The following article originally appeared in The Antonian – a magazine published by St Antony’s College Oxford. Here, Dr Roy Allison, University Lecturer in the International Relations of Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and GB Fellow at St Antony’s College, discusses topical issues of relations between Russia and Syria. The Syrian conflict is the world’s … Continue reading
With Ukraine’s protests apparently lacking the support of much of the country, attention has again focused on Crimea – an ethnically Russian region described by some as ‘the dog that didn’t bark.’ According to Ellie Knott, who studies the region, concerned journalists are only telling half the story. The majority of the news pieces written … Continue reading
When Ukrainians wake up on Monday morning, they may find themselves living under a new constitution that is also an old constitution – courtesy of opposition demands that the country return to its 2004 fundamental law. In this post, Josh Black explains what the change means for Ukraine, and asks whether it will lead to … Continue reading
Paolo Sorbello analyses Kazakhstan’s new foreign policy document, which owes more to home truths than ambition. ALMATY – When the news broke about the publication of a new Kazakh ‘Foreign Policy Concept’ at the end of January, researchers rushed to the web pages of the government, only to find a short summary of what has … Continue reading
Recent developments suggest that the Kremlin may once again be leaning on Russia’s media outlets in order to restrict freedom of expression. Matthew Luxmoore asks whether the recent withdrawal of support from Dozhd is part of a trend. Against the backdrop of policies ostensibly orchestrated to improve Russia’s political image before the Winter Olympics in … Continue reading
Much of the coverage of Russia’s first Olympic Games as an independent state has been critical, with corruption, LGBT rights and apparently repressive government policies overshadowing the opening of Sochi 2014. Here, Yuexin Rachel Lin argues that by comparing Sochi with Beijing 2008, the differences are smaller than we might imagine. The coverage of the … Continue reading
The origins of the socio-economic issues that have sparked protests in Bosnia can be traced back to the late Yugoslav period. Daniela Lai explains how economic inequalities became rooted in the countries’ post-socialist and war-time transition. In the past few days some excellent posts have been published on the Bosnian protests, like those from Eric … Continue reading
Josh Black looks back at an eventful two years in Moscow for the academic and diplomat, Mike McFaul. The US Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, is to leave his post soon after the Sochi Olympics. McFaul, best known outside of diplomacy for his book The Unfinished Revolution, which explains Russia’s lack of democratic progress over … Continue reading
Vladimir Sarkisyants explains why Azerbaijani and Armenian officials couldn’t even agree to meet again over a protracted conflict. In the shadow of the unbaiting protests in Ukraine that stole the headlines, another event in the former Soviet space took place last month. On January 24, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan – accompanied by … Continue reading
Vostok Cable 