Russia Monitor Articles
Putin’s Surprising Inauguration
The beginning of the Vladimir Putin’s new presidential term may mean a shift in the Kremlin’s policy. Swearing-in was of technical, rather than “tsarist” nature and in his speech, Mr Putin focused on domestic matters, problems of ordinary people and ambitions of Russian development but he did not mention any military or geopolitical issues.
Populist Decree or Putin’s Intrigue
Just after his inauguration for another six years, Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Russia’s socio-economic development. In the document, he has determined a long list of extraordinarily ambitious goals for the government, such as introducing Russia into the top five of the world’s largest economies.
Temporary Government: Medvedev and His Deputies
As expected, the new Russian government will consist of majorly the same people as the old one; prime minister, as well as many ministers and a part of deputy PMs remain the same. But the positions of deputies are to undergo the biggest alternations.
Qatar saves Rosneft from Chinese fiasco
State fund of Qatar decided to buy almost 19 percent of Rosneft shares after the failed attempt of selling them to a company from China. Even though Russia will portray this as a success and beginning of strategic involvement of Qatar into Russian gas-oil market
Russia and Pakistan to Strengthen Cooperation
In addition to its increased activity in Afghanistan, Moscow keeps improving relations with Pakistan, its Cold War era foe. Worse relations between Islamabad and Washington mean warmer ties of the former with Moscow.
The head of SVR in Serbia. What is the Russian intelligence up to?
An april visit of the head of Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation in Belgrade is a sign that in the upcoming months one should expect new destabilising Russian actions. The starting point would be probably the Serbian part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Kremlin’s help to indebted Rosneft
Rosneft gained another monopoly for fuel supplies to the state project or institution. This time it is about Roscosmos and its rockets. Igor Sechin’s company also services on an exclusive basis several other big institutions, from the Investigative Committee to MFA.
How Yanukovych facilitated the annexation of Crimea
There is no doubt that if it was not for the policy of President Viktor Yanukovych (in office in the years 2010-2014), the annexation of Crimea would not have happened, or at least it would not have been that easy for Russia.
New Term, Same Energy Policy
Vladimir Putin managed to win the presidential election mostly thanks to his announcement that he would continue and maintain the current political course.
Transneft is leaking
A state-owned oil pipeline operator in Russia wants to enhance powers of its security service. Transneft have problems with dealing with increasing number of thefts from oil pipelines.
Kremlin, FSB and the war on waste in the background
A growing number of protests in Moscow Oblast against the storage of hazardous waste is becoming more and more political. Governor Andrey Vorobev has some noticeable problems in coping with the situation.
Libya: bad news for the Kremlin
Everything points to the fact that Russia lost a political strategist in Libya, on whom it counted for several years. True elimination of general Khalifa Haftar opens the gate for struggle for control over the most powerful military formation in Libya.
Putin forever? The operation has started
According to the current constitution Vladimir Putin is to leave the Kremlin in 2024. If he wants to govern after that time, as everything suggests, he will have to change the law.
Post-electoral price shock
Russians are paying more for petrol from day to day. Fast increase in prices has started almost the day after the presidential elections. The record was set in March – last such a high fuel price was in 2012.
Warsaw Institute
