When estimating the slight improvement of the Russian economy’s indicators displayed early this autumn, it should be borne in mind that in the autumn of 2012 the economy had already entered the phase of steep slowdown.

Socio-political environment. June 2013 was relatively quiet, but its major events were triggered by recently accumulated political conflicts and confrontations.

Escalation of socio-political tensions in July 2013 was caused by upcoming elections in various regions on September 8, 2013. The tension, in its turn, reflects general uptrend in political activity, which has been of cellular nature so far, of both common citizens and elite groups. Main...