Vladimir Putin and Rosneft chief, Russian oligarch №1 Igor Sechin visited a historic Konevsky monastery in northwestern Russia that was restored by Rosneft.
The footage on federal TV was supposed not only to show the faith of Putin in Jesus Christ, but also to confirm Sechin’s status as Putin’s right hand man.
There are some allegations that this status has shattered a little bit, but Sechin is so powerful and runs so deep in the system of putinism and Russian corruption, that he has nothing to fear.
Sechin was instrumental in destroying Yukos and other cases that allowed Putin to tighten his grip on Russia. Oligarch №1 has tens of billions to lose and is preoccupied with securing his capitals and legally passing them to his heirs.
The footage on federal TV was supposed not only to show the faith of Putin in Jesus Christ, but also to confirm Sechin’s status as Putin’s right hand man.
There are some allegations that this status has shattered a little bit, but Sechin is so powerful and runs so deep in the system of putinism and Russian corruption, that he has nothing to fear.
Sechin was instrumental in destroying Yukos and other cases that allowed Putin to tighten his grip on Russia. Oligarch №1 has tens of billions to lose and is preoccupied with securing his capitals and legally passing them to his heirs.
26-years old Belarusian activist Vitaly Shishov has been found hanged in a park in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Shishov headed the Belarusian House in Ukraine, an NGO that helped people flee repression in Belarus.
Ukraine is a backyard of Russian and Belarusian secret services that frequently act together. The dear friend of Azerbaijani oligarchs, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin has visited Minsk after the violent crackdown on protests to ensure that Kremlin got Alexander Lukashenko’s back.
Perhaps we are witnessing now one of the results of a deep integration between the two countries.
Ukraine is a backyard of Russian and Belarusian secret services that frequently act together. The dear friend of Azerbaijani oligarchs, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin has visited Minsk after the violent crackdown on protests to ensure that Kremlin got Alexander Lukashenko’s back.
Perhaps we are witnessing now one of the results of a deep integration between the two countries.
Alexei Kudrin, Russia’s Accounts Chamber chief, gave an interview about the current Russian economic model and its perspectives. According to Kudrin, Kremlin’s approach to macroeconomic matters fell well behind the time.
Basically, Kudrin said that Putin and his feudal elites are dragging the country back. As one of Russia’s leading liberals and Putin’s friend, Kudrin is allowed to make risky assumptions like that.
He is obviously right, and there is nothing to discuss here. Russia certainly could do better economically, at least it could avoid its current shameful levels of poverty.
Kudrin elaborated on this issue, saying that several hundred billions of roubles could’ve halved the Russian poverty. Surely so. Moreover, Russian budget and state funds have more than enough money to do so, but they won’t.
Putinism is impossible without poverty. Almost everything Russia generates is taken by its feudal lords and mostly transferred to the West. The biggest Russian problem is actually the rift between the interests of Russian people and Russian elites.
So far Kremlin and its oligarchs are literally sweeping the series against the people of Russia.
Basically, Kudrin said that Putin and his feudal elites are dragging the country back. As one of Russia’s leading liberals and Putin’s friend, Kudrin is allowed to make risky assumptions like that.
He is obviously right, and there is nothing to discuss here. Russia certainly could do better economically, at least it could avoid its current shameful levels of poverty.
Kudrin elaborated on this issue, saying that several hundred billions of roubles could’ve halved the Russian poverty. Surely so. Moreover, Russian budget and state funds have more than enough money to do so, but they won’t.
Putinism is impossible without poverty. Almost everything Russia generates is taken by its feudal lords and mostly transferred to the West. The biggest Russian problem is actually the rift between the interests of Russian people and Russian elites.
So far Kremlin and its oligarchs are literally sweeping the series against the people of Russia.
No Mystery
A substantial piece of writing on corruption as a foreign policy instrument of Russia. There is an incorrect sentiment in Moscow about West misunderstanding Russia and failing to evaluate it.
Actually, there is nothing too complicated about this country and its political structure. America, for example, is much more difficult to comprehend. The text elaborates on the structure of Russian state and its weaponized corruption.
To sum it up, Russia is an oligarchic capitalism with strong feudal traditions and corruption as an organizing principle of governance. It is run by Putin as a corporation with immense repressive resource.
Russian colleagues shouldn’t overestimate the mystery of their country and culture which is also a product of Western influence.
At the same time, nobody should doubt that American elites, although Russia isn’t the top issue, understand what is going on in Moscow and its internal colonies.
A substantial piece of writing on corruption as a foreign policy instrument of Russia. There is an incorrect sentiment in Moscow about West misunderstanding Russia and failing to evaluate it.
Actually, there is nothing too complicated about this country and its political structure. America, for example, is much more difficult to comprehend. The text elaborates on the structure of Russian state and its weaponized corruption.
To sum it up, Russia is an oligarchic capitalism with strong feudal traditions and corruption as an organizing principle of governance. It is run by Putin as a corporation with immense repressive resource.
Russian colleagues shouldn’t overestimate the mystery of their country and culture which is also a product of Western influence.
At the same time, nobody should doubt that American elites, although Russia isn’t the top issue, understand what is going on in Moscow and its internal colonies.
Fridman&Aven vs Alexander Bastrykin
Russia’s Prosecutor Office is seeking about $100mln from the country’s biggest private bank Alpha Bank in case of the former federal Minister Mikhail Abyzov.
According to Russian prosecutors, Abyzov invested about $115mln of dirty money in Telegram’s TON blockchain-based network. In May 2020, Telegram withdrew from the project after litigation from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and Abyzov got his money back with 10% profit.
Alpha Bank has been operating with $104mln of Abyzov, whose E4 company owed about 10bln roubles to Alpha. Russian prosecutors claim that these operations were illegal because of the money’s origins and want Alpha to transfer it to the federal budget.
Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven as Russia’s premier raiders are used to take, not to give. We’ll see now whether alpha oligarchs overwhelm Federal Prosecutor’s Office.
Russia’s Prosecutor Office is seeking about $100mln from the country’s biggest private bank Alpha Bank in case of the former federal Minister Mikhail Abyzov.
According to Russian prosecutors, Abyzov invested about $115mln of dirty money in Telegram’s TON blockchain-based network. In May 2020, Telegram withdrew from the project after litigation from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and Abyzov got his money back with 10% profit.
Alpha Bank has been operating with $104mln of Abyzov, whose E4 company owed about 10bln roubles to Alpha. Russian prosecutors claim that these operations were illegal because of the money’s origins and want Alpha to transfer it to the federal budget.
Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven as Russia’s premier raiders are used to take, not to give. We’ll see now whether alpha oligarchs overwhelm Federal Prosecutor’s Office.
OSCE will not send observers to Russia’s upcoming elections for the first time in nearly three decades due to "major limitations" imposed by Russian authorities. The statement was heavily criticized by Russian officials and parliament members as “unfair”.
It won't especially hurt Russia's reputation, for you cannot hurt something that doesn’t exist anymore. There is no need to observe rigged elections, especially after Kremlin (Kirienko, FSB) started repressions against even opposition figures and media.
Freedom is destroyed in Russia not only politically, but as an idea and a category of being. This fact is more bothering than the coming rigged elections with results that are known beforehand.
OSCE got everything right. Elections in Russia are hardly legitimate, so there is no need to get into a dirt like that.
It won't especially hurt Russia's reputation, for you cannot hurt something that doesn’t exist anymore. There is no need to observe rigged elections, especially after Kremlin (Kirienko, FSB) started repressions against even opposition figures and media.
Freedom is destroyed in Russia not only politically, but as an idea and a category of being. This fact is more bothering than the coming rigged elections with results that are known beforehand.
OSCE got everything right. Elections in Russia are hardly legitimate, so there is no need to get into a dirt like that.
Belarusian Case
Lukashenko’s regime has become an ultimate pariah.
Unlike Yanukovich, Lukashenko is a full-scale dictator who doesn’t hesitate to imprison or kill people. He isn’t willing to give up his power to anyone.
Like Yanukovich’s case, the case of Lukashenko shows the ultimate failure of Russian policy in its key Slavic neighbor states. Our Russian colleagues shouldn’t be illusional about Kremlin’s long-term plan in Belarus.
There is no plan, as well as there wasn’t any plan in Ukraine. Kremlin, Putin and his cronies are not about plans, values and strategies, they are solely about money.
If there was some thought behind Russian policy in Belarus, Moscow would have someone to replace Lukashenko with. So, Kremlin either doesn’t have any plan, or Lukashenko totally outplayed Putin.
The story will either way end in Russia’s long-term cultural loss and failure. By totally supporting Lukashenko it is losing Belarusian people the same way it has lost Ukranians.
Lukashenko’s regime has become an ultimate pariah.
Unlike Yanukovich, Lukashenko is a full-scale dictator who doesn’t hesitate to imprison or kill people. He isn’t willing to give up his power to anyone.
Like Yanukovich’s case, the case of Lukashenko shows the ultimate failure of Russian policy in its key Slavic neighbor states. Our Russian colleagues shouldn’t be illusional about Kremlin’s long-term plan in Belarus.
There is no plan, as well as there wasn’t any plan in Ukraine. Kremlin, Putin and his cronies are not about plans, values and strategies, they are solely about money.
If there was some thought behind Russian policy in Belarus, Moscow would have someone to replace Lukashenko with. So, Kremlin either doesn’t have any plan, or Lukashenko totally outplayed Putin.
The story will either way end in Russia’s long-term cultural loss and failure. By totally supporting Lukashenko it is losing Belarusian people the same way it has lost Ukranians.
According to the official Rosstat data, there is no Russian region with people having an average income of 1000 Euros.
People in the vast majority of Russian regions actually have an average monthly income of 250-300 Euros, including those with enormous natural resources that bring billions of dollars to the federal budget.
Where does the money go? Well, that might be a trick question. Top-management of Corporation Russia has extremely high living standards.
Resources and money are being soaked from the country to build another billion dollar palace for Putin, superyacht for Abramovich or golden toilet for a local police officer.
Stunning inequality and poverty, intentional destruction of middle class and a real shame. These are the days of a superpower with great ambitions.
People in the vast majority of Russian regions actually have an average monthly income of 250-300 Euros, including those with enormous natural resources that bring billions of dollars to the federal budget.
Where does the money go? Well, that might be a trick question. Top-management of Corporation Russia has extremely high living standards.
Resources and money are being soaked from the country to build another billion dollar palace for Putin, superyacht for Abramovich or golden toilet for a local police officer.
Stunning inequality and poverty, intentional destruction of middle class and a real shame. These are the days of a superpower with great ambitions.
Lukashenko The Mongoose
Alexander Lukashenko keeps on trolling Kremlin.
Speaking today at his annual press-conference on the one-year anniversary of the country's disputed August 9 presidential elections, Lukashenko said he has no problem recognizing Crimea a part of Russia, but only after Russian oligarchs do same.
Belarusian president is referring to numerous Russian tycoons, companies and state banks that avoid operations in Crimea due to the Western sanctions. By making fun out of Russian elite’s half hearted position, Lukashenko caused an anger of Russian parliament and patriots, but he couldn’t care less.
Lukashenko also accepted words of gratitude from Georgian journalist for not recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
When it comes to making best of Moscow and Putin, Lukashenko resembles a little mongoose who is skillfully handling a powerful venomous cobra.
Alexander Lukashenko keeps on trolling Kremlin.
Speaking today at his annual press-conference on the one-year anniversary of the country's disputed August 9 presidential elections, Lukashenko said he has no problem recognizing Crimea a part of Russia, but only after Russian oligarchs do same.
Belarusian president is referring to numerous Russian tycoons, companies and state banks that avoid operations in Crimea due to the Western sanctions. By making fun out of Russian elite’s half hearted position, Lukashenko caused an anger of Russian parliament and patriots, but he couldn’t care less.
Lukashenko also accepted words of gratitude from Georgian journalist for not recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
When it comes to making best of Moscow and Putin, Lukashenko resembles a little mongoose who is skillfully handling a powerful venomous cobra.
Russian Coronavirus Crisis
At least nine coronavirus patients died in a hospital of southern Russian region North Ossetia-Alania after an oxygen pipe burst underground, cutting supply to an intensive care ward.
The tragedy is another sign of critically damaged infrastructure all over the country. Russian infrastructure needs very heavy investments, but Kremlin obviously has another priorities.
Russian regions could've made their own investments in local infrastructure, but because of the overcentralization they usually do not have enough money. Moscow sucks the regions dry.
Overall the Covid death toll of Russia is unknown, because the authorities don’t provide relevant stats. Russian propaganda keeps on claiming that the country is battling the pandemic better than the West, as if it was a competition or a football game.
At least nine coronavirus patients died in a hospital of southern Russian region North Ossetia-Alania after an oxygen pipe burst underground, cutting supply to an intensive care ward.
The tragedy is another sign of critically damaged infrastructure all over the country. Russian infrastructure needs very heavy investments, but Kremlin obviously has another priorities.
Russian regions could've made their own investments in local infrastructure, but because of the overcentralization they usually do not have enough money. Moscow sucks the regions dry.
Overall the Covid death toll of Russia is unknown, because the authorities don’t provide relevant stats. Russian propaganda keeps on claiming that the country is battling the pandemic better than the West, as if it was a competition or a football game.
The latest American sanctions on Belarus have one interesting feature. While being very destructive for Lukashenko’s regime, they still leave him and Russia a little room to move.
Washington has hit Belarus’s major export company Belaruskali which controls about 20% of global potash market. Yet Belarusian Potash Company, which sells potash fertilizers produced by Belaruskali, hasn’t been included in the list.
According to Bloomberg, The U.S. issued licenses allowing counterparts to wind down transactions with Belaruskali -- or any entity in which it owns at least a 50% interest -- by Dec. 8, giving consumers time to find alternative supplies.
The licenses can be extended – or not. It will depend on the course of events.
Washington has hit Belarus’s major export company Belaruskali which controls about 20% of global potash market. Yet Belarusian Potash Company, which sells potash fertilizers produced by Belaruskali, hasn’t been included in the list.
According to Bloomberg, The U.S. issued licenses allowing counterparts to wind down transactions with Belaruskali -- or any entity in which it owns at least a 50% interest -- by Dec. 8, giving consumers time to find alternative supplies.
The licenses can be extended – or not. It will depend on the course of events.
UK imposed sanctions on Russian oligarch Mikhail Gutseriev for his ties with Lukashenko. Gutseriev is very close to Belarusian president and is instrumental in various oil and finance operations in the country, including those with cryptocurrency.
It is ironic that, while having problems with Kremlin in the mid 2000s, Gutseriev fled to London through Minsk airport.
Now London sanctioned him for his ties with Minsk.
It is ironic that, while having problems with Kremlin in the mid 2000s, Gutseriev fled to London through Minsk airport.
Now London sanctioned him for his ties with Minsk.
German police arrested a British diplomat in Berlin on suspicion of passing documents to Russian intelligence. The arrest has been confirmed in Scotland Yard.
Russian foreign intelligence under Sergei Naryshkin is one public failure after another. Perhaps, Naryshkin should pay more attention to his duties instead of swimming in private pools of his Azerbaijani friends in Moscow or writing funny articles.
This failure of Russian intelligence has a more interesting dimension though. Angela Merkel, who has closer contacts with Putin than any other European leader, is leaving her office after decades of serving as a Chancellor.
Merkel is supposed to visit Moscow before that and discuss some terms of future cooperation between the Russia and Europe. The arrest of another Russian spy gives her visit a negative context.
The fact that he is British shows that Britain is keen to prevent any kind of continental alliances against The Island.
Russian foreign intelligence under Sergei Naryshkin is one public failure after another. Perhaps, Naryshkin should pay more attention to his duties instead of swimming in private pools of his Azerbaijani friends in Moscow or writing funny articles.
This failure of Russian intelligence has a more interesting dimension though. Angela Merkel, who has closer contacts with Putin than any other European leader, is leaving her office after decades of serving as a Chancellor.
Merkel is supposed to visit Moscow before that and discuss some terms of future cooperation between the Russia and Europe. The arrest of another Russian spy gives her visit a negative context.
The fact that he is British shows that Britain is keen to prevent any kind of continental alliances against The Island.
Another corrupted local official was arrested in a southern Russian region, which made Russian media claim that FSB, MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs) and Federal Investigative Committee started “decriminalizing” one particular region.
Good joke. What Russia really needs is decriminalization of FSB, MVD and Investigative Committee themselves. Siloviks are practically in charge of enormous Russian corruption.
Random regional officials, even high-ranked, won't make any difference. Money is in Moscow, so is the corruption.
Good joke. What Russia really needs is decriminalization of FSB, MVD and Investigative Committee themselves. Siloviks are practically in charge of enormous Russian corruption.
Random regional officials, even high-ranked, won't make any difference. Money is in Moscow, so is the corruption.
Russian Feudals
Russian MP from Dagestan Magomed Gadzhiyev presented $1mln in cash to Dagestani freestyle wrestler for his gold medal in Tokyo Olympics. Where did he get this amount of money might be a trick question – like many of his colleagues in State Duma, Gadzhiyev is believed to be a criminal.
Local MP in Kamchatka, Russian Far East, billionaire Igor Redkin has accidentally killed a man at a garbage dump in the village of Ozernovsky. According to Redkin, he was shooting a bear at the dump to protect people in the village.
Locals believe though, that Redkin went on safari. Bears are often coming to garbage dumps in this part of the country and local strongmen are shooting them for fun, although it is prohibited under Russian law.
Redkin hasn't been arrested. That’s how these people live.
Russian MP from Dagestan Magomed Gadzhiyev presented $1mln in cash to Dagestani freestyle wrestler for his gold medal in Tokyo Olympics. Where did he get this amount of money might be a trick question – like many of his colleagues in State Duma, Gadzhiyev is believed to be a criminal.
Local MP in Kamchatka, Russian Far East, billionaire Igor Redkin has accidentally killed a man at a garbage dump in the village of Ozernovsky. According to Redkin, he was shooting a bear at the dump to protect people in the village.
Locals believe though, that Redkin went on safari. Bears are often coming to garbage dumps in this part of the country and local strongmen are shooting them for fun, although it is prohibited under Russian law.
Redkin hasn't been arrested. That’s how these people live.
Ona Utonula
- You tell me, what happened to the submarine?
- (smiling) It sank.
Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kursk sank 21 years ago, on August 12, 2000, killing all 118 sailors aboard. A month later Putin gave his infamous CNN interview to Larry King. Answering the question about the reasons of this disaster he smiled and said “ona utonula” (“it sank” in Russian).
Putin and the whole Russian government handled the tragedy poorly and fell under heavy criticism of federal media. It was, perhaps, the moment when Putin made a decision to get rid of any free media in the country.
Putin’s “ona utonula” is a symbol of Kremlin’s traditional view of its own people: their lives do not matter. No responsibility.
Declassified scripts of Clinton Digital Library in 2019 showed that even in the aftermath of the tragedy, while speaking with Bill Clinton, Putin was mostly concerned about his ratings.
- You tell me, what happened to the submarine?
- (smiling) It sank.
Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kursk sank 21 years ago, on August 12, 2000, killing all 118 sailors aboard. A month later Putin gave his infamous CNN interview to Larry King. Answering the question about the reasons of this disaster he smiled and said “ona utonula” (“it sank” in Russian).
Putin and the whole Russian government handled the tragedy poorly and fell under heavy criticism of federal media. It was, perhaps, the moment when Putin made a decision to get rid of any free media in the country.
Putin’s “ona utonula” is a symbol of Kremlin’s traditional view of its own people: their lives do not matter. No responsibility.
Declassified scripts of Clinton Digital Library in 2019 showed that even in the aftermath of the tragedy, while speaking with Bill Clinton, Putin was mostly concerned about his ratings.
United Russia’s top candidate in the coming Duma elections Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that moral degradation and internal disintegration are major threats in Russia.
A couple of days after him another top candidate in the coming Duma elections Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that bears in Russia live better than Native Americans in the US. Don’t know why he brought up America in his speech in front of Russian youth, but whatever.
It is ironic and funny how billionaires like Shoigu and very rich people like Lavrov, both of them being top-ranked public figures almost forever, will talk about anything but major Russian problems – poverty, corruption and overcentralization.
Mr. Lavrov should know that the vast majority of Russian have a monthly income of $250-300, which makes the whole country a reservation by American standard.
We do not know about the well-being of bears in Alaska, but assume that, unfortunately, they also live much better than 80% of Russians.
A couple of days after him another top candidate in the coming Duma elections Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that bears in Russia live better than Native Americans in the US. Don’t know why he brought up America in his speech in front of Russian youth, but whatever.
It is ironic and funny how billionaires like Shoigu and very rich people like Lavrov, both of them being top-ranked public figures almost forever, will talk about anything but major Russian problems – poverty, corruption and overcentralization.
Mr. Lavrov should know that the vast majority of Russian have a monthly income of $250-300, which makes the whole country a reservation by American standard.
We do not know about the well-being of bears in Alaska, but assume that, unfortunately, they also live much better than 80% of Russians.
Afghan Choice
Taliban overrun Afghanistan during the weekend and is now at its historic peak. International agenda is dominated by the images of panic in Kabul, American media and both democrats and republicans are eating Biden alive.
We are understandably lost in the moment emotionally. Rationally Biden made the right call.
It looks really, really bad, and of course this swift collapse of Afghan government hurt not only the reputation of America, but also the values it represents. Let’s not deny obvious facts.
Let’s also not deny that American presence in the country made no sense anymore. We could be there for 20 more years and spend another trillion of dollars – with the same result.
Afghanistan is an ultimate failed state, and there is nothing we can do about it. Taliban is the choice of the Afghans. To be honest, Biden just fixed American profits and moved forward.
Afgan army collapsed in a blink of an eye having all kinds of advantages over Taliban. There was no resolve, they didn’t even try. It was well-known months ago, so what’s the big surprise.
Many people in DC advocated for withdrawal years ago, but no President before Biden was able to take this responsibility. He did. The game goes on, we will move forward.
Supporting Biden in this one. Should’ve been done long, long time ago.
Taliban overrun Afghanistan during the weekend and is now at its historic peak. International agenda is dominated by the images of panic in Kabul, American media and both democrats and republicans are eating Biden alive.
We are understandably lost in the moment emotionally. Rationally Biden made the right call.
It looks really, really bad, and of course this swift collapse of Afghan government hurt not only the reputation of America, but also the values it represents. Let’s not deny obvious facts.
Let’s also not deny that American presence in the country made no sense anymore. We could be there for 20 more years and spend another trillion of dollars – with the same result.
Afghanistan is an ultimate failed state, and there is nothing we can do about it. Taliban is the choice of the Afghans. To be honest, Biden just fixed American profits and moved forward.
Afgan army collapsed in a blink of an eye having all kinds of advantages over Taliban. There was no resolve, they didn’t even try. It was well-known months ago, so what’s the big surprise.
Many people in DC advocated for withdrawal years ago, but no President before Biden was able to take this responsibility. He did. The game goes on, we will move forward.
Supporting Biden in this one. Should’ve been done long, long time ago.
Pro-Kremlin propaganda is going wild over Afghanistan, feeling that Soviet humiliation has been revenged now. As usual, too many emotion with no thinking behind it.
American system of contacts with Taliban is extremely broad. A year ago Mike Pompeo was meeting the current Taliban leader in Kabul. Mulla Baradar was released from prison in 2018 practically on the orders of Washington.
The decision to withdraw is unpopular with the US public too, but it is the right call. It is important to evacuate as many people as possible and leave Afghanistan.
Nobody should be stupid enough to think that the US withdrew just because it couldn’t conduct its operations in Afghanistan anymore. The decision releases enormous resources that will be used elsewhere.
By the way, Iran was offering its help to official Kabul till the very end, but Ghani rejected Iranian assistance. Washington is ok with Taliban there, but not Iran.
American system of contacts with Taliban is extremely broad. A year ago Mike Pompeo was meeting the current Taliban leader in Kabul. Mulla Baradar was released from prison in 2018 practically on the orders of Washington.
The decision to withdraw is unpopular with the US public too, but it is the right call. It is important to evacuate as many people as possible and leave Afghanistan.
Nobody should be stupid enough to think that the US withdrew just because it couldn’t conduct its operations in Afghanistan anymore. The decision releases enormous resources that will be used elsewhere.
By the way, Iran was offering its help to official Kabul till the very end, but Ghani rejected Iranian assistance. Washington is ok with Taliban there, but not Iran.
Michael Rubin, a brilliant scholar and expert on the region, advocates for punishing Pakistan in the aftermath of Afghan withdrawal. Cannot disagree with Rubin's take. Pakistan is already China's vassal, so there is not much to lose there. The cause looks perfect.
Have been surveying Russian telegram for meaningful takes on Afghanistan, and there are few. Overall, there is no need to elaborate on money spent by America. It is time to think about future Russian spending in Afghanistan and nearby CIS countries.
Have been surveying Russian telegram for meaningful takes on Afghanistan, and there are few. Overall, there is no need to elaborate on money spent by America. It is time to think about future Russian spending in Afghanistan and nearby CIS countries.
Russian government will provide the Institute of Internet Development with additional 7bln roubles to fund Kremlin’s ideological internet projects. Overall the institute will get 10bln roubles (about $136mln) this year.
There is little doubt that this money will just vanish without any meaningful results. Kremlin’s youth policy hasn’t ever been successful due to corruption and cultural differences between Russian youth and ruling oldmen with Soviet background.
The man in charge of this money and the projects it will be assigned for is Sergei Kirienko. No need to say that Kremlin will find million ways to spend money, but not give it to its people suffering from poverty.
There is no such thing as “taxpayers money” in Russia. It is absent from Russian political culture. Money belongs to the Czar, he is spending it the way he wants to. Nobody will hold him and his government accountable.
There is little doubt that this money will just vanish without any meaningful results. Kremlin’s youth policy hasn’t ever been successful due to corruption and cultural differences between Russian youth and ruling oldmen with Soviet background.
The man in charge of this money and the projects it will be assigned for is Sergei Kirienko. No need to say that Kremlin will find million ways to spend money, but not give it to its people suffering from poverty.
There is no such thing as “taxpayers money” in Russia. It is absent from Russian political culture. Money belongs to the Czar, he is spending it the way he wants to. Nobody will hold him and his government accountable.