By Aleksandr Buzgalin Two events prompted the writing of this article. The first was the latest arrest of Vladimir Gusinsky, who controls (or perhaps "controlled" would be more accurate) a large network of "independent" media (independent in the sense of not being under direct state... MORE

By Elena Dikun The bitter tussle surrounding the restructuring of Unified Energy Systems (UES) at the end of last year and reports of an imminent government reshuffle may be seen as the first public signs of a battle between the Kremlin and the White House... MORE

By A. Kolganov A market-based restructuring of the national energy monopoly--Unified Energy Systems of Russia (UES), which handles the production, distribution and sale of electrical and thermal energy--has been under discussion for several years now in government circles, at conferences and round tables, and in... MORE

By Sadji THE POLITICS OF THE ABSURD

By Nabi Abdullaev The prices for groceries at the food markets in Russia's Muslim republics doubled during the last week of December. The women doing their shopping desperately scolded and loudly cast the spells over the adamant traders but went on buying abundant amounts of... MORE

By Elena Dikun The most dramatic event of recent weeks: the raid on the St. Petersburg branch of Promstroibank. On November 16, employees of the city prosecutor's office and the local OMON [special police troops] burst into the bank, masked armed men sealed off the... MORE

By A.I. Kolganov Whether Russia can afford a new national anthem may seem an odd question. Even the world's poorest countries have an anthem, flag and coat of arms. The outlay required is minimal. But the question in Russia has a slightly different meaning: Is... MORE

By Aleksandr Tsipko Russia's political analysts have one notable weakness. On the whole they are incapable of self-criticism, unable to acknowledge their mistakes and sometimes glaring miscalculations. In order to appear sound and convincing in their own eyes, they are forever adjusting and manipulating actual... MORE

By Igor Rotar Russia still presents a threat to the international community, says Sergei Grigoryants, chairman of the human rights foundation Glasnost. Sergei Ivanovich Grigoryants is one of Russia's best-known human rights activists. He began his activities under the communist dictatorship, for which he served... MORE

By Sergei Kolchin The world energy crisis of 2000--though it is not yet officially known as such--caught the primary energy consumers unawares. The sudden leap in oil prices demanded an immediate hike in oil production, for which OPEC countries also turned out to be unprepared.... MORE