RUSSIANS
STILL MOURNING SOVIET COLLAPSE
5 December 2003
New
polls show an increase in the number of Russians who
believe the breakup of the USSR could have been prevented.
According to the poll, some "64% of Russians
regret that the Soviet Union collapsed". That
is a staggering figure, considering the international
hopes that Russia will move closer to establishing
a real and lasting democracy. [For more: Interfax]
COUP
FOR SALE IN RUSSIA?
2
December 2003
Stanislav
Belkovsky, Director General of Russia's National Strategy
Council, says the necessary preconditions have been
established for a coup d'état to take place
in Russia. He says the oligarchs who control much
of Russia's industry and media are organizing themselves
to move against President Putin's crackdowns. Belkovsky
goes so far as to estimate the cost of the hypothetical
coup at $106 Million. He outlines a strategy which
he says is already in progress, starting with manufactured
"acute energy crisis", designed to destabilize
regional economies and foment opposition to the Putin
government. [For more: Pravda]
RUSSIAN
DEMOCRACY WAVERING?
13 November 2003
Concerns
about democracy in Russia are spreading. Though the
oligarch targetted by the Putin government for prosecution
acquired vast influence through what are considered
to be shady closed-door dealings under Yeltsin, analysts
believe he was targetted for his political aspirations
as a powerful opponent to Putin. George Soros has
told NPR that things are moving in the wrong direction
in Russia, and that democracy is in danger.
