Russia: Other Points of View

Help Russia Help America

By SENATORS RICHARD LUGAR and SAM NUNN

In a campaign speech this week, John McCain cited the "special responsibility" of the United States and Russia to cooperate to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons. There is a remarkable consensus among the presidential candidates about this imperative.

But America must not wait until a new administration takes office in 2009 to advance this vital work. An agreement the Bush administration signed with Russia earlier this month is an essential step for this cooperation. That agreement is now before Congress.

Russia and The Unintended Consequences of Kosovo's Independence

by GORDON HAHN

As Kosovo moved towards it s official declaration of independence in March, a controversy emerged over whether recognition of Kosovo’s independence by the international community would set a precedent that would lead to an explosion of heightened fervor for independence among the world’s other breakaway regions and unrecognized, de facto independent states. Russia and to a lesser extent China and several other states with separatist threats opposed any UN move to recognize Kosovo’s independence, and for different reasons was supported by France, Germany and several other NATO countries.

Kremlin's Most Secretive Figure Moves to Cabinet

by ROBERT COALSON, RFERL

RMW Analysis by Russia: Other Points of View

Radio Free Europe continues its coverage of Russian events with a new piece of ‘analysis’ that ignores the downgrading of the siloviki and the upgrading of technocratic modernizers within Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. Although Putin may be in a better position to control state enterprises, the article focuses narrowly on Igor Sechin, the leader of the hardline Petersburg siloviki clan, and his survival. Coalson ignores the defeat of Sechin's clan and his being passed over for the post of head of the government’s apparatus, or one of the two first deputy premierships. The article misses the most important result of the new government and presidential administration appointments, which is a disappointment for Sechin and a setback for his clan – and perhaps for the future of the siloviki at the apex of power.

To access the full review, please click here Download RFERL_Coalson_15_May_08.doc (61.5K)

A new Cold War?

by JONATHAN STEELE

There were tears and sweat aplenty in Moscow's Luzhniki stadium on Wednesday, but barely any blood. English fans kept calm. Russia's police avoided running amok. The result was that stereotypes of Russia as a harsh forbidding place lost another chunk of credibility, and its quest to be treated as a "normal" country on the post-cold war stage advanced a further step. It has been a bumpy journey since the Soviet Union ended. The western euphoria of the 1990s, when Russia seemed to have no major disagreements with western policy, gave way to disappointment when Vladimir Putin took a less compliant international line - especially in his second term - while also curbing some of his compatriots' new-found democratic freedoms.

Russia's Government: New Jobs, Old Faces

NO AUTHOR IDENTIFIED

RMW Analysis by Russia:Other Points of View

The following article provides the Economist interpretation of Russian politics with no concrete alternative approaches offered. Occasional attempts are made to acknowledge some positive trends – such as the appointment of economic liberals to Vladimir Putin’s new government – but these are introduced in passing. Emphasis is put on Putin’s lust for power and influence of the representatives of the power ministries or siloviki even as the article discusses their setbacks in the new configuration of power in Putin’s White House and new Russian President Dmitrii Medvedev’s Kremlin. The author seems intent on precluding the hint of a possibility that some significant changes, even if not radical ones, could be in the offing.

To access the full review please click here Download Economist_May_08.doc

Putin's Constitutional Coup

by GORDON HAHN

Outgoing President Vladimir Putin’s decision to become chairman of the United Russia party, in addition to Prime Minister (PM) atop the Russian government, marks another step toward a constitutional shift apparently intended to buttress his power vis-à-vis his handpicked successor, president-elect Dmitrii Medvedev.

Small Businesses Are Under President Medvedev's Protection

by MARINA SELINA

President Dmitry Medvedev believes in the measures that will make life easier for small businesses and encourage business activeness of the population. Presidential decree drawn nowadays will minimize surprise inspections of small businesses (to one examination every three years). Before launching an inspection, a regulating structure will have to acquire a permit from the regional prosecutor's office. "This provision is quite important because officials are clearly overdoing it with surprise inspections these days," to quote Boris Titov of Business Russia who attended the conference in the Kremlin where Medvedev brought up the matter of small businesses.

Launch "Russia:Other Points of View"

Dear Russia watchers and fellow bloggers,

Why this blog? Throughout U.S. media, a monopoly regarding the “Russia story” has developed over the past 5 years. The coverage of Russia issues seems one-sided to us and omits specific information which could help the west and Russia deal constructively with one another. ROPV will provide space for multiple viewpoints on Russia along with reminders of undisputable facts, history, cultural and social conditioning which impact Russians’ behaviors, communications and decisions today.

Inauguration of the Russian President

Russia: The Missing Debate by Steve Cohen

by STEPHEN COHEN

None of the U.S. presidential candidates has seriously addressed, or seems fully aware of, what should be America's greatest foreign-policy concern - Russia's unique capacity to endanger or enhance U.S. national security.