Russian Federation
Russia: Workers at AvtoVaz protest against mass layoffs
By Vladimir Volkov, October 24, 2009
Following a wave of labor actions across Russia in the summer and early fall, workers at auto giant AvtoVaz are protesting mass layoffs.
EU report states Georgia started 2008 war with Russia
Georgian attack unjustifiable under international law
By Niall Green, October 2, 2009
Following a 10-month investigation, a European Union report has found Georgia the aggressor in its 2008 war with Russia, directly refuting claims made not only by the Georgia government, but also by i...
Mass sackings in Russia
AvtoVAZ to lay off 28,000, Aeroflot 2,200
By Niall Green, October 1, 2009
Russia’s largest car maker will axe more than one quarter of its total workforce, destroying 27,600 jobs. In a double blow, Aeroflot airline announced that it plans to cut 2,215 staff.
Economic crisis, geopolitical rivalries overshadow Ukrainian election campaign
By Niall Green, September 23, 2009
As in the disputed presidential election of November 2004, bitter disputes between rival sections of the ruling elite—and the interests of foreign powers—are dominating the campaign for Ukraine’...
Venezuela, Russia in $2.2 billion arms deal
By Bill Van Auken, September 15, 2009
Sunday’s announcement by President Hugo Chávez that Venezuela has reached a $2.2 billion deal to purchase Russian tanks and missiles is symptomatic of the growing international tensions in Latin Am...
Georgian crisis heightens US-Russian tensions over Ukraine
By Niall Green, August 29, 2009
The crisis in the Caucasus provoked by Washington’s belligerent policy toward Russia may soon be eclipsed by growing tensions over the future of Ukraine.
Putin’s ten years in power
By Vladimir Volkov, August 28, 2009
The tenth anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s accession to the summit of political power in Russia—first as prime minister, then president, then again as prime minister—is an occasion for an overall...
Hydroelectric catastrophe in Russia
Latest industrial accident points to serious infrastructure failures
By Niall Green, August 24, 2009
An explosion at Russia’s largest hydroelectric power station August 17 has killed or injured scores of workers, while exposing the breakdown of basic Infrastructure.
The failure of Russia’s free-market pension reform
By Vladimir Volkov, August 17, 2009
The dismal failure of Putin’s pension reform is having a profound impact on the social consciousness of the Russian working class.
One year since Russian-Georgian war
Georgia remains focus of Washington-Moscow tensions
By Niall Green, August 7, 2009
On August 7 last year, long escalating tensions between Russia and the former Soviet republic of Georgia erupted into full-scale war. One year on from the war, tensions between the two sides remain hi...
Great power rivalries and the Nabucco pipeline project
By Niall Green, August 1, 2009
The Nabucco natural gas pipeline will traverse Turkey to supply Western Europe, bypassing Russia.
Violence increases in Russia’s Caucasus republics
By Niall Green, July 31, 2009
A recent spike in violence between Russian security forces and local militants indicates that Moscow has no plans to loosen its military grip in the North Caucasus.
