Russia: Other Points of View

RUSSIAN RESPONSES: IS RUSSIA READY FOR DEMOCRACY

LETTERS FROM RUSSIA

by Sharon Tennison

Dear friends,

In November you were sent my article on: Is Russia ready for democracy? Thanks for the wonderful feedback you provided!  The same article was translated and sent to numerous Russian entrepreneurs. Their feedback is about as mixed as if numerous Americans had been asked a single question.  Enjoy and have a great Holiday Season!   

EKATERINBURG

This is an interesting article about Russia and if it is ready for democracy. My answer is - yes, we are ready, but not right away, and I agree, that we are not a fully democratic country, which is impossible to turn into overnight. It will take years, years of development, of learning what democracy is. It is not an anarchy, as the Russians thought initially. And we were tired and afraid of anarchy and people were asking for more control. All Russians want freedom - to travel, to choose jobs, to do business, freedom of press, to say what they think. I am sure, it is getting better, but slowly. The crisis hit the country a lot and slowed down the process. I can call Russia a relative democracy.

Now we have a new Governor in the Sverdlovsk oblast - for the better or for the worse? I think, for the better - less corruption, new people are coming into the government, new ideas, new management style. We'll follow the process and see how it will develop.

OBAMA DRINKS RUSSIAN TEA - THE AFTERTASTE

REPRINTS

The Future of Russian-American Relations as Seen From Colomna and San Francisco

Summary Statement: The following is an article from a Russian newspaper Espresso which includes a Q&A that gives a bit of insight about the questions Russians are asking about Obama and Medvedev meetings. -- Sharon Tennison

by Tatiana Trishkina

Tatiana: Even if the leaders of our nations have a liking for each other, we can not ignore the views of political elites of both countries. The agenda of the Moscow summit was prepared by “elders”, whose intrigues go back to time of Reagan and Bush (father). Exactly 20 years ago, Robert Gates was preparing «propaganda bomb for Gorbachev» – the abolition of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. The amendment is still alive. Don’t you think that Obama was sent to Medvedev with a similar “bomb”?

LETTER FROM RUSSIAN ENTREPRENEUR

LETTERS FROM RUSSIA

from Andrey Davidovich

Kolomna, Russia 

I can not insist that my position is shared by the entire population of the Russian Federation, but I am sure my opinion is  that of the majority of economically active Russian citizens taking interest in today's foreign policy.

For most Russians the victory of Barack Obama at the U.S. presidential elections was quite desirable. Although, frankly speaking, at the beginning of the pre-race, I predicted Obama's loss because of the color of his skin. I thought that racist attitudes are still too strong in the United States, but, fortunately, Americans were wiser and more democratic than I expected. Like Americans, we hoped that Obama's victory would bring some update, if you want, the reincarnation of America, which in recent decades has been viewed by the world community not as a bastion of democracy, but rather as "the world's policeman" guarding the interests of "golden billion."

Letters from Russia

Sergey Kolsanov is among CCI most successful entrepreneurs who started from scratch and has built an extraordinary business "Konsultant Plus. Information technologies" providing information service.  His letter is a response  to a CCI request to share thoughts and ideas on the improvement of US-Russia relations.