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.

Although We've Come to the End of the Road

The two presidents were on first name terms throughout their news conference. George Bush remarked that their meetings had always been agreeable, even when they disagreed.

But disagree they do, and on the most fundamental issues - Nato expansion and missile defence.

On the latter, Vladimir Putin emphasised that his country's opposition to American plans for a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe went deeper than simple objections of protocol.

"This is not about language, this is not about diplomatic phrasing or wording, this is about the substance of the issue," he said. "I'd like to be very clear on this. Our fundamental attitude to the American plans has not changed."

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Since Putin is no longer president a strain will be put on the relationship of him and US president, George W. Bush. They seem to be great friends. However their friendship does not mean much whenit comesto the US's desire to set up a missile defence system. Russia refuses to participate.

Bush to Make a Dash to Russia

WASHINGTON: The US President, George Bush, will make an unexpected trip to Russia after a NATO summit next week to meet President Vladimir Putin in the hope of repairing relations that have grown strained over missile defence, Kosovo independence and NATO expansion.

The decision surprised even some US officials and set both governments scrambling to accommodate the last-minute visit and organise an agreement to justify it. For Mr Bush, the meeting represents a gamble that he can still resolve thorny disputes with Russia before Mr Putin steps down on May 7.

"I'm optimistic we can reach accord on very important matters," Mr Bush told a group of foreign journalists at the White House. "I think a lot of people in Europe would have a deep sigh of relief if we're able to reach an accord on missile defence. And hopefully we can."

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George W. Bush will be traveling to Russia to help ease tension about some of Russia's current international issues. He is doing so in hopes of coming up with some resolutions before Putin steps down from the presidential seat. The World waits in awe to see if George W. Bush can ease tension about anything. This article also provides a look into Russia's diplomatic realationship with the US.

Is It Always Nice To Share

Russia's president-elect, Dmitry Medvedev, has insisted he will be making the key decisions in his power-sharing deal with Vladimir Putin.

Mr Medvedev won a landslide election victory this month and will replace Mr Putin, who is expected to become his prime minister, in May.

The president-elect told the Financial Times newspaper that the president and government had clearly defined roles.

He praised Mr Putin for adhering to the constitution in serving just two terms.

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Russia's new president, Medvedev, is clearly defining the roles that will be played by himself and Putin. The roles are supposedly very different. He also assure everyone that he will be the one making the important decisions. It will be inresting to see if this is really true.

Russia Sets Sail For a "Three Hour Tour"

While the presidential election proved entirely predictable, the transfer of power from Vladimir Putin to Dmitry Medvedev looks likely to be anything but.

This will be the first time in the country's history that a popularly elected head of state hands over power to another popularly elected head of state.

The lack of precedent is raising some curious constitutional questions over exactly how the Kremlin's impending round of musical chairs is going to work.

"There is not really any previous experience for what happens between an election and the moment the new president assumes power," said Mikhail Krasnov, an author of the Constitution.

While Medvedev is now president-elect and first deputy prime minister, Putin by law will remain president until May 7, exactly four years after his inauguration. Putin has said he will then become prime minister.

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Russia's already controversial election has become even more controversial. People are beginning to question the constitutionality of the new transfer of power. This questioning could hurt the legitimacy of Russia.

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.

Orthodox Church Unholy Alliance with Putin

"Russia's Orthodox Church, despite decades of brutal repression under Soviet rule, is putting its trust in the KGB to ensure that a remarkable religious revival does not fade with the departure of President Vladimir Putin." The Church even "endorsed deputy prime minister Dmitry Medvedev ahead of next week's presidential election." This is a very strong move seeing that Alexei II, the Church's patriarch, holds sway over 100 million voters.

"The relationship might seem odd. It was the KGB, after all, that led persecution of the Church in Soviet times, when priests were regularly jailed, tortured and executed. Neither this nor accusations that Mr Putin is restoring many of the attributes of Soviet rule seem to bother Alexei.Although he has never confirmed it, the patriarch, like the president, is a former KGB agent codenamed Drozdov, according to Soviet archives opened to experts in the 1990s."

"The number of Russians who identify themselves as Orthodox has doubled in the past decade, with two-thirds of the 140 million population proclaiming the faith - quite a feat after seven decades of official atheism.Yet most Russians say they follow Orthodoxy for national rather than moral reasons. Deeply patriotic and with a declared intention of making Russia great again, the Church has milked the sentiment.Priests are regularly seen on television sprinkling holy water on bombers and even nuclear missiles, a blessing that reinforces Mr Putin's own militaristic philosophy."

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Since this story comes from a British news source, there is a slightly degrading tone against Russia which tells a news story but also illustrates the national ill-will between the two countries. On the subject of the story itself, the act of the Church endorsing a political candidate shows just how tied the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian government are.

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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.

Putin To Attend Nato Summit

"Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a Nato summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest in April, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says." This decision "comes at a time of tense relations between Nato and Russia." Hopefully, this will be able to smooth some issues that Russia has been having with other nations. As Mr. Lavrov said,"This yet again testifies to the fact that Russia is open to dialogue on any issues." Nato has yet to confirm the invitation.


Recently, Putin "condemned Nato's eastward expansion and the US plan to include Poland and the Czech Republic in a missile defence shield." "It is already clear that a new phase in the arms race is unfolding in the world," Putin said. "It is not our fault, because we did not start it." Putin also said that other countries are spending far more money on weapontry than Russia, but "Russia would always respond to the challenges of a new arms race by developing more hi-tech weaponry," he added.


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This motion by Putin to attempt to smooth foreign relations could be a good sign. His discussion of a new arms race will most likely be looked on negatively by other nations although he makes a clear point that Russia is not going to officially start it.

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Putin Insists on New Scenario for Russia

On February 8, after the Russian President finished his 45-minute address about the strategy of the Russian development before 2020 at the State Council’s enlarged meeting, analysts got confused in their comments. They varied from “Putin left his will” to “he will not leave at all.” Some said that “he first acknowledged arms race,” others believed that “he said nothing new,” etc.

Moreover, after the third part of the speech was said, it could be concluded that the only aim of the presidential address was to remind everyone of the terrible situation in Russia before Putin and the improvements achieved during his presidency. Afterwards, Putin promised that Russia would continue its development. He really specified plans and goals, but it was just a brief outline. The landmark speech lacked the list of mechanisms and resources required for achieving such goals. That is why Putin’s speech looked more like the final report of the past eight years with best wishes for the forthcoming 12 years.

However, Putin’s address was neither a report, nor a summary of the strategy before 2020. In fact the attendees at the Georgievsky Hall of the Kremlin (where Putin delivered his speech) heard the following: “You think that our situation is good and is going to remain such? But if we adhere to the present scenario, things will get worse.”

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Putin’s message in his address was unclear. What was clear was that the economy of Russia is not doing well. Putin reminded everyone how bad it was before he became president, but he noted it stagnation. He wants progress and growth for Russia. The quality of life for Russians is bleak, many do not live to be sixty. This article shows how difficult life in Russia really is.

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Film on Putin's Life

"A new film purported to be based on President Vladimir Putin's normally very private life is soon to be released in Russia." Although it does not mirror the Putin's private life, it bears a strong resemblance. "Its fictional hero is a German-speaking St Petersburg Russian with a secretive job who marries a stewardess, has two daughters and rises to the presidency. The film was completed five years ago, but there has been speculation that the Kremlin delayed its release until now, weeks before President Putin leaves office."

"Very little is known of President Putin's private life. His wife Ludmila rarely appears in public, and there are very few pictures of his grown-up daughters Maria and Katerina. Some of the film's key scenes appear to recreate Vladimir Putin's first meeting with Ludmila, their marriage in 1983 and their move to Dresden in Germany where he worked for the KGB, reports say."

To see the article in its entirety, click here.

This article will provide a more personal look at Putin and it has the capacity to carry Russian pride and feeling of familiarity to bring an increased desire to see him become Prime Minister after the March elections. Although the Kremlin was not consulted about the film, it is apparently kind in its opinion to Putin, his family, and his politics.

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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.

To read the story in its entirety, click here.

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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The New Generation

Nashi describe themselves as a "democratic, anti-fascist, youth movement".

The name is the Russian word for "ours". It has the ring of "our lads", or "our team".

This week, they have been using their own tactics to show their support for Russia in its row with Estonia.

They have picketed the Estonian embassy in Moscow.

They broke into a hall in the centre of Moscow where the Estonian ambassador was about to give a news conference, and clashed with the ambassador's guards.

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Putin has a new generation of supporters and they are a very active bunch. The Nashi are not your every day teenagers. They are taking to the streets protesting and declaring their loyalty to Russia. From this article we can learn how Russia youth are becoming politically active.

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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Media Offer to Putin Judo Partner

Putin has a black belt in Judo.

"A friend and judo partner of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vasily Shestakov, has been asked to fill a key role in a new official media centre.

The National Information Centre will offer journalists rare access to senior government figures, an official said.

Mr Shestakov said he had been invited to head the centre's supervisory board, Russian reports say.

The thick-set Mr Shestakov is said to have taught Mr Putin judo throws. The two also co-authored a book on judo."

"As a personal friend of the president himself, it may be interpreted as the Kremlin's wish to maintain a tight grip on the media."

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This gives some more insight into Putin and his presidency. This could be interpreted as a move to control the media and repair some of the damage done between neighboring countries.

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Russia Sends Warning to the West

"President Vladimir Putin's decision to suspend Russia's participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe, or CFE, treaty is a potent political signal."

Recently, Putin has made it clear that he no intention of cooperating with political actions or initiatives associated with President Bush and Washington, even after "the informal meeting at the start of this month between the US and Russian presidents at the Bush family's holiday home at Kennebunkport in Maine." This is even leading the UN to question just "how far Russia might go to block initiatives backed by Washington and its key allies."

"The Russians have been threatening to suspend their participation in the CFE treaty for several months." Now, Putin's patience has gone and he has suspended "various routine inspections, exchanges of data, and so on. President Putin's decree to suspend application of the treaty is not the same as a full-scale withdrawal - that would require a formal notification of the other parties".

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Although the CFE is no longer relevant, the decision to suspend it is. It demonstrates Putin's strong oppostition against the US, but at the same time, but also shows how Russia is beginning to make similar actions. As the article said, "in a sense Mr Putin is just demonstrating that what the Americans can do in the name of their vital interests, so Russia can also threaten in the name of its national interest." The thing to watch now will be how the West and UN react.

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Russia Signs Gas Pipeline Deal With Bulgaria

Friday, January 16, President Putin signed a 10 billion euro deal with Bulgarian president Georgy Parvanov. The South Stream is to carry Russian gas to Europe, giving Moscow an even greater say on European energy supplies. "Thanks to the personal intervention of President Puting," these two former Cold War allies have now secured a new deal that will "[allow] Russia to send natural gas directly to Europe through Bulgaria and bypassing Turkey, which has been a crucial transit route for Russia’s gas exports to European markets. The agreement on the South Stream pipeline dealt another blow to Nabucco, a major European Union gas pipeline project designed to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on Russia."

“The E.U., shockingly, acts like a naïve bystander, completely blind to the major strategic reconfiguration that is taking place in the Balkans,” Mr. Minchev said."

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It seems that Russia is acting in a way that is making both the UK and some other European countries to hold disaprroval with Russia's diplomatic actions. From the arguement brought about by the UK's Foreign Secrectary's description of Russian regulation and now the blow to Nabucco could put Russia on the bad side in European minds.