RFE/RL Russia Report
2/14/2012 8:08:58 PM
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about domestic and foreign-policy developments in Russia.
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Administrative (Resource) Breakdown
Administrative resources make up the glue that holds authoritarian structures like Putin's power vertical together. And there have been plenty of signs recently that this glue is weakening. More 
First Wine, Then Meat, Then Veggies. Now Russia Cuts The (Ukrainian) Cheese
Ukraine and Russia are trading harsh words in an escalating row over Ukrainian cheese. Russia last week barred imports of some Ukrainian cheeses, citing poor quality. More 
Radio Reshuffle To 'Control' Election Coverage
The chief editor of Russia's leading liberal radio station, Ekho Moskvy, says a surprise management reshuffle is aimed at dictating the station's coverage ahead of presidential elections on March 4. More 
Angry Over Syria, Arab World Threatens Russian Boycott
Groups in a number of Arab states, angry over the Russian-Chinese veto of a UN resolution aimed at stopping the violence in Syria, have called for a one-day boycott of Russian and Chinese goods on February 12. More 
How To Rig An Election
A whistle-blower in Samara explains how the authorities fixed the Duma elections in December -- and plan to do the same in the presidential vote in March. More 
Repeat South Ossetian Election Campaign Gathers Momentum
The run-up to the repeat election on March 24 for a new de facto president of Georgia's breakaway Republic of South Ossetia bears an uncanny resemblance to last November's election campaign. More 
Pro-Putin Flash Mob Ends Abruptly
Organizers of a flash mob in central Moscow originally pledged the event would take just five minutes. More 
Workers Of The World, Rally!
Officials say nearly 140,000 protesters turned out for February 4 rally in support of Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin. But not all were there by choice. In addition to paid "rent-a-crowd" protesters, many public sector workers were forcibly delivered to the gathering, under pressure of disciplinary action or losing their jobs. Critics say there are few alternatives for workers who want to keep their professional and political lives separate. More 
Russia's 30-Ruble Army Emerges Again
Last year, I wrote about Russia's "human bots," aka its 30-ruble army -- online commentators who were paid to trawl the web and comment on articles critical of the Kremlin. More |
