LIVE UPDATES: President Vladimir Putin has made two major personnel shuffles and urged the “optimization” of the number of parties in Russia, indicating further consolidation over an already-docile parliament and intelligence service and preparation for his installation as president in 2018.
Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the Russian government’s foreign and domestic policies.
The previous issue is here.
Recent Analysis and Translations:
– What Has Ramzan Kadyrov Been Up To? Quietly Cultivating Regional and Kremlin Officials, Now He Meets with Putin
– RBC Publishes Report Sourced in FSB and Military on Wagner Private Military Contractor with 2,500 Fighters in Syria
– Russian Parliamentary Elections Round-Up: Open Russiaâs Baronova Registered; Shevchenko Disqualified
– The Kremlin is Working Hard to Make Donald Trump President
UPDATES BELOW