RUSSIA MONITOR MONTHLY 05/2017

Contents
Putin’s Stalinist Guard

Putin’s Stalinist Guard

When establishment of the Russian National Guard was decided, references included American models. However, the Russian Guard rather resembles the Stalinist formation used to suppress behind-the-front areas during the last world war.

The Succession Mystery

The Succession Mystery

Vladimir Putin has still not revealed whether he will stand in the presidential elections in March 2018.

Creative Accounting of Energy Champions

Creative Accounting of Energy Champions

Russian economy is experiencing a crisis, incomes of ordinary citizens are falling, there is not enough money for the planned expenses, and reserve funds are diminishing dangerously fast.

Moldova Expels Russian Diplomats

Moldova Expels Russian Diplomats

A conflict between the government of Moldova and Russia has been growing for months. Expelling as many as five diplomats from the Russian embassy in Chisinau means that the conflict is getting fiercer.

Navalny Reveals Corruption (once again)

Navalny Reveals Corruption (once again)

The Anti-corruption Foundation of Alexei Navalny published new discrediting information about the ruling elite, business, and corruptive links between them.

USA Is Taking a Firm Stance Against Russia

USA Is Taking a Firm Stance Against Russia

Russia, next to Iran, is one of the countries most strongly dissatisfied with Trump’s first foreign trip. The NATO and G-7 summits as well as the signals coming from Washington promise more problems for Moscow.

Estonia Expels Russian Diplomats

Estonia Expels Russian Diplomats

Russian consul general and another consul in the town of Narva must leave Estonia by the end of May. The government in Tallinn give no reasons for declaring the two Russians as personae non gratae.

Gazprom Faring Poorly

Gazprom Faring Poorly

Recent performance figures of the gas giant, both the official ones and those computed by market analysts, point to a durable financial slump of the company.

A Potemkin-style Landing Operation

A Potemkin-style Landing Operation

The first “shock” units have been established in Russian Airborne Troops (VDV), boasted the command of this military branch, considered as the most elite one in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

One More Area of Confrontation

One More Area of Confrontation

Moscow’s attitude to North Korean nuclear crisis is consistent with the strategy of geo-political competition with the US, pursued by Kremlin.

Moscow Sends Muslims to Syria

Moscow Sends Muslims to Syria

Russian government consistently pursues the line adopted half a year ago and sends to Syria, first of all, soldiers who profess Islam. Troops of Muslims from Caucasus have stationed in Aleppo and Palmyra for months.

Bombers not to Arrive?

Bombers not to Arrive?

Modernisation of the “atomic” part of the air force was to be one of the key elements of the ambitious modernisation plan of the military forces of the Russian Federation initiated a few years ago.

Putin’s Praetorians

Putin’s Praetorians

Russian National Guard is getting more and more powerful. This formation, established to protect Putin against all kinds of revolutions and putsches, gains more and more powers and keeps growing in number.

Moscow Is Warning Canada

Moscow Is Warning Canada

Another country adopts a bill establishing sanctions against Russian officials who abuse human rights.

Guardians of Morality

Guardians of Morality

In State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, a special body will appear keeping guard on “moral climate in society”.

One More Victim of Sechin

One More Victim of Sechin

The man frequently referred to as the second one after Putin, continues his aggressive business expansion.

Russia Plays a Double Game

Russia Plays a Double Game

On one hand Moscow argues that Sergey Lavrov’s visit in the White House is a proof of increasing chances for a breakthrough in the recently rather low relations between Russia and the US, but on the other hand…

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