Dangerous failures of Humint

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

Recent revelations by American media show once again how the lack of proper human intelligence concerning Russia and Russians plays a central role in the world’s growing tension and lack of trust. Continue reading “Dangerous failures of Humint”

Religion and politics around Ukraine

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

The latest episode related to the recognition of a Ukrainian independent Orthodox church demonstrates, once more, how toxic is the confusion between politics and religion. On 14 September, the Russian Orthodox Church announced the rupture of most of its links with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The relations have never been easy between the Moscow Patriarchate, home to the largest Orthodox community in the world; and Constantinople Patriarchate – the primus inter pares of world orthodox churches but without real power. There is no Vatican in the orthodox world. Continue reading “Religion and politics around Ukraine”

Socio-political football in Russia

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

The Word Cup in Russia has been successful, but the benefits of the so-called ‘people-to-people diplomacy’ do not translate into geopolitical dividends. Russian officials, medias and ordinary citizens had all the reasons to describe the World Cup as a great PR operation, demonstrating to prejudiced Westerners that their country has the organisational capacity to handle such a huge project while sending through the world sympathetic images of themselves. Continue reading “Socio-political football in Russia”

A strange summit in Helsinki

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

Vladimir Putin has always wanted to appear to the world as an “equal partner” of the American president. But he never forgets that there are three partners in this tango – the two presidents, and American public opinion. Continue reading “A strange summit in Helsinki”

A gift for Russian opposition

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

As eyes are on football, the Russian government is launching a long due but unpopular reform of the pension system. On 14 June, the Russian prime minister Dmitri Medvedev signed and sent to the Duma a draft law proposing to raise the pension age from 60 to 65 for men and from 55 to 63 for women. The reform will be phased in over a number of years – by 2028 for men and 2034 for women. Continue reading “A gift for Russian opposition”

One fake death, two real carreers in danger

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

Arkadi Babchenko is alive, but with a professional reputation in tatter. Ukrainian president Poroshenko might be the main person to suffer collateral damage of a tasteless pseudo-assassination. Continue reading “One fake death, two real carreers in danger”