In Moscow's Shadows 29: Is Russia Declining, and Is Putin's Handsome?
Why is there this talk of Russia as a 'declining power' - and is it true? I'd suggest we ought to use the term with caution, not least as we are all declining... The Saradzhan and Abdullaev piece I m...
13 Apr 202133min
In Moscow's Shadows 28: The LDPR: Paralunatic Wing of United Russia
Rumours that Zhirinovsky is going to step down from leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party look more credible these days, and oligarch Oleg Deripaska is even being mooted as a successor. So, it's ...
2 Apr 202142min
In Moscow's Shadows 27: Men of Force and Forceful Language
Who are the main 'siloviki' or 'men of force,' the heads of Russia's security structures? In response to a request from a patron, I give a run-through of the people and their prospects. Relevant othe...
24 Mar 202142min
In Moscow's Shadows 26: Moscow's Marvels, and Mob Murder
All the Ms. First of all, as a counter to the understandable pessimism about Russia at the moment, I look at some of the aspects of Moscow that still make me marvel, and consider how they offer signs ...
14 Mar 202152min
In Moscow's Shadows 25: Navalny in Prison
A short. 'one act' special: with the news (still unconfirmed) that Navalny is being sent to IK-2 penal colony in Vladimir region, I look at the prison, and what that may mean for him.You can also foll...
27 Feb 202116min
In Moscow's Shadows 24: Scenarios for Russia after Navalny, and Dzerzhinsky vs Nevsky [reloaded]
With Navalny in prison, the opposition mobilising, and the state cracking down, what will happen next? The only honest answer anyone can give is "no idea." So instead of trying to make predictions, I...
21 Feb 202156min
In Moscow's Shadows 23: Is Navalny the best thing that ever happened to Putinism? Russia's 'Stolypin moment'?
It's a deliberately provocative title, I know, but how might the 'Navalny effect' impact late Putinism? A swing towards blunt and uncompromising authoritarianism? A genuine 'reform that you may preser...
6 Feb 202139min
In Moscow's Shadows 22: The Morning After A Hot Day in Russia
Yesterday saw major protests all across Russia, a genuine success for Team Navalny. But now what? My rough and uncurated first thoughts...You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become o...
24 Jan 202133min
