Section: Intersection (EU)
Crimea. The battle of myths
Russia / Europe Three years have passed since Russia took Crimea from Ukraine. After that, the Donbas was invaded, then came the Malaysia Airlines incident and the military campaign in Syria. Initially, Russian TV channels broadcast all this as a sequence of events to reinstate Russia’s geopolitical influence, and then it was all reversed....
Крым. Битва мифов
Russia / Europe Прошло три года с того момента, как Россия аннексировала украинский Крым. За полуостровом последовало вторжение на Донбасс, “Боинг», военная операция в Сирии – российские телеканалы поначалу транслировали все это как череду событий, восстанавливающих российское геополитическое влияние. А затем начался обратный процесс....
Reframing Revolutions: Russia’s Centenary of 1917
Politics A leading Bolshevik historian once described history as “politics projected into the past.” Russian officials today seem to do their utmost to give these words of Mikhail Pokrovsky a ring of truth. When it comes to the Revolutions of 1917, however, projecting an historical interpretation that enforces the legitimacy of Vladimir...
In search of Putin’s philosopher
Politics Since Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000 and began reasserting Russia’s influence on the international scene, Western pundits have tried to discern the Russian president’s “brain” or “guru”, convinced that they would be able to identify some shadowy Svengali-like character who would inspire him. Unfortunately, this quest is...
“The rebellion of Ukrainian oligarchs”
Russia / Europe While observers in Russia and the US are closely watching the contacts Donald Trump’s administration is establishing, or could be establishing, with Moscow, one important issue is being pushed out of the limelight, namely that of potential alternative ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis in case the Kremlin and White House...
«Бунт украинских олигархов»
Russia / Europe Пока в России и США следят за тем, какие связи администрация Дональда Трампа развивает или могла бы развить с Москвой, на второй план уходит другая важная тема – потенциальные альтернативные сценарии урегулирования украинского кризиса на случай достижения Кремлем и Белым Домом договоренностей по так называемой “большой...
The bridge-long dream
Russia / Europe Every flight must inevitably pass over the Kerch Strait on its way from Simferopol to mainland Russia, as Ukraine’s airspace is closed to Russian airlines. One can therefore see the Kerch Strait Bridge under construction in all its glory from a bird’s-eye view. According to the Kremlin, the bridge will save the...
Мечта длиною в мост
Russia / Europe Каждый самолет, направляющийся из Симферополя в центральную часть России, неизбежно пролетает над Керченским проливом: воздушное пространство Украины закрыто для российских авиакомпаний. С высоты полета прекрасно виден строящийся мост, который, по замыслу Кремля, должен помочь полуострову избежать всех напастей, свалившихся на...
Trump skeptics among Trump fans
Russia / World The Russian media space has been inundated with news about Donald Trump’s every move over recent months. The newly elected American president is perceived by the pro-Kremlin media as an overtly positive choice from the point of view of Russia. Commentators, “experts” and hosts of pro-Kremlin TV channels have been incessantly...
The Russian Revolution is not over
Politics Exactly one hundred years ago, soldiers and citizens marched through the streets of Petrograd and shouted “down with autocracy!” Women protesting the long bread queues that made their lives miserable while the aristocrats feasted in their palaces during Russia’s third year of war joined them. As news from the front was dire, public...
