Category: Russia
The analysis published under this category are as follows.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Russia's Strategy, Remaking the Union / Politics / Russia
By: STRATFOR
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 reversed a process that had been under way since the Russian Empire's emergence in the 17th century. It was ultimately to incorporate four general elements: Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Siberia. The St. Petersburg-Moscow axis was its core, and Russia, Belorussia and Ukraine were its center of gravity. The borders were always dynamic, mostly expanding but periodically contracting as the international situation warranted. At its farthest extent, from 1945 to 1989, it reached central Germany, dominating the lands it seized in World War II. The Russian Empire was never at peace. As with many empires, there were always parts of it putting up (sometimes violent) resistance and parts that bordering powers coveted -- as well as parts of other nations that Russia coveted.
Monday, March 12, 2012
With Putin in Power It's Laughable Russia is One of the BRIC Economies / Politics / Russia
By: Money_Morning
Martin Hutchinson writes:
The re-election of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin last week means even more crony capitalism in Russia.
With Putin in power nothing will change.
In fact, it's laughable that Russia is still even considered among the group of the world's most glamorous emerging markets - otherwise known as the "BRICs."
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Sunday, March 04, 2012
Russia Election Fraud, Czar Putin Elects Himself President of Corrupt Russian Mafia State / Politics / Russia
By: Nadeem_Walayat
Czar "Prime Minister" Putin in September 2011 decided they would swap jobs again with his President front Man Medvedev and today Vladimir Putin elects himself President for another 6 year term in a repeat smoke and mirrors bogus fraudulent election.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
There's Value Investing in Russia's Future / Stock-Markets / Russia
By: Frank_Holmes
As Americans ponder the merits of Obama vs. Gingrich, Paul, Romney or Santorum, Russia will be electing its own president on March 4.
Perhaps we should say "re-electing" since it's almost certain former president and current prime minster Vladimir Putin will be elected. While protests and vocal opposition likely won't prevent Putin's presidential return, they have forced some interesting changes to the political climate and we've observed some positive changes in Russia's investment landscape.
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Monday, January 16, 2012
Russia Least Free Economy Plauged by Rampant Corruption, Hong Kong Most Free / Politics / Russia
By: Pravda
The country with the freest economy on the planet is Hong Kong. Such a statement was made by Heritage Foundation, a US-based NGO. The "Index of Economic Freedom" made by the organization is based on the degree of openness of markets, the effectiveness of the legal framework for business activities and the apparatus of government officials and regulatory authorities.
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Monday, November 21, 2011
Russia Ups Ante with Caspian Neighbors by Moving Offshore / Politics / Russia
By: OilPrice_Com
On 16 November in Astrakhan Lukoil president, Vagit Alekperov told journalists that his company will spend over $16 billion over the next decade to develop the country's Caspian offshore Korchagin and Filanovskii oil and natural gas fields in the Caspian, at the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Astrakhan Region.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Russia Rebuilding an Empire While It Can / Politics / Russia
By: STRATFOR
Lauren Goodrich writes: U.S.-Russian relations seem to have been relatively quiet recently, as there are numerous contradictory views in Washington about the true nature of Russia’s current foreign policy. Doubts remain about the sincerity of the U.S. State Department’s so-called “reset” of relations with Russia — the term used in 2009 when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton handed a reset button to her Russian counterpart as a symbol of a freeze on escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington. The concern is whether the “reset” is truly a shift in relations between the two former adversaries or simply a respite before relations deteriorate again.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Putin's New Vision of 'Eurasia' / Politics / Russia
By: OilPrice_Com
Many western politicians have harbored deep suspicions of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Vladimorovich Putin since he first emerged on the Russian political stage in 1999.
This is hardly surprising, given his KGB background, though those with longer historical memories will recall that Yuri Andropov came from the same organization and that the West grudgingly found a way to work with him.
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Monday, July 11, 2011
Could Energy Resources Cause Russia to Spark a Naval War in the Caspian Sea? / Politics / Russia
By: OilPrice_Com
In the past three decades the Islamic Republic of Iran has developed a well-earned sense of paranoia. First, in September 1980 Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in what he thought would be a quick military victory, but which quickly turned into an eight-year bloody slugfest, leaving an estimated 500,000-1,000,000 dead before the guns fell silent.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Russia's Evolving Leadership, The Appearance of Democracy / Politics / Russia
By: STRATFOR
Russia has entered election season, with parliamentary elections in December and presidential elections in March 2012. Typically, this is not an issue of concern, as most Russian elections have been designed to usher a chosen candidate and political party into office since 2000. Interesting shifts are under way this election season, however. While on the surface they may resemble political squabbles and instability, they actually represent the next step in the Russian leadership’s consolidation of the state.Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Kaspersky Russian Kidnapping Lessons / Politics / Russia
By: STRATFOR
Scott Stewart writes:
On April 24, officers from the anti-kidnapping unit of Moscow’s Criminal Investigation Department and the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) rescued 20-year-old Ivan Kaspersky from a dacha in Sergiev Posad, a small town about 40 miles northeast of Moscow. Kaspersky, the son of Russian computer software services billionaire Eugene Kaspersky (founder of Kaspersky Lab), was kidnapped on April 19 as he was walking to work from his Moscow apartment. A fourth-year computer student at Moscow State University, Kaspersky was working as an intern at a software company located near Moscow’s Strogino metro station.
Friday, April 15, 2011
The West Dreams About Russia's Collapse / Politics / Russia
By: Pravda
Why does Finland almost openly support the extremist forces opposed to Russia? This question arises increasingly more often following the latest news from Finland. Last week a criminal case was filed for inciting ethnic hatred against Finnish priest Juha Molari who dared to criticize the website "Kavkaz-Center".
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
What's Driving Russia's Stock Market Outperformance? / Stock-Markets / Russia
By: Frank_Holmes
The Russian MICEX Index, which increased 22.5 percent in 2010, has jumped 15 percent so far in 2011, significantly outperforming many other markets.
China is the second-best performer of the BRICs, rising more than 5 percent, while India (down over 10 percent) and Brazil (down over 2 percent) have lagged. Overall, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index has dropped just over 1 percent.
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Thursday, January 06, 2011
Putin Prepares For War / Politics / Russia
By: Mike_Whitney
Vladimir Putin is the most popular leader in the world today. His personal approval ratings are in the stratosphere, usually well-above 80 percent. He is admired for his quiet, confident manner and for having restored Russia to its former greatness following the chaotic breakup of the Soviet Union. The Russian people love Putin. Parents name their children after him, vodka and caviar producers use his name to boost sales, and his face appears on the tee-shirts of students and young people. It's unthinkable that he would step down after his term as prime minister is over a year from today. The Russian people want him to stay on and run for a third term as president, and that's probably what he'll do.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Khodorkovsky's trip to the slammer, Justice Has Prevailed / Politics / Russia
By: Mike_Whitney
Vladimir Putin summed it up best when he said, "A thief should sit in jail." Right on. It doesn't matter if he is the richest man in the country or not. If he's done the crime, he's got to do the time. It's that simple.
On Wednesday, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of Yukos Oil was sentenced to 14 years in prison for embezzling and money laundering. Heads of state, human rights organisations, business leaders, and the entire western media have all protested on Khodorkovsky's behalf, but to no avail. Khodorkovsky will stay in prison where he belongs. Justice has prevailed.
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