Defense and Foreign Affairs: United States, Venezuela
Russian and Venezuelan naval vessels will be participating in join war games the Caribbean Sea. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will also be visiting Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba. There is speculation that Russia may establish a naval base in Cuba as a response to U.S. support for a missile defense system in Europe (Halpin).
Energy and Foreign Affairs: India
India is approaching Russia on coordinated energy development (Deora aims to open door).
Sources
Deora aims to open doors to Russian oil. (2008 Nov. 25). Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Business/Deora_aims_to_open_doors_to_Russian_oil/articleshow/3752968.cms, accessed 2008 Dec. 3.
Halpin, T. (2008 Nov. 24). Russia challenges US dominance with Venezuelan wargames. Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5225275.ece, accessed 2008 Dec. 3.
Showing posts with label Dmitry Medvedev. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dmitry Medvedev. Show all posts
2008/12/03
2008/11/29
Russia Intelligencer 2008 November 29
Kasparov Predicts Quick End to Medvedev Presidency
Opposition leader Garry Kasparov has predicted that the financial crisis will bring about unrest that will end the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev within 18 months (Kasparov predicts).
Opposition Leaders Meet
Notable opposition leaders met to coordinate their efforts to prevent changes to the Russian constitution, including extension of presidential terms, and to bring down the present regime (Wendle).
Presidential Term Extended to Six Years
The Duma approved a bill to extend presidential terms to 6 years. Interestingly, all Communist Party members in the Duma voted against the bill on its first reading of three. The bill would also extend terms of Duma members to 5 years (Malpas, Nowak, Wendle).
Sources
Kasparov predicts short Medvedev presidency, mass protests (2008 Nov. 17). RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081117/118358740.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Malpas, A. (2008 Nov. 17). Duma backs 6-year presidential term. Moscow Times. http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/1010/42/372406.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Nowak, D. (2008 Nov. 14). Russian lawmakers back extending presidential term. Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jPsRzMy3_geQb7l75K7KZ6iNTizQD94EUGQ80, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Wendle, J. (2008 Nov. 24). Big names miss Solidarity meeting. Moscow Times. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/1010/42/372566.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Opposition leader Garry Kasparov has predicted that the financial crisis will bring about unrest that will end the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev within 18 months (Kasparov predicts).
Opposition Leaders Meet
Notable opposition leaders met to coordinate their efforts to prevent changes to the Russian constitution, including extension of presidential terms, and to bring down the present regime (Wendle).
Presidential Term Extended to Six Years
The Duma approved a bill to extend presidential terms to 6 years. Interestingly, all Communist Party members in the Duma voted against the bill on its first reading of three. The bill would also extend terms of Duma members to 5 years (Malpas, Nowak, Wendle).
Sources
Kasparov predicts short Medvedev presidency, mass protests (2008 Nov. 17). RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081117/118358740.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Malpas, A. (2008 Nov. 17). Duma backs 6-year presidential term. Moscow Times. http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/1010/42/372406.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Nowak, D. (2008 Nov. 14). Russian lawmakers back extending presidential term. Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jPsRzMy3_geQb7l75K7KZ6iNTizQD94EUGQ80, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
Wendle, J. (2008 Nov. 24). Big names miss Solidarity meeting. Moscow Times. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/1010/42/372566.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 29.
2008/11/24
Russia Intelligencer 2008 November 24
Assassination, Chechnya & Russian Criminal Justice
Some have called for Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov to testify in the trial of those accuse of killing journalist Anna Politovskaya. He has been implicated in trial documents. On the up side, Judge Yevgeny Zubov of the Moscow District Military Court has declared the trial will be public. There was some fear the trial would be secret because one of the accused is a former FSB agent (Halpin).
Foreign Affairs: Libya, United States
It appears Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi gave Russian leaders the slip, winning the forgiveness of Libyan debt held by Russia, but not promising anything solid in return. Consideration of a Russian naval base in Libya continues, but it’s not certain Russia has the ships to make use of it (Baev).
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is hoping to meet with Barack Obama when he takes office to establish a new tone in relations with the U.S. European Union leaders are also calling for a new approach with Russia, which has taken on a less friendly note because it is angered with U.S.-supported plans for NATO expansion and western aid to Georgia (Berry, Keleman, Medetsky).
Sources
Baev, P. (2008 Nov. 3). Qaddafi and Zyazikov: Reality checks for Russia’s petro-politics. Eurasia Daily Monitor. http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2373498, accessed 2008 Nov. 12.
Berry, L. (2008 Nov. 15). Russia’s Medvedev calls for talks with Obama. Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfS6y-A7WF82KotI6KMN41IA3M4QD94FQCH81, accessed 2008 Nov. 24.
Halpin, T. (2008 Nov. 17). Chechen leader “should testify” at Politkovskaya trial. Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5173093.ece, accessed 2008 Nov. 24.
Keleman, M. (2008 Nov. 17). Analysts, EU leaders urge new approach to Russia. All Things Considered. NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97100969, accessed 2008 Nov. 24.
Medetsky, A. (2008 Nov. 17). Medvedev signs tariff deal in U.S. Moscow Times. http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/600/42/372393.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 24.
Some have called for Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov to testify in the trial of those accuse of killing journalist Anna Politovskaya. He has been implicated in trial documents. On the up side, Judge Yevgeny Zubov of the Moscow District Military Court has declared the trial will be public. There was some fear the trial would be secret because one of the accused is a former FSB agent (Halpin).
Foreign Affairs: Libya, United States
It appears Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi gave Russian leaders the slip, winning the forgiveness of Libyan debt held by Russia, but not promising anything solid in return. Consideration of a Russian naval base in Libya continues, but it’s not certain Russia has the ships to make use of it (Baev).
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is hoping to meet with Barack Obama when he takes office to establish a new tone in relations with the U.S. European Union leaders are also calling for a new approach with Russia, which has taken on a less friendly note because it is angered with U.S.-supported plans for NATO expansion and western aid to Georgia (Berry, Keleman, Medetsky).
Sources
Baev, P. (2008 Nov. 3). Qaddafi and Zyazikov: Reality checks for Russia’s petro-politics. Eurasia Daily Monitor. http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2373498, accessed 2008 Nov. 12.
Berry, L. (2008 Nov. 15). Russia’s Medvedev calls for talks with Obama. Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfS6y-A7WF82KotI6KMN41IA3M4QD94FQCH81, accessed 2008 Nov. 24.
Halpin, T. (2008 Nov. 17). Chechen leader “should testify” at Politkovskaya trial. Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5173093.ece, accessed 2008 Nov. 24.
Keleman, M. (2008 Nov. 17). Analysts, EU leaders urge new approach to Russia. All Things Considered. NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97100969, accessed 2008 Nov. 24.
Medetsky, A. (2008 Nov. 17). Medvedev signs tariff deal in U.S. Moscow Times. http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/600/42/372393.htm, accessed 2008 Nov. 24.
2008/09/16
Russia Intelligencer 2008 September 16
Chess Champ Calls for Economic Sanctions Against Russia for Aggression in Georgia, Medvedev Sees Injustices in Western Response
Garry Kasparov has called for economic sanctions to reign in Russian power, though some analysts think it is improbable given the economic links between the U.S. and Russia (US has few economic levers against Russia).
In a recent speech, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called responses of NATO and western nations to Russia’s incursion into Georgia unfair. He sticks to the line that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili had gone “nuts” (Abdullaev).
OI Comment: The Russian line has been that it is protecting its citizens in South Ossetia from Georgian aggression. Russia previously offered citizenship to South Ossetians which was widely accepted. Nationalist movements in the region have been agitating to break from Georgia, and Georgian officials say their military moves in the region—still officially part of the country—has been to quell the rebellion and reestablish stability there. Somehow the Russian leaders see no similarity between this and their actions in Chechnya.
One of Medvedevs comments was that the west should stop seeing the Russian government as the successor of the Soviet Union. This is partly true. The Communists of the Soviet era felt the need to maintain the pretense of a republic serving its people. The currently Russian government is simply a dictatorship, nearly a Putin dictatorship, and saves its pretensions for foreign affairs.
Recent posts and articles related to Russia:
Khodorkovsky's [former oil magnate] Parole Request Denied (Popova, N., Moscow Times, 2008 Aug. 28)
In Lieu of Public Debate, Opposition Disagrees Over War (Chernov, S., St. Petersburg Times, 2008 Sept. 2)
Russian hackers continue attacks on Georgian sites (Svensson, P., Associated Press, 2008 Aug. 12)
Sources
Ablullaev, N. (2008 Sept. 15). Medvedev guests take tough message home. Moscow Times. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/370908.htm, accessed 2008 Sept. 16.
US has few economic levers against Russia. (2008 Aug. 16). Economic Times. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/US_has_few_economic_levers_against_Russia/articleshow/3370126.cms, accessed 2008 Sept. 11.
Garry Kasparov has called for economic sanctions to reign in Russian power, though some analysts think it is improbable given the economic links between the U.S. and Russia (US has few economic levers against Russia).
In a recent speech, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called responses of NATO and western nations to Russia’s incursion into Georgia unfair. He sticks to the line that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili had gone “nuts” (Abdullaev).
OI Comment: The Russian line has been that it is protecting its citizens in South Ossetia from Georgian aggression. Russia previously offered citizenship to South Ossetians which was widely accepted. Nationalist movements in the region have been agitating to break from Georgia, and Georgian officials say their military moves in the region—still officially part of the country—has been to quell the rebellion and reestablish stability there. Somehow the Russian leaders see no similarity between this and their actions in Chechnya.
One of Medvedevs comments was that the west should stop seeing the Russian government as the successor of the Soviet Union. This is partly true. The Communists of the Soviet era felt the need to maintain the pretense of a republic serving its people. The currently Russian government is simply a dictatorship, nearly a Putin dictatorship, and saves its pretensions for foreign affairs.
Recent posts and articles related to Russia:
Khodorkovsky's [former oil magnate] Parole Request Denied (Popova, N., Moscow Times, 2008 Aug. 28)
In Lieu of Public Debate, Opposition Disagrees Over War (Chernov, S., St. Petersburg Times, 2008 Sept. 2)
Russian hackers continue attacks on Georgian sites (Svensson, P., Associated Press, 2008 Aug. 12)
Sources
Ablullaev, N. (2008 Sept. 15). Medvedev guests take tough message home. Moscow Times. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/370908.htm, accessed 2008 Sept. 16.
US has few economic levers against Russia. (2008 Aug. 16). Economic Times. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/US_has_few_economic_levers_against_Russia/articleshow/3370126.cms, accessed 2008 Sept. 11.
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