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) published a report entitled "Society and the Government During Political Crisis" The controversial document asserts that the full-scale political crisis in Russia is only escalating and presents scenarios for its further development. Overall, the CSR's prognosis for the current regime is unfavorable. IMR analysts detail the report's key provisions and review responses to it in the Russian media.

Details

Nation

Magnitsky Act Passes, Russia Reacts

Details

09 July 2012

Olga Khvostunova

On June 26th, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Magnitsky Act, a bill prohibiting foreign human rights violators from entering the U.S. and giving the government the right to freeze their American bank accounts. While it was being developed, it became a source of tension in U.S.-Russian relations. As a result, in response to the bill’s passage, Russian authorities have aimed their ire at foreign-backed NGOs. Nonetheless, despite the bill’s symbolic significance, it will not seriously impact the bilateral relations between Russia and the United States, argues IMR analyst Olga Khvostunova.

Details

Nation

On Superpowers

Details

28 June 2012

Alexander Yanov

For nearly a decade, challenging United States' dominance on the global arena has been the ideological cornerstone of Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy. However, although they call for a multi-polar world order, what Russian diplomats really want is to restore Russia’s lost grandeur and overthrow America as a superpower. With prominent examples from European history, Aleksander Yanov demonstrates how the absence of a global leader, such as the United States today, could hurl the world into chaos.

Details

Nation

Politics Without Dialogue

Details

21 June 2012

Olga Khvostunova

Russian authorities continue to test the opposition movement’s strength and determination. Earlier this month, a week before the March of Millions, the Duma passed a series of controversial amendments to the law on demonstrations. Several days later, the Investigative Committee of Russia searched the residences of prominent opposition leaders. According to IMR analyst Olga Khvostunova, the Kremlin’s inability to engage in a dialogue with the opposition is what will lead to the further escalation of this conflict.

Details

Nation

Russian Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin: In Anticipation of a Monument

Details

07 June 2012

Alexander Yanov

With the erection of a monument in the center of Moscow this coming September, Pyotr Stolypin, Prime Minister of Russia (1906-1911), is to be memorialized by Putin's regime on the 100-year anniversary of his assassination. Historian Alexander Yanov puts this glorification of Putin's favorite historial figure in perspective, highlighting Stolypin's brutal and autocratic policies that paved the way for the Bolshevik terror—and beyond.

Details

Nation

Russia’s Invisible Children

The unrelieved plight of Russia's homeless youth

Details

31 May 2012

Olga Khvostunova

Today, the number of homeless children in Russia is estimated to be between one and five million. Despite these shocking figures, the issue hardly appears on the political or public agenda. While government policy toward homeless children continues to be executed sporadically and essentially irresponsibly, the proportion of the Russian population living outside the law continues to grow, portending the possibility of a future crisis. IMR's Olga Khvostunova reports on youth homelessness in Russia today.