Institute of Modern Russia

Details

Opinions

Why the cancellation of Nord Stream-2 will punish Russian citizens, not the Kremlin

Details

24 September 2020

Vladislav Inozemtsev

The poisoning of Alexey Navalny and political consequences it entails for Russia have caused heated political debates in the West. At the center of discussion is the question of whether or not to cancel the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project that many of the Kremlin opponents have been campaigning against. However, there are reasons to believe that such sanctions will not have the desired effect on Moscow’s politics, but instead will result in ordinary Russian citizens paying the price.

Details

Opinions

Revenge of Stalinism

Details

11 September 2020

Leonid Nevzlin

Belarus and Russia are the two hotspots of the post-Soviet space, where Stalinism has claimed full revenge. The Lukashenko and Putin regimes are rooted in neo-Stalinism, which holds millions of people hostage. Amidst mass protests in Belarus and the declining ratings of the Russian authorities, the peoples of these countries now face a crucial historical choice: a free society or a neo-Stalinist dictatorship.

Details

Opinions

Why the Concept of “Psychological Torture” Needs a New Official Russian Translation in UN Documents

Details

26 August 2020

Peter Barenboim, Ekaterina Mishina

A recent video address from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya recorded under evident psychological pressure from the Lukashenko regime highlights the need to adopt a more precise official definition of the concept of “psychological torture” in the post-Soviet space. Legal experts believe that the United Nations’ (UN) and Russia’s differing definitions of this concept lead to human rights violations.

Details

Opinions

Boris Kuznetsov: “Authorities should not lie—that’s the main lesson of the Kursk submarine disaster”

Details

11 August 2020

On August 12, 2000, during Russian Northern Fleet military exercises in the Barents Sea, a torpedo explosion sank the Kursk nuclear submarine. As a result of Russian authorities’ inadequate actions, all 118 sailors on board died. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, IMR editor Olga Khvostunova spoke with Boris Kuznetsov, who represented 55 families of the deceased crew. According to the lawyer, two decades after the Kursk disaster, the Kremlin has not yet learned its main lesson.

Details

Opinions

Evgeny Dobrenko: “The WWII victory cult is meant to legitimize the regime” (Part II)

Details

01 July 2020

Olga Khvostunova

Philologist, cultural historian, professor of the University of Sheffield Evgeny Dobrenko spoke with IMR’s Olga Khvostunova about the era of late Stalinism, the becoming of the Soviet nation, and its key traits that are still preserved in Russia today. The interview is published in two parts. The second installment discusses the differences and similarities between Stalin and Putin, the WWII victory cult, and the possibility of a new Russian revolution.

Details

Opinions

Evgeny Dobrenko: “The Soviet nation’s mental matrix is still seen today” (Part I)

Details

29 June 2020

Olga Khvostunova

Philologist, cultural historian, professor of the University of Sheffield Evgeny Dobrenko spoke with IMR’s Olga Khvostunova about the era of late Stalinism, the becoming of the Soviet nation, and its key traits that are still preserved in Russia today. The interview is published in two parts. The first installment discusses how Stalin became the “father” of the new nation, why 70 percent of Russians favorably view his role in history, and how Putin invokes Stalin’s narratives.

Details

Opinions

Why the Putin Regime Will Stand

Details

29 May 2020

Vladislav Inozemtsev

Bloomberg recently estimated that Russia’s economy may contract by 16 percent in the second quarter of 2020. According to Russian analysts, its GDP declined by about 28 percent in April. Still, despite the unfolding economic crisis, there is no reason to believe that it will lead to political change.

Details

Opinions

Runet, Multidimensional Politics, and Crisis

A Conversation with Dr. Gregory Asmolov

Details

27 May 2020

Dr. Gregory Asmolov explains how the Russian Internet—Runet—emerged as a socio-cultural and political free space and became a target for the Kremlin after the mass protests of 2011-2012. In this interview for IMR, political scientist Yana Gorokhovskaia spoke with Asmolov about digital innovation in Russia, state encroachment, and the Runet’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Details

Opinions

Putin’s Rules

Details

17 March 2020

Yana Gorokhovskaia

On March 16, Russia’s Constitutional Court approved the proposed amendments to the Constitution, clearing the way for Vladimir Putin to stay in power beyond 2024, with the upcoming referendum likely being a mere formality. The swiftness of the process signals that legitimacy through adherence to formal rules no longer matters to Putin, and, perhaps, never did.

Details

Opinions

Not Money, But Lives: The Real Cost of the Yukos Case

Details

06 March 2020

Leonid Nevzlin

A Dutch appeals court has recently overturned the 2016 decision of the Hague District Court to annul a $50 billion award to shareholders in the Yukos oil company and reinstates the 2014 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Hailing to the rule of law, former Yukos top-manager, Israel-based businessman and IMR trustee Leonid Nevzlin points out that the Yukos case should not be measured in money.