Monthly Archives: June 2020

NY Dispatches: Putin’s pitch

As voting commences in Russia’s plebiscite on Vladimir Putin’s constitutional reform the president is making his safest pitch to voters. But Putin cannot avoid making the vote about himself and people whose cooperation he needs to keep governing will know … Continue reading

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

Of tragedies and farces

Russia will hold military parades across the country to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Second World War, on 24 June. Following the parade (officially on 1 July, but with voting stretched out over a … Continue reading

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

NY Dispatches: the newfound assertiveness of regional leaders

The former head of the Republic of Chuvashia is suing Putin over his dismissal. This might seem outlandish but, along with other recent developments, it highlights a very real disturbance in Moscow’s relationship with regional political elites.

Posted in Dispatches, Elections, Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment