Tag Archives: kursk

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 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 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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On what the Kursk incursion says about the limits of Russia’s flawed federalism

It is still unclear whether Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk Region has changed the calculus of Russia’s military leadership and the course of the war, but the Russian reaction to it has already highlighted the limits of the Kremlin’s governance … Continue reading

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Investing in stagnation

We haven’t seen sweeping personnel changes following Russia’s legislative election this year. But things are shifting below the surface. It seems that the authorities’ quest for stability is accelerating changes in the relationship between the federal government and the regions, … Continue reading

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Look closely: the districts to watch in Russia’s elections

This week from Friday to Sunday, as Russians head to the polls, United Russia’s supermajority (and the amount of falsification necessary to maintain it) will ultimately depend on how the party fares in single-mandate districts. These are the ones worth … Continue reading

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The 225 meanings of legitimacy

Amidst an increasingly harsh crackdown on dissent, a crisis of legitimacy haunts the Duma elections that will take place in seven weeks. But what does this actually mean? I argue that Russia in 2021 is not Belarus in 2020, but … Continue reading

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