Politics & Society | Russia Beyond The Headlines

Medvedev, Solana and Barroso in Khabarovsk

In pursuit of competence or loyalty?

May 25, 2009 RBTH, Sergey Merinov

In the past week the Russian press has been commenting on amendments to the law on the Constitutional Court, and also on the Russia-EU summit held in Khabarovsk, a Russian city that is geographically much closer to Japan than to Moscow and Europe

Ambitions and money

May 25, 2009 Dmitriy Orlov, General Director of the Political and Economic Commmunications Agency

Russia is finally giving up the Energy Charter, a rather strange document according to which our country at some point took on the responsibility to provide Western companies with access to our oil and gas pipelines without essentially receiving anything in exchange. President Dmitriy Medvedev stated this clearly and categorically at the Russia-EU summit in Khabarovsk. But the real success was the fact that the Energy Charter ceased to be the basis for dialogue on energy between the EU and Russia. The European leaders were forced to admit that special new agreements are needed, the content of which must be discussed - with Russia.

Postponing war, but not lunch

May 17, 2009 RBTH, Sergei Balashov, Russia Profile

While striking a few significant business deals with Japan, Putin left addressing the issue of the Kuril Islands up to the President

Fairytale win for Norway in Eurovision

May 17, 2009 RBTH, Russia Today

Norway is the runaway winner of this years Eurovision Song Contest

Medvedev told "Novaya Gazeta" editor Dmitry Muratov why<br> he chose to be interviewed by his newspaper: "You have<br> never licked anyone's anything." He agreed these remarks<br> could be made public.

New moves on human rights

May 5, 2009 RBTH, Russia Now

Medvedev fosters ties with NGOs

Twittering for revolution

April 28, 2009 RBTH, Anna Arutunyan / Combined reports

Several topics managed to break through economic coverage over the last few weeks. Political protests in Moldova dominated headlines for several days, while President Medvedev displayed telling signs of a liberal attitude, and the regime of counterterrorist forces was lifted in Chechnya.

Medvedev's declaration. Year 2009.

April 15, 2009 Dmitry Muratov, Novaya Gazeta / translation: Russia Today

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was interviewed by Novaya Gazeta on April 13 in his residence "Gorki". He said this was "his interview to a Russian publication, but he would continue the practice with other newspapers

U.S. still lacks clear Afghan strategy

April 12, 2009 Pyotr Goncharov, RIA Novosti

U.S. President Barack Obama has asked Congress to allocate another $83.4 billion for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq

We must diversify to save the economy

April 6, 2009 RBTH, Sergei Balashov, Russia Profile.org

Dmitry Medvedev has been busy gearing up for the G20 summit in London, set to mark the next litmus test of his almost year-long presidency

Kremlin's ideas for international reforms

April 1, 2009 RBTH, Alexander Polivanov, lenta.ru

Moscow has framed proposals for the transformation of the regulatory structure of international markets

Crisis of power or power of crisis?

April 1, 2009 Anna Arutunyan

The first weeks of March were dominated by the effects of the financial crisis as the Russian press struggled to gain a footing in how all the recent changes would affect the economic, political and social landscape. Another central topic was the first year of Dmitry Medvedev's presidency, and, indirectly set against the backdrop of the crisis, the new trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

They need somebody

April 1, 2009 RBTH, Svetlana Smetanina, Russia Now

While big business in Russia is cutting social programmes due to the economic crisis, the people are reaching into their pockets. Is this enough for the vulnerable?

Chulpan Khamatova with her daughter Alina

Chulpan Khamatova's `quiet knights'

April 1, 2009 Irina Krasnopolskaya, Rossiyskaya Gazeta

A change in attitudes toward philanthropy is needed in Russia today

The day that Henry Ford got it wrong about charity

April 1, 2009 Lev Ambinder, head of the Russian Aid Foundation

A century ago, Henry Ford, the American capitalist and philanthropist, wrote: "The charitable organisation that doesn't aim to make itself unnecessary in future is not fulfilling its true purpose." America was then struggling with hunger and poverty. Hunger has long since been eradicated, but the concept of poverty, as it turned out, is relative, while problems in health care, science and culture have not diminished. Thousands of charity organisations exist; millions of Americans give money away, to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars a year.

Interview with Dmitry Medvedev

March 26, 2009 Kirill Kleimenov

Conversation between Dmitry Medvedev and Director of News Programmes at Channel One Kirill Kleimenov

Stuck in the minor leagues

March 23, 2009 RBTH, Alexei Bayer, The Moscow Times

I sympathize with Russian leaders. Only a year ago, Russia had risen from its knees and assumed its rightful place at the head of the international table

The dangers of inflated expectations

March 23, 2009 RBTH, Fyodor Lukyanov, political expert

Metaphor in politics can be tricky, especially once the meaning is dissected.

Press Review: February 2009

March 17, 2009 RBTH, Sergey Merinov, Russia Now

Press Review: March 2009