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09.07.2009 Russian Politics in Review June-July, 2009 The following resource is meant to quickly introduce the reader to political issues in Russia with a focus on politics impacts life in Russia and to what extent the political field can be cause diverse or reflective of the population. This news review is part of SRAS's monthly "obzor" publications. For more reviews, see the newsletter for this corresponding month. To receive the free monthly newsletter and obzori by email, simply sign up.     Medvedev Kremlin Creates Panel to Improve Russia's Image The Kremlin has created a high-level commission to overhaul its image on the world stage as the first anniversary of Russia's war with Georgia approaches. Medvedev's First Year in Office Brings Hints of Change, Some Surprises In the first report of a series from Russia, Margaret Warner takes a closer look at the country's political leadership, focusing on President Dmitry Medvedev's first year in office and the role of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the government. Medvedev's "Vision Issue" in Foreign Policy Presenting his initiatives in a vaguely worded and vacuous form is becoming the style of Medvedev's foreign policy. His proposals on energy security, for example, have been so sloppily prepared that it made almost impossible for European leaders to respond to them in a meaningful way. Is this a fair description of Medvedev's style in foreign policy? Medvedev hails effectiveness of 'tandem' with Putin Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview released on Monday that governing in partnership with his predecessor, current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, has proved effective.   Opposition  Obama must shore up Medvedev vs Putin U.S. President Barack Obama should focus on shoring up Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's power in relation to his former mentor Vladimir Putin when he visits Moscow in July. Excerpts: Meeting with Non-Parliamentary Parties Right Cause, Yabloko and Patriots of Russia meet with Medvedev. "They are likely to get back into parliament sooner or later." Western Liberals Helping Kremlin to Undermine Russian Liberalism, Moscow Analyst Says Despite its increasing authoritarianism, Moscow has acquired "more than a few allies in the West" but perhaps none more surprising than Western liberals who many Russian liberal opponents of the Russian government had long assumed would be their best allies in promoting democracy.   Putin Tremors Shake the Three Pillars of Putin's Regime Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed a revised anti-crisis program for 2009 last week, asserting that the previous plan had been accomplished and setting the first priority on the fulfillment of the state's social obligations for the population. Russia's Grand Inquisitor As Barack Obama packs for his trip to Russia next week, he should bring along a copy of "The Brothers Karamazov." For the modern Russia of Vladimir Putin is still struggling with the same political riddles that Fyodor Dostoyevsky described 130 years ago. Putin is Much Smarter than the Soviet Leaders: What is Behind his High Rating The role of sociology in contemporary Russia is another illustration of the same principle that dominates political life: the use of civilized behavior to cover the real rejection of liberal values. Putin and his men steal show at Russia business forum Russia's top showcase for international investors was dominated by one man who didn't even come: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired a Government meeting Let us discuss a broad range of issues today. The first item on our agenda today is introducing a single state cadastral registration of immovable property. This is not a mere technicality or a vagrant speculation. It is an important issue that concerns nearly each and every citizen. Vladimir Putin in Pikalyovo Putin visits a town where workers had blocked a federal highway in protest of unpaid wages.   Regions Top Kremlin aide visits 'dissident' governor The Kremlin on Friday sent its top ideologue to meet a regional leader who shocked the country by comparing the domination of the ruling United Russia party to the Soviet Union's one-party state. Russia's Ingush leader in grave condition after bomb Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said he had been ordered by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to fight insurgents in the neighboring region of Ingushetia after its leader was gravely wounded in a bomb attack. Five years to the day: violence in Ingushetia. Five years to the day after violent raids in Ingushetia ending with 79 deaths, there has been an attempt on the life of its current president, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.† His bodyguard and driver died.† He is in intensive care.† Alexander Cherkasov. Far Eastern City Sees Kremlin as Cause of Its Troubles Six months into Russia's worst economic downturn in more than a decade, the cars are gone, many of the workers have lost their jobs, and the few ships left in the bay sit idle. But residents don't blame the global recession for the city's woes. They blame the Kremlin's efforts to fight the downturn. Ingushetia denies security control given to Chechnya Russia's restive Ingushetia region insisted Wednesday that it remained in control of local security after the head of neighboring Chechnya said he had been told by the Kremlin to take charge. Youth Thousands of pro-Kremlin youth gather to remember war Thousands of young Russians crammed into a Moscow square at dawn on Monday in a demonstration called by a pro-Kremlin youth group to keep alive the memory of Soviet heroism in World War II. Russia's Medvedev visits turbulent region after killing Located in the Caucasus Mountains near Chechnya, Dagestan is one of Russia's most restive regions, known for frequent attacks by Islamist-inspired rebels as well as high levels of crime and severe tensions within the administration. Official Puts Career at Risk With Diatribe on Kremlin The president of the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, who has hung on by his fingernails through repeated periods of friction with the Kremlin, pushed his luck last week when he gave a scathing interview to a Moscow newspaper, charging that Russia's political institutions were "embarrassing to look at" and that the country "is walking away from the process of democratization." Anti-crisis Programs Adopted In But Every Third Russian Region FBK experts say for example that only every third Russian region formulated and adopted an anti-crisis program. Does it mean that the crisis spared two thirds of Russia? Some Federation subjects of those that did adopt anti-crisis programs are still trying to "minimize" those "consequences of the global economic crisis". Where is the vaunted power vertical? Has Russia Lost Control of the North Caucasus In Moscow, the news of Magomedtagirov's death was enough to give President Dmitri Medvedev a jolt. Although murders of civilians and police have become common in the North Caucasus, the killing of a prominent state worker is a sign that the region is slipping out of the Kremlin's control. "Wahhabi" village in Dagestan There's plenty of news coming out of Dagestan these days, but none of it's  good. There's never a quiet moment. Kadyrov Orchestrates Public Denunciation Of Second Chechen President For the second time in four months, Chechen television screened on May 29 a grandiose four-hour live talk show intended to vilify, and to demolish lingering public support for, the concept of an independent Chechen state. On both occasions, Chechen Republic head Ramzan Kadyrov presided over the proceedings and steered the discussion in the desired direction.   Study Politics in Russia The Library: Politics in Russia SRAS Resources for Teachers   Find out more! SRAS Travel Services More Study Abroad Programs Internships in Russia Heath and Safety in Russia The SRAS Newsletter Journal for Students More Free Resources!  Questions or comments? Contact the editor.   « back to News archive print this page email this page