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Weapons of Mass Deception. Part One

Details: Politics

Weapons of Mass Deception. Part One

Details: 16 June 2015; Vasily Gatov

The overwhelming scale and deeply destructive nature of the Kremlin’s information war has only recently drawn attention of the Western mainstream media and policymakers. In part one of his essay, prominent Russian media analyst Vasily Gatov, visiting fellow at the Center of Communication Leadership and Policy, University of Southern California, explains the origins of the Russian propaganda and Putin’s anti-Western narrative.

Will Anyone Come to Russia’s 2018 World Cup?

Details: Politics

Will Anyone Come to Russia’s 2018 World Cup?

Details: 10 June 2015; Ezekiel Pfeifer

Just as the International Federation of Association Football, better known as FIFA, is being hit by an enormous corruption scandal, Russian football is facing its own turmoil as well. Struggling with its own corruption issues, the economic recession, and construction delays in preparations for the 2018 World Cup, Moscow is having a hard time playing it cool. Given the country’s growing international isolation as a result of the Ukraine crisis, Vladimir Putin’s new “image project” might turn into another stress test for the regime.

Is Radical Nationalism in Russia Getting Out of Control?

Details: Politics

Is Radical Nationalism in Russia Getting Out of Control?

Details: 12 May 2015; Donald N. Jensen

Radical nationalism has long been one of the leading threats to Russia’s national security. However, in recent years, and especially during the Ukraine crisis, the Kremlin has tried to co-opt the nationalists to use them to mobilize the population. At the moment, according to Donald Jensen, resident fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, there are increasing signs that the political situation may be gradually drifting out of the president’s control.

Putin’s Patriotism Campaign: A Dangerous Bunch of Hot Air

Details: Politics

Putin’s Patriotism Campaign: A Dangerous Bunch of Hot Air

Details: 08 May 2015; Ezekiel Pfeifer

The 70th anniversary of the victory over Germany in World War II has been increasingly viewed in Russia as an unprecedented event of historic and national scale. This view has been shaped by the sharp rise of patriotic sentiment caused by the Kremlin’s adventures in Ukraine and hysterical propaganda in the state media. According to independent Russia analyst Ezekiel Pfeifer, the tragedy of today’s patriotic campaign is that it relies on deceit and obscures the fact that Putin has failed to foster real achievements for Russians to take pride in.

Marc Plattner: “If Russia Had Become Democratic, the World Would Look Very Different Now”

Details: Politics

Marc Plattner: “If Russia Had Become Democratic, the World Would Look Very Different Now”

Details: 02 April 2015; Denis Volkov

Over the last year, the debate on how to describe Russia’s political regime has intensified. Levada Center sociologist Denis Volkov discusses this issue with Marc Plattner, vice president for research and studies at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and coeditor of the Journal of Democracy.

Is There a Feud Over a New Tsar in the Kremlin?

Details: Politics

Is There a Feud Over a New Tsar in the Kremlin?

Details: 01 April 2015; Donald N. Jensen

Vladimir Putin’s ten-day absence from the public eye has become the most discussed event in Russia this past month, and also highlights the country’s crisis of governance. According to Donald Jensen, resident fellow of the Center for Transatlantic Relations, keeping the increasingly polarized political forces under control is becoming a much harder challenge for Putin.

A Coup Against Putin?

Details: Politics

A Coup Against Putin?

Details: 04 February 2015; Donald N. Jensen

As Russia’s economy enters recession and its political stability starts to weaken, there is increasing speculation about the possibility of a regime change in the country. Donald N. Jensen, resident fellow of the Center for Transatlantic Relations, discusses Russia’s political climate and the options currently confronting Vladimir Putin.

New Year, New Sentence

Details: Politics

New Year, New Sentence

Details: 09 January 2015; Tatiana Stanovaya

On December 30, a Russian court sentenced Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his younger brother Oleg to three and a half years in prison on charges related to the Yves Rocher case. Alexei Navalny received a suspended sentence, while Oleg Navalny will serve the full prison time. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya reviews the case and its possible consequences.

2014: A Year in Review

Details: Politics

2014: A Year in Review

Details: 30 December 2014; Olga Khvostunova, Daria Mattis

2014 was full of dramatic developments and unexpected turn of events. Some of them, such as the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, were hard to predict. Others, like Western sanctions, Russia’s expulsion from the G8, and the economic recession, had been ripening for a long time. Here, IMR recounts this year’s key events, month by month.

The Medvedev Factor

Details: Politics

The Medvedev Factor

Details: 22 December 2014; Tatiana Stanovaya

Last week, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev spoke at a televised interview to five Russian TV channels, during which he announced that his cabinet will step up efforts to lessen the government’s grip on the country’s economic policy. According to political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya, despite these early signs of liberalization, the weakening role of Russia’s Prime Minister may threaten Putin’s regime, as the Russian ruble continues its free fall.

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