The Economist (December 1)
Since October, officials at the highest level have been tumbling due to corruption. These include former defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov who was dismissed, Vlladimir Putin’s chief of staff Sergei Ivanov whose job is in question, and former agriculture minister Yelena Skrynnik. Putin has embraced the anti-corruption campaign to shore up public support and eliminate his enemies’ ammunition. “Vladimir Putin has initiated some high-profile battles against corruption. But to many he seems increasingly isolated and out of touch.”
Wall Street Journal (March 3, 2012)
“Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russia’s paramount ruler since 2000, will reclaim his old job as president in Sunday’s elections. The drama comes in the aftermath…. Anticorruption blogger and activist Alexei Navalny will be in the middle of it.” Amid recent protests, he “has emerged as the charismatic and fresh face of the movement.” Just 35 years old, Navalny works from a small office with a staff of just 11. Yet he is feared by the Kremlin. Navalny remains the only opposition leader banned from state-controlled TV.
Tags: Navalny, Opposition, President, Putin, Russia
Wall Street Journal (March 3, 2012)
“Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russia’s paramount ruler since 2000, will reclaim his old job as president in Sunday’s elections. The drama comes in the aftermath…. Anticorruption blogger and activist Alexei Navalny will be in the middle of it.” Amid recent protests, he “has emerged as the charismatic and fresh face of the movement.” Just 35 years old, Navalny works from a small office with a staff of just 11. Yet he is feared by the Kremlin. Navalny remains the only opposition leader banned from state-controlled TV.
“Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russia’s paramount ruler since 2000, will reclaim his old job as president in Sunday’s elections. The drama comes in the aftermath…. Anticorruption blogger and activist Alexei Navalny will be in the middle of it.” Amid recent protests, he “has emerged as the charismatic and fresh face of the movement.” Just 35 years old, Navalny works from a small office with a staff of just 11. Yet he is feared by the Kremlin. Navalny remains the only opposition leader banned from state-controlled TV.
Tags: Navalny, Opposition, President, Putin, Russia
Financial Times (December 22)
Moscow will “resume old habits and exploit Europe’s debt-driven disunity.” Despite the economic crisis, the EU must form a united foreign policy front and “seek a constructive relationship with its neighbour. But it should do so without deluding itself about the prospects for Russian reform after Mr Putin’s return to the presidency.”
Tags: Debt crisis, EU, Foreign policy, Moscow, Putin, Russia
The Independent (December 12)
Russian politics has entered a new phase. “Authorities watched with horror as the number of people who said they would attend Saturday’s protest grew steadily throughout the week.” Middle-class Russians who benefited greatly during the Putin era, “have suddenly started taking an interest” in politics. “The Kremlin will face a difficult choice. Does it open up the political process…or does it repress dissent and risk radicalising the opposition?”
Russian politics has entered a new phase. “Authorities watched with horror as the number of people who said they would attend Saturday’s protest grew steadily throughout the week.” Middle-class Russians who benefited greatly during the Putin era, “have suddenly started taking an interest” in politics. “The Kremlin will face a difficult choice. Does it open up the political process…or does it repress dissent and risk radicalising the opposition?”
