What role will Ukraine play in Russia’s relations with the Biden administration?

Details: 12 March 2021; Mykola Vorobiov

Standing up for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity was recently named by Joe Biden as a “vital concern” for the West. Kiev has also shown eagerness for closer cooperation with the United States by taking a tougher stance on Russia. Against this backdrop, Moscow might look to raise the political stakes, using Ukraine as a staging ground for confrontation with the West.

Details: Analysis

“Zeroing-out” Anniversary

Details: 10 March 2021; Ekaterina Mishina

On March 10, 2020, during the second reading of the draft law on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, first-woman-in-space-turned-deputy Valentina Tereshkova put forward a surprise proposal—to reset, or “zero out,” the number of presidential terms for Vladimir Putin. The ensuing political theater once again confirmed that some candidates for the presidency are always more equal than others.

Details: Analysis

What key people in the Biden administration think of Russia

Details: 04 March 2021; Institute of Modern Russia

As the Biden administration takes shape, IMR looks at the key people who are slated to define U.S. foreign and national security policies and break down their views on Russia. This is a group of seasoned professionals who seem to have no illusions regarding the Putin regime. Moscow should expect less ambiguity, harsher rhetoric, and tougher policies coming from the U.S. in the next four years.

Analysis

Why does the Russian government keep making enemies out of educators?

Details: 03 March 2021; Ekaterina Mishina

In late February, Russia’s State Duma approved in the second reading the bill on regulating non-official educational activities. Introduced last November, the bill sparked sharp criticism among cultural and scientific communities over its intent to limit “undesirable foreign interference.” As the government expands its battle against domestic and international enemies, this draft law has the clear goal of stigmatizing independent educational projects and placing strict control over the entire field of educational activity.

What pro-Navalny protests tell us about Russian regions

Details: 03 March 2021; András Tóth-Czifra

The pro-Navalny protests that swept across Russia in late January highlighted a potential coalition within the opposition movement, which is broader than Navalny’s core base and shares a variety of grievances with regional specifics. A closer look at these says a lot about both the causes of the protests and the opposition’s prospects in the light of the upcoming Duma election.

Will Russia help the U.S. negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran?

Details: 02 March 2021; Vera Michlin-Shapir

In 2015, Russia claimed credit for helping the United States clinch the nuclear deal with Iran, which was upended by the Trump administration three years later. The Biden administration has already invited Tehran to restart nuclear talks, and Moscow is willing to act as a power broker again. But the Kremlin’s influence over Iran is more limited than it would like to show.

Opinions

Navalny’s return to Russia: a missed opportunity or systemic failure?

Details: 01 March 2021; Ofer Fridman

Alexei Navalny’s much-publicized return to Russia, his arrest and criminal trial triggered a new wave of protests across Russia. However, according to Ofer Fridman, this short-lived upheaval has been a wasted historical opportunity to turn anti-Putin activism into pro-Russia politics.

How the West Can Defeat the Putin Regime

Details: 05 January 2021; Andrei Piontkovsky

In recent months, the Western political establishment has reached an unprecedented consensus regarding the Putin regime. Another round of sanctions against its malign activities seems inevitable. However, to make sanctions truly effective, the West should target the corrupt Russian oligarchs who support this regime. Such measures will help clear the Western financial systems of criminal Russian assets and weaken the regime, all the while enjoying the overwhelming support of the Russian people.

100 years of legalized abortion: “Don’t throw the woman out with the bathwater"

Details: 18 November 2020; Ekaterina Mishina

In 1920, Soviet Russia was the first country in the world to legalize abortion. However, 100 years later, the world has seen a noticeable regression on the issue. Not only in modern Russia, but also in countries such as Poland and the United States, conservative forces are actively seeking to ban abortion. According to legal scholar Ekaterina Mishina, these efforts will have devastating consequences.

IMR would like to announce a new vacancy position in the capacity of president of the organization. The potential candidates should have at least 10 years of relevant experience, profound knowledge of Russian politics, and understanding of the current US media and political landscape. Please refer to the full job description here.

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