As Dmitry Medvedev prepares to leave the Kremlin next year, his last address to Russia’s Federal Assembly served as both a wrap-up of accomplishments and calls for future change. In his final address to Russia’s Federal Assembly before stepping down as president next year, Dmitry Medvedev claimed that much had…
Read MoreAs more and more countries explore the possibility of shale gas, Russia’s reliance on energy exports for future economic growth looks more and more fragile. As rising political risk spooks investors in Russia following the Dec. 4 parliamentary elections, recent developments in other countries and continents show that the country’s…
Read MoreWhile people in the streets at first glance seems to indicate a movement for political change, it may only indicate how easy it is to organize large groups using the Internet. At first glance, the street protests in Russia following the parliamentary elections on Dec. 4 might seem in line…
Read MoreThe inauguration of the long-anticipated Nord Stream pipeline gave both Russia and EU representatives the opportunity to say nice things about the other – but the actions behind the words are what counts. On Nov. 7, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was in Germany to take part in the official inauguration…
Read MoreRussia’s attempts to make Moscow an international financial center have been met with skepticism by some experts. In his ongoing quest to develop Moscow into an International Financial Center (IFC), Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with leading international bankers, investors and consultants on Oct. 28. Attending the meeting at the…
Read MoreДействия путинской команды за последнее десятилетие укрепляют имеющиеся на Западе антироссийские предрассудки Запад убежден, что Россия не в состоянии решить проблемы коррупции, всевластия бюрократии и провести реальную модернизацию. Без конкуренции и демократии сделать это просто невозможно. Как на фоне возвращения Путина в президенты выглядят перспективы отношений между Западом и Россией?…
Read MoreAn Occupy Wall Street campaign demonstrator stands in Zuccotti Park, near Wall Street in New York October 17, 2011. Source: Reuters / Vostock Photo Is Russia immune to Occupy Wall Street because its disaffected young people have the possibility to emigrate? In recent days, the Occupy Wall Street movement has…
Read MoreStability is not the same as stagnation, and improving the military does not mean that Russia is militarizing – at least that’s the message the Russian leadership promoted during events of the last week. The Russian bank VTB Capital held the latest iteration of its regular investment conference “Russia Calling”…
Read More“Let’s Worry About Everything” – the title of a report to clients, Jim O’Neill, chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The large sell off which ended September “felt rather surreal to me, as much of the economic data and comments from companies have been rather benign,” wrote Jim O’Neill, chairman…
Read MoreRussian financial experts believe Putin will embrace economic reform, because it is logical, but logic has never been the driving force in Russian politics. After announcing his plans to return to the Kremlin in next year’s elections, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin gave a speech highlighting Russia’s economic strengths as a…
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