Russia Monitor Monthly 7/23
Content
Parliamentary Elections in Moldova from the EU Perspective
Maja Kocijanić, spokeswoman of the European External Action Service (EEAS), in her interview for Moldova.org, presented the statement of the EU on the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova. The elections are scheduled for February 24, 2019, and the beginning of the electoral campaign starts on January 25. Moldovan elections will be closely monitored by the European Union.
The End of the Crisis, Latvia Finally Has a New Government
Never before had independent Latvia waited so long to form a government after the parliamentary elections. It was achieved after four months, in the third attempt. The form of the coalition was obvious from the beginning, but the choice of PM and ministers was more difficult. Eventually, the leader of the smallest grouping in the coalition has become the head of cabinet.
Kaliningrad LNG Terminal: Russia’s Costly Show
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently boasted about Kaliningrad’s gas independence, a solution that comes as politically effective yet economically profitable. A floating vessel had been built in the Far East, from where it was later shipped to Kaliningrad. Nonetheless, Russian infrastructure for LNG production and transport needs to be dramatically improved.
Russia’s In No Rush to Reduce Oil Output
Moscow is doing its utmost to take advantage of the current status in the OPEC+ while hoping to gain maximum profits from selling crude oil. When other countries rush to reduce their oil output, aiming to raise global prices, Russian firms have no intention to cut production rapidly, thus earning money at the expense of their partners.
More American weapons for Ukraine?
The government in Kiev is negotiating with the United States the issue of increasing the military aid from the USA to Ukraine. According to the chief of the Ukrainian diplomacy, this concerns not only the supply of complete weapons, but also the American-Ukrainian cooperation in the arms industry.
Russia’s Poor Public Mood
According to polls published in late 2018 and early 2019, Russian society’s opinion on the Russian authorities has never been worse. Citizens are increasingly critical towards both the government – an institution that tends to be accounted for all state’s problems – and the president. Interestingly, the latter until now played the role of a “monarch” who seemed to rule over troublesome issues of the Russians.
Romania is to Extract Gas in Cooperation with Azerbaijan
It concerns, among others, deposits under the Black Sea. Representatives of ROMGAZ have already talked about this issue with representatives of Azeri SOCAR. The cooperation may include also other projects in Azerbaijan, including the area of the Caspian Sea.
Chechnya’s Kadyrov Gets Oil and Gas Privileges
Chechnya and its leader Ramzan Kadyrov has long been aroused envy of both other regions’ governors and Moscow’s ruling elites. Kadyrov’s great personal relations with Vladimir Putin seem to prevail over complaints and intrigues. This also applies to the energy industry. After having taken over oil assets and exacerbated hitherto conflict with Rosneft’s CEO Igor Sechin, Chechnya’s leader decided to go to war with Gazprom.
Russia Seeks to Offer Help Hoping to Get Zimbabwe’s Diamonds
Given the dramatically poor economic situation in many African countries and relatively low financial costs needed to provide some political regimes with essential aid, it does not come as a surprise that Moscow keeps getting involved in backing more and more states of the Dark Continent.
Russia Monitor Monthly 12/2018
All December Russia Monitor articles, which include reviews of the most important events related to Russian security and its foreign policy, available in one file.
Warsaw Institute in the Analysis of American Congress
Analysis “Putin’s Asymmetric Assault on Democracy in Russia and Europe: Implications for U.S. National Security” prepared for the Committe On Foreign Relations of the United States Senate contains references to the text from the Russia Monitor program and an article from The Warsaw Institute Review quarterly.
Russia’s Wagner Group Helps Put Down Sudan’s Anti-Government Protests
Both Russian Embassy in Khartoum and Sudan’s Interior Ministry denied reports that Russian mercenaries are aiding in quashing anti-government protests. However, they admitted that “Russian advisors” help to train Sudanese special forces. The country has shaken by mass protests against President Omar al-Bashir, which caused the Kremlin’s serious concern.
Russia’s Novatek Signs Deal With Japan’s Gas Company
Novatek’s development and its income from Arctic LNG projects seem to depend on its regular, rapid and increasing supplies to Asian-Pacific markets. Russia’s largest private-owned gas firm aims at expanding its transport infrastructure on the Northern Sea Route, which explains the company’s plans to build a trans-shipment terminal in the Kamchatka Peninsula and a recent Russian-Japanese deal.
Presidential Campaign. An Oligarch Betting on Two Candidates
The declaration of the participation of Volodymyr Zelensky was the main event of the beginning of the official campaign before the March presidential elections in Ukraine. The popular actor and producer now plays the role of “a person from outside the establishment”. Generally, he occupies the third place in polls and his chances to enter the second round are not high.
Gazprom Diversifies Gas Sales on EU Market
In mid-January, Russia’s state-owned company Gazprom announced the beginning of gas sales to Europe’s biggest gas hub in the Netherlands. Since last autumn Russia’s gas giant has been gradually changing its sales strategy on the EU market and it began to sell its raw material making spot transactions through the electronic trading platform.
Russia Loses Influence in the Balkans
Macedonian parliament’s recent decision to change the country’s name sparked outrage in Moscow while a statement issued by Russian Foreign Ministry is considered as meddling in other country’s domestic affairs. According to Moscow, Macedonia’s name was changed against the will of its citizens while violating Macedonian law.
Ukraine–Nord Stream 2: Struggle Over Gas Transit
The Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project is primarily perceived in terms of a political venture that goes against basic EU principles and poses threat to European solidarity.
Anti-Hungarian Provocation: Polish Process, German Clue
A trial of three Polish citizens accused of the arson attack on the Hungarian minority centre in the Ukrainian Zakarpattia has started in Cracow. This provocation was aimed to aggravate relations between Kiev and Budapest. Ukrainian authorities immediately suggested that Russian secret services might be responsible for the attack.
Nord Stream 2: US Warns Germany of Potential Restrictions
The United States may impose further sanctions on Western companies that finance the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and those that are in charge of carrying out pipe-laying operations on the seabed. Both media reports and an open letter sent by the U.S. Ambassador to Germany caused some nervous reactions amid Germany’s decision-makers.
New Warsaw Institute book “Countering Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda in Georgia”
Warsaw Institute published a bilingual (Polish & Georgian) book by Małgorzata Zawadzka and Zviada Adzinbaia. The publication is a part of a project: Disinformation in Practice – Identifying, Researching and Fighting Harmful Narratives in Georgia.
Warsaw Institute
