Month: November 2009

November 30, 2009

Grigory Pasko: Déjà Vu with Putin in Paris

I’m listening to Putin, who’s in Paris, and I’m thinking: either I’ve got déjà vu, or he’s got it… Если Вы хотите прочитать оригинал данной статьи на русском языке, нажмите сюда. Paris. 27 November 2009. Mr. V.P...
November 30, 2009

The Patriarch Strikes Back

From Reuters: “We believe the reply will be effective and powerful enough to show these shameful, terrible people that … when the hand of an enemy is lifted against our lives, we are able to defend our citizens,” Patriarch Kirill...
November 30, 2009

Medvedev’s Opportunity

This editorial in the Financial Times argues that despite facing the expected opposition, President Dmitry Medvedev should leap upon the opportunity of the death of Sergei Magnitsky to make serious reforms to both prison conditions and the functio...
November 30, 2009

Washington’s Broken Promise on NATO Enlargement?

As it was so eloquently stated in the leader of Friday’s Economist, President Barack Obama is becoming known as a guy who is easy to push around in terms of foreign policy.  The Kremlin has been given quite a few concessions – mos...
November 30, 2009

Energy Blast – Nov 30, 2009

Flouting IAEA concerns about its nuclear regime, Iran has announced its intention to construct ten new uranium enrichment plants.  ‘Everything possible‘ has been done to ensure the completion of Iran’s first nuclear power st...
November 30, 2009

Today in Russian Business – Nov 30, 2009

Vladimir Putin has confirmed that French car maker Renault will invest $450 million in a technology transfer to struggling Avtovaz, as part of a deal in which the Russian government will also offer the Lada manufacturer a $1.7 billion cash injecti...
November 30, 2009

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Nov 30, 2009

TODAY: Moscow-St Petersburg train crash kills 26, scores injured; investigators confirm bomb was cause; eyes turn to Chechnya.  Putin evades questions concerning Magnitsky death; RFE/RL takes a look at Russia’s endemic corruption. ...
November 29, 2009

Terror Attack Derails Train in Russia, Dozens Killed

A suspected terrorist attack occurred in Russia this weekend, as a homemade explosive device caused a train to derail, killing about 25 and injuring scores of other.  It has been many years since such a high profile, reprehensible terror inci...
November 27, 2009

Le Figaro Sees Nothing but Good News in Russia

In most modern industrialized countries there is a shortlist of newspapers that, according to general consensus, belong in a top tier of journalistic excellence. In France until recently I would have placed both Le Monde and Le Figaro in the short...
November 27, 2009

Lula Feeling the Heat from the Ahmadinejad Visit

As many of you know, I am quite fascinated by Latin America’s sudden “brotherhood” with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  Here a Washington Post editorial really hits home the fact that the Lula Administration really m...