ON MY MIND After more than two years of focusing almost exclusively on foreign conflicts, is Vladimir Putin now turning his attention to domestic affairs? A recent editorial in Vedomosti and a commentary by political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya in Slon.ru each suggest this is the case. The creation of a new National Guard — an […]
The court office of the judge presiding over the trial of two Russian spetsnaz soldiers, Aleksandr Aleksandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev, was torched in the early hours of this morning.
Live Updates: A 7th Russian soldier is confirmed to have been killed in fighting in Syria. Putin blames Western disinformation campaign for “Panama Papers.”
ON MY MIND The gloating in Moscow has begun in earnest. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said today that Dutch voters’ rejection of the European Union’s Association Agreement and free-trade pact with Ukraine in a referendum is “an indicator of the Europeans’ attitudes toward the Ukrainian political system.” So according to Medvedev’s logic, in a referendum […]
A non-binding referendum in the Netherlands has rejected the ratification of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine, following a campaign backed by Eurosceptic parties across the wider EU.
Neo-Pagan and Orthodox Militants ‘Dividing Up’ Russian Capital 2016-04-06 18:22:10 Staunton, VA, April 6, 2016 – The Russian Orthodox Church’s promotion of patriotic youth groups has met its match in analogous groups that have been organized by neo-pagan organizations. Both groups are militarized and armed, and increasingly, Vladislav Maltsev says, these “’warriors of God’ are dividing up […]
Ukraine Day 779 – Nadiya Savchenko, an illegally jailed Ukrainian military officer, has declared a dry hunger strike as her sentence comes into effect in Russia.
ON MY MIND Viktor Zolotov is finally getting what he wanted. And that’s a very bad sign. For years, Vladimir Putin’s longtime friend, judo sparring partner, and former bodyguard has been the Kremlin leader’s boogeyman. Even among Russia’s siloviki, Zolotov is viewed as a fierce Putin loyalist who is more interested in protecting his pal […]
The Daily Vertical is a video primer for Russia-watchers that appears Monday through Friday. Viewers can suggest topics via Twitter @PowerVertical or on the Power Vertical Facebook page. A transcript of today’s Daily Vertical can be found here.
Putin’s bodyguard has been named the head of the powerful National Guard, a move the Kremlin denies has anything to do with the upcoming elections…
