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The Kremlin and the Russian people

Putin’s Russia

Russia was the dominant republic in the former Soviet Union and took tentative steps toward an open society and market economy in the 1990s. But during the early 2000s, under leader Vladimir Putin, its direction changed. At the end of the 1990s, this quasi-democracy pivoted to an authoritarian direction.

Russia’s domestic politics
Sakhi joined the Wilson Center for a comprehensive discussion: “Hindsight Up Front: Implications of Afghanistan Withdrawal for China and Russia”

Thu, Mar 18, 2021

Putin turns up pressure on Russian opposition ahead of September Duma elections

Moscow police raided a conference of independent municipal lawmakers on March 13 in a move that marks an escalation in the Kremlin crackdown on political opposition ahead of September elections.

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Sakhi joined the Wilson Center for a comprehensive discussion: “Hindsight Up Front: Implications of Afghanistan Withdrawal for China and Russia”

Sun, Mar 14, 2021

The China-Russia moonshot is one more reason for Biden to rethink his Putin strategy

Moscow sees its space future with China and not the United States, further underscoring its growing strategic alignment with Beijing. The Biden administration must reflect on how the latest Sino-Russian collaboration should be factored into its emerging approach to Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Inflection Points by Frederick Kempe

Arms Control Russia
Sakhi joined the Wilson Center for a comprehensive discussion: “Hindsight Up Front: Implications of Afghanistan Withdrawal for China and Russia”

Tue, Feb 16, 2021

Putin the Poisoner

Putin the Poisoner: Russian President Vladimir Putin has adopted a poisonous approach to international politics in a bid to defend his own authoritarian regime by dividing, discrediting, and destabilizing the democratic world.

UkraineAlert by Peter Dickinson

Disinformation European Union
In-depth research and reports

Mon, May 3, 2021

The impact of Western sanctions on Russia and how they can be made even more effective

While Western sanctions have not succeeded in forcing the Kremlin to fully reverse its actions and end aggression in Ukraine, the economic impact of financial sanctions on Russia has been greater than previously understood.

Report by Anders Åslund, Maria Snegovaya

Economic Sanctions European Union

Wed, Feb 24, 2021

Russia after Putin: How to rebuild the state

We do not know when and how President Putin’s regime will end, but there are signs that it is struggling and the end could come in the foreseeable future. We need to start discussing now how a new state should be built on the ruins of the old system.

Report by Anders Åslund and Leonid Gozman

Civil Society Corruption
Podcast

For Kremlin Watchers

The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today. Co-produced with the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington

Learn more at Powervertical.org

The Power Vertical

Podcast

The podcast features expert analysis and interviews on the Kremin;s actions both at home and abroad.

Listen now

The Power Vertical

Blog

Keep up with Brian Whimore’s articles on developing trends in Russian politics.

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About the creator

Brian Whitmore

Brian Whitmore is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Texas-Arlington.

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Featured events

Fri, Jun 4, 2021

Nord Stream 2: Pipeline to controversy?

Online Event The Biden team’s choice to waive sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG may present a real challenge for transatlantic relations. Will Congress force the president’s hand, and how will the upcoming Biden-Putin summit be impacted?

1:00pm Economic Sanctions Geopolitics & Energy Security Germany Oil and Gas

Thu, Jun 10, 2021

Dark waves: Power plays for the Black Sea region

Online Event The Black Sea is a strategic crossroads—which is why the Kremlin has made it into a pressure point in its war on Ukraine. What are Moscow’s real ambitions for the region and does Ukraine have what it needs to defend itself?

11:00am Geopolitics & Energy Security Maritime Security Russia The Caucasus

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Photo essay

The fifth wave

“I didn’t betray my country. But I have more options here.” Russian artist Maria Muzalevskaya’s photo-project consists of portraits of Russian émigrés, who left the country after 2012.

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The Eurasia Center's mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

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Lead Researcher, Baltics

Belarus Disinformation

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Disinformation Eastern Europe

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Emma Ashford

Senior Fellow

Conflict Economic Sanctions

New American Engagement Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Dimitar Bechev

Nonresident Senior Fellow

The Balkans Security & Defense

Europe Center

Jorge Benitez

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Ian Brzezinski

Senior Fellow

Central Europe Defense Policy

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

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Content

Fri, Sep 10, 2021

Sakhi joined the Wilson Center for a comprehensive discussion: “Hindsight Up Front: Implications of Afghanistan Withdrawal for China and Russia”

Timely Commentary & Analysis by Atlantic Council

Afghanistan China

Fri, Sep 10, 2021

Kroenig and Ashford discuss the brewing refugee crisis in Eastern Europe and the new Taliban government

On September 10, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and New American Engagement Initiative senior fellow Emma Ashford discussing the latest news in international affairs. In this column, they discuss Belarus’ attempt to inundate Eastern Europe with migrants, threats to democracy in Brazil, and the newly announced Taliban government in Afghanistan.

In the News by Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Belarus

Wed, Sep 8, 2021

Ashford at CSIS: Military Challenges to Future NATO Enlargement

On September 8, Ashford participated in a panel discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies around a new paper on the future of NATO expansion and was appointed a Nonresident Fellow at the Modern War Institute as West Point for the 2021-2022 academic year. “Past NATO expansion helped create a Europe whole, free, […]

In the News by Atlantic Council

English Europe & Eurasia

Wed, Sep 8, 2021

Belarus and Europe’s new Iron Curtain

Kremlin-backed Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's weaponization of illegal migration has forced neighboring EU members to introduce tougher border restrictions and led to talk of a new Iron Curtain.

UkraineAlert by Brian Whitmore

Belarus European Union

Wed, Sep 8, 2021

Alam wrote for Project Syndicate on the Afghan resistance: “Support Ahmad Massoud and the Afghan Resistance”

In the News by Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Conflict

Tue, Sep 7, 2021

Could Vladimir Putin repeat his Crimean conquest in southwestern Ukraine?

The Bessarabia region in southwestern Ukraine shares many of the same characteristics that helped facilitate the 2014 Kremlin takeover of Crimea and should be a national security priority for the Ukrainian authorities.

UkraineAlert by Michael Druckman

Conflict Disinformation

Tue, Sep 7, 2021

Alam was quoted in CNBC News: “Fighting continues in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley as anti-Taliban resistance vows to hold out.”

In the News by Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Conflict

Tue, Sep 7, 2021

Counterterrorism and great-power competition

For nearly two decades after the attacks of September 11, 2001, counterterrorism was the United States’ top national security and foreign policy priority. That is no longer the case, as resources and policy maker bandwidth are increasingly shifting to challenges associated with peer and near-peer rivals such as China and Russia.

Article by Nathan Sales

China Middle East

Sun, Sep 5, 2021

US anti-corruption crusade should focus on Europe’s east

By making the fight against corruption a key US foreign policy priority, President Biden can counter the Kremlin's efforts to gain influence throughout Central and Eastern Europe via the exploitation of corruption.

UkraineAlert by Janusz Bugajski

Central Europe Corruption

Fri, Sep 3, 2021

Broadening the pressure on the Lukashenka regime

Recent news of fresh IMF financing for Belarus has sparked controversy at a time when the democratic world is seeking to impose sanctions on the country's Kremlin-backed dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

UkraineAlert by Daniel Fried

Belarus Economic Sanctions
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Events

Fri, Sep 24, 2021

Future of UN sanctions

Online Event Panel discussion on the future of targeted financial sanctions in the United Nations toolkit featuring Sue Eckert, George A. Lopez, Kimberly Prost, and Jacqueline Shire. This conversation is moderated by Howard Wachtel.

2:00pm Belarus China Economic Sanctions Ethiopia