Dec

30

Gazprom-Ukraine

December 30, 2005 | 6 Comments

Konstantin over at Russian Blog has taken exception to my thoughts on the Gazprom-Ukraine dispute and has provided some interesting counterpoints. I urge readers to check it out.
Popularity: 5% [?]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dec

28

Illarionov Resigns, Charges Russia with "Corporatism"

December 28, 2005 | 3 Comments

Putin economic advisor Andrei Illarionov resigned yesterday, citing reasons that will surely confirm the fears of Russia watchers in the West.  Illarionov said all the right things to reaffirm his liberal economic credentials, saying that Russia isn’t the liberal economic darling that the West hopes for, but instead, in his words, is “corporatist.”  No surprise there.  Corporatism harkens […]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dec

22

Russia, NGOs, and the Globalization of Sovereignty

December 22, 2005 | Leave a Comment

The law restricting NGOs operations in Russia passed a second reading yesterday. According to the Moscow Times, the Duma threw out over 80 provisions based on recommendations from the Duma’s Public and Religious Organizations Committee. The debate took less than an hour. The revisions however don’t amount to much. Duma deputy […]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dec

18

Amnesty International Report on Domestic Violence in Russia

December 18, 2005 | 7 Comments

Amnesty International released a report this week on domestic violence in Russia. The report gives some horrifying statistics on violence against women perpetrated by husbands, boyfriends and relatives. Here is the rundown:

70 per cent of women said that they had been subjected to one or another form of violence (psychological, sexual, physical and […]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dec

13

Natsbols Win Victory in and outside Court

December 13, 2005 | 1 Comment

After a five month trial, the Moscow courts finally made a ruling in the case of the 39 National Bolshevik activists who took over a government building on December 14, 2004. 31 activists received suspended sentences of 18 months to 3 ? years and were freed on Friday. Eight others are looking at […]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dec

13

Siberianlight.net Closes Shop

December 13, 2005 | 1 Comment

English language blogs on Russia and the CIS suffered a major setback last week. After almost two years of providing news and commentary on all things Russia, Andy from siberianlight.net has called it quits. This is a loss for us all. There was some indication that this might happen when Andy took […]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dec

6

The Day After

December 6, 2005 | 1 Comment

The votes are counted. The winners declared. Now comes the fun part: the analysis. There isn’t much to say about the Kazakh Presidential election which isn’t already evident. There was no colored revolution. There wasn’t even an attempt at protest. The ballots were certainly stuffed. As “Presedatel’ Mike” […]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dec

5

Yabloko Rots, Rodina’s Racism

December 5, 2005 | Leave a Comment

The Moscow City Duma elections are finished. Their lead up was filled with trepidation, controversy, and speculation. All proved to be sound and predictable concerns. But there was no need took look up one of the many soothsayers and warlocks that are advertised in Moscow tabloids to predict the outcome. No […]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dec

5

An Atmosphere of Fear and 10,000 Phantom Hooligans Descend on the Kazakh Elections

December 5, 2005 | Leave a Comment

Since I’ve been giving some attention to the Presidential election in Kazakhstan, I decided to enlist my friend, “Predsedatel’ Mike” for his impression of things in Almaty. “Mike” was kind enough to write something to post on this blog. The following is his thoughts. “Mike” is a scholar who has been in […]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dec

2

Kazakhstan Expells Foreigners for "Exporting" Colored Revolution

December 2, 2005 | Leave a Comment

If there is a phrase that characterizes recent parliamentary and presidential elections in former Soviet Republics it’s “colored revolution.” If I keep harping on the point that that the “revolutions” in Ukraine, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan have sent political shockwaves through the CIS, it’s because the actions of ruling governments continue to use it as […]

Popularity: 5% [?]