Russia’s opaque digitalisation
Vladimir Gel’man on how digitalisation should aid public accountability mechanisms in contemporary Russia, but is currently helping to thwart it
power vertical
The prospects for Putin’s ‘long state’
Alexander Morozov on why Putin has not become an Atatürk for post-Soviet Russia
The split in Putin’s regime
Tatiana Stanovaya on how dreams of greatness can in fact erode the Russian state
Russian Parliamentary Jostling in a Time of Pandemic
Ben Noble has spotted several signs of a “new normal” in the Russian Duma this year, with rumours now hinting at early parliamentary elections
Putin’s fundamental amendment
Mikhail Turchenko unpacks what’s wrong with the constitutional amendments and the popular vote
In memoriam: Russia’s ban on Telegram, 2018–2020
Lincoln Pigman looks back at a short-lived and misguided attempt to censor a popular messaging app
How does Putin justify resetting his term-limit clock?
Olesya Zakharova on the rhetoric of popular sovereignty used to maintain an authoritarian regime in Russia
A referendum that must not be named
Stanislav Andreychuk looks at why the Russian government pushed for a referendum on constitutional amendments
Can Russia’s Power Vertical deal with a pandemic?
As it becomes clear that Russia’s state bureaucracy is unprepared to deal with this crisis, the Kremlin is attempting to shift responsibility, writes Georgy Bovt
Can Russia really go to the polls in a pandemic?
Julia Krivonosova considers what must be done to hold an election during a public health emergency