On February 12 2013, Anne Applebaum addressed a capacity crowd at the LSE on the topic of “Putinism – The Ideology.” Andrew White summarises her critique. According to Anne Applebaum, the distinct form of government adopted by Russia in the new Millenium is a direct result of the personality and beliefs of Vladimir Putin himself. … Continue reading
Ever since NATO’s military intervention in Kosovo, a swarm of “Toniblers” – boys named after the British Prime Minister of the Day – have roamed around Pristina. According to Josh Black, The next generation to get this treatment may be “Catherines”. After all, if reports are to be believed, the head of the EU’s External … Continue reading
The news to 26 April 2013 Most attempts to explain the connection between the “Boston Bombers”, Tamerlan and Dzhokar Tsarnaev, have considered their relationship to Islamist militants in the region of Chechnya to be remote. However, little hard evidence has been released by American investigators. Source: FT The European Commission has recommended that talks commence … Continue reading
Sergei Ignatiev, Russia’s current central banker, will end his third mandate on 24 June this year, after 11 years as the head of the Bank of Russia. Putin has found a replacement for Ignatiev by appointing, in March, Elvira Nabiullina, Putin’s close ally and economic advisor. This nomination seems to hide Putin’s intentions to directly … Continue reading
News summary to 19 April Serbia and Kosovo have reached preliminary agreement on an accord aimed at ‘normalising relations.’ Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovar leader Hashim Thaci were in Brussels for the 10th round of EU-mediated talks. The deal paves the way for both sides to open talks with the EU about prospective … Continue reading
Former-dissident, MP and newspaper editor, Adam Michnik, spoke at the Oxford Literary Festival on the lessons learned from the transition to democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. The event was organised by the Ion Ratiu Foundation, which recognised Mr Michnik’s services to democracy with its eponymous award in 2009. Josh Black summarises his lecture. According … Continue reading
Maria Filmanovic & Lili Bayer were impressed by the openness of Alexey Kudrin’s recent talk at the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University. ‘Resign when you disagree in principle with a decision.’ This was Alexey Kudrin’s advice for aspiring public servants in a talk at Oxford University, recalling his own departure from office in … Continue reading
The news to 13 April 2013. Opposition activist and founder of the Anti-Corruption Fund, Alexei Navalny, intends to run for president of Russia in the future. Navalny said that his main task was “for the millions of people who live in this country and for whom oil and gas flow from the ground, for them … Continue reading
Russia has recently published it’s Foreign Policy Concept for Vladimir Putin’s third term. In light of this event, Paolo Sorbello looks at change and continuity in Russia’s foreign relations. When Vladimir Putin approved the new Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation in February 2013, he was following a precedent for incoming Russian Presidents to … Continue reading
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Centre of Russian and East European Studies (CREES) at the University of Birmingham in 2013, a series of lectures and special seminars were held over the course of the year, each featuring distinguished guest speakers coming from different fields of expertise. Kasia Remshardt reports on the second of two … Continue reading
Vostok Cable 