Gotta Give a Little to Get a Little

Mr Ban deems that with Russia’s economy developing, the country will manage to boost its investments in the organization. Reuters reports that Secretary-General said he made this point during his talks with the Russian officials.

So far Mr Ban has been on a visit to Moscow, which ends on April 11. This is his first official visit to Russia since assuming office. Received by Russia’s president Vladimir Putin yesterday, Mr Ban conducted talks featuring the current activities and prospects of the UN, as well as crucial international problems.

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The UN wants Russia to increase its contributions to the organization. Russia is one of the big members of the UN. This rticle shows the diplomatic relation ship between Russia and the UN. This is important because the UN is beginning to have more influence in Europe than it has in the past.

Mikhail Gorbachev Worries About Russia’s Future After Putin

Mikhail Gorbachev

The only president of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, wrote an article for The Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper about the recent presidential election in Russia. In the article Mr. Gorbachev expressed his opinion to alter the nation’s election system. He particularly offered to retrieve the direct gubernatorial elections and return to the mixed voting system during parliamentary elections.

“I took part in the election and urged my relatives, friends and all Russian citizens to go to the polls and use their voting right in spite of the fact that it was a predictable election. The result was predetermined with Vladimir Putin’s popularity. He supported Dmitry Medvedev and agreed to chair the cabinet of ministers in case of his victory. That was a peculiar feature of the recent election. Many treated such a situation rather critically,” Gorbachev wrote.

“It is more important what is going to happen next. To a certain extent the situation cleared by the end of the pre-election campaign. Electors had no opportunity to compare different projects of the candidates and variants of solving national problems. The list of presidential candidates left much to be desired too. However, people went to the polls and cast their votes, which, again, was a result of Putin’s phenomenon and people’s trust in him,” Gorbachev believes.

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Gorbachev goes on to say that he believes that Putin and Medvedev should continue to implement democratic structures into Russia’s government system. He thinks that the man Putin wanted to win won because it promises stability and security. The article gives some background information on Gorbachev and his political reign. Gorbachev is probably most famous for his attempts at reform - perestroika.

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Surprise! Medvedev Wins!

The West cast doubt on Russia's presidential election yesterday after Dmitry Medvedev won a landslide victory and vowed to follow the course set by outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Near-complete results gave Medvedev 70.2 percent of Sunday's vote, crushing his nearest rival, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, who won 17.8 percent, the central elections commission said.

But allegations that the landslide was stage-managed by the Kremlin raised widespread criticism of the election's legitimacy.

The sole Western observer mission present for the poll, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said the poll failed to reflect Russia's "democratic potential."

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Russia's long awaited election is over. Medvedev won. Everyone is now looking to him to improve Russia's diplomatic relations with the rest of the world. Although the elections weren't too free we get to see a very important part of Russia's political system.

Medvedev Reaches Out to Future U.S. Leader

Medvedev, who is predicted to be Russia's next president, "reached out, sort of, to Washington on Tuesday, saying he was willing to work with any future American president who isn't stuck in the past and doesn't have "semi-senile views." "Although of course it's easier to work with people who have modern positions, and not with those who have glints of the past in their eyes, who frequently profess such semi-senile views," he added.

Although Dmitry Medevedev is most likely to become the next president, there are many who critizice and some are even going to boycott the coming elections. "Garry Kasparov called out to Western nations to snub President Vladimir Putin's hand-picked successor, Dmitry Medvedev, and called for a boycott of Sunday's election and protests the following day." Also, a leading Russian human rights advocate and watchdog Amnesty International joined in the criticism of a presidential campaign that has been heavily tilted in Medvedev's favor.

"Kasparov's political movement plans protests on Monday in St. Petersburg and Moscow, despite a ban by Moscow authorities. Police have violently broken up such demonstrations in the past, and he predicted more riot police than demonstrators.Meanwhile, Sergei Kovalyov, a leading human rights advocate and Soviet-era political prisoner, sent an open letter to Putin and other officials calling the electoral process a "tasteless farce." He said the current situation in Russia is "a dead end from which not one path leads to democracy.""

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Now, when Russia had a chance to demonstrate a few qualities od democracy, they cannot even achieve that. All the while, Medvedev's existent, even though it is vague, offers hope for improved international relationships and better dealings specifically with Western nations like the US.

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Russia Accuses Election Monitors of Holding Bias

"Russia's chief election manager has accused foreign observers of bias ahead of Sunday's presidential election. "Some international observers come to Russia with ready-made conclusions and opinions which have nothing in common with reality," Vladimir Churov said." They will be the only Western observers to monitor the Russian polls.

"Earlier this month, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe - the continent's main election watchdog - said it would boycott the polls because of Moscow-imposed restrictions." Lately, the OSCE and Russia have been having disputes the "size and scope of the observers' mission." In turn, "Russia's foreign ministry has called the monitors' decision "unacceptable"."

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Although Medvedev is an almost gaurunteed to be the succesor of Putin, claims that the elections were influenced by forces to make the results untrue could result in violent civil strife and protests. This could also lead to international powers to challalenge Medvedev's right to rule.

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Medvedev Accuses UK Organization of Spying

In an interview with the weekly Itogi, Putin's likely succesor, Dmitry Mevedev accused the British Council and foreign NGO with spying on Russia. Medvedev's strong comments came as a somewhat suprise, as he "has tended to take a less confrontational tone with the West than Putin, leading to speculation that his expected election on March 2 might ease tension that has built up in recent years."

"Medvedev suggested supporting Russian actions that led the British Council -- an international cultural body funded by the British government -- to suspend operations at its offices in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. Moscow said the offices were operating illegally. "If someone allows you in their home, act decently," Medvedev said in the interview published on Itogi's Web site." He went on to say,"After all, it's known that state-financed structures like the British Council ... conduct a mass of other activities that are not so widely advertised. Among other things, they are involved in gathering information and conducting intelligence activity."

This confrontation has further poisoned the already less than cordial relationship between Britian and Russia that is "already strained by both countries' refusal to hand over suspects for prosecution. Raising memories of Soviet-style scare tactics, Russian staff of the council were interviewed at night by Russian police and intelligence agents."

"Medvedev also rejected Western accusations that Russia uses its energy riches as a tool in political blackmail, saying similar charges could just as easily be pressed against the United States."If one so desired, one could call the U.S. a financial aggressor and economic terrorist for forcing its currency and its business standards on the world," he said."


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Russia seems to be digging itself into a whole with its hostile attitude toward the Western nations. This also shows that Medvedev will not improve Russian ties with Britian as it was thought for some time. Not only will they not improve with Britian, making claims against the US like the one that he did could spark even more international issues for Russia.


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Political Heir Is Less Rosy Than Putin on the State of Russia

MOSCOW — The presumptive successor to President VladimirV. Putin presented his platform for seeking Russia’shighest office on Friday, giving a speech before business leaders in Siberia in which he vowed to continue Russia’s economic revival, but also struck markedly liberal notes. Dmitri A. Medvedev met with reporters at a business forum in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk on Friday.

The speech by the candidate, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev, was a contrast to the public appearance only a day before by Mr. Putin, his sponsor. Mr. Putin was confrontational and sometimes caustic in what the Kremlin had billed as his final news conference as president.

On Thursday, Mr. Putin had sharply criticized the West and the United States, threatened to aim strategic missiles at Europe and said Russia would continue to develop its own, state-centered brand of democracy without instruction from outside.

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Could the platform of Russia's new presidential candidate be a facade? This article gives us more incite on the political workings of Russia. We also learn about Putin's hostile attitude and other poltical misleadings. The tension seems to be growing quickly.

The Pseudoelection

As the Russian elections get closer and closer, the true integrity has been greatly reduced. From the banning of Kasyanov, to the reduction of to the opposition being made up of radical or unknown figures, the election can hardly be called "fair."

The excuse of the Central Election Commission for not registering Mr Kasyanov is that 13% of the 2m signatures supporting his candidacy were invalid. Gathering so many signatures in a few weeks, as the rules demand of an independent candidate, is nearly impossible. But the joke is that the commission still registered Andrei Bogdanov, whose unknown Democratic Party took only 90,000 votes in December's parliamentary election.

Now, "Mr. Medvedev talk[s] of the importance of pluralism, freedom and justice. Property rights and free media were essential to building democracy. And Russia must follow the rule of law."

Mr Medvedev will become Russia's president after March 2nd, but may well not be
in charge. Indeed, a paradox is that despite its pre-determined result, the
election will not do its main job: the transfer of power from one person to
another. In this, as in other ways, it can hardly be called an election at all.

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This article demostrates just how Putin has "arranged" for things to go as he planned. Starting with Medvedev having the highest percentage of support simply because of his willingness to hand over power. Although the author of this article had a bent against Putin and the coming elections, they porduced very good points that makes one question the validity of the process in Russia.

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Vladimir Putin May Become Dmitry Medvedev’s Successor at Gazprom

"Many observers say that there will not be a major confrontation held during the presidential election in Russia on March 2. First Vice Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will most likely replace Vladimir Putin on the top state position. Putin in his turn will chair the government.

However, it is still unclear who will chair the Board of Directors of Russia’s natural gas giant Gazprom. It is Dmitry Medvedev who takes the position at the moment. If he becomes Russia’s next president he will not be able to stay at Gazprom. It is worthy of note that Gazprom’s administration will have to approve the new list of candidates to its Board of Directors on February 4. The annual meeting of Gazprom’s shareholders is slated to take place on June 27.

Gazprom’s Board of Directors consists of ten people. Four of them represent the state structures, four others are from Gazprom itself, and the remaining two act as independent economists. The list of candidates is longer this year, spokespeople for the gas monopoly said. It counts 42 names as opposed to 26 in 2007.

Like it was mentioned above, Dmitry Medvedev will not be able to combine two positions of the president and the chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom. However, Vladimir Putin will have a full right for this, experts say.

It is not ruled out that Vladimir Putin may thus become Dmitry Medvedev’s successor at Gazprom. "

Gazprom is the largest Russian company. Gazprom is the biggest extractor of natural gas in the world With sales of US$31 billion in 2004. It accounts for about 93 percent of Russian natural gas production; with reserves of 28,800 km3, it controls 16 percent of the world's gas reserves (as of 2004, including the Shtokman field.) After acquisition of the oil company Sibneft, Gazprom, with 119 billion barrels of reserves, ranks behind only Saudi Arabia, with 263 billion barrels, and Iran, with 133 billion barrels, as the world's biggest owner of oil and oil equivalent in natural gas.

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This is important because it gives further insight into how powerful Putin is and can be. Not only will he still be in control of the government if Medvedev is elected, but he could also have control of a large oil company with billions at his disposal.

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Medvedev Insists on Rule of Law

"The firm favourite to win Russia's presidential election, Dmitry Medvedev, says the state should train employees better to consolidate the rule of law.

Mr Medvedev, a first deputy prime minister, told lawyers it was "necessary to give state employees more thorough and better legal training".

President Vladimir Putin has named Mr Medvedev as his preferred successor. The election will be held on 2 March.

Mr Medvedev has refused to take part in live TV debates with rival candidates.
The BBC's Russia analyst Steven Eke says a powerful public relations machine has been set in motion to groom Mr Medvedev as the nation's next leader. He is also chairman of the state energy giant Gazprom."

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The rest of the article describes Medvedev's political platform. His speeches and goals "echo" that of Putin. Medvedev has basically assumed that he will be the future president of Russia and so have many of the voters. This article highlights the similarities between Putin and Medvedev and show that he will be a puppet of Putin when he is elected.

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Vladimir Putin’s Trademark Begins to Decline

Dmitry Medvedev

"Putin’s persona, the Vladimir Putin brand, goes out of fashion slowly but surely. Russians are developing a new political addiction – Dmitry Medvedev, Putin’s protégé, his official successor. The propaganda machine has been taking great efforts to promote the new brand across Russia. The new brand, Dmitry Medvedev, has thus been outshining his predecessor – Putin."

"November of 2007 became the peak of “hail-Putin period.” That was the time when Russia was getting ready for parliamentary elections and when Putin chaired United Russia party. Thousands were saying that it would be a crime for Putin to step down. Those who urged all Russians to vote for Putin now say that the people of Russia should vote for Dmitry Medvedev.
“We were supporting Putin’s course, not a particular person. Since Dmitry Medvedev personifies Putin’s course now, we are now supporting Medvedev,” they say. "

"Putin's approval rating was 81% in June 2007, and the highest of any leader in the world. His popularity rose from 31% in August 1999 to 80% in November 1999 and since then it has never fallen below 65%. Observers see Putin's high approval ratings as a consequence of higher living standards that improved during his rule and Russia's reassertion of itself on the world scene. Most Russians are also deeply disillusioned with the West after all the hardships of 90s, and they no longer trust pro-western politicians associated with Yeltsin that were removed from the political scene under Putin's leadership. "

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Medvedev will most likely win the presidency because of Putin's popularity. Putin is pushing Medvedev's name and the people will probably vote for him simply to support Putin.

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Putin Selects His Choice for the Upcoming Elections

As the Russian Presidential elections get close, President Putin's support of potential candidate has not been what anyone could call constant. Over the past few months, his public endorsements of candidates has jumped from Dmitry Medvedev to Sergei Ivanov to Viktor Zubkov, and then back to Mr. Medvedev. Now, Medvedev has "invited Mr Putin to be his prime minister."

Medvedev has been termed "Putin-2" and reaffirmed this on the day he was "anointed." In a televised statement he "rea[d] from an autocue, and even imitat[ed] Mr Putin's voice and style, he declared: “I consider it of utmost importance for our country to keep Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in the highest post of executive power, the post of head of government of the Russian Federation.”

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The endorsements that Putin provides the potential candidates has proved to be a deciding factor in the opinion polls. The "leading candidate" has become whoever Putin is supporting at the time. This shows how Putin still holds lots of influence over Russia's citizens. At the rate his "favor" has been floating around, another change would not come as a suprise.