Staunton, May 23 – Rostislav Ishchenko, a commentator for Russia Today who gained notoriety for arguing that Moscow should “preventively occupy” the Baltic countries, says that Russia today “is in a state of war with the United States and that each of its citizens is on the front lines regardless of whether he is fighting […]
Staunton, April 30 – – “When Vladimir Putin or Sergey Lavrov talk about Ukraine,” Pavel Kazarin says, one has the impression that they think there is a pro-Moscow faction in Kyiv waiting in the wings to take power. That might have been true in 2005, but it is not the case now: Moscow has no […]
Gazeta.ru has an exclusive interview today April 28 of Konstantin Malofeyev, the Russian Orthodox philanthropist and businessman associated with the cause of “Novorossiya” and supporting Russian-backed militants in Ukraine. The coverage confirms that far from having been thrown under the bus in any fashion in connection with “reining in” Russian-backed militants, Malofeyev continues to thrive […]
Staunton, April 24 – Perhaps the most searing self-indictment of those who watch the onset of totalitarianism but do not protest — because they remain convinced that only someone else will be its targets and its victims — was offered in 1946 by German Protestant Pastor Martin Niemöller. Speaking in the rubble of the defeated […]
Last week we reported how volunteer Russian fighters from the Ural Mountains region went to fight in the Donbass alongside the Russian-backed militants in the Prizrak Brigade there, but came back somewhat underwhelmed by the living conditions and lack of combat opportunity. These were the people sent by the Sverdlovsk Fund for Spetsnaz Veterans and […]
Staunton, April 19 – Vladimir Putin’s statements about Ukraine in his “direct line” program yesterday look “moderate” but only in comparison with the militaristic declarations of the Russian defense minister and chief of the Russian general staff. But no one should be deceived into thinking he has changed his mind or assumptions, according to Vitaly […]
Staunton, April 13 — In a clearer indication of Moscow’s priorities than Vladimir Putin’s speeches and of Russia’s difficulties at home than Moscow TV, St. Petersburg activists who have collected three tons of humanitarian aid for fire victims in Khakasiya have been told by officials that there are no vehicles available because “everything is going […]
Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the Russian government’s foreign and domestic policies. The previous issue is here. UPDATES BELOW Special features: – Alexey Navalny On the Murder of Boris Nemtsov –Theories about Possible Perpetrators of the Murder of Boris Nemtsov –Novaya Gazeta Releases […]
Staunton, April 15 – Many commentators have speculated that Moscow faces a potentially serious problem when those who have gone to fight in Ukraine return to Russia with their anger and their military skills, the Kremlin may face a more immediate danger: those returning are undercutting Russian propaganda about what is happening in Ukraine. Today, […]
Staunton, April 10 – A great deal of attention has been given to Chechens, Buryats and other non-Russians going to the Donbass to fight for the pro-Moscow “peoples republics” there, a flow that Russian propagandists have played up as evidence that support for Vladimir Putin’s “Russian world” is broader than just among ethnic Russians. But […]
