RFE/RL Russia Report
3/6/2012 9:17:05 PM
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about domestic and foreign-policy developments in Russia.
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The Power Vertical Vs. The Power Horizontal
What is happening in Russia today is akin to the sociological equivalent of a tectonic shift -- and tectonic shifts take time. But a new Power Horizontal is challenging Vladimir Putin's Power Vertical. More 
Prokhorov's Sister Denounces 'Incredible Rift' Between Russians, Kremlin
Irina Prokhorova, the elder sister and designated representative of defeated presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov, is emerging as an increasingly influential figure on Russia's political scene. A prominent literary critic and culture historian, Prokhorova says her new political career has opened her eyes to what she calls an "incredible rift" between ordinary Russians and the ruling elite. She spoke to RFE/RL's Andrei Shary: More 
First Woman In Space Turns 75
Russia is marking the 75th birthday of the first woman in space, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova. More 
Russian Protesters To Face Charges
Three opposition leaders are due to appear in court after being detained along with hundreds of other protesters who rallied to question the legitimacy of the election that returned Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin. More 
Does Putin's Return To Kremlin Breathe New Life Into Eurasian Union Project?
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is on his way to a third term as Russian president. In his first campaign manifesto last fall, Putin laid out his vision for a Eurasian Union, an "integration project" on "a qualitatively new level." Now that Putin is returning to the Kremlin, Russia's CIS neighbors are wondering what exactly this early campaign promise means for them. More 
Russian Election-Fraud Tactics -- Something Old, Something New
International monitors say the March 4 presidential election that swept Vladimir Putin back into the Kremlin was unfair, while Russian volunteer monitors denounce widespread voting fraud. Most of the alleged irregularities reported are time-tested tactics observed in previous elections. But the election also yielded some innovations. More Police in Russia have arrested dozens of protesters, including three opposition leaders, after forcibly breaking up a rally in central Moscow protesting Vladimir Putin's election to a third term as the country's president. More 
U.S. Urges Russia To Probe Vote Fraud
The United States has urged the Russian government to conduct "an independent, credible investigation of all reported electoral violations" stemming from the March 4 presidential vote that saw Vladimir Putin sweep to victory. More 
Int'l Monitors Blast Russia Vote As Skewed
International election monitors say Russia's presidential election was clearly skewed in favor of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. More 
'It's Going To Be Messy' -- Edward Lucas On Putin's Return
Now that Vladimir Putin has secured a third term in the Kremlin, what can we expect from him. RFE/RL spoke to veteran Russia-watcher Edward Lucas, a longtime correspondent for the British weekly "The Economist" and author of "Deception: Spies, Lies, and How Russia Dupes The West." More 
Khodorkovsky Case To Be Reviewed
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered the Prosecutor-General's Office to review the legality and basis for convictions of 32 people, including jailed former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the co-defendant in that case, Platon Lebedev. More 
News Analysis: Putin Wins A Battle, But Is He Losing The War?
Now comes the hard part. Vladimir Putin has won a third term in the Kremlin and a mandate to rule until 2018. But he faces an emboldened protest movement, a divided elite, and an economy badly in need of reform. More |
