Staunton, April 16 – Declining numbers of Russian men of draft age and Vladimir Putin’s increasingly aggressive moves in Ukraine have prompted suggestions that Moscow should allow immigrants to serve in the Russian military and be given a fast track to Russian citizenship if they do. But that idea has provoked a sharp reaction both […]
Two days ago, the discussion on social networks was about how people on the EU sanctions list could nevertheless travel to France and even give press conferences in Paris. The fourth most powerful official in Russia, the Speaker of the Russian State Duma, Sergei Naryshkin, did just that. He found himself on the EU sanctions […]
Staunton, April 16 – The Komi, one of the Russian Federation’s numerically small nations of the north, are demanding that that country’s oil giant, Lukoil, stop its destructive exploitation of oil reserves in the Izhemsk district of their republic – and, what may be even more significant, local officials are supporting the people rather than […]
Staunton, April 16 – Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine, Yevgeny Gontmakher says, are accelerating the disappearance of Russia not so much in the sense of pointing to a change in its borders but rather with regard to the existence of a distinctive Russian society capable of surviving into the future. In an interview published by […]
Staunton, April 16 – It has become fashionable to call for liberals and patriots to compromise, to agree to “call the naked king ‘half-dressed,’”, as Russia’s latest attempt to build a state in which people live in freedom and sufficiency and one which enjoys the respect of the surrounding world has failed, Georgy Kunadze says. […]
Staunton, April 16 – Putin’s Anschluss of Crimea is having an impact on Russian public opinion in a way few might have expected: A new Levada Center poll finds that in the wake of the Kremlin leader’s moves in Ukraine, more Russians have a positive view of developments in the North Caucasus and fewer believe […]
Yesterday Ukraine launched a “counter-terrorism operation,” retaking an airfield in Kramatorsk from separatists. The Ukrainian military and police appeared to be preparing for a broader action, but there are already signs that Ukrainian authorities may be facing setbacks today. Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see […]
Staunton, April 15 – Vladimir Putin, in his effort to save his rule by intervening militarily in Ukraine, is pushing the world not toward a new cold war as many say but rather to something far worse and more dangerous, one in which one or another side may in fact view the use of force […]
Staunton, April 15 – Russia’s annexation of Crimea has attracted international attention to the tragic fate of the Crimean Tatars whose homeland it is, but in addition to that nation and to ethnic Russians and Ukrainians, Crimea is home to many other ethnic groups and their fates should be of concern as well, especially given […]
Staunton, April 15 – Moscow’s promotion of unrest and separatism in Estonia has prompted a group of ethnic Russians and other non-titular nations to start a petition drive in support of Estonia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemning such outside interference in Estonia’s domestic affairs. Despite its membership in the European Union and NATO and […]
