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Akhmed Zakayev: “The decision for the ‘hit list’ was made not in Grozny, but in Moscow.”

Details: Opinions

Akhmed Zakayev: “The decision for the ‘hit list’ was made not in Grozny, but in Moscow.”

Details: 20 March 2015; Elena Servettaz

Akhmed Zakayev, political emigrant and head of the government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in exile, spoke with Elena Servettaz about his take on Boris Nemtsov’s murder and the involvement of the Chechen “North” battalion fighters, about the relationship between Ramzan Kadyrov and Vladimir Putin and the so-called “hit list” of the Russian opposition.

Lustrations: Threat or Hope?

Details: Opinions

Lustrations: Threat or Hope?

Details: 10 March 2015; Alexander Podrabinek

Talk of lustrations has recently started up again in Russia. The discussion was provoked by the recent accusations against RPR-PARNAS activist Lev Dmitriyev of insulting a judge. Many people see lustrations as a hopeful pathway toward a democratic future for Russia. However, according to writer Alexander Podrabinek, for lustrations to succeed, the cleansing of totalitarian ideology should first take place in people’s minds.

Four Bullets in the Back of Russia’s Democracy

Details: Opinions

Four Bullets in the Back of Russia’s Democracy

Details: 06 March 2015; Leonid Martynyuk

On February 27, Russian democratic opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was shot dead in the center of Moscow. Leonid Martynyuk, Nemtsov’s colleague and co-author, discusses the opposition leader’s political career and puts forward a theory about who could have ordered his killing.

Boris Nemtsov: “Putin’s main problem is that he despises the Commandments”

Details: Opinions

Boris Nemtsov: “Putin’s main problem is that he despises the Commandments”

Details: 04 March 2015; Elena Servettaz

The murder of Boris Nemtsov came as a shock to people around the world, but especially for those who knew him personally. Over the last few days, hundreds of journalists, writers, and politicians have published articles, op-eds, and social media posts about their personal encounters and conversations with Nemtsov. Elena Servettaz shares her memories of the leader of the Russian opposition.

“It is [the] bigotry of lower expectations [to say] that Russians will always favor a strong man over democracy.” — Mark Lagon

Details: Opinions

“It is [the] bigotry of lower expectations [to say] that Russians will always favor a strong man over democracy.” — Mark Lagon

Details: 03 March 2015; Olga Khvostunova

Unsurprisingly, Freedom House’s recent 2015 Freedom in the World report has shown a decline in civil liberties in Russia. Mark Lagon, the new president of Freedom House, spoke with IMR’s editor-in-chief Olga Khvostunova about Russia’s current political trajectory, Putin’s stakes in the Ukraine conflict, and what the West can do to empower Russian civil society organizations.

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.

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