TRANSCRIPT: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin delivers his report on
the government's performance in 2011 to the State Duma
premier.gov.ru - 4.11.12 - JRL 2012-69

Vladimir Putin's speech:

Mr Naryshkin, esteemed deputies, colleagues,

I am glad to meet all the State Duma sixth convocation deputies from all political parties.

Our country has just recovered from the great strain of the parliamentary and presidential election campaigns. The repercussions of the emotion upheavals and political battles fought during this time can still be felt. However, it is in the logic of a modern democracy that election campaigns end, giving way to much more important periods of cooperation. We must look to the future now. It is my understanding that we share the responsibility for our country and for the well-being and living standards of millions of Russian families.
file photoWe share one country, therefore, the different political forces willing to make constructive efforts should adopt, and be united by, the goal of advancing Russia's development.

At the start of 2012, Russia's GDP was higher than before the crisis, as we had planned. This means that the national economy eventually recovered from the consequences of the recession of 2008-2009 (and 2010 in part). Allow me to cite a few figures. Russia's GDP at 2008 prices totalled 41.421 trillion roubles in 2011, up from 41.277 trillion roubles in 2008. It is just slightly higher than the pre-crisis level.

I'll now report on our results for 2011 and for previous years. I would like to say that we have nothing to be ashamed of because these are good results. I would also like to note, and to stress, that these achievements should not be credited to the Government alone. They are primarily the result of our people's hard work in all sectors of industry and public service. These are our joint results ­ I am referring to the ruling party which enjoys a parliamentary majority as well as the political forces opposed to the government, because the solutions worked out through heated debates and cooperation, have led eventually to the good results I will speak about shortly, and we do have good results as I said.

We all remember that Russia was faced with an unprecedented financial and economic crisis. In fact it was the first such global crisis ever. It was much larger in scale and far more dangerous than the crisis of 1998. I think that those politicians and analysts, who said at the time that the world was on the brink of pivotal, dramatic change, were right after all. It was an enormous challenge for Russia. Had we not been able to respond to it, we would have sent our economy and social security system tumbling, and what's more, we would have jeopardised Russia's very sovereignty and geopolitical sustainability, thereby burying any hope for modernisation and development.

We can see what has been happening recently in many European countries. I will say more about this ­ some of them are truly losing part of their sovereignty, when decisions on absolutely sovereign affairs are handed over to supranational bodies. This would have been especially hard on Russia. However, we did not crumble, but stood our ground as a mature, creative and confident nation wiRussian nationalism to boost presidential bid.
11. Wall Street Journal Europe: Fraud Cases Tossed by Russia Judges. Saying Putin's Party Padded Vote Total, An Observer Takes Losing Run at Courts.
12. RIA Novosti: Kremlin Human Rights Council Campaigns for Fair Elections.
13. Vedomosti editorial: EYES OR CAMS. KREMLIN'S GARBLED SIGNALS TO REGIONAL AUTHORITIES, ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS, AND ACTIVISTS.
14. Moskovskiy Komsomolets: Putin Wants To Win Fairly But Quickly. The Kremlin's Instructions Bring the Regions to an Impasse: They Are Ordered To Hold Clean Elections in a Single Round.
15. Kommersant: New VTsIOM Poll Shows Ruling Party Backed by Minority.
16. Komsomolskaya Pravda: Putin Campaign Manager Govorukhin Interviewed.
17. Moscow Times: A Playwright for Putin. (Nikolai Kolyada)
18. Moscow Times: Kudrin Says Job Swap Not Decided in 2007.
19. AFP: Russian billionaire cleared to stand for president. (Mikhail Prokhorov)
20. ITAR-TASS: Yabloko to appeal after CEC officially denies to register Yavlinsky.
21. Russia Profile: Sour Apples. Yavlinsky's Possible Exclusion from the Presidential Race Raises Speculation of More Kremlin Machinations.
22. BBC Monitoring: Russian Communist leader slams liberal presidential candidate's disqualification.
23. Interfax: Problems With Yavlinsky Signatures a Surprise For Kremlin - Newspaper.
24. Interfax: Info on Faulty Signatures in Yavlinsky's Support Is Most Likely True - Expert. (Igor Bunin)
25. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. Rally For Honest Elections due on February 4 in centre of Moscow.
26. BBC Monitoring: Russian TV criticizes opposition figures for holidaying abroad.
27. www.russiatoday.com: Medvedev gives thumbs up to 'Russia without fools'
28. Moscow News: 'Russia without Fools' website flooded with foolishness.
29. Interfax: Russian Election NGO To Launch Website, Hotline, SMS Service To Report Breaches. (Golos)
30. Interfax: Navalny Launches Portal to Monitor Suspicious Polling Stations.
31. Interfax: Magnitsky's Family Skeptical About New Forensic Study Into His Death.
32. Russia Beyond the Headlines/Vedomosti: Igor Shchegolev, The world needs an Internet code of conduct, not regulations. U.S. moves to regulate the Internet go counter to the country's claims about freedom and democracy.

ECONOMY

33. RIA Novosti: Russians Think Economic Prosperity Far Off ­ Poll.
34. Moscow Times: Anders Aslund, Heated, Open Discussions at the Gaidar Forum.
35. Moscow Times: Dieter Wermuth, Watch Out for the Oil Curse.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
36. RIA Novosti: Medvedev Reminds McFaul He's in Russia, Not U.S
37. Bloomberg: U.S. Envoy Rejects Russian Accusation He's Advocating Revolution.
38. Kommersant: "I'M AN ACADEMICIAN AND NOT A PROFESSIONAL REVOLUTIONARY." An interview with U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul.
39. Reuters: Russia says it opposes sanctions on Syria.
40. RIA Novosti: Russian Experts Say EU Sanctions Will Not Be 'Fatal Blow' For Iran.
41. Civil Georgia: Medvedev on Georgia, Saakashvili.
42. Paul Goble: Economic Crisis behind 'Winds of Change' in Post-Soviet States, Analyst Says.

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2012-#12
24 January 2012
davidjohnson@starpower.net
A World Security Institute Project
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In this issue

POLITICS

1. RIA Novosti: Global Warming In Russia Worse Than World's Average - Ministry.
2. Interfax: Most Russians Aware Of Rallies Against Election Fraud, Poll Shows.
3. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. Putin's chances at the elections.
4. ITAR-TASS: Putin calls for return to basic values.
5. Moscow Times: Putin Says Nationalism a Danger to the State.
6. Interfax: Analyst: article on ethnic relations to increase Putin's chances of electoral victory. (Sergei Markov)
7. Izvestia: MINISTRY OF ETHNIC AFFAIRS WITH A QUESTION MARK. Premier Putin met with leaders of the Caucasus republics.
8. BBC Monitoring: Russian TV pundit endorses Putin's article on ethnic relations. (Mikhail Leontyev)
9. www.russiatoday.com: Putin 2.0 in the making.
10. Interfax: New era is beginning in Russia's political life - Kudrin.
11. RFE/RL: Putin's List: 100 Books For Russian Readers.
12. AFP: Putin's liberal challenger faces poll exclusion. (Grigory Yavlinsky)
13. Kommersant: LIST SHORTENED. Grigori Yavlinsky and Dmitry Mezentsev are to be removed from the presidential race.
14. RIA Novosti: Russian Opposition Vows New Rally on Feb. 26.
15. RIA Novosti: Supreme Court Cancels Opposition Party Ban. (re Republican Party)
16. Vedomosti: PRISTINE PUTIN. Governors are instructed to ensure a maximum free and fair presidential election.
17. RIA Novosti: Election Watchdog to Lose Office. (re Golos)
18. Moscow Times: Lack of 'Political Will' Is Blamed for Election Mess.
19. ITAR-TASS: Many election fraud videos are fakes, CEC chairman claims.
20. Interfax: Putin Suggests Putting Bill on Gubernatorial Elections to Pubic Debate.
21. Moscow Times: Nikolai Petrov, Losing Confidence in the Direct Election Bill.
22. RFE/RL: Brian Whitmore, Requiem For A Power Broker?
23. Jamestown Foundation Eurasia Daily Monitor: Pavel Baev, The Political Economy Of The Russian Revolution In The Making.
24. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Ian Pryde, Can a businessman make a good politician?
25. Interfax: New Political-historical Magazine to Come Out in Russia Next Week. (Alexei Venediktov)
ECONOMY
26. Moscow News: Preparing for the worst?
27. Moscow News: Falling, one BRIC at a time.
28. Business New Europe: Russia's offshore love affair palls.
29. www.russiatoday.com: Russians shun self-employment. Russians don't have that entrepreneurial spirit, and it's now official.
30. Moscow Times: Sberbank Swallows Troika Brand.
31. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Skolkovo begins exchange with MIT. The Skolkovo Institute of Technology hopes to learn from the American institution's experience encouraging innovation.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

32. Kommersant: RUSSIA AND U.S. ARE PREPARED TO TACKLE HUMAN RIGHTS. THE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION FOR CIVIL SOCIETY HAS NEW LEADERS.
33. Bloomberg: Obama May Pledge Jackson-Vanik Repeal, U.S. Envoy to Moscow Says.
34. New York Times: New U.S. Envoy Steps Into Glare of a Russia Eager to Find Fault.
35. Nezavisimaya Gazeta editorial: Two Tracks of Ambassador Michael McFaul's Diplomacy.
36. Moscow News: Kissinger advises Putin.
37. Interfax: Moscow Helsinki Group Received Cash From British Diplomat - TV.
38. The Globe and Mail (Canada): Kremlin turns its face to eastern frontier.
39. Voice of America: Russia and Iran: Uneasy Neighbors ­ Since the 16th Century.

LONG ITEM

40. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Putin on 'Ethnic Issue,' Promoting Russian Language, Culture, Moral Values.

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2012-#11
23 January 2012
davidjohnson@starpower.net
A World Security Institute Project
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In this issue

POLITICS

1. Interfax: Putin Reports Best Russian Demography Figures For Nearly Two Decades.
2. Interfax: Poll Shows More Russians Support Democracy Than Socialism, Communism.
3. Interfax: Quite Many in Russia Will Question Legitimacy of March 4 Presidential Vote - Public Opinion Survey Group Head.
4. Interfax: Russian Pollster Expects Putin To Regain Presidency In First Round Of Voting.
5. Interfax: Elections Are Expensive; It Would Be Best to Have One Round of Presidential Election - Stepashin.
6. Voice of Russia: Bureaucratic absurdity goes online.
7. Business New Europe: Putin's second thesis tackles nationality question.
8. AFP: Putin slams ultra-nationalists after protests.
9. Russia Profile: Dear Russia Letter. Putin Addresses the National Question But Misses the Mark, Experts Said.
10. Josh Wilson: 10 Issues to Watch in Russian Politics for 2012.
11. BBC Monitoring: Medvedev 'intends to fight' for his political future - liberal magazine editor. (Yevgeniya Albats)
12. BBC Monitoring: Russian pundit sees mass protests slowly eroding Putin's power base. (Dmitriy Oreshkin)
13. RIA Novosti: Russian Polls Favored United Russia says PACE.
14 Moscow Times: Election Webcam Installation Begins.
15. RIA Novosti: Russian Internet TV Show Discusses Bill On Reintroducing Gubernatorial Elections.
16. Business New Europe: Kremlin tells governors to play it fair during elections.
17. Russia Profile: Maintaining Minimum Goodwill. Despite Losing an Overwhelming Majority in Parliament, Russia's Ruling United Russia Party May Be Spearheading Specific Initiatives Aimed at Preventing More Russians from Sliding Into Poverty.
18. Washington Post: Russia's Communist Party finds itself at a familiar crossroads.
19. Moscow Times: Prokhorov's Platform Courts Protesters.
20. AP: Russian liberal says Kremlin bars him from vote. (Grigory Yavlinsky)
21. Vedomosti: Commentary Sees Russian Authorities' Reaction to Protests as 'Short-Termist'
22. Politkom.ru: Russia's Liberal Opposition Seeking to Become a Legitimate Political Force.
23. RIA Novosti: Putin Does Not Trust Self Proclaimed Protest Leaders - Russian Ex Minister. (Kudrin)
24. Novyye Izvestiya: Russian Writer Bykov Explains Aims and Intentions of New League of Voters.
25. Deutsche Welle: New Russian Left emerges to oppose Putin.
26. IPS: 'Repression May Lead to Revolt.' Claudia Ciobanu interviews Russian opposition leader SERGEY UDALTSOV.
27. RIA Novosti: State TV Attacks NGOs Ahead of Elections - Alexeyeva.
28. RIA Novosti: Human Rights Watch Criticizes Putin Presidential Bid.
29. Moscow Times: Georgy Bovt, Direct Elections Directed by Moscow.
30. Vedomosti: Russian Government Plans Studies of Social Network Users' Interest in Politics.

ECONOMY

31. Vedomosti: Government Setting Aside R200 Billion for 'Second Wave of Crisis'
32. Moscow News: Cash economy faces crackdown.
33. BBC Monitoring: Russian ex-finance minister says defence industry unreformed, unable to deliver, (Kudrin)
34. RIA Novosti: Russian Store Chain Launches Wal-Mart Competitor in U.S.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

35. Valdai Discussion Club: Fyodor Lukyanov, 2011 defined key guidelines for Russian foreign policy.
36. Rossiyskaya Gazeta; Former Foreign Minister Outlines Tasks Facing New US Ambassador McFaul. (Igor Ivanov)
37. Interfax: Nothing New in Meetings of U.S. Ambassador With Opposition; Reset Continues - McFaul.
38. National Public Radio: New U.S. Ambassador Already Facing Critics In Russia.
39. The National Interest: Andranik Migranyan, McFaul's Costly Mistake in Russia.
40. www.opendemocracy.net: Oliver Bullough, Poking with the human rights stick.
41. BBC Monitoring: Russian state TV pundit says Iran war 'inevitable' because 'America needs it'

OTHER RESOURCES

42. Employment opportunity in US Embassy Moscow.
43. Reuters TV: Russia interviews.

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In this issue

POLITICS

1. Xinhua Analysis: Six To Challenge Putin in Russia's Election, But Results Could Be Hardly Surprising.
2. Interfax: Most Russians Dislike Idea of New Parties Emerging - Poll.
3. Interfax: Latest Russian Poll Shows Support For Putin, Medvedev Edging Up Again.
4. Nezavisimaya Gazeta editorial: Whose Side Is Putin on? Prime Minister's Message to Middle Class Remains Unclear.
5. Moscow News: Putin's emotions spill over.
6. www.russiatoday.com: Putin bets on athletes and sports fans.
7. Wall Street Journal: Putin Ally Signals Readiness for Change, Not Revolution. (German Gref)
8. Interfax: No Political Instability in Russia - Shuvalov.
9. Moscow Times: Voters Create League, and Putin Offers Talks.
10. AFP: Putin slams liberal radio station as editor lauds him.
11. Interfax: Ekho Moskvy Editor Surprised By Putin's Criticism, But Accepts It.
12. Interfax: Putin Offers to Meet With Opposition Activists
13. http://premier.gov.ru: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with heads and editors-in-chief of domestic television and radio broadcasting companies and print media.
14. BBC Monitoring: Russian public protest leaders cautiously welcome Putin's latest remarks.
15. Los Angeles Times: Movement opposed to Russia leader Putin shows signs of strain.
16. New York Times: Chrystia Freeland, Battle Raging at Heart of Russian Elite.
17. Moscow Times: News Analysis: Elected Governors To Benefit Investors.
18. Paul Goble: Local Elections across Russia Give Opposition Chance for Gains, Moscow Paper Suggests.
19. Interfax: Russia's Chief Election Official Likely to Go - Analysts.
20. Moscow Times: PACE Set to Discuss Election Fraud.
21. RIA Novosti: Observers Unhappy About Russian Prosecutors' Report On Election Fraud.
22. Rossiyskaya Gazeta : Putin's next-in-line image. Political scientists talk about the "new" Putin.
23. Moscow Times: Michael Bohm, Why Putin Will Never, Ever Give Up Power.
24. http://lucianinmoscow.blogspot.com: Lucian Kim, Putin's Loneliness.
25. Moscow Times: Sergei Guriev and Oleg Tsyvinsky, Protesters Affirm the Modernization Theory.

ECONOMY

26. Interfax: Purchase of Foreign Sport Clubs, Hyper Consumption Undermine Public Attitude to Business - Putin.
27. Financial Times: Putin to oligarchs: watch out.
28. Interfax: Russia Lacks Business Freedom - Shuvalov.
29. Interfax: Shuvalov Regrets Not Countering "bank to Left" With Privatization During Crisis.
30. RIA Novosti: Russia Needs Innovative Culture - Medvedev Adviser Abyzov.
31. Interfax: Medvedev Names Key Strategic Tasks.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

32. Kommersant: Sergey Lavrov sums up the future. The Foreign Minister talked about the foreign policy we will see under a new president.
33 Interfax: Russia, U.S. Not Adversaries, Not Heading For New Arms Race - Lavrov.
34. Russia Profile: What May Come. Russia's Tough Talk on Foreign Policy Suggests Fear of Internal Revolts.
35. Interfax: Russia must ensure nuclear parity with U.S - Kudrin.
36. Wall Street Journal: Russia Slams New U.S. Ambassador. Authorities Criticize McFaul's Meeting With Opposition Figures; He Calls Them a Routine Matter.
37. BBC Monitoring: Russian TV accuses new US envoy of plans to orchestrate revolution.
38. www.russiatoday.com: Diplomatic damage control: McFaul predicts repeal of Cold War-era legislation.
39. Moskovskiye Novosti: New US Ambassador to Moscow Must 'Minimize' 'Damage' to Bilateral Relations. (Fedor Lukyanov)
40. Moscow Times: U.K. Spy Rock Confirmation May Boost Putin.
41. Civil Georgia: Putin Says No Guarantee that U.S. Will Not Deploy Missile System in Georgia.

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In this issue

POLITICS

1. Interfax: Society's Claim For High Standards of Democracy Indicates Success of Past Decade's Policies.
2. Washington Post: Vladimir Putin says he's Russia's indispensable man.
3. RIA Novosti: DmitryBabich, Medvedev Yesterday, Putin Today. Russia, Onward!
4. Moscow Times: In New Tact, Putin Courts Middle Class.
5. Russia Profile: Putin's Policy Hit-and-Run. Putin's Grab for Several Percentage Points Unlikely to Succeed, Say Analysts.
6. Interfax: Russian Politicians Take Issue With Putin Policy Article
7. http://premier.gov.ru: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's article for the newspaper Izvestia.
8. Moscow Times: Kremlin Makes Concession on Gubernatorial Vote.
9. BBC Monitoring: Russian politicians give mixed reaction to bill on gubernatorial elections.
10. RIA Novosti: Medvedev's Weakness Triggered Protests ­ Ex-Kremlin Youth Chief.
11. New York Times: Meeting Fails to Bridge Opposition and Kremlin.
12. Izvestia: Putin's election headquarters will focus on dissidents. Stanislav Govorukhin told Izvestia that he will work with the entire electorate, including those who protested on Bolotnaya Square and Sakharov Avenue.
13. RIA Novosti: Russia's Communists join forces with radicals ahead of polls.
14. Interfax: Authorities, opposition must start talks - Kudrin.
15. RIA Novosti: Russian Authorities 'Not Ready For Talks' - Opposition Leader. (Nemtsov)
16. Interfax: Russia; Future Should Must Be Based on Legitimate Authority - Yavlinsky.
17. Reuters: Billionaire Kremlin hopeful says Putin must change. (Prokhorov)
18. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Big Election Victory Said No Stability Guarantee If Vote Count Disputed.
19. Moscow Times: New Group to Train Election Observers.
20. Moscow Times: Victor Davidoff, Between Change and Status Quo.
21. Paul Goble: No Crisis Exists in Russia But Dangers Abound, Pavlova Says.
22. Moscow Times: Vladimir Ryzhkov, The Decembrists' Manifesto.
23. Russia: Other Points of View: Gordon Hahn, GLASNOST' 2.0, PERESTROIKA 2.0, AND THE NASCENT WHITE REVOLUTION.
24. Moscow News: Mark Galeotti, The very model of a modern military president.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

25. Moscow Times: McFaul Arrives to Keep 'Reset' Alive.
26. Moscow Times: New U.S. Ambassador Meets With Opposition.
27. Interfax: McFaul's appointment as U.S. ambassador in Moscow won't change Russian-U.S. relations - analyst.(Sergei Karaganov)
28. Moscow News editorial: An Obama Yankee in Putin's court.
29. www.russiatoday.com: Sergey Strokan, Mike McFaul: to Russia with love.
31. www.russiatoday.com: 'Iran enrichment move low, but West at fault too'
32. www.russiatoday.com: Fyodor Lukyanov, Will Russia protect Iran?
33. Russia: Other Points of View: William Dukerly, ALEXANDER LITVINENKO: THE WHO-DONE-IT-FRAUD -- WAS HE REALLY MURDERED?
34. Huffington Post: Jason Apuzzo, Why The Cold War Is Back at the Movies in The Iron Lady, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy & Mission Impossible.
35. Bloomberg: Ukraine Enters Final Russia Gas Push as Yanukovych Seeks to Duck Demands.
36. Russia Profile: Voting for Legitimacy. New Multiparty Parliament in Kazakhstan Is a Cover for Politics as Usual, Analysts Say.

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In this issue

POLITICS

1. National Public Radio: In Russia, Modern 'Revolution' Comes At Its Own Pace.
2. RIA Novosti: 'Russia without fools' online portal to battle official red tape.
3. www.russiatoday.com: Team Putin launches campaign site.
4. RIA Novosti: Putin wants judges for government, less repressive society.
5. ITAR-TASS: Putin promises to bolster the country's economy if elected president.
6. ITAR-TASS: Putin to accumulate proposals on website in crowdsourcing regime
7. Moscow News: Putin's program promises 'a decent life'
8. Interfax: Putin's program disregards new public sentiment - analyst. (Igor Yurgens)
9. The Ivanov Report: Eugene Ivanov, The Candidate.
10. Interfax: Putin Will Not Participate in Election TV Debates - Spokesman.
11. RIA Novosti: Konstantin von Eggert, Suddenly in Russia, the boldness of the lambs.
12. Interfax: Three-fourths of Russians Expect Putin to Win Presidential Election - Poll.
13. Russia Profile: That Populist Glow. While Putin Will Try to Convince Protesters the Government Is Listening, Protesters Must Decide What They Are Asking For.
14. ITAR-TASS: The tactics for the election campaign developed for Putin.
15. BBC Monitoring: Communist leader sees shifting of sentiments in Russia to left.
16. The Guardian: Russia's era of managed democracy is over, claims presidential candidate. Billionaire tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov who is running in 4 March election says it is time for evolution not revolution.
17. Moscow Times: Work Begins at Anti-Vote Fraud Measures.
18. ITAR-TASS: Duma polls passed without necessary conditions for fair rivalry.
19. Interfax: Russian Prosecutor General Claims Public Protests Funded From Abroad.
20. Interfax: Communists Show Interest in Opposition Rally Set For Feb 4.
21. Interfax: Mironov Ready to Join February 4 Opposition March.
22. Moscow Times: Nikolai Petrov, Once an Alpha Dog, Always an Alpha Dog.
23. Moscow News: Belykh's blog: normal political dialog at last?
24. RIA Novosti: Russian presidential candidates play Khodorkovsky card.
25. www.opendemocracy.net: The Akunin-Navalny interviews (part I).
26. Reuters: Powerful Kremlin ex-staff chief given social policy job. (Surkov)
27. Moscow Times: Tycoon's Graft Bill Fails to Impress.
28. Moscow Times: Zubkov to Head Financial Crimes Task Force.

ECONOMY

29. AFP: Russia clocks GDP growth of 4.2%.
30. Russia Beyond the Headlines/Vedomosti: Economic forecasts for 2012: bad start - good end? Although Russia may not suffer as much as the rest of the world, expect lower rates of growth as the economy searches for new ways to grow.
31. Russia Profile: Business Mood Swings. Russian Entrepreneurs Say They See No Reason to Smile Given the Country's Convoluted Political and Economic Situation.
32. Wall Street Journal: Russia's Capital Flight Intensifies.
33. Interfax: Prosecutors prevent over one million violations of anti-corruption laws in 2011 - Ivanov.
34. www.russiatoday.com: Analyst: Russia fit for credit rating upgrade.
35. www.theworld.org: Dealing With Money in Post-Soviet Life.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

36. Russia Profile: Mr. McFaul Goes to Moscow. As McFaul is Sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Russia, New Hopes Arise for United States-Russia Relationship.
37. Interfax: McFaul to Begin Tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Russia on Saturday.
38. www.russiatoday.com: Friends in deed: US-Russia rescue mission cutting through ice.
39. Wall Street Journal Europe: U.S. Likely to Press On With Missile Defense in Poland.
40. Interfax: Patrushev Accuses U.S. of Worldwide Imperialist Ambitions.
41. Interfax: Russia must gain superiority in priority defense areas - Rogozin.
42. Reuters: Putin ally fears Israel is pushing US toward Iran war.
43. Christian Science Monitor: Russia worried about a nuclear Iran, but leery of US sanctions.
44. RIA Novosti: Fyodor Lukyanov, The war of nerves around Iran.
45. BBC Monitoring: Russian TV downplays likelihood of armed conflict over Iran's nuclear programme.
46. www.russiatoday.com: 'Don't exaggerate case against Iran' ­ Russia.
47. Russia Beyond the Headlines: When monuments fall: the politics of toppling political sculpture. How do political prejudices affect the cultural heritage of the former Soviet republics?
48. Reuters: Ukraine and Russia at loggerheads over gas volumes.

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In this issue

POLITICS

1. www.russiatoday.com: Apocalypse 2012 ­ Cheer up, here's a history lesson.
2. Moscow Times: Putin Pens First Platform In Years.
3. Moscow Times: Government Relations Replacing the Roofs.
4. Izvestia: United Russia is being distanced from Putin's presidential campaign.
5. BBC Monitoring: Russian governor hits back on radio, blog after Putin dressing down. (Kirov Region governor Nikita Belykh)
#6 Barents Observer: Putin does not trust governors' reports
7. BBC Monitoring: Doubt cast on proposed measures to prevent election fraud in Russia.
8. New York Times: Masha Gessen, The Kremlin's Stooges.
9. Interfax: Applications For Status of Candidate For Russian President Accepted Until Jan 18.
10. RIA Novosti: Communist leader pledges pardon for Khodorkovsky if elected president.
11. www.russiatoday.com: Communists urge removal of 'life presidency'
12. Vedomosti: Poll Shows Prokhorov in Best Position Outside Main Parties.
13. Voice of America: Anti-Putin Opposition Robust After Holidays.
14. Reuters: Russia opposition plans February rally against vote.
15. Interfax: Russian Right Wing Movement Calls For New Coalition Based Liberal Party.
16. Washington Post: Far from Moscow, a harsh sentence and political overtones.
17. Kommersant: International observers are allowed to observe. The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights is asked to observe the presidential election.
18. Polit.ru: Putin's Return as President Seen Meaning 'Confrontational Scenario' With Society.
19. Moscow Times: Yulia Latynina, Putin: Results 2011.
20. Slon.ru: Russian Commentary Sees Mood in Society Turning Against Putin.
21. CNN/'Oxford Analytica: How long can Putin hold on?
22. Moscow Times: Boris Kagarlitsky, The Protesters' Lull Before the Storm.
23. Paul Goble: Muslims Join Anti-Putin Movement.
24. AFP: European Rights Court Slams Russian Jail Conditions.
25. ITAR-TASS: Putin against tough measures restricting amateur fishing.
26. www.opendemocracy.net: Oleg Pavlov, Fishing: Russia's other civil battlefront.
27. Trud: Star wars in full swing? (re Phobos-Grunt)
28. Vladimir Shlapentokh: On Putin's Legitimacy and his foreign policy.

ECONOMY

29. Moscow News: Russia marks lowest inflation yet in 2011.
30. www.russiatoday.com: Full transparency for Russian state companies.
31. www.russiatoday.com: Undervalue puts privatisation into question.
32. Interfax-Ukraine: Medvedev: Russia has alternative routes for shipping gas to Europe.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

33. RIA Novosti: New U.S. ambassador to Russia McFaul sworn in.
34. US Department of State: Swearing-In Ceremony for Ambassador-designate to Russia Mike McFaul. (remarks of Secretary of State Clinton)
35. www.russiatoday.com: Russia-US reset entering 'new phase' ­ McFaul.
36. The Voice of Russia: Will McFaul be able to improve Russia-US relations? (Victor Kremenyuk and Alexander Konovalov)
37. Interfax: U.S. Ambassador John Beyrle Leaves Moscow With Optimism About Russia's Future.
38. The Heritage Foundation: John Boehner, Reasserting American Exceptionalism in the U.S.­Russia Relationship.
39. AP: Russia concerned about Iran's uranium enrichment.
40. Interfax: Iran can start building nuclear weapon in one year - experts.
41. RIA Novosti: Russian Expert Sees More Threat In Issues Other Than Iran's New Uranium Plant.
42. BBC Monitoring: Russian experts say 'no-one' in Syria wants Al-Asad's departure.
43. Interfax: U.S., NATO Fail Have Failed to Form Efficient Coalition in Afghanistan in 10 Years - Russian Analyst.

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Johnson's Russia List
2012-#6
6 January 2012
davidjohnson@starpower.net
A World Security Institute Project
www.worldsecurityinstitute.org
JRL homepage: www.cdi.org/russia/johnson
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In this issue

POLITICS

1. Interfax: Russians name Putin, Arshavin, Bezrukov and Kirkorov Persons of the Year.
2. Gazeta.ru: Bad News, Good News: People in Russia Believe the Duma Election Was Dishonest, But They Are Satisfied with It.
3. www.russiatoday.com: Putin's program: New worldview on offer in presidential bid.
4. Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: Political Forecast for 2012. Introduced by Vladimir Frolov. Contributors: Vladimir Belaeff, Dick Krickus, Alexandre Strokanov.
5. Moskovskiy Komsomolets: Commentary Sees Putin Caught Between 'Hyperclans' of 'Old Family,' 'New Family'
6. Moscow Times: Vladimir Frolov, How Medvedev Tainted Putin's Presidential Bid.
7. Moskovsky Komsomolets: Kudrin hopes new parliament will not last two years.
8. Paul Goble: Putin Needs More Support from Smaller Cities to Ensure First-Round Win, Analyst Says.
9. Gazeta.ru editorial: Winter of Moving Ice. In Preparing for the Elections Putin Is Veering Between Authoritarianism and Reformism.
10. Moskovskiy Komsomolets: Pundits Assess Putin 'Decline,' Popular 'Awakening,' Decentralization 'Sham'
11. Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Erin Solar0, In Praise of Vladimir Putin: Will He Finish What He Started?
12. Slon.ru: Pavlovskiy Views Reshuffle, Says Surkov 'Too Unpredictable' for Putin.
13. Slon.ru: Bloggers, Pundits on Surkov's Transfer From Presidential Staff.
14. AP: Moscow rally shows leftist strategy against Putin.
15. ITAR-TASS: The organizing committee of a February 4 rally toughens demands to the authorities.
16. RIA Novosti: Russian art radicals cleared of hooliganism charges. (Voina)
7. RIA Novosti: Russia doubles penalty for insulting officials.
18. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Actions speak louder than words. Politicians often make outrageous statements, and the year of upheaval that was 2011 brought about more than usual. Here is Russia Beyond the Headlines' list of the 11 most notable political comments of 2011.
19. Russia Beyond the Headlines: The 11 Best Russian Films of the Year. Russia's movie industry keeps developing. The 2011 year saw a lot of interesting and controversial movies that attracted attention from all over the world. Russia Beyond the Headlines sums up the achievements in this field.
20. Australian Boardcasting Company: Russian film industry struggling for survival.
21. Moscow Times: Russia Abroad: Banya Finds an Appreciative New Audience.
22. ITAR-TASS: Fobos probe to fall to Earth on January 10-21.
23. Forbes.com: The Real Russian Revolution: On the Moscow Dinner-plate.

ECONOMY

24. Moscow Times: Free Exchange of the Ruble Marks 20-Year Anniversary.
25. RIA Novosti: Russia's inflation hits post-Soviet low.
26. BBC Monitoring: Russian energy sector enjoyed 'very successful' 2011 - minister.
27. Izvestia: Russia creates strategic petroleum reserve.
28. Wall Street Journal: Ruble Sweats Amid Russian Turmoil.
29. Interfax: Battle for harvest remains in past, work continues as normal - Zubkov. (re agriculture)
30. Moscow Times: Illegal Turnover Equal to 10% of GDP Last Year.
31. Valdai Discussion Club: Sergei Dubinin, Can Russia help the eurozone out of crisis?
32. Telegraph on Sunday (UK): Oleg Deripaska: 'wealthy time' has ended for the eurozone. Oleg Deripaska, one of Russia's leading business figures, has warned Europe that its "wealthy time" is over and that Russia's newly agreed membership of the World Trade Organisation opens up fresh possibilities for British businesses.
33. Russia Beyond the Headlines: The "Blackberry" agency. Andrei Nikitin, 31, is general director of the Agency of Strategic Initiatives (ASI), a group created last summer by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to address concerns of business owners and professionals ­ some of the same people who took to the streets in protest in December.
34. Transitions Online: The New Old World of Wine. Russia's wineries are on the rebound as the rising middle class rediscovers a taste for a long-neglected local product.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

35. www.russiatoday.com: AMD talks with US crumble; Russia beefs up early-warning radar.
36. RIA Novosti: U.S. wishes more progress in missile shield talks with Russia.
37. BBC Monitoring: Russian pundit says world community must intervene in Iran-US conflict. (Vladimir Yevseyev)
38. Kommersant: Belarusian opposition under surveillance.
39. Eurasianet.org: President Romney Would Defend Central Asia From Russia.
40. www.russiatoday.com: 'US builds hospitals in Georgia, readies for war with Iran'
41. Civil Georgia: U.S. Senior Diplomat on Defense Cooperation with Georgia.
42. Interfax: Over 98% of Kazakhstan Citizens Will Vote in Parliamentary Elections - Poll.

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2012-#5
9 January 2012
davidjohnson@starpower.net
A World Security Institute Project
www.worldsecurityinstitute.org
JRL homepage: www.cdi.org/russia/johnson
JRL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/russialist
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Support JRL: www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/funding.phpYour source for news and analysis since 1996

In this issue

POLITICS

1. Interfax: Russian PM Attends Service At Church Of His Baptism, Recalls Childhood Years.
2. http://premier.gov.ru: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends Christmas service at the Transfiguration Cathedral in St Petersburg.
3. BBC Monitoring: Head of Russian church says no need to go through 'extreme situations'
4. Moscow Times: Church Chimes in on Political Crisis.
5. Russia Profile: Children of the Church. The Russian Christmas Season Is Unusually High on Politics.
6. BBC Monitoring: Russian politician, pundit against Church's involvement in politics.
7. Washington Post: Putin allies urge him to talk to opponents.
8. BBC Monitoring: Ex-minister Kudrin urges dialogue between authorities and opposition.
9. BBC Monitoring: Anti-Kremlin Russian commentators attack Putin, ex-minister Kudrin as his proxy.
10. Svobodnaya Pressa: Russian Experts Dubious about Proposed Talks between Opposition and Kremlin.
11. BBC Monitoring: No sign yet that Russian authorities ready for talks with opposition - activist. (Vladimir Ryzhkov)
12. The Guardian: Natalia Antonova, Another Russian revolution? Not so fast. Ordinary people in Russia haven't been this politically active since 1991 but they're hoping for evolution rather than revolution.
13. New York Times: Smear in Russia Backfires, and Online Tributes Roll In. (re Navalny)
14. Wall Street Journal Europe: Internet Activism Increases in Russia. Moscow Rallies Underscore New Ability of Opposition to Raise Funds Widely for Anti-Kremlin Causes.
15. Svobodnaya Pressa: CPRF Leader Zyuganov on Protest Rallies, Legitimacy of State Duma.
16. Paul Goble: Replacing a 'Bad' Tsar with a 'Good' One By Itself Won't Save Russia, Shteppa Says.
17. Gazeta.ru: Volodin Demands First-Round Victory for Putin in Presidential Election.
18. Gazeta.ru: Corruption Blogger Navalnyy's Credentials as Putin Alternative Questioned. (Andrey Kolesnikov)
19. Moscow Times: Richard Lourie, Putin's 3 Choices.
20. Jamestown Foundatoin Eurasia Daily Monitor: Russian Literature And Blogosphere Join Forces Against Putinism.
21. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Russia's best-kept literary secret. Mikhail Shishkin has won all of Russia's major literary awards, but his work is only just now being translated into English.

ECONOMY

22. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Huge Increase in Military, Law Enforcement Expenditures in 2012- 2014.
23. Gazeta.ru: Sergey Shelin, Economy of Fantasies and Illusions -- Country's Leaders Fear Economic Changes Almost More Than Political Ones.
24. Valdai Discussion Club: Vladislav Inozemtsev, Modernization is as simple as making cheesecake.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

25. ITAR-TASS: Russia NP-39 polar explorers start innovative Arctic experiments.
26. AP: How Threat of Loose Soviet Nukes Was Avoided.
27. New York Times: Philip Taubman, No Need for All These Nukes.
28. BBC Monitoring: Pundit expects no major oil price hike if Iran crisis escalates - Russian TV. (Alexander Rahr)
29. BBC Monitoring: Russian pundit sees deepening crisis in US-Iranian relations, blames both sides. (Vladimir Yevseyev)
30. www.russiatoday.com: Human rights: A global challenge. (interview with Russia's Human Rights Commissioner Konstantin Dolgov)
31. Washington Post: Unlike Russia, Kazakhstan keeps a tight lid on protests ahead of elections.
32. RIA Novosti: Turkmen president calls for multiparty system.

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Johnson's Russia List
2012-#4
6 January 2012
davidjohnson@starpower.net
A World Security Institute Project
www.worldsecurityinstitute.org
JRL homepage: www.cdi.org/russia/johnson
JRL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/russialist
JRL on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi
Support JRL: www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/funding.phpYour source for news and analysis since 1996

In this issue

POLITICS

1. www.russiatoday.com: Russia celebrates Orthodox Christmas.
2. ITAR-TASS: Patriarch Kirill I congratulates believers on occasion of Christmas.
3. Gazeta.ru: Russian Journalists Look Ahead to Key Political Events Expected in 2012.
4. RIA Novosti: Russia's chief election official pledges transparent ballot boxes.
5. BBC Monitoring: Russian election chief dismisses calls for his resignation.
6. AP: Ex-minister urges Russian parliamentary vote rerun. (Kudrin)
7. RIA Novosti: Russian opposition needs two years to challenge Putin's leadership - Kudrin.
8. http://vestnikkavkaza.net: New rules for political parties in Russia will be approved soon - politician. (Vladimir Ryzhkov)
9. BBC Monitoring: Russian opposition politician unimpressed by president's bills. (Ryzhkov)
10. BBC Monitoring: Freed Left Front leader says unity, transparency are topmost priorities. (Sergey Udaltsov)
11. Bloomberg: Russia's Factions Dig In for a Tough 2012.
12. Interfax: Russian Church Spokesman Warns Against Complacency, Calls For National Dialogue.
13. The Irish Times: Daniel McLauglin, Russian leaders face most serious challenge so far. Putin's critics use the internet to say things that can not be reported by state media.
14. Politkom.ru: Aleksey Makarkin, Regime and Opposition: Return of Politics.
15. Scotsman.com: Sergei Guriev, Democratic capitalism will only succeed if middle class prevails.
16. Interfax: HIV Infections In Russia Increasing With Drug Addiction Rates - Health Chief.
17. Nauka i Tekhnologii Rossii: Review of State of Russian Science in 2011, Outlook for 2012.
18. www.russiatoday.com: With old ways forgotten, indigenous communities turn desperate.
19. www.opendemocracy.net: Susanne Sternthal, Let history be judged: the lesson of Perm-36.

ECONOMY

20. Spacedaily.com: Russian river water unexpected culprit behind Arctic freshening.
21. www.russiatoday.com: Online retail and banking boosts consumer mobility.
22. People's Daily Online: 'What Changes China-Russia Oil Pipeline Has Brought?'
23. Brookings Institution: William Partlett, State Capitalism and Russia's Energy Strategy in the Far East.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

24. Japan Times: Andrey Borodaevskiy, Russia's mental adjustment.
25. Interfax: US to have more missile defense talks with Russia.
26. http://news.ninemsn.com.au: Britain warns US not to forget Russia.
27. Pravda.ru: Siberia to separate from Russia to become a part of USA.
28. Valdai Discussion Club: Andrey Kortunov, Expansion prospects for the Common Economic Space.
29. Eurasianet.org: U.S.: Rent for Kyrgyz Air Base To "Buy" President's Reelection.
30. AP: Czechs grant asylum to Tymoshenko's husband.
31. Interfax: Berlin, Washington Call For Demilitarization of Dniester Security Zone.
32. Russia Profile: Unfrozen Conflict? Will Regime Change in Transdnestr Help Thaw the Frozen Conflict?

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In this issue

POLITICS

1. ITAR-TASS: The number of Internet users in Russia to reach 90 mln in 2013.
2. RIA Novosti: Russians Put Putin, Medvedev Top Of 'Elite Rating', Followed By Pop Icon.
3. RIA Novosti: Britain's Smokie performs for Medvedev, Putin at Kremlin New Year party ­ media.
4. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Newspaper's Chief Editor Sums Up Political Results of 2011. (Konstantin Remchukov)
5. Valdai Discussion Club: Alexei Mukhin, Surkov's departure shakes up Russian politics.
6. The National Interest: Paul Saunders, Protests, Putin and the Russian Elite.
7. Jamestown Foundation Eurasia Daily Monitor: Pavel Felgenhauer, Under Political Pressure Putin Moves His Powerbase to the Kremlin.
8. Der Spiegel: 'Russia Has Awoken.' Anti-Putin Protesters Search for Direction.
9. AP: Russian protest leader and unlikely hero of the opposition walks free after a month in jail. (Sergei Udaltsov)
10. RIA Novosti: Russian opposition leader urges activists to set up coordination centers. (Udaltsov)
11. BBC Monitoring: Russian MP worried about protest movement being 'privatized.' (Oksana Dmitriyeva)
12. Paul Goble: Navalny's Nationality 'Policy' Potentially Dangerous, Gontmakher Says.
13. Nauka i Tekhnologii Rossii: Reasons Why Scientists, Intelligentsia Are Attending Protest Rallies.
14. Jamestown Foundation Eurasia Daily Monitor: Tatar Nationalism Remains Vibrant Force in Volga Region.
15. www.minyanville.com: Craig Mellow, Russia Markets: Citizens Search for the Anti-Putin. Street protests will not yield a new president, but maybe a new prime minister.
16. www.opendemocracy.net: Irina Borogan and Andrei Soldatov, The Police International vs Russia's football fans.
17. www.forbes.com: Mark Adomanis, Russia's Demographics are Still Improving - Population Loss on Pace for a 40% Decline.
18. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Art or Vandalism? Moscow is peppered with graffiti tags; the drawings, painting and writing of various artists, who want to leave their mark in the urban jungle. But what is the distinguishing feature of Russian graffiti?
19. www.russiatoday.com: Timber barons wreak devastation in Russia's Far East.
20. Space.com: Doomed Russian Mars Probe May Crash to Earth on Jan. 15.

ECONOMY

21. www.economonitor.com: Ed Dolan, Why the Russian Economy Is No Longer a Big Plus for Putin.
22. Oilprice.com: Will 2012 be a Better Year for Russia's Energy Sector?
23. www.russiatoday.com: Automakers race to Russia. Automakers look for safe harbour on emerging markets as rest of the globe urged into austerity.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

24. Interfax: Roscosmos: Space powers agree on global spaceflights roadmap.
25. Russia Profile: Agreeing to Disagree. Elections Will Have a Cooling Effect on the Dialogue Between Russia and United States.
26. RIA Novosti: America enters referendum year on Obama.
27. Russia Profile: Happy New Mini-USSR. Russia Is Recreating the Soviet Union, One Little Step at a Time.
28. RIA Novosti: Tehran hails Moscow's diplomatic efforts over Iranian nuclear program.
29. RIA Novosti: Fyodor Lukyanov, The Arab Spring in global context.
30. BBC Monitoring: Russian TV defends Syrian authorities, slams foreign interference, Al-Jazeera.
31. ITAR-TASS: Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces plan 11 ICBM launches in 2012.
32. www.publicserviceeurope.com: Geoffrey Kemp, Tim Boersma, and Nicholas Siegel, Is the Arctic really a geopolitical flashpoint of the future?
33. Interfax: Moldovan officials: Peacekeeper force at Dniester checkpoint to be cut after incident.
34. www.worldpoliticsreview.com: Matthew Rojansky, Transnistria Vote Highlights Tension Between Values and Interests.
35. http://news.am (Armenia): War in Karabakh is possible - expert.

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In this issue

POLITICS

1. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Struggling with snow. Russians are well-versed in coping with winter.
2. www.opendemocracy.net: Elena Strelnikova, Russian provincial life: to be or not to be single.
3. Interfax: No New Residences Or Yachts Will Be Built For Russian Leaders in 2012 - Kremlin Official.
4. The National Interest: Fiona Hill and Clifford G. Gaddy, Putin and the Uses of History.
5. www.russiaotherpointsofview.com: Gordon Hahn, PERESTROIKA 2.0 CONTINUES: RUSSIA'S DECEMBER THAW AND THE RETURN OF POLITICS.
6. RIA Novosti: Konstantin von Eggert, Push and pull of Russian power.
7. www.sublimeoblivion.com: Anatoly Karlin, New Year Special: 2012 Predictions.
8. RIA Novosti: Group Set Up To Collect Signatures For Annulment Of Russian Election Results.
9. Jamestown Foundation Eurasia Daily Monitor: Pavel Baev, Russia Reluctantly Enters Into a New Revolution.
10. Paul Goble: New Media, Print and Electronic, Aid Moscow Demonstrations.
11. London Review of Books book review: Stephen Holmes, Fragments of a Defunct State. (re Mafia State: How One Reporter Became an Enemy of the Brutal New Russia by Luke Harding)
12. The Nation: Vadim Nikitin, Back in the USSR. Ever since 1991, Russians have been looking to the Soviet past for comfort and pride.
13. The Nation: Stephen Cohen, The Soviet Union's Afterlife. Twenty years later, questions endure about how and why the nation abruptly dissolved.

ECONOMY

14. BBC Monitoring: Global recession may affect Russian economic growth - presidential aide. (Arkadiy Dvorkovich)

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

15. The Nation: Mikhail Gorbachev, Is the World Really Safer Without the Soviet Union?
16. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Igor Ivanov, Political will is not enough. The only way Russia-U.S. relations will really improve is if the reset is broadened beyond politics to include other areas of cooperation.
17. www.foreignpolicy.com: David Hoffman, For nukes, another lost year.
18. New York Times: Shooting at Checkpoint Raises Tensions in a Disputed Region Claimed by Moldova.

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Johnson's Russia List
2012-#1
3 January 2012
davidjohnson@starpower.net
A World Security Institute Project
www.worldsecurityinstitute.org
JRL homepage: www.cdi.org/russia/johnson
JRL on Facebook: www.facebook.com/russialist
JRL on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnsonRussiaLi
Support JRL: www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/funding.phpYour source for news and analysis since 1996

In this issue

POLITICS

1. Interfax: Russians Were Impressed The Most By Sinking of Bulgaria, Lokomotiv Crash in 2011 - Poll.
2. RIA Novosti: Russians expect protests, political upheavals but no coup in 2012.
3. BBC Monitoring: Russian TV broadcasts New Year address by President Medvedev.
4. http://premier.gov.ru: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wishes Russians well-being and prosperity in the New Year.
5. AP: Putin Sends New Year's Greetings, With A Wink.
6. www.russiatoday.com: The year of dissent: Russia between change and chaos.
7. http://theivanovreport.com: Eugene Ivanov, The president for the next four months.
8. Paul Goble: Window on Eurasia: Existence of 'Four [Different] Russias' Complicates Political Struggle, Moscow Analyst Says. (Welcome back Paul!)
10. New York Times: A Dilemma for Russian Leaders: To Suppress Protests or Not.
11. New York Times: Masha Gessen, Christmas Blues in Russia.
12. CNN: Human rights activist, 84, sees hope in Russian protests. (Lyudmila Alexeyeva)
13. BBC Monitoring: Russian ex-minister, opposition discuss possible talks between Putin, protesters. (Kudrin)
14. BBC Monitoring: Russian oligarch can enlist support of part of opposition at presidential poll.
15. BBC Monitoring: Russian oligarch, ex-minister most likely to form right-wing party - pundit.
16. BBC Monitoring: Russian expert says Kremlin to benefit from emergence of new parties. (Stanislav Belkovskiy)
17. BBC Monitoring: Yabloko presidential hopeful upbeat on upcoming Russian election. (Grigoriy Yavlinskiy)
18. Interfax: Mironov Calls Bolotnaya Square, Sakharov Avenue Rallies a Key Result of 2011.
19. Wall Street Journal: Russian Protesters Set a Plan for 2012.
20. www.democracynow.org: Election Fraud Galvanizes Russian Opposition, Communist Party 20 Years After Soviet Union's Collapse. (with Stephen Cohen)
21. Interfax: Revival of Gubernatorial Elections Best Prospect For Russia - Kadyrov.
22. Interfax: Chechen Leader Says Less Than 50 Militants Left In Chechnya.
23. BBC Monitoring: TV report accuses Russian penal system of 'torture and murder'
24. BBC Monitoring: Russian TV takes a dim view of four-year military reform.
25. ITAR-TASS: Moscow in 2011, 2012 - a look back, a look forward.

ECONOMY

26. www.russiatoday.com: Russian economy to drag in year of Dragon.
27. www.russiatoday.com: What's in it for me? Russians & WTO.
28. Reuters: Russia 2011 oil output at new post-Soviet record high.
29. Interfax: YEAR IN REVIEW: Pursuing Pipelines.
30. ITAR-TASS: Russian scientists develop new generation electronics technology.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
31. ITAR-TASS: Top ten events in world in 2011.
32. Interfax: U.S., Russian Administrations Should Make Bilateral Relations Positive - Medvedev's Congratulation to Obama.
33. Interfax: Newly-confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Russia McFaul to Take Office in Late January.
34. Financial Times: Charles Clover, End is nigh for Russia's 'reset' with US.
35. Voice of America Russian Service: Donald Jensen, The Year in Review: Reset Sunset.
36. Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye: Vladimir Mukhin and Sergey Aksenov, America's Great Strategic Game. Missile Defense Problem Is Merely Cover for a Nuclear and Precision-Guided Arms Race.
37. Interfax: U.S., NATO Fail Have Failed to Form Efficient Coalition in Afghanistan in 10 Years - Russian Analyst. (Vyacheslav Nekrasov)
38. AP: Russia's Putin dreams of sweeping Eurasian Union for trade, not ideology.
39. Civil Georgia: Saakashvili's New Year Address.
40. Civil Georgia:Obama May Treat Georgia Section of U.S. Defense Act as 'Non-Binding'

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