Author Archives: ATCz

On the ongoing municipal reform, flamboyant governors and others

The Kremlin’s municipal reform is still creating convulsions in several regions, primarily in Siberia and the Far East, which highlight some interesting patterns about multi-level governance. Meanwhile, Russia’s new cohort of eccentric governors had a bad month – but this … Continue reading

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On regional finances and others

As discussion starts about Russia’s 2026 federal budget, it is worth taking a look at the state of regional finances and where they are trending as Russia is headed either towards a prolonged war or an uneasy peace. Apart from … Continue reading

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On Russia’s upcoming elections and why they matter

Russia will hold regular regional and local elections on September 12-14 . The “single day of voting” – admittedly, the name is a little confusing given that since 2020 elections in many regions have been held over two or three … Continue reading

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On the “new elite” of war participants, AI in governance and others

How seriously should we take Putin’s promises of a “new elite” emerging from the participants of the war in Ukraine, based on the experiences of the past year? Will artificial intelligence solve the problems of regional and local governance in … Continue reading

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On the death of a chinovnik

A quick recap of why the apparent suicide of transit minister Roman Starovoit is likely a watershed event in Russian politics.

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On the discontents of the municipal reform, arrest season in the regions, and others

How is the Kremlin’s recently adopted municipal reform playing out in the regions, especially given unexpected protests in the Krasnoyarsk Territory? Are the recent arrests of regional officials, among them several ministers and deputy ministers significant? When the Kremlin names … Continue reading

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On the waste management reform, the salaries of governors, and others

I might disappoint some readers with the main topic of today’s dispatch, especially after such a long hiatus, but this has been a hobby horse of mine for some time, so buckle up. In today’s dispatch I am going to … Continue reading

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