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“The Putin Wave”: On Russia’s New Political Émigrés

Details: Politics

“The Putin Wave”: On Russia’s New Political Émigrés

Details: 30 May 2013; Vladimir Kara-Murza

As Russia’s authoritarian system grows more repressive, the result is not only more political prisoners, but also more political émigrés. As in Soviet times, it is some of the best and the brightest who are leaving the country. IMR Senior Policy Advisor Vladimir Kara-Murza discusses the significance of the new wave of political emigration for the Putin regime—and for Russia.

Moscow's 2014 Election: Will the Democrats Unite?

Details: Politics

Moscow's 2014 Election: Will the Democrats Unite?

Details: 23 May 2013; Vladimir Kara-Murza

Next year, Moscow will hold its legislative elections. Traditionally, elections in Russia’s capital city are considered a national event. IMR Senior Policy Advisor Vladimir Kara-Murza contends that the democratic opposition stands a significant change of success—but only if it finally manages to unite.

Three Motives and One Reason

Details: Politics

Three Motives and One Reason

Details: 22 May 2013; Tatiana Stanovaya

The Russian media have already said goodbye to Vladislav Surkov and talked about the end of his era once. This was in December 2011, as mass protest rallies heated up in the country. Recently, Surkov left the government again, but this time, he left for nowhere. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses the fate and prospects of the once all-powerful éminence grise.

Bolotnaya Square, One Year Later

Details: Politics

Bolotnaya Square, One Year Later

Details: 16 May 2013; Tatiana Stanovaya

On May 6, one year after clashes between demonstrators and police in Bolotnaya Square, a new rally took place in Moscow that showed that the core of the protest movement in Russia has stabilized at 20,000 to 30,000 people. These numbers are considerably higher than those that rallies attracted before 2011, but they are not sufficient to influence the Kremlin. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses the situation in which Russia’s nonsystemic opposition finds itself today.

She Has Stepped Into Eternity. In Memory of Galina Starovoitova

Details: Politics

She Has Stepped Into Eternity. In Memory of Galina Starovoitova

Details: 16 May 2013; Boris Bruk

On May 17, Galina Starovoitova—people’s deputy of the USSR and RSFSR, member of the Russian State Duma and co-founder of Democratic Russia movement—would have celebrated her 67th birthday. She was murdered at her house in St. Petersburg in 1998. IMR Advisor Boris Bruk recalls Starovoitova’s life and her political legacy.

Praemonitus praemunitus

Details: Politics

Praemonitus praemunitus

Details: 13 May 2013; Alexander Podrabinek

In 2012, nearly half a million Russian citizens were prohibited from going abroad. In the first three months of 2013, the same ban was imposed on more than 140,000 people. Author and analyst Alexander Podrabinek believes that the Russian authorities have already begun building a new “iron curtain” at the country’s border.

Dmitri Medvedev: Three Scenarios of Neutralization

Details: Politics

Dmitri Medvedev: Three Scenarios of Neutralization

Details: 09 May 2013; Tatiana Stanovaya

In April, a video of a closed meeting chaired by Vladimir Putin appeared on the Lifenews.ru website, which is known to be close to the Kremlin. This video creates the impression that Dmitri Medvedev’s government is about to be dismissed. The resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov can be considered a warning to the cabinet. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses the options that await the Medvedev government.

FARA and Putin’s NGO Law: Myths and Reality

Details: Politics

FARA and Putin’s NGO Law: Myths and Reality

Details: 09 May 2013; Vladimir Kara-Murza

The Russian authorities have continuously claimed that the 2012 law labeling NGOs as “foreign agents” is merely the equivalent of the U.S. Foreign Agent Registration Act. IMR Senior Policy Advisor Vladimir Kara-Murza explains why this “analogy” is false.

Moscow Makes its Own Pivot to the Pacific

Details: Politics

Moscow Makes its Own Pivot to the Pacific

Details: 07 May 2013; Donald N. Jensen

The recent summit meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has heightened speculation that Moscow is looking for an Asian counterweight to the increasingly powerful China. However, Donald N. Jensen, Resident Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, argues that Moscow’s relations with Beijing will continue to be much closer than its cooperation with Tokyo.

Vladimir Putin's "Indirect Line"

Details: Politics

Vladimir Putin's "Indirect Line"

Details: 02 May 2013; Tatiana Stanovaya

The nature of authoritarian regimes, especially those that depend on a "mobilized" social base, requires constant communications between a leader and his audiences. On April 25, Vladimir Putin answered questions from Russian citizens during a live televised call-in show. This political show is becoming a key attribute of the regime. Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya discusses the peculiarities of Putin's dialogue with the people.

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