Author Archives: ATCz

The regional races

Posted on April 27, 2021 by

It is likely that Vladimir Putin’s address to the National Assembly also closed the spring “gubernatoropad” the season of the “falling of governors”, that is, the dismissal of regional leaders before regional elections. We can thus take a look at … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On restructuring and reconstruction

Posted on April 24, 2021 by

Vladimir Putin’s proposals to restructure the debt of Russian regions will likely provide regions with some much-needed fiscal relief in an election year. Putin expects governors to come up with ideas, spend on them and take responsibility for their implementation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Policies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Empty promises

Posted on April 18, 2021 by

A boastful statement by a party chairman and a meandering interview with a Duma deputy offer a glimpse onto the limits that “systemic” opposition parties and their politicians have to observe in Russia, and how they are trying to use … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not up to data

Posted on April 7, 2021 by

The Russian authorities have shifted gears in their attempt to control information flows in the country, but this does not only concern data leaks and information published by investigative outlets. Two recent stories serve as reminders that the authorities are … Continue reading →

Posted in Policies | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NY Dispatches: voting rights for Donbas residents?

Posted on March 17, 2021 by

Yesterday it was reported that the State Duma is considering a bill that would make it possible for the residents of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics – separatist territories in Eastern Ukraine under de facto Russian control – … Continue reading →

Posted in Dispatches, Elections | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Elections ahead – Part IV

Posted on March 9, 2021 by

Six months before this year’s Duma election Russia’s political landscape is in flux. The future of “smart voting” remains a factor of uncertainty. Shifts in public opinion, the Kremlin’s new red lines and how the systemic opposition has reacted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Policies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

NY Dispatches: Russia and the Council of Europe, again

Posted on March 3, 2021 by

Petr Tolstoy, the vice-speaker of the State Duma said this week that Russia should “revisit its role” in the Council of Europe and consider leaving it, should the CoE initiate a procedure against Russia due to the jailing of Alexey … Continue reading →

Posted in Dispatches | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment