The tragedy of politics as normal: the meaning of the protests in Khabarovsk
In Russia’s Far East, a false state clashes with a doomed civil society, writes Ivan Davydov
Ivan Davydov
Meaningless electioneering
Ivan Davydov is scratching his head at the vacuous and facile advertising campaigns pushing for amendments to the Russian Constitution
Sometimes, even Russia’s protesters can win
Ivan Davydov considers why and how protests against political repressions sometimes work
Strategic miscommunication
Ivan Davydov reflects on the Kremlin’s communication with society in 2019
Russia’s number one extremist
The Kremlin is cracking down hard on protests in Moscow. Ivan Davydov reflects on what this says about relations between Russia’s rulers and those they rule
The Golunov Case: How A Small Victory Made Big Waves
Ivan Davydov reflects on the success of the recent campaign to free the Russian journalist, and the authorities’ response
An Unholy Mess In Yekaterinburg
Ivan Davydov on the protest in Yekaterinburg and the institutional legitimacy crisis
Russia’s Robin Hood Moment
With public patience for gross corruption at an all-time low, a ticking time bomb has been laid at the foundations of Russian politics for years to come, writes Ivan Davydov
Another Kremlin Regional Election Strategy
A few electoral setbacks for the Kremlin in the regions has forced a rethink. Next time, the strategy will be more focused
Round Up the Unusual Suspects
The Russian state is implementing a punitive online law that is leading to crackdowns on an increasingly wide array of social media posts. But it is proving to be a shambolic form of censorship that suffers from judicial overreach and absurd-sounding convictions.
Tedious Cultural Rants in Russia’s State Duma
Yampolskaya’s appointment is a cosmetic rearrangement of officials to stir fresh intrigue
A Spoonful of Propaganda Helps the Pension Reform Go Down
Here is how the Kremlin is enacting an unpopular economic reform: deny responsibility, declare its inevitability, distract the public with a popular sporting event