RUSSIA MONITOR MONTHLY 05/2021
Content
Technology and democracy: A new challenge for European security?
Technology permeates every aspect of our daily lives. However, its increased presence has posed a significant challenge to our liberties. Western democracies need to re-adapt in order to concretely regulate tech and prevent potential new forms of interferences for its institutions. Especially in Europe have democratic states felt the need to develop new normative approaches and regulations to provide a framework regulating Big Tech companies and preventing them from abusing their power.
Rosneft Loses Customs Arbitration Case
Russia Monitor is a review of the most important events related to Russian internal and external security, as well as its foreign policies. Date: Rosneft Loses Customs Arbitration Case The Moscow Arbitration Court dismissed the lawsuit that Russian...
Foreign Ministers of Poland and Hungary in China – Podcast
On 29-31 May, at the invitation of the Chinese side, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Poland and Hungary, Zbigniew Rau and Péter Szijjártó, visited Guiyang city in Guizhou province. There they met with Minister Wang Yi, with whom they discussed the matters of current economic and political cooperation, in particular the future of the 17+1 group. The visits coincided with a crisis in relations between China and the EU as well as the imposition of sanctions by each side in connection with the persecution of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang. The meeting was also prompted by the announcement of the Lithuanian Foreign Minister who said that Vilnius would effectively withdraw from the 17+1 format, which is a platform for cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries.
Russia’s Problem in Sudan: No Chance for Port Putin?
Russia will need to wait for Sudan’s final decision on a naval base on the Red Sea. Close ties to the country’s former dictator Omar Basher and then with Sudanese army generals are not enough to put Moscow’s plans into practice. Also, the United States has joined the game; as Khartoum said it would renegotiate the deal, this means it seeks to get as much as possible from both Moscow and Washington. Yet the prospect of a Russian military base on the Red Sea is becoming more and more distant.
China–Afghanistan–Pakistan Meeting
On June 3, 2021, Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the fourth online trilateral meeting among the Foreign Ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Moreover, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China outlined five proposals for peace in Afghanistan.
U.S., Germany Continue to Deceive Ukraine over Nord Stream 2
Washington’s decision to waive some sanctions against Nord Stream 2, a move that in fact allows Russia to finish its gas project, was a bitter surprise for Ukraine. Washington and Berlin vowed to do their utmost to shield Kyiv against a blow from Nord Stream 2. But Kyiv should not believe in this as the United States and Germany have no clue how to dissuade Russia from using gas as a coercive weapon against Ukraine.
Austria Is Betting on Russia Where Austrian Officers Get Top Jobs
Full support for Nord Stream 2, “peace in Europe only with Russia,” and giving jobs to former top Austrian officials is how Austria cultivates its relations with Moscow. Vienna has just become one of Moscow’s most important allies in Europe.
Russian Intelligence Pledges to Help Lukashenko Target Enemies Abroad
Belarusian special services are getting increasingly involved in joint activities with Russia. This is not only about counterintelligence cooperations to combat opposition forces inside the country, but also to intimidate those in other states. Such a conclusion comes from the deal the Belarusian KGB just inked with a Russian intelligence agency.
Foreign Ministers of Poland and Hungary in China
On 29-31 May, at the invitation of the Chinese side, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Poland and Hungary, Zbigniew Rau and Péter Szijjártó, visited Guiyang city in Guizhou province. There they met with Minister Wang Yi, with whom they discussed the matters of current economic and political cooperation, in particular the future of the 17+1 group.
Polish-Pakistani Cooperation | Diplomacy Talks Series
On June 7, 2021, aAs part of the Warsaw Institute’s “Diplomacy Talks Series” Tomasz Kijewski, President of the think-tank, together with a representative of the think-tank as well as the Warsaw Institute Review quarterly visited the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan at the invitation of His Excellency Ambassador Malik Muhammad Farooq.
Cybercrime: Further Data Leaks
Two major databases have been leaked in the past weeks. The first one concerned Facebook users’ information, the second one contained data of LinkedIn users. These leaks share not only the date and method of disclosure (both sets of data were originally uploaded on RaidForums, a hacker forum), but also the fact that they included a considerable number of records.
The echoes of PRC voices in Czech experts’ language – Podcast
In recent years, Chinese influence activities have flourished in the Czech Republic. In this episode, we examine some stories surrounding these activities involving academia and expert circles.
Soviet Means for Intervening in Election Campaign and Vote in the United States During the Cold War
Elections are when candidates compete with each other and, in consequence, as some win power, others lose it and turn into opposition. Delegating power in this manner exerts a direct influence on state policy both at home and abroad. Thus through foreign electoral interventions, it is possible to win a real influence on the policy of countries, a tool for advancing geopolitical interests of a third state.
Poland and Armenia – cooperation opportunities | Diplomacy Talks Series
On June 1, 2021, Tomasz Kijewski, the President of the Warsaw Institute Foundation, met with His Excellency, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, Samvel Mkrtchian. The meeting was organized as a part of The Warsaw Institute’s “Diplomacy Talks Series”.
Event Summary: Silicon Valley / Big Tech companies: are they orwellian? – a local insider’s view
On June 1, 2021, the Warsaw Institute think-tank had the honor of organizing the online event “Silicon Valley / Big Tech Companies: are their activities Orwellian towards their users and employees?” – a local insider’s view.” The guest of Tomasz Kijewski, president of the Warsaw Institute, was Mark A. Terlesky, senior legal analyst and writer at Pierce & Shearer LLP.
Cooperation within Poland and Azerbajian | Diplomacy Talks Series
As part of the Warsaw Institute’s “Diplomatic Talks Series” Tomasz Kijewski, President of the think-tank, visited the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan at the invitation of Her Excellency Nargiz Gurbanova, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
China-Russia Nuclear Power Project
On May 19, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin met online at the inauguration ceremony marking the expansion of China-Russia nuclear power project. This is another example of how relations between Beijing and Moscow are strengthened.
China’s Population Aging and the End of the Demographic Dividend
The National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS) released the long-awaited results of the 7th census on May 11, with a month’s delay. According to data presented by the NBS, China’s population grew from 1.34 billion to 1.42 billion people (+5.38%; +72 million) between 2010 and 2020. Despite this growth, the census clearly showed that population aging is progressing rapidly.
Kremlin Responds To President Duda’s Strong Words About Russia
Russia is “not a normal country” but rather “an aggressor state,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said during a state visit to Georgia, at the border between Georgia and the Russian-occupied breakaway region of South Ossetia. Duda’s vocal criticism of Russia triggered a reaction from the Kremlin.
The Failure of Russia’s Vaccine Diplomacy
Yet once again Russia has failed to handle some technological constraints of its economy. This time is about the production of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V. So far the country has completed just 8 percent of all orders it had gotten from other countries. Those that purchased the jab earlier received small portions of it as Russia has problems producing its vaccine.
Warsaw Institute
