The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia has offi cially published a list of enterprises operating in the Russian Defense Industry Complex (DIC), thereby making it possible to assess the key indicators of the DIC’s size which have changed insignifi cantly over the past six months. However,...

The priorities of a new National Arms Program for 2016–2025 have been published. However, the well-known issues are unlikely to see a successful resolution, because this area is extremely sensitive to information disclosure. The Russian President’s demand to create a transparent defense...

Indicators of output growth in the defense sector have lagged far behind the target figures. Growth in public investment rates is overtaking growth in output, thereby causing abnormal growth in prices of defense industry products and upsurge in corruption. Meeting the President’s requirements...

The State Defense Order 2012 was implemented nearly 80%. Being limited in labor force, Russia’s defense plants are facing problems related to drastically increased the State Defense Order 2013. President Putin’s requirements to create a transparent military economy, establish order in terms...

In the new version of the Military Doctrine, the topical issues of the Russian Military Doctrine remained unchanged in general, however, such objectives as optimization of defense expenditures, effi cient planning and allocation of fi nancial and material resources were excluded from its text,...

Political and economic environment: a strong-arm approach Russia’s diplomatic and information efforts on the eve of signing a Euro-Ukrainian association agreement should be considered the key topic of the political and economic environment in November 2013.

The political background of January was mainly determined by the events unfolding in Ukraine. The adoption, by the Ukrainian parliament, of a package of repressive laws restricting freedom of assembly and introducing harsh penalties for their viola?? on, resulted in the situation in Ukraine...

The beginning of the autumn was marked by an onset of fundamental conflicts in the ranks of the new Russian government and by some fresh signs of political reaction fomented in the State Duma by United Russia deputies. President Putin publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the federal...

The socio-political background of April 2013 was determined by the ongoing attacks on the government launched by the RF President and the law enforcement agencies; by the continuing debate around the issue of how to find the most effective way of stimulating economic growth; and by the...

A few words about the socio-political background that triggered some of the key economic events of December 2013. The most important political event of the month was the unexpected release from jail of former oil tycoon Michail Khodorkovsky who had spent 10 years and 2 months behind bars. As...