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Putin’s Beneficiaries, Impossibility of Reform, Russian Special Services in D.C.

Details: Media Must-Reads

Putin’s Beneficiaries, Impossibility of Reform, Russian Special Services in D.C.

The Russian media roundup, February 3-9, 2018

Details: 09 February 2018

In this week’s roundup, New Times profiles the key beneficiaries of Putin’s fourth-term presidency; Alexander Baunov outlines why genuine reforms after Putin’s re-election are impossible; Vladimir Frolov discusses the recent unprecedented visit of the three heads of the Russian special services to Washington; Pavel Chikov details the encroachment of Russian state regulation on the Internet; and Pavel Aptekar examines the growing prestige of the “chekist” profession.

Kremlin Report, Voters’ Strike, “Death of Stalin”

Details: Media Must-Reads

Kremlin Report, Voters’ Strike, “Death of Stalin”

Russian media roundup, January 27 – February 2, 2018

Details: 02 February 2018

In this week’s roundup, Alexander Baunov and Ekaterina Schulman analyze the U.S. Treasury’s “Kremlin report,” The New Times writes about the meaning and consequences of the January 28 protest in Russia; Alexander Rubtsov discusses the recent reforms in the field of science that shocked members of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Sergei Medvedev explains why the Russian authorities banned Armando Iannucci’s latest comedy titled “The Death of Stalin.”

How to Succeed in the Art of Sanctions

Details: Event Briefings

How to Succeed in the Art of Sanctions

Details: 01 February 2018; Olga Khvostunova

On January 30, following the release of the U.S. Treasury’s “Kremlin report,” the Harriman Institute (Columbia University) held a discussion on a timely book titled The Art of Sanctions with the author Richard Nephew and former Coordinator for Sanctions Policy Daniel Fried, who discussed U.S. sanctions and the Treasury’s “Kremlin report.”

Davos-2018, Boycott or Ghetto, Putin's Technocrats

Details: Media Must-Reads

Davos-2018, Boycott or Ghetto, Putin's Technocrats

Russian media roundup, January 20-26, 2018

Details: 26 January 2018

In this week’s roundup: Oleg Bouklemishev explains why the Russian elite does not aspire to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos; Vladimir Pastukhov examines the evolution of Putin’s inner circle, arguing that today, the military holds a dangerous level of power; Alexander Kynev discusses Ksenia Sobchak’s and Alexei Navalny’s campaign strategies, each presenting a very different future; Vladimir Gelman details how the Kremlin sees the “digital revolution” as the missing link in ameliorating state management; and Lilia Shevtsova argues that instead of an imminent “reset” with the U.S., Russia should expect only a sharp downturn in the international sphere.

Freedom in the World 2018: Democracy in Crisis

Details: Event Briefings

Freedom in the World 2018: Democracy in Crisis

Details: 24 January 2018; Daniel Frey

On January 16, Freedom House, along with the American Enterprise Institute, Center for American Progress, and a group of internationally renowned experts, unveiled its latest report, “Freedom in the World 2018.” The report notes that 2017 marked yet another year of decline for freedom worldwide—the 12th consecutive one on record, by Freedom House’s count—as well as a continuation of democratic backsliding in the United States itself. Among the event’s notable panelists and speakers were Open Russia’s Vladimir Kara-Murza and U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE).

Big Reshuffle, “Kremlin Report,” Putin and 2018 Elections

Details: Media Must-Reads

Big Reshuffle, “Kremlin Report,” Putin and 2018 Elections

Russian media roundup, January 12-19, 2018

Details: 19 January 2018

In this week’s roundup, New Times discusses the reshuffling expected in the Kremlin and the government after the March 18 elections; Vladimir Frolov writes about the new round of U.S. sanctions and the Kremlin reaction to it; Alexander Baunov argues that in the upcoming elections Vladimir Putin is planning to beat an issue, not an opponent; Alexander Rubtsov of the Center for the Study of Ideological Processes contends that Putin needs a resounding victory; and in another piece this week, Rubtsov discusses the role of ideology in the Russian political process. .

Russia-2042, Fight for the Ballot, the Kremlin’s Foreign Policy

Details: Media Must-Reads

Russia-2042, Fight for the Ballot, the Kremlin’s Foreign Policy

Russian media roundup, January 1-12, 2018

Details: 12 January 2018

In this week’s roundup: Anton Shirikov assesses the likelihood of Russia turning into a full democracy or a rigid dictatorship in 25 years; New Times discusses the fight to reserve a spot on the presidential ballot; Dmitry Oreshkin argues that Navalny’s call for a boycott is good step for him, but not for voters; Dmitry Trenin summarizes Russia’s 2017 foreign policy; Natalya Zubarevich evaluates the 2018 outlook for the country’s regions.

100 Years of Cheka, Ulyukayev’s Verdict, Bloggers as Foreign Agents

Details: Media Must-Reads

100 Years of Cheka, Ulyukayev’s Verdict, Bloggers as Foreign Agents

Russian media roundup, December 16-22, 2017

Details: 22 December 2017

In this week’s roundup, Alexander Vereschagin reviews the history of Russia’s special services, including the Cheka, KGB, and modern-day FSB; Konstantin Gaaze explains the rationale behind Alexei Ulyukayev’s guilty verdict; Vladimir Pastukhov discusses what the verdict in Ulyukayev’s case reveals about Russia’s political system; New Times writes about Russia’s State Duma recent bill to label bloggers as foreign agents; and Vitaly Gorokhov discusses the impact of the IOC’s ban on the Russian Olympic team.

Intrigue-2024, Putin 4.0, Navalny’s Platform

Details: Media Must-Reads

Intrigue-2024, Putin 4.0, Navalny’s Platform

Russian media roundup, December 9-15, 2017

Details: 15 December 2017

In this week’s roundup, Andrei Kolesnikov argues why Putin’s reelection won’t change much in Russia; Alexander Morozov describes the main problems for Putin's electoral performance; Tatyana Stanovaya outlines five rules of survival for the state oligarchs; New Times surveys political scientists on their expectations of Putin's fourth term; and Andrei Movchan analyzes Alexei Navalny’s presidential platform.

Putin as Captain Impossible, Hidden Agenda, Sechin’s Spetsnaz

Details: Media Must-Reads

Putin as Captain Impossible, Hidden Agenda, Sechin’s Spetsnaz

Russian media roundup, December 2-8, 2017

Details: 08 December 2017

In this week’s roundup, Maxim Trudolyubov comments on Vladimir Putin’s announcement to run for a fourth term; Kirill Rogov argues that current discussions about Putin’s future prime minister are futile; New Times profiles former FSB head, General Oleg Feoktistov who, until recently, led Igor Sechin’s special services group among Russia’s siloviki; Yekaterina Shulman discusses “accidental” democratization; Ivan Lyubimov recommends partial decentralization as a first step to reforming the political sphere.

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