Opinions - Institute of Modern Russia

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Putin’s Hostage

Details: Opinions

Putin’s Hostage

Details: 19 February 2015; Alexander Podrabinek

On February 10, the Basmannyi Court of Moscow extended custody for the Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko, who continues her hunger strike in protest of the absurd accusations against her. Writer Alexander Podrabinek argues that the Russian authorities have essentially sentenced her to death.

Russian “Death Squads”

Details: Opinions

Russian “Death Squads”

Details: 17 February 2015; Alexander Podrabinek

In January a new pro-Kremlin movement called “Antimaidan” formed in Russia with the goal “to prevent ‘color revolutions’ in the country.” In the opinion of writer Alexander Podrabinek, the Russian government is essentially creating "death squads“—militarized civil forces to fight the opposition.

Symbols and Sentences

Details: Opinions

Symbols and Sentences

Details: 28 January 2015; Alexander Podrabinek

On March 11, 2014, three activists, Oleg Savvin, Mikhail Feldman, and Dmitry Fonarev, hoisted a German flag at Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) building in the city of Kaliningrad. Now, each of them is facing a seven-year sentence for their symbolic protest against Russian aggression in Ukraine. According to writer Alexander Podrabinek, the current Russian leadership seems poised to resuscitate Soviet-style methods of political repressions.

Who Was Offended by Leviathan?

Details: Opinions

Who Was Offended by Leviathan?

Details: 23 January 2015; Olga Melnikova

The latest Oscar-nominated drama from Andrey Zvyagintsev, Leviathan has provoked heated discussion in Russia. Critics quickly labeled the movie as Russophobic, politically biased, and antireligious. According to Olga Melnikova, despite its ambiguities, Leviathan accurately reflects many realities of modern Russia.

The Country Where Terrorism Won

Details: Opinions

The Country Where Terrorism Won

Details: 21 January 2015; Olga Melnikova

The murder of journalists for the French satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo provoked an extraordinary response in Russia. However, paradoxical as it may sound, many residents of this country, which has suffered severely from terrorism over the past 15 years, are willing to justify the actions of extremists today. Olga Melnikova analyzes the public debate.

The Price of Freedom

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.

Russia Is Paying Off Putin’s Debts

Details: Opinions

Russia Is Paying Off Putin’s Debts

Details: 31 December 2014; Alexander Podrabinek

In mid-December, the currency crisis in Russia resulted in the ruble’s landslide tumble. According to writer Alexander Podrabinek, Russia’s brewing economic crisis will not change the policy orientation of the Kremlin, which can only look for enemies and designate scapegoats, instead of solving real problems.

Hollande’s Dreams

Details: Opinions

Hollande’s Dreams

Details: 24 December 2014; Elena Servettaz

For his efforts to maintain a dialogue with Vladimir Putin, French media has compared France’s president François Hollande with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Elena Servettaz explains why this analogy is misguided.

From Chechnya to Ukraine

Details: Opinions

From Chechnya to Ukraine

Details: 18 December 2014; Alexander Podrabinek

December 11 marked the twentieth anniversary of the First Chechen War, which largely defined modern Russia’s path of development. According to writer Alexander Podrabinek, that war was caused by the same factor that led to today’s Ukrainian conflict: the conviction of those raised by the Communist nomenklatura and the KGB that laws and legislation are nothing but toys for weaklings.

Nonfatal Diagnosis

Details: Opinions

Nonfatal Diagnosis

Details: 12 December 2014; Olga Melnikova

In November, medical workers in Moscow organized mass demonstrations to protest against the downsizing that has occurred as part of recent health care reform. However, according to journalist Olga Melnikova, the Russian health care sector could actually benefit from job cuts.

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