Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
From the war in Chechnya to the murky depths of the KGB archive. Everything you need to know (well, nearly everything) about Russia's past and present
It's actually quite surprising that the judge in the Khodorkhovsky case bowed to Kremlin pressure, found the oligarch guilty. If he'd thrown the case out, chances are he wouldn't have suffered, and he'd be an international hero
Arab revolutions sharpen mood of frustration and depression at end of "Putin decade". Russia has many similar problems of authoritarianism, backwardness. But public anger feeds into ethnic violence, rather than political reform
Smart, persuasive account of Russian political system. No bombshells, but shows beautifully how everything holds together, with corruption as the binding agent. "The weak pay tribute up, and the strong provide protection down"
Thorough piece of reporting on sacking of Yuri Luzhkov as mayor of Moscow. Oligarchic bully. Departure long overdue. Pro forma speculation on what this says (not much) about Putin-Medvedev tandem
Notes from meeting with Vladimir Putin at Valdai. He probably will run for president in 2012. Russian big business, including agriculture, doing well. Climate change good for much of Russia
Net effect of 2008 Russia-Georgia war has been to destabilise region, weaken Russia's security. Russia should support compromise on status of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, before Sochi Olympics
English translation of Russian essay on balance of power in Kremlin. Top dog: Putin. Second, Sechin. Third, Medvedev, who though nominally president, is really more of a deputy prime minster
Think-tanker ranks Russian non-intervention in Kyrgyzstan rebellion as main foreign-policy event of past year—evidence of waning imperialism
Why neighbours won't help Kyrgyzstan. Russia prefers weak government there, easier to dominate. Central Asian states use rioting as argument that democracy creates instability
Short but perceptive. Like Gorbachev before him, Medvedev leans towards openness, human rights, pragmatic foreign policy. His heart is in the right place. But can he loosen the state's grip, and still keep control?
Fine essay on 2008 Georgia-Russia war. Russia wanted a fight, but so did Saakashvili. His recklessness gave Putin "a golden opportunity to take revenge on a leader he loathed"
Essential political background to Kyrgyz rebellion. Bakiyev double-crossed Russia over Manas airbase, further outraged Putin by stealing Russian aid, so Russia destabilised Bakiyev with propaganda, tariffs
Best critique ever of Putin-era Russia. Shocking anthology of crimes committed by Russian officials, leading to conclusion that people would be better off without a government, living in anarchy
Useful, sober overview of Russia-West relations. Recession has encouraged Russia to court West again, seeking investment. But if energy prices spike up, Russia could regain its old belligerency
Former Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year discusses books that tell the story of Russia in the last century — from Soviet science fiction set in capitalist wastelands to Khrushchev as raconteur
Acknowledged expert on the unresolved conflicts of the South Caucasus selects five books that encapsulate the fragility of the region and the impact of the desperate scramble for the spoils of the Soviet Union
