Latest Articles about Law

Russia Ramping Up Authoritarian-Style Virtual Repression
Executive Summary: Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has aimed to stamp out any open criticism or opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war. Russia has expanded its definition of those it considers “foreign agents” and “terrorists and extremists”... MORE

Moscow Seeks to Control Internet by Fining Russians Searching for Content it Deems ‘Extremist’
Executive Summary: Starting September 1, Moscow will fine Russians for accessing or searching for “extremist” content, including via virtual private network (VPN) technology, to control how Russians use the Internet without fully blocking it. The Putin regime has taken these steps to limit the growing... MORE

Scandal Exposes Technocracy, Nepotism, and Control Among PRC Elite
Executive Summary: Elite privilege and lack of transparent checks and balances mean that corruption scandals are a feature of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) system of governance. As Beijing seeks to manage rising public discontent and technocratic continuity, it faces a delicate balancing act between... MORE

Winter is Coming: Beijing Tightens Public Security
Executive Summary: A new campaign, “Operation Winter,” has been announced to mobilize public security officials in the wake of deadly attacks across the People’s Republic of China. The operation seeks to mobilize extra human resources and integrated technology to enhance the party-state’s apparatus of “preventive... MORE

Protests Push Abkhazia’s President Out for Fourth Time
Executive Summary: Abkhaz President Aslan Bzhania resigned on November 19 following protests and pressure from the opposition. This follows a history of leadership changes in Abkhazia driven by mass protests and political unrest. The Kremlin’s financial control and strategic demands dominate Abkhazia’s politics as local... MORE

Russia Updates Nuclear Doctrine, Lowering Threshold for Use of Nuclear Weapons (Part Two)
(Part One) Executive Summary: The Kremlin formally approved a new nuclear doctrine on November 19, following the West’s authorization for Ukraine to utilize its deep strike capabilities on Russian territory. The revised document is directed at Western powers and aims to address the potential escalation... MORE

Kremlin to Increase Frivolous Repression on Russians’ Personal Lives
Executive Summary: The Kremlin is increasingly enacting restrictive laws and policies under the vague definition of “destructive ideology” that target not only political dissent but also aspects of everyday life in an attempt to align society with “traditional” Orthodox values. The Kremlin’s policies and rhetoric,... MORE

Russian Army Recruitment Hangs Between Coercion and Deception
Executive Summary: The Russian government passed a law that enables the recruitment to the Russian Armed Forces of people under arrest and facing a criminal investigation, even prior to a court trial. Russia has experienced increasingly high losses in the last five months, driving demand... MORE

Russia Releases Proposed Military Budget for 2025
Executive Summary: Moscow released the draft proposal for Russia’s federal budget for 2025 and 2026–2027, which shows that the national defense budget will increase significantly from previous years, especially in comparison to the period before its war against Ukraine. For 2023 and 2024, Russia’s military... MORE

By Allowing Regions to Form Militias, Moscow Increases Likelihood of Future Civil War
Executive Summary: The Russian cabinet is in support of a Duma proposal to allow the governors of oblasts, krais, and republics to form their own militias to deal with natural disasters and military interventions, such as the Ukrainian advancement into Kursk oblast. Moscow is confident... MORE