Category talk:Russia

Disclaimer

 * "Умом Россию не понять,
 * Аршином общим не измерить:
 * У ней особенная стать —
 * В Россию можно только верить".


 * Ф. И. Тютчев.


 * You will not grasp her with your mind
 * Or cover with a common label,
 * For Russia is one of a kind –
 * Believe in her, if you are able...
 * (translated by Anatoly Liberman) --Resup (talk) 13:44, 7 March 2015 (UTC)




 * I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia.
 * It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma;
 * but perhaps there is a key.
 * That key is Russian national interest.


 * Winston Churchill

-- Petri Krohn (talk) 18:53, 7 March 2015 (UTC)

Short Stories
Film director Pavel Lungin (PL) recalls meeting dissident writer Andrei Siniavskii, who was imprisoned in Gulag, than emigrated to France. Siniavskii, sitting in a bar in Paris, sipping some wine: now listen Pavel, -- the happiest time I ever had, it was in Gulag.
 * (PL) how come ???
 * (S) we were really happy there, everything was so pure, like no moneys, no women ... --Resup (talk) 04:56, 16 March 2015 (UTC)

National Idea?
After the fall of socialism (which followed the fall of traditional society and tzarism), there was no replacement; and extreme Russian version of capitalism has not become a unifying idea. Lack of national idea was mentioned and discussed by members of Yeltsin government, but no serious suggestion was made. In that background, Putin explicitly offered patriotism as (a/the) 'national idea' (the national unifying "-ism") at a meeting with entrepreneurs from the so called 'Club of Leaders'. TASS, Feb. 3, 2016.
 * The previous, pre-socialist one was "Православие, самодержавие, народность", proposed by Uvarov during the reign of tzar Nicolai 1. This translates as "Orthodoxy (Russian Christian O.), autocracy (tzarism), nationalism" (народность here means being close to people and traditions).
 * --Resup (talk) 01:02, 4 February 2016 (UTC)

Geopolitics
Marianna Belenkaya -TASS attempts to explain lifting of S-300 sales to Iran, and abstention vote on Yemen, from geopolitical perspective; "multi-vector" and "..openly against policies of Washington..." are key words used in the article. --Resup (talk) 13:42, 19 April 2015 (UTC)

26.11.15 Hollande to arrive to Moscow on Thursday after visiting Obama, presumably in an attempt to bring about a broad anti-IS coalition. Tuesday presser with Obama, however, suggests that the US does not see a need for a new coalition, and that while the existing one is open to Russia, she needs to change her behavior (dropping support for Assad, or making sure that he chooses not to run in the elections). Such line is clearly not going to work, as this would be politically suicidal. There is nowhere remotely near the level of pressure to bring about a harakiri of such sort (and it is impossible to have required levels). On the other hand, the Western coalition is not prepared to do the job itself, as airstrikes cannot possibly reverse vast territorial gains in a land with significant number of civilian inhabitants. Only President Putin and the Supreme Leader Khamenei have the actual presence on the ground.

So apparently the real plan of the Empire is Chaos. Hollande may try, and succeed, to have an appearance of a broad coalition. There is good chemistry and strong cultural connection. But at this point, the players are too preoccupied with their own interests to really work together as one team for a common good. --Resup (talk) 00:43, 26 November 2015 (UTC)

Lavrov says, in essence, that EU foreign policy is under US control (and that he would wish it to be otherwise) RIA. (Graphics show results of Sputnik/Populus poll, showing that respondents believed that ordinary people have no or little influence over their country foreign policy.) --Resup (talk) 19:44, 13 March 2016 (UTC)

Ukraine and Syria

 * Telephone call, Obama-Putin, Feb 14, 2016 Kremlin read-out, translation. Syria (support Munich decisions) and Ukraine (fulfill Minsk) were discussed.
 * --Resup (talk) 12:03, 14 February 2016 (UTC)


 * (Of all places), Steinmeier is to meet Kerry in Moscow, and hopes to have a meeting wiht Putin as well, according to TASS--Resup (talk) 09:15, 23 March 2016 (UTC)


 * Kerry interview to TASS (Eng) (provides 'distorting mirrors' description on Ukraine, Poroshenko troops are fired on, etc). --Resup (talk) 11:44, 25 March 2016 (UTC)
 * Kerry claimed that Kiev is doing things and passed laws on amnesty and special status. Well, Rada did pass  some amnesty law (September 2014), but that law only covered period from 22 February 2014 to 16 September 2014. I am not aware that another amnesty law was passed after Minsk 2 was signed.  Of course it is insufficient, in law and in practice (which as we know is bad).  Passing another law is required in item 5 of Minsk-2 agreement, that was not done as far as I am aware. Regarding special status, there was a law of temporary nature pre Minsk 2, but constitutional amendments required in part 11 of Minsk-2 were not fulfilled.  (Strange that TASS interviewer just nodded in agreement throughout. That was before meeting with Putin, so it was like, well, whatever you say, or something). --Resup (talk) 12:13, 25 March 2016 (UTC)

Belarus

 * All top Russian leadership gathered in Minsk. Putin -Lukashenko joint press conference describe talks and decisions of a 'supreme council of a Union State' (Russia and Belarus), and (double-labeling?) inter-state cooperation agreements, economic, military, political --RT report and video--Resup (talk) 16:51, 25 February 2016 (UTC)

Turkey
Aug. 9, 2016. Putin and Erdogan met in St. Petersburg. Relations normalized after an apology by Erdogan, Russian support after the coup, and some back channel diplomacy. According to İbrahim Kalın, the spokesman for Erdoğan, businessman “Cavit Çağlar played a very important role” in solving the crisis, as well as Kazakhstan leader “Nursultan Nazarbayev, who showed great friendship to Turkey” and “the patriotic initiative taken by Gen. Hulusi Akar, the Chief of General Staff despite the area being out of his responsibility". At the press conference, big economic projects (Northern stream, Akkuyu nuclear power station ) appear back on track. Syria was to be discussed after the press conference, with difference of approaches remaining but a common solution sought, according to statements made. --Resup (talk) 23:28, 9 August 2016 (UTC)

Russia/USA
A bit more interaction as both are involved in Syria.

Chances of Viktor Bout and Konstantin Yaroshenko ( Russians extradited and sentenced to prison terms in USA on weapons/drugs trafficking charges) being released in a swap deal involving Savchenko, Erofeev, and Alexandrov are discussed in Russian sources, Interfax, Apr. 22, 2016. Previously, some talk on that by Russian FM spokeswoman, and in (overall critical of the government) comments by the opposition. Unsure how realistic is such swap; but seems plausible that Russia is trying to have it; and remains to be seen how it turns out. Russia never clearly stated that releasing Savchenko is going to happen, but appears to be open for some sort of bargain, at least. Can be a broader trust-building step, if it happens (though unsure it will)--Resup(talk) 12:23, 22 April 2016 (UTC)

One more visit of Kerry to Moscow on 14-15 July 2016, Ukraine and Syria. For one thing, Ukraine can be solved, -by putting really harsh pressure on UKRAINE to fulfill Minsk agreements. It is really no mystery who is not following agreements, yet for as long as it is more politically profitable to keep blaming Russia nothing good will come out. It is not happening because there is no political will in the US to do it in the first place. So what's the point for yet another visit to Moscow? As they say, empty talk is not taxed. With Syria, it's more complicated. With Aleppo rebels surrounded, some tactical advantage on Russian side, but that's about it, and unlikely a solution in a near future. --Resup (talk) 21:57, 12 July 2016 (UTC)
 * 'Unable to stop Syria’s war, US offers Russia new partnership', Washington Post, 14 July 2016.
 * Kerry and Lavrov meetings lasted over 10 hours in total. At present, USA taken a pause for consultations (TASS)., 15 July 2016.  --Resup (talk) 18:48, 15 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Lavrov press conference comments after the meeting- (TASS) (full). Mostly on Syria; direct negotiations advocated for both Syria and Ukraine, with the role of other parties is to press for this to happen. Indirect talks on Syria described as insufficient (on Ukraine, Moscow always tried to have direct dialog, but so far without success). Synchronization of Ukrainian formats advocated (i.e contact groups with participation of DPR/LPR. Normandy format, and direct USA-Russia contacts). Meeting appears to be about agreeing various steps to be done without expectation of those steps leading to a breakthrough.--Resup (talk) 10:41, 16 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Kerry comments on video (12 min). Talks on measures from around 7:00 time stamp, and that those will not be made public in full details, need further work, and not expected to give immediate results --Resup (talk) 10:41, 16 July 2016 (UTC)

Putin signs decree suspending Russia-US deal on plutonium disposal over hostile US actions, RT. Oct.3, 2016
 * Recalling earlier interview, April 7, 2016, St, Petersburg, agreement called for both sides having a plant to do disposal irreversibly, but it was said that this was only done by Russia and not implemented by USA, where dilution is used instead.  Back than, no steps were taken, but it is done now.  The response came in he context of Russia not attending nuclear security summit hosted by Obama. --Resup (talk) 18:28, 3 October 2016 (UTC)

Russia/NATO

 * Kommersant.ru, 7 March 2000. Putin in interview to BBC  stated that he does not exclude a possibility of Russia joining NATO.
 * BBC, Breakfast With Frost Interview: Vladimir Putin, March 5, 2000


 * Putin's Labyrinth, Steve Levine, Bloomberg Businessweek, July 1, 2008
 * ''By the beginning of 2000 the NATO expansion was well under way. Putin met with President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and National Security Adviser Samuel Berger, and floated a question: What would be the West's attitude toward Russia's applying to join NATO? Berger suddenly found a fly on the window to be extremely intriguing. Albright looked straight ahead. Clinton glanced at his advisers and finally responded with a diplomatically phrased brush-off. It was something on the order of, If it were up to me, I would welcome that...


 * US permanent representative to NATO Ivo Daalder: it is possible for Russia to join NATO, but such a decision needs to be taken by Russia, as quoted by  RIA, 22 Sept. 2010


 * Putin: Russia will consider tackling NATO missile defense threat, RT, 13 May, 2016 --Resup (talk) 01:11, 14 May 2016 (UTC)


 * Frants Klintsevich, the first deputy head of the Russian Federation Council Defense and Security Committee: "The deployment of NATO battalions in the Baltic States and Poland and the fact of bringing the NATO missile defense system to the initial level of readiness are the obvious acts of aggression if things are to be called by their names." TASS, July 8, 2016.--Resup (talk) 14:45, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

Japan

 * Kuril Islands Dispute, en.wikipedia
 * TASS dossier, 2013: Following the meeting in St. Petersburg, the leaders agreed that the peace treaty problem can be solved only on the basis of the principle of "Hiki-wake" - "no victor, no vanquished".
 * Japanese Prime Minister offered cooperation with Russia at a summit in Sochi, his 8 items plan is mentioned, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 07.05.2016
 * Putin and Abe agreed on new (economic) projects, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 2.09.2016
 * FM of Russia and Japan will 'take under control' recent agreements of Putin and Abe, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, 12.09.2016
 * When is peace with Japan, Kiselev on Rossia 1 TV, 11.09.2016
 * some of the Russian 'patriotic opposition' figures, after watching their TVs, expressed concern, interpreting this as plans to transfer islands sovereignty to Japan.
 * --Resup (talk)17:51, 16 September 2016 (UTC)

Government
In an unexpected move, chief of presidential administration and power structures (FSB, MOD) veteran Sergei Ivanov is replaced by a young assistant, Anton Vaino, a diplomat, from a family where grandfather was a first secretary of communist party of Estonia (1978-88). Ivanov remains on Russian security council  (and Vaino added, too). Move was explained by Ivanov desire to serve no more than 4 years as administration chief; he served since 2011. His new role is presidential special representative for nature preservation, ecology, transport. Video of transition announcement meeting appeared, with Ivanov feeling very comfortable with the development. --Resup (talk) 10:31, 12 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Some Russian commentators note that Ivanov son has died in a swimming accident in UAE in November, 2014, possibly contributing to Ivanov wish to step down from his current post--Resup (talk) 13:48, 12 August 2016 (UTC)

Ivanov was interested in nature preservation for a long time. He was on the board of a nonprofit entity to preserve leopards since 2011. In his 2013 interview, he said "with age, you come to a sad conclusion that with cats and dogs it is more comfortable than with some people"; also saying that nothing is really being produced in Moscow, there are just some cleaners, drivers, 'office plankton', journalists  + bureaucrats (added in response to further question). He spent considerable portion of the interview on leopards and gepards. However, there is a ministry of natural resources and ecology, and a ministry of transport in the Russian government, so impact of a single presidential representative without staff and resources in uncertain. It seems to be an open-ended appointment, where one can do little on officially declared issues and have the ministries as a fall back option; or can be a pioneer/at the frontier, as large portions of the country territory are not developed, largely because of lack of roads. Ecology issues are important in deciding what territory should or should not be developed. It may be also a position on a 'reserve' bench but he can be quickly deployed to a front role if the need arises, say if sanctions and economy pain is suddenly too much to keep Medvedev. This is such a reshuffle where no new independent face has entered the scene (and nobody really left it). --Resup (talk) 13:32, 13 August 2016 (UTC)

Peskov 'has not seen or heard' that Russian officials were 'recommended' to bring their children studying abroad and family members back to Russia -TASS. Nobody else heard about that, either.--Resup (talk) 17:39, 11 October 2016 (UTC)

Economy
Financial Times: EU blocked nuclear deal between Russia and Hungary FT, 12.03.15. --Resup (talk) 23:37, 12 March 2015 (UTC)
 * EU: we did not (this is 'only' about fuel, not the whole project) --Resup (talk) 12:48, 13 March 2015 (UTC)

Greece and Russia plan to sign an agreement, with Moscow providing 3 to 5 bln euro financing to Greece, said to be for building gas network hooking up to Turkish stream, with repayment from transit feesTASS-Quoting Spiegel. --Resup (talk) 02:07, 18 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Peskov denied the story (the way it was reported at least) --Resup (talk) 13:17, 19 April 2015 (UTC)

7.7.15 Saudis to invest up to 10 bln $ into a joint investment fund with Russia. Earlier reports described Saudi interest in the Russian ' Iskander' missile system. --Resup (talk) 00:40, 7 July 2015 (UTC)

Turkey is to invest 12 bln $ in Crimea-construction, tourism, agriculture industry --Resup (talk) 18:44, 7 July 2015 (UTC)

Negotiations on Turkish gas stream were suspended for a while; but now a discount sought by Turkey was agreed. Another reported earlier disagreement is that Russia seeks to have 4 lines built, while Turkey is said to favor just one, leading to Turkey. --Resup (talk) 15:56, 31 July 2015 (UTC)

Oil goes towards $ 30 a barrel... Reuters: 10 % budget sequestration planned. --Resup (talk) 22:24, 11 January 2016 (UTC)

RBK learned details of anti-crisis plan of the government, lenta.ru, 27.1.16. 737 billion rubles for structural changes in the economy. Budget and Russian anti-crisis fund money will be used.

Russia mulls introducing own crypto-currency (non anonymous unlike bitcoin, for one thing) --Resup (talk) 13:50, 27 May 2016 (UTC)

Opinions
Dmitriy Potapenko interview, lenta.ru, Jan. 20, 2016. Briefly, talks about general problems of running business in Russia. That includes tight dependence of business from government, starting from the early days when oligarchs were 'appointed' by authorities; those were able to privatize major assets, and only small chips were left. Such sort of relations between government and business largely remained, in his opinion. He also highlights problems such as racketeering, tax avoidance, public funds mis-allocation, lack of legal protection for business, and lack of open popular discussion of those issues,-- saying he is essentially alone raising all that publicly. --Resup (talk) 01:36, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
 * But there are some successes not from the 'appointed', in technology (e.g. Milner ); some successful farmers; etc. --Resup (talk) 02:15, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

Economist Sergey Gubanov interviewed by Marat Musin: "Fourth Industrial Revolution: a myth or reality?"
 * Advocates (re) industrialization, as opposed to monetarism /finance-based economy. By 4th industrialization he means technologies and, more or less, automation of production and de-assembly, running full closed cycle. Critical of current government policies, such as proposed privatization of state assets and budget sequester, saving on most vulnerable population groups, science, education, health, culture.  Highlights  that (1) according to official statistics for 2015, effectiveness of capital investment is (-16) % (definitions =?) (2) net export of goods is about 13 % of GDP --which he links with overall inflation of about 15 %
 * Conjectures that recent Kissinger visit to Moscow could be to offer increase in oil price in exchange for compromises on Syrian ceasefire
 * --Resup (talk) 19:43, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

[http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2016/09/28/can-russia-learn-from-brazils-fate-paul-craig-roberts-and-michael-hudson/ Can Russia Learn From Brazil’s Fate? — Paul Craig Roberts and Michael Hudson], 28 Sept. 2016
 * ''There is a huge difference between the money created by the central bank and the money created by foreign creditors. Money lent by foreign banks in the form or US dollars or euros must be repaid with interest in the foreign exchange in which the money was lent. Money created by the central bank to finance public infrastructure projects does not have to be repaid at all, much less with interest and in foreign exchange earned by exports.
 * Noted: Russian central bank interest rate makes business loans (too) expensive.--Resup (talk) 15:47, 10 October 2016 (UTC)

Yukos
Yukos vs Russian Federation, In The Matter Of An Arbitration Before A Tribunal Constituted In Accordance With Article 26 Of The Energy Charter Treaty And The 1976 Uncitral Arbitration Rules, 18 July 2014 (and currently under appeal?)
 * Yukos (Khodrkovskii) and Rosneft (Government is majority holder, Sechin is director) have reached a settlement of all of their disputes. It  is said that the settlement is payment-free. Yukos-Russia case is separate from this. --Resup (talk) 13:28, 1 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Kremlin says measures are being taken in response to attempts to arrest Russian property, TASS (Eng.), Dec 22, 2015. 'Former Yukos shareholders achieved arrest of payments by launch services provider Arianespace and satellite operator Eutelsat addressed to their Russian counterparts'.
 * Investigators say Tuesday's searches are part of Yukos money laundering probe, TASS (Eng.), Dec 22, 2015.
 * Russia reopens a criminal case, declares Khodorkovsky arrested in absentia, Dec. 23, 2015.


 * Russia wins Hague court appeal over $50bn Yukos judgement, RT, Apr. 20, 2016 (on the basis of lack of jurisdiction).
 * Financial Times report

Arts, etc.
"On Ukrainian Independence" by Joseph Brodsky
 * video, 1992-likely recorded in the US.
 * Quite untranslatable--Heavy, pro-Russian,  linguistic firepower ... --Resup (talk) 22:22, 10 April 2015 (UTC)

Very different stuff, Sergei Lavrov-poems about foreign lands...
 * Kind of nostalgic, as if he emigrated ... --Resup (talk) 22:31, 10 April 2015 (UTC)

Maya Plisetskaya (20 November 1925 – 2 May 2015), prima ballerina assoluta -Bolshoi
 * Johann Sebastian Bach, Prelude
 * Debut-Black Swan, 1947. Dying Swan,  1959.
 * Bolero (choreography by Maurice Béjart)
 * --Resup (talk) 01:23, 10 May 2015 (UTC)

Northern Palmyra
Norther Palmyra, in Russian literature from the end of 18 century, is a name for St Petersburg, which was compared by richness and beauty with an ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. modern Encyclopedia online (Russian) --Resup (talk) 14:07, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

St Petersburg International Economic Forum ended, over 200 contracts signed. Carla Bruni (here with Medvedev, 2010), wife of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, gave a concert, followed by a midnight dinner. --Resup (talk) 21:17, 20 June 2015 (UTC)

Literature
"Authorities do not need un-manageable friends.  Authorities need manageable enemies". Victor Pelevin, Lamp of Methuselah or the final battle of the Chekists and Masons, 2016. --Resup (talk) 18:10, 7 October 2016 (UTC)

Censorship and state control
Konstantin Raikin on censorship in art -Radio Svoboda, October 25, 2016
 * There is constitutional ban on censorshop in Russia. However it is resurgent in the form of 'groups of citizens whose feelings were hurt' (several closures of controversial theater productions, exhibitions, etc). Raikin makes passionate appeal for freedom or art and 'industry solidarity'. His talk proved to be controversial and quite widely discussed, including a reply by Peskov (no censorship, but 'if state funds a production it has a right to designate a topic'...), and from ministry of culture ('funding of Raikin's 'Satirkon' increased, but attendance is lowest among federal theaters'...).  --Resup (talk) 23:43, 27 October 2016 (UTC)

Non-System opposition
Discussed elsewhere

Right Wing

 * BORN group.
 * Novia Gazeta, 24.7.15, TASS-English : Ilya Goryachev was given a life sentence in a colony with special regime. He was found guilty of forming an armed gang, the creation of an extremist community, illicit arms trafficking, as well as complicity in five murders: antifascists Fyodor Filatov and Ilya Japaridze, lawyer Stanislav Markelov (who was involved in Budanov murder case blamed on Chechen extremists), migrant Salohiddin Azizov and a member of the gang "Black Hawks" Rasul Khalilov. Other members of the gang have been convicted: Nikita Tikhonov, Maxim Baklagina and Vyacheslav Isaev were also sentenced to life terms, Mikhail Volkov sentenced to 24 years of strict regime.
 * Rossiiskaia Gazeta-Markelov murder investigation
 * Igor Krasnov was chief investigator. Subsequently the first investigator of Nemtsov murder; later promoted to the Head of 'a new structure of the Investigation Committee, which will include the best investigators'.
 * --Resup (talk) 02:38, 26 July 2015 (UTC)


 * NOD (National Liberation movement)
 * Apparently, supported by Duma deputy Evgenii Fedorov.
 * Poster girl: Marina Katasonova: rookie reporter-failed video; at the Turkish Embassy;Navalnyi, interrupted ; in a locker with Graham Phillips -Nemtsov sightseeing tour.

Dugin

 * Recent piece translated at Fort Rus. Clearly bright and original, but this is an example of excessive theoretical superstructuring going pretty much nowhere and offering no solution. Do not see why is that differences between hawks and doves in Russia are intrinsically much more antagonistic than in the West. Nothing really preventing hawks and doves in Russia to work on a common goal, apart from some constructs in (his) philosophy. Do not think the West is the united land of liberalism, as he describes. People are the same everywhere, and all the issues  have their parallels, East or West. Including what he (too briefly) describes under 'bureaucracy', which is of concern, in the new republics and in Russia proper (but not uniquely just over there...). --Resup (talk) 14:29, 23 November 2015 (UTC)

'Patriotic Opposition'
Mostly critical of the Russian involvement in Syria, as continued violence in Donbass and other real problems of Russia will not be solved there --Resup (talk) 09:20, 4 October 2016 (UTC)

Strelkov
Briefly, compares/sees parallels of developments in present day Russia with those leading to World War I. Critical of at least some parts of the current political establishment in Russia; expresses serious concern, and proposes World War II type steps as a fix... Critical of Russia opening a 'second front' in Syria, while problems in Donbas remain--Resup (talk) 18:28, 27 November 2015 (UTC)

28 March, 2016, right after Kerry visit to Moscow, Strelkov reads on lenta.ru an article with Peskov discussing planned personal media attack on the Russian president. He than relates the famous, nearly-untranslatable piece from novel 'It's difficult to be Gods', by Russian sci-fi authors, brothers Strugatskii,  the one about  Don Reba meeting His Excellency Vaga, all observed by Don Rumata... --Resup (talk) 22:33, 3 April 2016 (UTC)

Interview to a lady coordinator from the so called 'National Liberation Movement (NOD)', made two days prior to elections. On a long side; entering some bits. Strelkov received education at a history and archive work institute, and he takes the view that Russian history is continuous and consistent, from some 6 century C.E. to present day. Main goal of his "Novorossia" movement is to make sure some historic line is continued, and not become extinct  like Byzantine Empire, remaining of relevance for only some dozen of experts. (He fears that current developments are leading towards collapse or Latin American scenarios; accepts there may be good present day developments yet considers only the Russian language as an undamaged heritage). Priorities, top to bottom, are people, nation, state. There are considerable differences in his movement on a particular model of state to admire, with unifying theme of the people/nation (noted: this may be from vague all the way to very controversial notion in a multi-ethnic multi-religion country; exact details are not very clear but policy documents talk about "Russian World" and that the majority are followers of the Russian Orthodox Church; 'historic union with other major religious confessions' is acknowledged). He also recalls Zemskii Sobor (approx. "Land/grass-root assembly") structure in Tsarist Russia, in existence until mid-17 century, as an alternative to Western-style democracy. In Zemskii Sobor, representatives from different society classes were sent, and as a result, it was not a Western 1 person=1 vote. To illustrate, he makes a point that e.g. voices of academics should be higher than bums from across his street, etc. (Interviewer asks, like Trade Unions?-Yes.). He does not support or plans to take part in present elections, believing it's a show run from the top; in particular links sudden rise of Maltsev with Kremlin internal policy chief Voloshin. "It is like in the Soviet days with one CPSU party, just now split into several factions", "whoever you choose, you vote for Putin", etc. --Resup (talk) 22:03, 18 September 2016 (UTC)

Committee of 25 of January

 * 'Committee of 25 of January' is created. Strelkov, El Murid, E.Prosvirnin ("Satellite and pogrom" -(wth?)) K.Krylov, A.Kungurov, Eduard Limonov, M.Kalashnikov, and others. Positions itself as a third force to save the country, when the crash occurs. Warns about danger of a big two-front war.
 * --Resup (talk) 21:28, 12 February 2016 (UTC)

Sanctions
...seems to be no end in sight...
 * US adds 5 people to Magnitskii list, -investigators linked to his case, Feb 1, 2016.
 * Russia bars 5 Americans from entry in tit-for-tat response

June 16, 2016. Sarkozy, at a press conference at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, calls for lifting of sanctions, changing negative dynamics, -as well as common space founded by European Union, Russia, and Turkey (TV Rain; TASS; RT). Presumably, Russia is to make the first step and hope for the best according to his follow-up answers.

June 18, 2016. Sergei Ivanov (Chief of the Presidential Administration of Russia) prefers for sanctions to lasts long as possible since '2/3 of budget income, not oil and gas but other sectors such as chemical industry,  experience rapid growth,  up to 30-35 % per year',  as a result. Article continues to say that counter-sanctions are to be lifted at once if the Western sanctions are lifted.

Duma Elections, 2016



 * "United Russia" pre-election congress is opened by its chairman, Dmitry Medvedev- TASS, 5 Feb. 2016.

At present, 10 parties have their registration to stand in elections officially approved. According to the latest opinion poll, the ruling party "United Russia" is leading, with 57% of committed voters /39 % of all voters. PARNAS (of late Nemtsov) is approved to stand in elections; however based on latest poll results,  only 1.3 % are "definitely" voting for their candidates, while another 5.7  are "possibly" voting. A party gets seats if it receives more than 5% of the vote.--Resup (talk) 16:19, 5 August 2016 (UTC)

19 Sept., 2016. Preliminary results, 99% counted
 * Ruling United Russia received 54% of vote, and 76% of Duma seats, vastly dominating in single-mandate districts. 4 mainstream parties are above 5% threshold on party lists districts; no opposition party is over this threshold, moreover even the best among them are below 3% required to qualify for federal funding. All opposition altogether will have only 2 seats, gained in single-mandate districts. (One more self-nominating candidate is said to be of United Russia). PARNAS is getting 0.7 % of the vote. 47.8% of eligible voters actually voted. --Resup (talk) 17:21, 19 September 2016 (UTC)
 * ...and Kadyrov is getting 98% of the vote in Chechnya. --Resup (talk) 17:21, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

Presidential Elections, 2018
According to Peskov, it is yet undecided whether Putin or somebody else (e.g. Medvedev) will run, as it is too early to tell--Resup (talk) 09:31, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

Chechnya Elections
Kadyrov term is set to expire in April, 2016. New elections will be held on the national election day, 18 Sept. 2016. In the meantime, it is believed that Kadyrov will be appointed acting head, but that was called too early to discuss by Peskov. Kadyrov stated that future Chechnya leadership is up to the President of Russia to decide first.
 * It is said in the news that the leader of Chechnya will be again called Chechnya president, back from the current head of Chechnya; head of Chechnya is the term used in the current constitution of 2003.

Mixed message from Kadyrov so far, ready to serve if ordered to do so, but time may be up and another person needed, saying that 'my time has passed. There are so many successors in the team, there are very good specialists'. --Resup (talk) 12:46, 27 February 2016 (UTC)

Putin appointed Kadyrov acting head of Chechnya, till elections in September 2016, expressing hope that Kadyrov will participate in those elections and that voters in Checnya will appreciate what he has done for the Checnya republic -TASS--Resup (talk) 12:16, 25 March 2016 (UTC)
 * Echo Moskvy copies, not providing an immediate comment ...

Tula region
Alexey Diumin (Hero of Russia, leutenant-general, said to organize Yanukovich extraction and Crimea operation-which he denies) was appointed acting governor of Tula region. Some speculated that he may be groomed for a future leadership role (also rfe/rl).
 * --Resup (talk) 09:31, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

Local Elections
Early election in a small, elitist village of Barvikha, in Moscow region, was cancelled after a protest by Alexey Navalnyi anti-corruption foundation candidates. They complained (video ) that there was an unusually high volume of outsiders casting early vote, about 1/4 of total expected number of voters a few days prior to the voting itself (just 189 such early votes were cast, but the number of voters is small as well). It was said that absentees votes were cast by migrants, multiply registered at the same addresses shortly before the vote. New Russia's elections committee head Ella Pamfilova, formerly Russia's Commissioner for Human Rights, was sharply criticized by Navalnyi and opposition for her handling of election complaints; but eventually she sided with the opposition in cancelling early election. New election will be scheduled in about half a year time.--Resup (talk) 13:47, 20 April 2016 (UTC)

Presidential Elections, 2018

 * Peskov: Putin has not decided yet whether he will run for President in 2018- TASS. Too early for such a decision.--Resup (talk) 11:38, 29 January 2016 (UTC)

Sci-Tech
(Occasional rare entries only)

Proton launch, Mars mission, Russia -EU live recording --Resup (talk) 09:02, 14 March 2016 (UTC)

Soiuz 2.1a rocket launched satellites from a new space launch site "Vostochnyi", just build recently despite difficult economic conditions, and located in Russia, as opposed to Baikonur, located in Kazakhstan. (Launch was delayed by a day; Putin stayed) --Resup (talk) 12:03, 28 April 2016 (UTC)
 * Video 1, video 2.

In the news
Lesin:
 * (1) died of blunt blow to the head :(2) according to a friend had previous serious spine injury and many follow-up surgeries as a  result; and is said to have a drinking bout on the eve of his death- Kommersant.ru
 * (3) also, according to lenta.ru and Navalnyi, border control records appear to show that somebody used Lesin passport to leave USA 40 days after his reported death (as there is departure entry on December 15, 2015, while the death occurred on November 5, 2015).
 * However, it was explained that the departure record was made by the authorities to close non-immigrant visa (said to be a standard practice), and does not mean physical departure
 * --Resup (talk) 13:31, 12 March 2016 (UTC)

30.3.2016 IS claimed responsibility for IED explosion in Dagestan, Russia. Two Russian MOI trucks were hit, one policeman was killed, two were wounded.--Resup (talk) 11:44, 30 March 2016 (UTC)

FlyDubai crash.
moved

Media

 * Russia Today: NatWest 'freezes bank accounts' in UK-BBC, October 17, 2016
 * ''Margarita Simonyan tweeted: "They've closed our accounts in Britain. All our accounts. 'The decision is not subject to review.' Praise be to freedom of speech!"


 * RT bank accounts blocked in UK – editor-in-chief-RT, October 17, 2016
 * ''Our accounts in Britain have been blocked. All of them. ‘Decision not to be discussed’. Hail to freedom of speech!” RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said on her Twitter account.


 * What? Mutiny on that ship? OK, they will close their bank account in that one particular bank group (they posted it) in 2 months from now, and return the money by check if alternative banking is not found. So good for them, means they got some money, and are not about to loose them as a result of whatever is going on here. (What's 'freedom of speech'?)--Resup (talk) 12:52, 17 October 2016 (UTC)

Legal

 * "Factbox: Who's who on the U.S. Magnitsky list", Reuters, Apr 12, 2013.
 * 8 names out of 18 on the list explained; the last two are not related to Magnitsky case.


 * "A guide to the Russian officials on the U.S. Magnitsky list", by Elias Groll, Foreign Policy, April 13, 2013
 * At the bottom of the list, one "foot soldier" -"Interior Ministry operative who participated in the raid", and four "judges tasked with ruling on the Magnitsky case."


 * "Bill Browder (bio) Forces Cancellation of Film Critical of Him Minutes Before Screening in Brussels", by Gilbert Doctorow, Russia Insider, 29 April 2016
 * No comment on the film before seen the film. Serious evidence is good enough in PDF or MS Word, does not have to be in video format. Andrei Nekrasov has talent, had important and emotionally powerful documentary footage in the past, on the side of opposition. --Resup (talk) 10:09, 29 April 2016 (UTC)

Sports Section
Normally not commenting, but this is curious: 'Why Russia Makes the Olympics Better', WSJ, July 22, 2016. My point here is that Olympics were supposed to prevent wars, not create them. It is very clear that a forceful reaction from Russia to Maidan came in the footsteps of Western leaders boycotting Sochi Olympics; if they would all cosy up there, maybe no overreaction and less tragic Maidan. Don't want to discuss all other aspects involved,-hopefully it's clear where I am getting.-- In Russia, calls to slam the door, remember mass sport (and Stalin), and so on --Resup (talk) 09:36, 23 July 2016 (UTC)

Beslan Mudranov, from Kabardino-Balkaria, wins under-60 kg judo gold for Russia, in a match against an opponent from Kazakhstan-video. Awarded waza-ari by the referee for a throw in Golden Score time. Commentator shouts "Yuko!" , as the opponent appears to land a bit on the side, yet it's close to a clean throw, and Golden Score applies (it appears) in any case. Waza-ari that will be. --Resup (talk) 12:55, 8 August 2016 (UTC)
 * Street celebrations in Kabardino-Balkaria. Congratulated by the Kremlin.

Aug. 9, 2016. Khasan Khalmurzaev from Ingushetia won another Olympic judo gold with the highest score, Ippon, over Travis Stevens, USA in under 81 kg category.--Resup (talk) 23:28, 9 August 2016 (UTC)

Wars during Olympics

 * Georgia, August 2008.
 * Ukraine Maidan, January/February 2014
 * Donbass and Aleppo, August 2016
 * --Resup (talk) 23:40, 9 August 2016 (UTC)