RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS
Analysts
Alexei Panin
Co-Managing Director, Urus Advisory
Alex Teddy
Co-Managing Director, Urus AdvisoryRecent Country Insights
PM of Russia reappointed
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 10 May 2024
On May 10, as we predicted, Mikhail Mishustin was given his job back by Putin. The State Duma voted for him with an overwhelming majority in favor, none against but there were some abstentions. Mishustin had to stand down as President Putin began his 5th term. Putin prizes loyalty above all else....
On Victory Day Putin says Ukraine War is like WW II
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 09 May 2024
On May 9 Putin addressed a crowd in Moscow at the annual commemoration for the end of World War II. Putin denounced Western nations for twisting the history of WW II and for causing conflicts. He railed against Western neo-imperialism and its support for what he termed "neo-Nazism". Putin claimed...
Relations between G7 and Russia at their worst
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 07 May 2024
On May 6 the ambassador was spoken to in the Russian Foreign Ministry because of statements made by their governments. London maintains that its ambassador was not summoned but attended an ordinary diplomatic meeting. The British Foreign Secretary said that it did not object to Ukraine's using Br...
Putin inaugurated for 5th term
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 07 May 2024
On May 7 his new presidential term began with his being sworn in at St George's Hall in the Kremlin by the President of the Constitutional Court. This term will last until 2030. He is allowed another term after that if he wins it, and that would take him to 2036, when he will be 83. In his oratio...
Georgia rocked by protest against foreign agents' bill
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 05 May 2024
In May 2024 there were ongoing protests in Tbilisi attended by tens of thousands of people. This is enormous in a country of 5 million people. Some demonstrators combined their protest with attending the Orthodox Easter vigil. Some say the bill is reminiscent of Russia's Foreign Agent Law. The po...
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan tell their people: do not go to Russia
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 04 May 2024
On May 2 Kyrgyzstan made the announcement. Tajikistan did so on April 28, 2024. This is in the wake of the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack that killed 144 people. 11 Tajik men face trial for this. Central Asians who go to Russia face intense questioning at border control and having their lugga...
France and the UK taking bigger risks to aid Ukraine
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 03 May 2024
On May 2 the President of France said that his country might send troops to Ukraine if Russia broke through Ukrainian lines and Kyiv requested such help. Since early 2024 President Macron has mooted the possibility of Western troops in Ukraine. But most NATO countries said they will never deploy ...
Essential CIS Politics: May 2024
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 02 May 2024
* Russia has gained ground in Ukraine and hit cities with drones and missiles. * Ukraine passed a law allowing more men to be drafted. * Russian peacekeepers are leaving Armenia as the country improves relations with Azerbaijan by ceding land. * Georgia passes foreign agents’ law despite ...
Corruption crackdown in Russia
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 30 Apr 2024
On April 29 the head of Nizhny Novgorod was arrested in Russian-occupied Ukraine on suspicion of stealing public funds. Oleg Lavrichev is head of his city council and a member of United Russia, the party that dominates the country. Lavrichev was supposed to supervise the distribution of food and ...