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Articles related to "Kremlin"
Primakov's Kremlin Coat of Many Colors The new coalition government is setting out its economic agenda, which is expected to include an alcohol monopoly, currency controls, other state controls on the economy and inflation. As discussed previously, greater state controls and inflation are a bad idea. This is in the face of an approaching national day of protest. The new broom that sweeps clean may be Russia's last chance to solve its crisis of confidence that otherwise could bring down the regime, and possibly much of the world with it. russia moscow kremlin yeltsin primakov shokhin fyo
Moscow’s New Ritz-Carlton Hotel With Moscow fast gaining a reputation as one of the world's most expensive cities, it was time it got a fancy Ritz-Carlton hotel right next to Red Square. moscow ritz-carlton • luxury hotels • red square • intourist hotel site • st basil’s cathedral
Russian Cities: Astrakhan Astrakhan, on the delta of the Volga river, is a destination for tourists interested in wooden architecture, authentic provincial Russia, and history. russia • astrakhan • kremlin • travel • silk road
An Open Letter to Premier Sergei Kiriyenko Premier Sergei Kiriyenko needs to keep in mind, amid the financial crisis, that unpaid workers and pensioners are creditors too, and poor Russian citizens to boot. Not just this crisis, but also Russia's situation in general and President Boris Yeltsin's bad political and worse physical health, leave Kiriyenko in a unique position to make all the difference. kiriyenko yeltsin russia moscow kremlin
Apocalypse Now? Russia is not necessarily heading for the abyss, but given previous developments, Russia's history and parallels with Iraq, it's wise to at least make contingency plans. Primakov's government is likely to be Russia's - and the world's - last chance. russia moscow kremlin belarus yeltsin primakov cri
Crisis As Usual Russia's current financial crisis, a slow downward slide rather than a cataclysmic fall, is becoming a microcosm of Russia in general, lurching from crisis to crisis due mainly to political and legal instability. Watch the changes in Russia's tax administration and implementation for a possible turnaround - not just in raising more money but, more importantly, raising more confidence in the government. russia kremlin moscow yeltsin crisis fyodorov
Eye of the Storm? Moscow seems to be in the eye of a political storm, with issues ranging from tax/pension arrears to taxes, possible spending cuts, privatizations and START-2 ratification to be tackled soon. The Communists may be gearing up for a confrontation with the government, especially after summer recess. kremlin yeltsin start zyuganov seleznev russia mos
Feature: The Military in Russian Politics - Then and Now The Soviet military had an important but constrained role in politics. Now, the military has serious grievances: wage arrears, lack of maintenance and serious cutbacks. If they continue to have reason to believe that the leadership does not care about them and that they cannot count on the leadership, they may intervene...with serious consequences. soviet russia kremlin politics military history
Impeachment Now! Impeachment proceedings against Yeltsin are expected to be voted on by the Duma in January, and if accepted by a two-thirds majority there, to go before the Supreme and Constitutional Courts and then, if approved by both, to the Federation Council, which must vote a two-thirds majority to remove the president. The charges - supported predominantly though not solely by the Communists - are mostly political in nature. Indeed, genuine legal scandals do not seem to be playing any role in the impeachment process whatsoever. Yeltsin is recovering (physically), so this matters more. Among other things, this may have some effect on the Russian-Indian negotiations for a strategic partnership in 1999. russia moscow kremlin yeltsin primakov impeachment
Iraq: Explosion in Moscow The Iraq crisis is eliciting heated words from both Yeltsin and Duma leaders as they confront each other on a wide variety of domestic issues. This explains Russia's hardest line in support of Iraq since the Kuwait War. The growing domestic conflict and instability in the Kremlin may impel the leadership to "irrational" confrontation with the West, in order to prove that they can take a firm stand. Russia may be turning into a rabid tiger. iraq crisis inspections yeltsin duma kremlin russi
It's Christmas in Russia According to most Russians, 1998 was the worst come-down from the previous year since 1992 - and not without good reason. But, the government is enjoying a breather for now, as the 1999 budget went through the Duma on its first reading, and impeachment doesn't seem to be a hot issue outside the Kremlin. Meanwhile, the government's getting set to take over the banking system as part and parcel of a financial rescue program (old vodka, new bottles). Speaking of vodka, Premier Primakov seems to be following President Yeltsin's lead in promising purges to strengthen discipline in the government, as it gets set to tighten up on bootleg alcohol and tobacco. Maybe these measures will impress Belarusian President Lukashenka that Russia's fit to join his fine iron-fisted dictatorship. russia moscow kremlin yeltsin primakov yabloko bel
Lebed's Opponent Crashed and So Has the Market Lebed's victory in Krasnoyarsk comes at a time when Russia is facing an economic and financial crisis: the ruble is falling, the stock market is collapsing, no one even bid for Rosneft, interest rates are skyrocketing, inflation is a major threat and unpaid miners are in strike in force. yeltsin kiriyenko lebed zyuganov russia krasnoyars
Mayhem in Moscow: 1997 in Review 1997 in review: poor tax collections, media/banking empires, and even Chubais the putative reformer doesn't have clean hands. Chubais has suffered serious reverses; many of his allies are now gone in the wake of a book-publishing scandal, and he has definitely lost some standing. Centralization of media and banking is possible in the near future. russia politics kremlin yeltsin chubais berezovsky
Meltdown in Moscow - SPECIAL REPORT With the replacement of Premier Sergei Kiriyenko by previous Premier Victor Chernomyrdin right in the middle of post-Soviet Russia's worst financial crisis and crisis of confidence, I have come to the conclusion that anything can happen at this point. Everyone, especially Westerners living in Russia, should now be prepared for the worst. russia kremlin moscow crisis yeltsin kiriyenko che
More on Iraq Russia's position on Iraq must be understood in light of the continuing confrontations between Yeltsin and the Duma over economic policy (and the budget in particular) and the makeup of the government. russia politics kremlin primakov iraq hussein anna
My Crystal Ball Says... The developing Belarusian dictatorship on the border draws some Russians' admiration for having the trains run on time and standing up to the West, unlike Russia itself. Russia just might be supporting Serbia against the West in order to burnish its image as a power to be reckoned with - and counted on. Meanwhile, the Y2K problem - about which nothing seems to be getting done even now in Russia - could be the destruction of all our hopes for Russia, and perhaps the world. All of these problems need to be followed closely. russia moscow kremlin yeltsin belarus minsk lukash
News From Everywhere Various news events in Russian politics around the Fourth of July weekend: the miners' and utility workers' strike, Lev Rokhlin's murder and a new summit in Moscow in September even though START 2 hasn't (yet?) been ratified by the Duma. russia moscow kremlin yeltsin rokhlin duma strike
Onward and Upward... Kiriyenko's "landslide" confirmation by the Duma on the third vote seems to show that Yeltsin now dominates the Russian political scene. Given that he's ill much of the time and the new premier is a political nonentity, that's not so hot. Meanwhile, the upcoming presidential election in 2000 is occupying many people's minds. Watch the gubernatorial election in Krasnoyarsk. russia kremlin yeltsin kiriyenko duma lebed krasno
Primakov's Outta Here...and so am I <p>All my predictions of (relative) peace and calm in Moscow seem to have been knocked into a cocked hat, with Yeltsin's third replacement of his premier in just over a year, in the teeth of a Duma debating impeaching him. His change of premier may (in case his nominee for premier is rejected by the Duma three times) give him a right that would be forbidden if the Duma approves any articles of impeachment - the right to dissolve the Duma and call early Duma elections. This in itself - let alone the fact that Primakov and his government was forced upon Yeltsin by the Duma - spells a likely constitutional crisis.</p> <p>More importantly, it spells a likely return to instability and possibly even chaos, as expectations are destroyed once more by Yeltsin's breaking his promises (not to interfere in Primakov's government) and upsetting expectations through personnel reshuffles. This brings back the spectre of Russia as rabid tiger...with a likely enough international issue at hand.</p> <p>Breaking promises is also why I am leaving Suite101.com. Suite101.com management broke a couple of promises to us Contributing Editors, and did so with little consideration for what was at stake. After long and careful thought, I have decided that it would be neither right nor prudent for myself to stick with Suite101.com. But, you should still feel free to email me and/or visit my site, especially if you want to start up some new Russian politics discussions or articles...and there should be plenty to write about in the months ahead!</p> russia moscow kremlin yeltsin duma primakov stepas
Russia and the Caspian: The New Middle East. Part II in a series A brief Who's Who - and Who's doing What - of the Caspian region. Russia's stakes in the various governments and ethnic conflicts are highlighted. russia moscow kremlin georgia armenia chechnya aze
Russia and the Caspian: The New Middle East. Part V in a series Boris Berezovsky has been canned by Yeltsin - possibly as a result of his conciliatory responses to some CIS member concerns. Armenia is calling for an official role for Turkey and Iran in the Caucasus region, and both countries have vested interests there. Chechnya's ongoing hostage crisis - a microcosm of its political crisis - may be coming to a crescendo with the abduction of Russian Interior Ministry General Gennady Shpigun. russia moscow kremlin berezovsky yeltsin primakov
Russia and the Caspian: The New Middle East. Part VI in a series The CIS' Collective Security Treaty is getting down to the wire, with a summit scheduled for April 2. Georgia has joined Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in declaring the current treaty unacceptable, and in fact she has joined Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Moldova in forming a new security organization, dubbed GUAM. Georgia herself is still in danger of splintering violently - with serious implications for possible oil and gas pipelines. russia moscow kremlin georgia tbilisi abkhazia oss
Russia and the Caspian: The New Middle East. Part VII Georgia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have left the CIS Collective Security Treaty, and Georgia and Azerbaijan have become increasingly pro-NATO. This adds a weighty set of political priorities to the economic ones implicated in the various pipeline proposals for tapping the vast oil and gas wealth of the Caspian Sea region. The US wants the pipeline to avoid Russian and Iranian territory, and is willing to use various financial instruments at her disposal to influence that, in the face of growing private concerns regarding the trans-Caspian proposal's profitability. The pipeline would involve Kazakhstan and especially Turkmenistan in Caucasian affairs to a much greater extent than is the case now. russia moscow kremlin caspian georgia azerbaijan u
Russian Politics Drinking Game Title says it all - stay informed on Russian Politics and have a good time! russia moscow kremlin yeltsin kiriyenko duma
Thanksgiving's Greetings The murder of liberal deputy Galina Starovoitova is indeed tragic, both personally and for the liberal cause in Russia. The extent, if any, to which it will contribute to greater social and political breakdown, however, depends more on other factors. As for the Russian food situation, there is definitely a case for food aid, notwithstanding Russian food exports. Inflation gives Russian producers good reason to export rather than sell domestically. Also, the government does not have strong mechanisms for transferring goods to the poor (and this is exacerbated by weather conditions now). Thus, food aid may still be the best bet, in the face of a terrible harvest this year, of preventing starvation in Russia. starovoitova yeltsin berezovsky gusinsky kremlin m
The Centre's Holding...For Now Chernomyrdin has centralized powers away from Nemtsov and Chubais, and Chubais' future is uncertain. Meanwhile, Yeltsin and the Duma clash over a possible "coalition government". Also, Chechnya's ultimate status remains a hot issue. chernomyrdin chubais nemtsov chechnya kulikov russ
The Scope, Meaning, Causes and Implications of Political Instability When trying to understand politics, I emphasize matters of political credibility. Leaders who are not perceived as being bound by their word will suffer - and their nations and possibly other nations as well will suffer with them - in many ways. Most dramatically, leaders may feel forced to adopt policies very far from the norm and not subject to any retraction - to become rabid tigers - just to show that they do mean what they say. These facts give considerable cause for concern but not resignation regarding Russia. russia moscow kremlin crisis "political risk" "rab
The Whys, Wherefores - and Hows - of Reform The new Premier Yevgeny Primakov must refrain from the temptation to renationalize many parts of the Russian economy: that would be the worst thing to do. The best solution for Russia's problems is thoroughgoing and credible economic and political reform. russia moscow kremlin yeltsin primakov chernomyrdi
This is the Russian Army, Mr. Dangerfield The Russian Army is organizing politically, not only to pressure the government on its own behalf, but also to serve as a surrogate government. There has always been a tendency for the military to pick up the pieces in situations like this, as it is often the only body able to keep order, and order tends to be top priority after prolonged chaos and instability. Such a revolutionary situation creates some incentive for military adventures, even "irrational" ones. russia moscow kremlin military army
What Is To Be Done <b>Now</b>? The alert of security forces underscores the danger that Russia may be tempted to turn to foreign adventures to resolve her domestic problems. This may be more likely if the Russian government resasserts control over much of the economy and subjects that much more of it to the lurchings of Moscow. The West must make absolutely clear that such a move would be a Big Mistake. The West must display the same credibility that is lacking in Moscow. russia moscow kremlin chernomyrdin yeltsin
What Is To Be Done? The Russian securities markets have gone off the deep end as the ruble has in fact been allowed to float, a 90-day moratorium has been imposed on some foreign creditors and yet another top aide has been fired. If the West in fact wants to help Russia, she must use her financial resources not as a direct cure for Russia's problems - they are really political, not economic - but rather as the incentive necessary to undertake much-needed reforms, and re-establish the Russian government's credibility. russia moscow kremlin yeltsin kiriyenko yavlinsky
Why Russia (Likely) Won't Go To War Over Kosovo Despite dire warnings from the Kremlin and elsewhere of world war over Kosovo, and despite my own un-Pollyannish view of Russia's potential, I do not believe World War III will start in the Balkans in the near future. I believe this both because Russia has much less stake in the Balkans than in the Caspian, and also because the Russian state is much more stable than it has been in some time. Even the top Communist member of the Cabinet has attacked proposals for "rethinking" Russian military doctrine in the face of NATO action in Yugoslavia. This is more a matter of Russia maintaining some sort of balance of power in the world by siding with America's enemies. russia moscow kremlin yeltsin primakov sergeyev ma
Yeltsin and Kiriyenko v. the Duma: Collision Course in Moscow President Boris Yeltsin and Acting Premier Sergei Kiriyenko are preparing for a showdown with the Duma over Kiriyenko's nomination for premier. He's already been rejected twice, but Yeltsin insists on putting his name forth one more time and then dissolving the Duma and holding new Duma elections if it demurs. The anti-Kiriyenko party leaders insist that the president has no right to nominate someone more than once for premier, and so the president would have to nominate someone else, and wait until three separate people had been rejected before dissolving the Duma. This is a serious trial of strength between Yeltsin and the Duma. If Kiriyenko is confirmed after all, his program promises important changes in Russia. yeltsin kiriyenko moscow russia kremlin duma
Yeltsin cries "You're Fired!" in a Crowded Kremlin Yeltsin's December 7 purge and promised "coordination" bode ill for Russia. Not only is this yet another Kremlin purge, but this shows signs of building on itself. It also is a breach of Yeltsin's promise not to interfere in the day-to-day running of the government. Some things are looking up, however: foreign companies are still investing in Russia, the 1999 draft budget is about ready and the Duma audience seems receptive and <b>finally</b> some official attention is being paid to the Y2K problem. yeltsin primakov russia kremlin moscow bordyuzha
Yeltsin's Condition (Political and Otherwise) - SPECIAL REPORT Boris Yeltsin's illness and general or partial incapacity and the resulting instability are beginning to play havoc in Russia. The upcoming presidential elections in 2000 are already influencing events, as well as Duma elections in 1999 (if not this year). Given these facts, it is very good that Yeltsin chose not to run for a third term, especially since it would challenge Constitutional norms. yeltsin kremlin nemtsov chubais berezovsky purge r
Yeltsin's Purge - SPECIAL REPORT Yeltsin's Kremlin purge forebodes major clashes both in the short and long term, and might even lead to disaster down the road. "rabid tiger" • purge • yeltsin • kiriyenko • kremlin
Yeltsin's Purge Part II: The Expanding Vortex Kiriyenko's nomination is now featuring dialogue and some endorsements as the battle encompasses all of Russia's economic policy. kiriyenko • yeltsin • duma • russia • kremlin
Enjoy a Moscow River Cruise A river cruise is always one of the most relaxing ways to discover a city, and Moscow is no exception. Enjoy both views and the local life on board a river cruiser. moscow river tour • moscow tourist attraction • moscow day trip • good kremlin view • moscow by boat
Moscow Travel Guide Find all the information you need on traveling in and around Moscow here, from St Basil's Cathedral to the Kremlin, the amazing metro stations and shopping for souvenirs. moscow sights • russia tourism • st basil's cathedral • red square • kremlin tours
Russian Cities: Kazan Kazan, Tatarstan, is an essential stop for travelers looking to explore the Russian Federation further than Moscow and St. Petersburg. qol sharif mosque • kremlin • kazan • tatarstan<syumbike • hotels
Russian State Diamond Fund Russia's State Diamond Fund is home to Russia's most important, and most impressive, treasures. Royal regalia, huge gems, and exquisite jewelry reside at the Kremlin. state diamond fund • kremlin armory • peter the great • imperial crown of russia • orlov diamond
Pierce routs Seles in Moscow The fortnightly round up of the WTA Tour - results and reports by MICHAEL CECILIO tennis • seles • williams • venus • lindsay davenport
Russia and the Caspian: The New Middle East. Part IV in a series Russia's Boris Berezovsky is scrambling to save the CIS collective defense structure in general and the Caspian members' participation in particular. Meanwhile, continued Russian buildups in Armenia cast an ominous shadow over conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, while an Ankara-Tbilisi-Baku axis seems to be forming. That axis is best represented by a proposed oil pipeline, which for obvious reasons will interest the rest of the world. russia moscow kremlin yeltsin berezovsky shevardna
Stalin’s Court: Part 1 (of 2) Insiders present their fascinating accounts of what life inside Stalin's court was like. stalin • bolsheviks • soviet union • ussr • communism
Stalin’s Court: Part 2 (of 2) While reading accounts of court life during the Stalin years may seem like nothing more than harmless fun, these details actually play a vital role in our understanding of Stalin and his rule. stalin • bolsheviks • soviet union • ussr • communism
2007 Russian Duma Election Results President Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party won the country's election despite fraudulent circumstances. Expect him to maintain power into the foreseeable future. 2007 russia duma parliamentary election results • president vladimir putin • united russia party • fraud bribery intimidation • communist russian federation
Kosovo Declares Its Independence Kosovo's government has officially declared its independence from Serbia. Serbia and Russia protest the announcement, which is supported by most other countries. kosovo declaration independence serbia • february 17 2008 • prime minister hashim thaci • democratic proud free • celebrants streets pristina capital
Medvedev is New Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin's hand-picked successor, became Russia's new President on May 7. Domestic and foreign policy issues require his immediate attention. dmitry medvedev third russian federation president • vladimir putin nomination prime minister legacy • inauguration may 7 2008 kremlin andreyevsky hall • domestic foreign policy issues • freedom rule law combat corruption
Politkovskaya's Russian Diary The Russian journalist's story of life under Putin a russian diary • russian diary • anna politkovskaya • anya politkovskaya • politkovskaya
Stalin and World War II Joseph Stalin is surprised and unprepared when Hitler breaks their treaty of non-aggression and invades Russia. joseph stalin • stalin • hitler • treaty of non-aggression • russian soldiers |
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