Tag Archives: municipal_reform

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 →

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

On regional fiscal figures, falling governors and others

Posted on June 1, 2026 by

A first look at the Treasury’s data on regional budget execution in the first quarter of 2026 and what this means for regional finances; an explanation of why the dismissal of Vyacheslav Gladkov is likely watched and thought over by … Continue reading →

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

On livestock protests in Siberia, the pitfalls of the Duma vote and others

Posted on April 1, 2026 by

What do the protests over livestock culling in Siberia say about the relationship between the Russian state and its citizens? And why is this just one of the many accumulating grievances that the Kremlin is concerned about ahead of this … Continue reading →

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

On the costs of veteran reintegration, regional elections and more

Posted on January 31, 2026 by

As the year starts in Russia, the reintegration of soldiers and upcoming regional and Duma elections are on the mind of the authorities. The Kremlin is creating pathways to spread the cost of and responsibility for veteran reintegration, while regions … Continue reading →

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

On the municipal reform and war participants, Putin’s press conference and others

Posted on December 20, 2025 by

The federal reform of municipal public administration continues to throw waves and upsetting people – unsurprisingly, even former war participants. This is just one of the many underlying political risks that the Kremlin is aware of but can do little … Continue reading →

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

On the ongoing municipal reform, flamboyant governors and others

Posted on November 14, 2025 by

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 →

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

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 →

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