Staunton, October 10 – Despite Vladimir Putin’s repeated insistence that the former Soviet republics are the focus of Russian foreign policy, when things get tough for the Russian Federation Russians as is now the case, ever more Russians look to China as an ally than they do to any of the CIS countries, including Belarus. […]
Staunton, October 3 – Members of the Russian elite are transfixed by the protest movement in Hong Kong because it undermines their widespread belief that “economic growth is possible under conditions of political authoritarianism” and that consequently, Russia does not “need any political changes,” according to Aleksey Melnikov. Such attitudes, the Russian commentator says, are […]
Staunton, September 23 – Sometimes the fact that someone is asking a question at all is more important than the answer he or she offers. That is almost certainly the case with a new article by an anonymous Russian military commentator concerning whether or not Russia can avoid “losing Siberia and the Far East” to […]
Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. An archive of our liveblogs can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see our latest podcast. Please help The Interpreter to continue providing this valuable information service by making a donation towards our costs. View Ukraine: April, 2014 in a larger map For […]
Staunton, September 10 – This week, the Republic of Tuva or Tyva as it is also known marked the 100th anniversary of “the union of the republic with Russia,” an event that sparked various events including academic conferences and the erection of a new monument to the center of Asia as well as attracting various […]
Staunton, September 11 – Vladimir Putin wants to impose a North Korean-type of control over the Internet, according to Russian blogger Anton Nosik; but the costs such closure will impose on the Russian economy, the ability of Russian surfers to work around his actions, and, last but not least, the linguistic diversity of the country […]
Staunton, September 8 – Russia has been transformed by the war in Ukraine, with some calling this a restoration of the past and others a new turn to “Russianness,” but Aleksey Shiropayev argues that what is taking place is in fact the imposition of a fascist system “at a galloping pace.’ On Rufabula.com, the commentator […]
Staunton, August 28 – As a result of China’s crackdown in Xinjiang, Uyghurs are fleeing to Kazakhstan and even re-identifying as ethnic Kazakhs once they get there, according to an appeal by ethnic Kazakhs in China who complain that Astana has not proved equally welcoming to them. In an appeal to Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim […]
Staunton, August 10 – Ever more people around the world want Vladimir Putin to leave the scene but very few have asked themselves what Russia will be like after his departure. Someone who has is Sergei Klimovsky, he suggests that Russia will either be a fascist state even worse than the current regime or a […]
Staunton, August 12 – As a result of globalization, political and geographical borders “are losing their importance,” a Buryat anthropologist says, while “strategic borders,” those reflecting where a country has projected its economic and cultural influence, are becoming ever more important. With respect to China and Russia east of the Urals, Sayana Namsarayeva says, China’s […]
