The Kremlin’s New Show Trials
The Economist
The arrests of Oleh Sentsov, Nadia Savchenko, Eston Kohver and numerous others exemplify how Russia is politicizing its judicial system. Even more troubling is that the defendants are non-Russian citizens—some of whom were kidnapped and brought into Russia—detained on charges that were most likely falsified.
Putin May Be Tiring of His Cronies
Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg View
Vladimir Putin’s notoriously corrupt crony Vladimir Yakunin was ousted from his position as the director of Russian Railways. If the decision to replace him was motivated by a need for more competence in the current period of tough economic times, could we see changes at other key state firms as well, such as Gazprom and Rosneft?
‘Hitler Was an Anglo-American Stooge’: The Tall Tales in a Moscow Bookshop
Shaun Walker, The Guardian
Tomes promulgating conspiracy theories about CIA plots and alleged Ukrainian atrocities line the shelves of one of Moscow’s largest bookstores. The shear volume of the conspiracy books raises the question: To what degree do Russians, and officials in the Kremlin, subscribe to such outlandish views?
Putin Loves Labour’s Leader-in-Waiting
Ben Nimmo, The Daily Beast
Jeremy Corbyn, a candidate for leader of the U.K. Labour party, has been receiving hours and hours of favorable coverage from Kremlin-funded media outlet RT. Corbyn’s anti-EU platform and opposition to Britain’s traditional policies of military investment and nuclear deterrence fall in line with Kremlin priorities.
Vladimir Putin’s Bonfire of the Delicacies
Julia Ioffe, Foreign Policy
When the Russian government started its campaign to destroy sanctioned cheese and other products earlier this month, many Russians were outraged and petitioned for the food to at least be given to orphans or the homeless. But then again, the diet of most Russians does not consist of Parmesan or peaches. What is the real impact of the Kremlin’s latest political publicity stunt?
The Sino-Russo Rundown
Jacob Stokes & Alexander Sullivan, Foreign Affairs
Some analysts argue that China and Russia are building a long-term relationship to counter U.S. hegemony, while others say they are simply cooperating at a time when their interests coincide. Stoke and Sullivan believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and understanding this will be key in dealing with a Sino-Russian axis.
Compiled by Alexandra Moon and Cyrus Newlin.
