Russian Federation
Journalist critical of government killed in Chechnya
By Niall Green, July 18, 2009
Human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, a prominent critic of the pro-Kremlin government in Chechnya, was abducted and shot Wednesday while investigating alleged abuses by government-backed militias...
Limited concessions and unresolved tensions after US-Russia summit
By Niall Green, July 8, 2009
The US-Russia summit marked an attempt to improve relations between the two countries, but did not resolve any of the fundamental differences between them.
US-Russian relations remain tense as Obama travels to Moscow
By Niall Green, July 6, 2009
US President Barack Obama will meet with his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin July 6-8 in Moscow. Despite suggestions from both sides that the talks are part of a ...
Two summits in Russia: A cautious challenge to the US
By John Chan, June 22, 2009
Two summits in Yekaterinburg last week involving the emerging powers—Russia, China, Brazil and India—signal a shift in economic and strategic alignments under the impact of the global financial cr...
China and Russia forge closer military cooperation
By John Chan, May 26, 2009
As the US war in Afghanistan and US-sponsored fighting in Pakistan intensify, Russia and China are stepping up military cooperation, announcing 25 joint manoeuvres this year.
Corruption and capitalist Russia
By Vladimir Volkov, April 1, 2009
From top to bottom, corruption in post-Soviet Russia permeates the bureaucratic apparatus, the security structures and big business.
Russian government moves to save big business, suppress opposition
By Vladimir Volkov, March 4, 2009
The Kremlin’s initial declarations about Russia’s supposed immunity from the global economic crisis have been replaced with statements of fear about economic destabilization and social unrest.
The Russia-Ukraine gas conflict and the geopolitical struggle for control of energy resources
By Vladimir Volkov, February 3, 2009
The natural gas dispute sharpened Ukraine’s political and economic tensions, provoked a wave of anger in Europe and reinforced European desires to diversify its sources of gas.
Ukraine and Russia reach gas agreement
By Niall Green, January 26, 2009
A deal has been reached to end the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine. Millions across Europe have been left with little or no gas for heating in the middle of winter.
Lawyer and human rights activist Stanislav Markelov murdered in Moscow
By Vladimir Volkov, January 23, 2009
On January 19, Stanislav Markelov was shot in the head and killed in central Moscow. The 34-year-old lawyer and human rights activist was president of the Institute for the Supremacy of Law.
Eastern Europe left in the cold
By Niall Green, January 16, 2009
The gas flow from Russia to Ukraine tentatively resumed on Tuesday—only to halt amid accusations of theft and US conspiracy. But despite efforts in Brussels and Berlin, the European powers have prov...
Russian gas supplies through Ukraine resume
Dispute exposes crisis of European energy strategy
By Niall Green, January 13, 2009
Russia, Ukraine and officials from the European Union have agreed to a deal to resume natural gas supplies to Europe after Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom turned off gas supplies for Ukraine o...
