In December, the Russian authorities made several symbolic gestures designed to sway public opinion both at home and abroad in favor of their policies. Thus, they pardoned Michail Khodorkovsky, Russia's number one political prisoner, and declared a large-scale amnesty marking the 20th...

In June 2015, the EU states extended for another six months the economic sanctions introduced against Russia, as before linking this issue to the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements. At the St Petersburg International Economic Forum held this month, several deals were concluded, the biggest...

As far as Russia is concerned, the main news of May 2015 was the celebration of the 70th anniversary of VE day. Inside Russia, this country's victory in WW2 was celebrated with true enthusiasm on a massive scale. However, an overwhelming majority of foreign heads of state had chosen to ignore...

In March 2015, the topmost headline-makers were various economic issues, including the ongoing discussion on the new draft budget for 2015-2017 and on the future course of Russia's economic policy. However, the beginning of March was also marked by two very serious and purely political events:...

A new truce was arranged in Ukraine in February 2015, following a meeting involving the leaders of Russia, France and the German Chancellor. However, the very context of Minsk II Agreements repeats the numerous understatements of Minsk I Agreements and can be broken any time unless solid...

In January 2015, the Russian Government approved a plan providing for 10% budget spending cuts (except defense, social benefits, agriculture costs and external debt repayment) and extensive financial aid to the banking sector. Most of the proposals on supporting small businesses and lowering...

In October the current turmoil in Russia's international relations palpably stagnated. At the same time, Russia's economic-political scene displayed alarming portents of future troubles in her business environment: it is not an exaggeration to say that, in October, Russia found herself on the...

In September 2014, the RF Government approved a draft budget for 2015. In so doing it rejected the idea of increasing taxes and found an intermediate solution for the preservation of the funded component of labor pension without, however, making a final decision as to its future. On the other...

In August 2014, Russia's authorities announced that the funded component of labor pensions would remain frozen in 2015 – something that they had previously adamantly denied. This decision is fraught with numerous negative long-term consequences, including the erosion of the impetus to be paid...

In July 2014, against the backdrop of an escalating conflict in Ukraine and the crash of a civilian passenger airliner in the active combat zone there, the OECD's sanctions against Russia were severely toughened. A ban was imposed on the issuance of long-term loans (for periods over 90 days) to...