Tag Archives: far_east

On cost-shifting, the Duma election and others

Posted on July 8, 2026 by

As a background for a forthcoming report, I am highlighting some stories from the past month that show how Russia’s domestic political machinery shifts financial and political costs during the war. As the country is facing an increasingly uncertain-looking summer, … Continue reading →

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On primaries, veterans in the workforce, fiscal troubles and others

Posted on April 28, 2026 by

United Russia and the Communist Party are both highlighting the number of war participants in their respective “primaries”, but what is the significance of this at a time when even the Prosecutor General is raising the alarm about the failure … Continue reading →

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On 2025 in Russian politics

Posted on January 15, 2025 by

A couple of thoughts on the past and the upcoming year in Russian politics: the Kremlin’s core challenges and what specific areas I will be watching this year.

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On the “new elite”, railway troubles and others

Posted on November 30, 2024 by

Russian regional officials are still appointing war participants to various positions, mostly to signal loyalty to the Kremlin, but some of the more recent appointment may represent a slight an potentially consequential shifting of gears. Meanwhile, Russian Railways will be … Continue reading →

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On the municipal reform, investment plans and others

Posted on November 3, 2024 by

Why is the Russian government planning to drag out the implementation of an upcoming reform of municipal self-governance? And does it matter? And why is it difficult to take the Kremlin’s infrastructure development plans at face value? Below I am … Continue reading →

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On appointments of war participants, the Far East and others

Posted on October 4, 2024 by

In this dispatch, I would like to dive into two recent developments that highlight that even in today’s Russia, Putin has to operate with certain constraints, such as vested interests or the laws of economics.

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On digital draft notices, the Russian opposition and others

Posted on September 22, 2024 by

What does the introduction of digital draft notices say about Russia’s emerging digital authoritarianism? And what do and should we – in the West – expect of the Russian opposition? In a look-back on some of the significant developments and … Continue reading →

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