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30.04.2008 Russian Politics in Review April, 2008 The following resource is meant to quickly introduce the reader to politics issues in Russia - with a focus on the upcoming elections, political parties, and political personages. This news review is part of SRAS's monthly "obzor" publications. For more reviews, see the newsletter for this corresponding month. To receive the free monthly newsletter and obzori by email, simply sign up.   Putin Will be Prime Minister, Lead United Russia Putin Accepts Leadership of Party Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has agreed to head the ruling United Russia Party, whose members voted unanimously in his favor. United Russia Club May Carry on Putin Legacy The United Russia Party is considering the creation of the Russia 2020 Club to develop legislation to continue the development programs announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia's State Duma set to approve on May 8 Putin as PM The lower house of Russia's parliament is set to approve outgoing president Vladimir Putin as prime minister on May 8, State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov said on Monday. Putin to build new chain of command And United Russia wants to help him with it. Dismissals and resignations in the security agencies As RBC Daily reports, the Kremlin has not waited for the presidential inauguration (May 7) to launch some changes in the government's security and law enforcement bloc. Transcript of the Meeting of the 9th United Russian Party Congress Dear colleagues! First of all I would like to thank United Russia and all of you for supporting my candidacy in the elections for the President of the Russian Federation. The Contours Of Putin's De Facto Third Term Come Into Focus Putin will lead the country's ruling party without actually belonging to it. Back in the U.S.S.R. with pro-Putin party? Delegates held up white cards to rubberstamp every single one of the party leadership's proposals, including the creation of a new post of party chairman to offer to Putin on Tuesday. The President's future: between honorable retirement and totalitarianism. Most media reports have emphasized that it's practically unprecedented, anywhere in the world, to have a party leader who is not a member of the party. Putin Seeks to Reaffirm Control Over Disgruntled Siloviki Official noisy campaigns against corruption have never amounted to much except for helping Putin keep subordinates in check, but now his siloviki refuse to be disciplined.   Medvedev Declines United Russia Membership Medvedev declines United Russia membership Medvedev declined to become a United Russia party member today, saying it was "premature" for the head of state to get involved in party politics. Medvedev Will Launch Anticorruption Campaign A draft law "On Combating Corruption" is ready and will be introduced into the State Duma by President Dmitry Medvedev after his inauguration. Laying down the law: Medvedev vows war on Russia's "legal nihilism" President-elect Dmitry Medvedev says he is a lawyer "to my bones". Putin's heading United Russia opens prospects for government based on majority in parliament The offer made to President Vladimir Putin to take the helm of United Russia is logical and timely, Russian President-elect Dmitry Medvedev said. A New Leader's Mandate for Changing Little Mr. Medvedev has generally brushed aside questions about playing the understudy, but in an interview that he gave for a biography, he did acknowledge skeptical views of his new role. Russia's Medvedev hints at Kremlin power struggle Russian president-elect Dmitry Medvedev has predicted some people might try to challenge his presidency, the first acknowledgement of what could be a simmering turf war among Kremlin clans. Medvedev inherits a tricky legacy Russia stands on the threshold of a historic transition. A new president, Dmitry Medvedev, will take power next month - at 42, the youngest Russian leader since the last tsar, Nicholas II. And for the first time, the outgoing head of state is leaving office not in a coffin, in ill health or under duress. Power of Putin's successor Medvedev in question ahead of inauguration Putin's vow to refrain from shifting powers to the prime minister, meanwhile, suggests he could be considering a return to the presidency in 2012. He has not ruled it out.   The Opposition Communists make noise; Other Russia still divided 'Opposition' to benefit from Putin's new role as party leader LDPR (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia) leader and Duma deputy speaker Vladimir Zhirinovskiy has described as a plus for the opposition the appointment of Vladimir Putin as chairman of the One Russia party, the largest in the country. Russian opposition: Long game, long odds If the country's democratic potential is to be tapped, time, patience and the ability to compromise and build up real grass-roots support and responsive political party structures is essential. OMON Turn Out for Non-Event Called the March Against Social Indifference, the rally's original aim was to call on people to care more about each other.   Other Russia Russian opposition to hold session of 'alternative parliament' in May The first session of a so-called national assembly is to take place in May. The Other Russia opposition coalition's intention is that it should become an alternative parliament. Russian Opposition Divided Putin's Win Splits Foes Over Whether To Fight or Talk. Russian opposition should reflect on mistakes before trying to unite The Russian People's Democratic Union (RPDU), headed by former Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov, is sceptical about the results of opposition conferences.   Communists Unjustified optimism Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Russian Communist Party, interviews with the paper Sovetskaya Rossiya. Russian opposition queries legality of Putin vote The Communists argue that Putin's election could be in breach of two articles of the law on political parties: one that states that party leaders must be elected in a secret ballot, and another that requires party leaders to be members. Communist Faction Might Oppose Putin's Appointment As Prime Minister At the parliamentary vote on May 8 the Communist faction might vote against appointing Vladimir Putin as Russian prime minister. Russian Communists Deny Plans To Go Social Democrat Russia's Communist Party (KPRF) denied on Tuesday that amendments it plans to make to its program in November are designed to reform the party along social democratic lines. Communists Content With Zyuganov's Result In Presidential Race They are frustrated by the elections themselves.   Chechnya Kennan Institute takes an in depth look Putin's envoy admits Moscow to blame for Chechen war The Russian president's envoy to the Southern Federal District Grigoriy Rapota believes that the conflict in Chechnya was caused not only by the Wahhabis but also by the inefficiency to the then Russian government. The Current Situation in the Northern Caucasus After the beginning of the second Chechen war in 1999, the Russian republic of Ingushetia was a relatively calm refuge for the nearly 210,000 people fleeing the violence in neighboring Chechnya, according to this Kennan Institute presentation. The Geography of North Caucasian Conflicts This Kennan Institute presentation analyses 14,000 violent incidents Human Rights Watch: Council of Europe Failing on Russia There is an urgent need for vigorous monitoring in the North Caucasus. Russia's Chechnya to honor neglected Soviet leader Former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev is little loved in Russia, but in one corner of the Caucasus mountains he holds the status of a national hero. Chechen Crime Boss Has Disappeared Movladi Atlangeriev, perhaps the best known of the Chechen crime bosses of the early 1990s, has been kidnapped.   President and PM Offices What will the future hold for them? Analysts Expect a Powerful Prime Minister and Weak President "The new president Dmitry Medvedev is being assigned narrow bounds: the first thing expected from him is a decree naming Putin as prime minister." The risk of mistakes in a political transition There is a widespread misconception that the country's dynamic economic growth, now in its 10th straight year, is linked exclusively to the favourable situation in the oil and gas market. That is not so. Russia may boost PM's powers in regions Russia's government may soon gain control over the Kremlin's regional envoys, a move that would boost President Vladimir Putin's powers as a future prime minister, the Vedomosti daily reported on Thursday. Ivanov For Longer Presidential Term "The government fulfilled its functions. And it should carry them on like a relay baton until May 7. Everybody should resign, and then the new president and the new prime minister will decide who will stay and who will go," Ivanov said.   Local and Regional Government Reform to Russia's system of Governors The Reform of Local Government in Russia: Goals and Implications Most Western writings about politics in post-communist Russia have focused on the central and regional governments and have neglected trends at the municipal level. Yet government at the local level has been the topic of a great deal of discussion. New powers for Russian governors Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed a law which adds new powers to the Russian governors. The law might prepare the ground for the rule of Dmitrii Medvedev. Crime, Corruption Persist in Vladivostok Russia's Far East port city of Vladivostok is notorious for rampant crime and corruption. Governor Pushes for Merger With Leningrad Oblast However, the merger has never had the support of the Leningrad Oblast authorities. Moscow Authorities Veto Yeltsin Statue The Moscow State Duma has rejected a proposal made by the museum ART4.RU to erect a surrealist monument to the first Russian President Boris Yeltsin on Lubyanka Square, claiming the project to be "slapdash and ambiguous."   Russian Military Reforms enacted, analysts unimpressed Russian Army Fails to Impress Americans American experts doubt the effectiveness of the Russian military reform. Russia to parade military as defense industry decays Russia next month will stage its first Red Square parade of missiles, tanks and soldiers since the Soviet times, but the country's military faces massive crises in manpower, equipment, training and strategy despite the energy revenue windfall of recent years. Shortage of Draft-Age Men Prompts Duma to Tighten Registration Requirements The Russian Duma has approved on second reading amendments to that country's military obligation legislation that, if ultimately passed and signed into law, will force all men between the ages of 18 and 27 to register will a local military commissariat if they are absent from their homes for more than 15 days. Conscripts Face Only a Year in Spring Call-Up The Russian military spring call-up campaign begins on April 1, and this year conscripts will face just one year of compulsory service. The term of compulsory service, which had been two years going back to the Soviet period, was reduced to 18 months last year as a transitional step. Draft Age Men Face Threat of Restricted Movement An amendment that has passed its second reading in the State Duma is repressive and it restricts the liberty of Russian men of call-up age, argue human rights groups and liberal politicians.   Study Abroad in Russia SRAS Travel Services  The Library: All About Russia Find Out More! Listen to Russian Music History of Russian Holidays History of the Russian Dacha Internships in Russia Heath and Safety in Russia The SRAS Newsletter Eurasian Regions and Cities Journal for Students More Free Resources!    Questions or comments? Contact the editor. « back to News archive print this page email this page