Gregory FeiferOctober 22, 2012 15:13

Russian opposition forms a shadow government

But the Kremlin's new control over the oil industry makes Vladimir Putin more powerful than ever.

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Alexei Navalny won the most number of votes for the coordination council. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images)

Russia’s beleaguered opposition today announced the outcome of voting for a "coordination council" that aims to unite its disparate and often antagonistic voices. It's the latest such attempt amid criticism the Kremlin's critics have long failed to present a credible alternative to Putin. But although infighting has undoubtedly set back previous attempts, blaming the president's opponents for failing to effectively challenge the Kremlin isn’t entirely fair.

Russia's Medvedev takes tough line on smoking

NEWS DESK October 17, 2012 13:21

Nearly one third of Russia's population are smokers.

Gregory FeiferOctober 11, 2012 06:24

Putin squeezes opposition ever harder

Once seen as a critical test for the opposition, regional elections this weekend are now viewed as irrelevant.

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A police officer near a screen showing Pussy Riot member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova in court on Wednesday. The case reflects the Kremlin's mounting exercise of arbitrary power. (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images)

Russians in a number of regions go the polls on Sunday. Opposition leaders had hoped they would provide a political foothold to harness public displeasure with Vladimir Putin’s return as president that prompted mass protests in December.

USAID in Russia will cease its programs after decision by Russian government

Lizzy TomeiSeptember 18, 2012 16:33

The State Department promised continued involvement with Russian NGOs, in spite of a new law that could make that difficult.

Russian opposition prepares protest amid crackdown

Tom BalmforthSeptember 13, 2012 06:00

MOSCOW — The authorities have made overt moves to eject an outspoken lawmaker from parliament, charged a key opposition leader with financial crimes, passed laws to restrict protests and summoned opposition lawyers for questioning. Turnout at the rally on Saturday will help gauge whether the moves are dampening or reinvigorating discontent.

Gregory FeiferSeptember 7, 2012 12:25

Vanity in Vladivostok

Analysis: Russia is hosting the APEC summit. That doesn’t mean the Kremlin is interested in free trade.

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Vladivostok's new billion-dollar bridge connects the city to an island of 5,000 residents. (Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

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Russia’s hosting of the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Conference summit, which opened today in the Far East port Vladivostok, predictably prompted the latest series of reports about how Russia is looking east for business. Should be is more like it.

Russia: Bribes paid by its business executives abroad not tax deductible

Alexander BesantSeptember 7, 2012 10:35

The Russian finance ministry issued an announcement this week telling business executives that they can't claim tax deductions on bribes paid while working abroad.

Putin stokes Russian culture wars

Dan PeleschukSeptember 5, 2012 06:00

MOSCOW — Marginalizing a growing cadre of opposition-minded Russians has enabled Putin to stoke Russia’s version of a culture war in order to consolidate his increasingly valuable support among older, conservative Russians who constitute his base. But analysts say splitting the population along ideological lines threatens to isolate the president in an increasingly polarized society he may no longer be able to manipulate.

Gregory FeiferAugust 28, 2012 14:14

Persian Gulf on the Moscow River

A new report into the Russian president’s lavish perks of office may help undermine authoritarianism.

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The main question for Russia's future is whether its people will countenance the transfer of his personal power to the political system he built. (Nathan Cox/Getty Images)

Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov has been one of Vladimir Putin's most dogged critics since he broke with him shortly after his rise in 2000. His latest effort is a study of the populist president’s perks of office.

Russia completes a long, strange trip to the World Trade Organization

Jennifer RankinAugust 22, 2012 12:55

MOSCOW — The world’s largest economy outside the World Trade Organization finally joined on Wednesday, finishing a 19-year quest to end exclusion from the body under which most global commerce takes place.