· January, 2009

Stories about Russia from January, 2009

Russia: “Mourning Markelov”

  27 January 2009

Robert Amsterdam writes: “Russia was a safer place when Markelov was still alive, because at the very least, his advocacy was ultimately emblematic of moral outrage – seemingly our last defense.”

Russia, Ukraine: “Far From Over”

  27 January 2009

Streetwise Professor writes: “In short, the Gas War is just the surface of things. Under the surface one finds the true dynamic–Russian imperial ambition resisted by a nation struggling to realize an independence long denied, but doing so under a confused, divided, and corrupt leadership.”

Czech Republic: News and Culture Roundup

  26 January 2009

A few updates from CzechFolks.com: Josef Lada‘s drawings; Karel Capek‘s life and writings; Vaclav Havel‘s health problems; the launch of a new Czech TV station; the 20th anniversary of Czech and Slovak ATMs; the gas dispute and the former Eastern Bloc countries’ dependency on Russia.

EU, Russia, Ukraine: “Everyone A Loser”

  26 January 2009

Michael Berendt of Blogactiv.eu writes that “[a]ll those directly affected [by the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute] were the biggest losers of all,” but that “[o]n the other hand the long-term case for a proactive EU energy policy has received a major boost.”

Ukraine, Russia, EU: Gas Politics

  26 January 2009

Antal Dániel of Central Europe Activ believes that Ukraine is “one of the most corrupted countries, a quasi-bankrupt and quasi-failed state” and quotes Gazprom's deputy chairman to emphasize that “the EU must find out what it want to do with Ukraine.” Hugo Lane of Lands Far Away… argues in the...

Georgia: Uneasy Reading

  26 January 2009

This is Tbilisi Calling comments on a new report released by Human Rights Watch detailing war crimes committed during the August war between Georgia and Russia. The blog says that the report is uneasy reading, but essential nonetheless. Meanwhile, while both sides violated international humanitarian law, The Tbilisi Blues says...

Russia, Ukraine: Gas Deal and Gazprom's Stock

  24 January 2009

Streetwise Professor writes this about the Russian-Ukrainian gas deal: “So, if the masterful Gasputin has really engineered such a coup, one that in addition to pulling Ukraine into Russia’s orbit, also secures Gazprom’s economic interests, why has the company’s stock performed so badly? The market certainly doesn’t seem to think...

Russia: Notes on the Crisis, Movies

  24 January 2009

Megan Case writes about her trip to Russia: “Our friends had stories of their workplaces downsizing, several had been given an extra “vacation” (without pay) or received a pay cut. There seemed to be fewer cars on the road, which is only good for traffic and the environment, but a...