By Elena Bashkirova In ten years, the process of postcommunist transformation has fundamentally altered every aspect of public life in Russia, yet it is impossible to give an clear-cut assessment of the results. In the socioeconomic sphere, revolutionary changes in forms of ownership, the development... MORE

By Elena Chinyaeva While observing current tendencies in Russian economy, one thought comes to mind: "Finally, Russia has received a bit of good luck!" Indeed, the financial crisis of August 1998 happened at the time when domestic producers were already in a position to capitalize... MORE

By Sergei Kolchin When Russia's oil pie was first divided, the question of a "piece" for the state was somehow secondary. The oil transport network (Transneft) remained in the state's hands, and state-owned Rosneft retained control of certain levers, though Rosneft was constantly shrinking in... MORE

By Tatyana Matsuk When the Council of Europe raised the issue of excluding Russia, the French finance and foreign ministers published an article in the Financial Times about how Russia should be helped, and how Russia could help herself. They pointed out that Russia needed... MORE

By Elena Dikun As expected, the Russian government was formed without any revolutionary changes of personnel, but the ideology behind the selection of individuals was very highly charged. Essentially, the president was caught in the cross-fire between two influential groups--the "Family" (represented by Aleksandr Voloshin)... MORE

POLITICS

By Ilya Malyakin Center-periphery relations have been a live issue ever since Russia became independent nearly a decade ago. How the Russian Federation will look--whether, indeed, it will continue to exist--will depend on how this issue is resolved. Until recently, however, it has been buried... MORE

By Volodymyr Zviglyanich .".. justice is really someone else's good--the advantage of the ruler--and the personal injury of his subjects who serve and obey him. Injustice is the opposite and rules men who are truly good-natured and just, because in doing what's advantageous to their... MORE

By Sadji THE REPUBLIC'S LEADERS SEEM TO HAVE ADOPTED BANDIT LAW More than three months have passed since the elections to both houses of the Zhogorku Kenesha (Supreme Soviet) of the Kyrgyz Republic, yet the political heat surrounding them has not abated, but is actually... MORE

By Leonid Radzikhovsky The story of Putin's vertical rise and his first actions as president are instructive for more purposes than effective political forecasting. It is also very important for a general understanding of Russian society, its roots and its future prospects. Let us start... MORE