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 […]
Tag: Hong Kong
Crimean Anschluss Undercuts Putin’s Promise of Common Legal Space in Russia
Staunton, May 26 – Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the special arrangements it has made for it mean underscores the fact that the federal subjects of the Russian Federation are far from equal, a reality that undercuts Vladimir Putin’s pledge to create a common legal space in his country and one sure to set off […]
The Last Battle of the “Slavonic Corps”
A Syrian rebel group claims that it has ambushed and killed a group of Russian mercenaries who may have been working for a Chinese security contractor. The jihadist fighters from an Al Qaeda affiliate “Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS)” claim to have killed the mercenaries in a battle near Homs. At least […]
St. Petersburg Sends Contractors to Syria
A Syrian rebel group claims that it has ambushed and killed a group of Russian mercenaries who may have been working for a Chinese security contractor. The jihadist fighters from an Al Qaeda affiliate “Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS)” claim to have killed the mercenaries in a battle near Homs. At least […]