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The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It 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.

Host and Eurasia Center Senior Fellow Brian Whitmore invites guest experts to deliver their insights and analysis in this weekly podcast. The Atlantic Council and the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington co-sponsor this production.

The Russia Tomorrow series

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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.

Content

Program Impact Story

Jun 27, 2019

Baltic Porcupine: Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution to Defend the Baltic States

By Atlantic Council

On June 27, the Scowcroft Center’s Transatlantic Security Initiative hosted a public discussion on “Baltic Porcupine: Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution to Defend the Baltic States.” The event launched the Scowcroft Center’s latest issue brief, “The Melians’ Revenge: How Small, Frontline, European States Can Employ Emerging Technology to Defend Against Russia” by Dr. TX Hammes. […]

Eastern Europe NATO

UkraineAlert

Jun 27, 2019

Putin finally tells Russians the truth (sort of)

By Anders Åslund

In his annual television marathon “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin” on June 20, the Russian president did something unusual. To my knowledge, this is the first time he specified the impact of Western sanctions on Russia, which he usually presents as having a positive effect on the Russian economy because of import substitution. “Look, according […]

Conflict Economic Sanctions

UkraineAlert

Jun 27, 2019

PACE sells out for 33 Million euros

By Andrej Lushnycky

On June 25, Russia was allowed back into the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) as a full voting member, after being expelled five years ago for its aggression in Ukraine. Through an innocuous sounding measure that pledged to strengthen the assembly’s decision-making processes on credentials and voting, 118 parliamentarians agreed to let […]

Conflict Human Rights

UkraineAlert

Jun 25, 2019

How the US got rich, and Ukraine can too

By Diane Francis

The United States invented many things, but anti-trust laws and competition policy was arguably the most profound. These laws establish fair rules for the marketplace, and are why the country became the richest and most powerful on the planet. Without these, the United States would look like Russia or Ukraine: An impoverished populace and a […]

Central Europe Financial Regulation

In the News

Jun 24, 2019

Cohen in Newsweek: Russia is drowning in corruption. Trump should offer to help.

By Ariel Cohen

If Mr. Trump had a sensibility about the rule of law, he would recognize it as Mr. Putin's ultimate vulnerability.

Corruption Rule of Law

MENASource

Jun 24, 2019

Trilateral tribulations: The upcoming Israeli advisers meeting

By Mark N. Katz

Iran and its role in Syria are likely to be the main agenda item at the June 24-26 trilateral meeting of the US, Russian, and Israeli national security advisers in Israel. What US National Security Adviser John Bolton and his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben-Shabbat, want from Russia is clear: Moscow’s in reducing or even eliminating the Iranian presence in Syria. Russian National Security Adviser Nikolai Patrushev, though, is unlikely to meet their demands on this score.

Iran Israel
Operation Secondary Infektion

Report

Jun 22, 2019

Operation Secondary Infektion

By Nika Aleksejeva, Lukas Andriukaitis, Luiza Bandeira, Donara Barojan, Graham Brookie, Eto Buziashvili, Andy Carvin, Kanishk Karan, Ben Nimmo, Iain Robertson, and Michael Sheldon

A Russian-based information operation used fake accounts, forged documents, and dozens of online platforms to spread stories.

Disinformation English

Event Recap

Jun 20, 2019

Russian influence in Venezuela: What should the United States do?

By Domingo Sadurni

On June 20, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center and its Eurasia Center co-hosted a public event to discuss the extent of Russian involvement in Venezuela, Moscow’s motivations and possible next moves, and how the United States should react. As a wave of international and domestic support for a democratic transition is sweeping […]

Economic Sanctions English

UkraineAlert

Jun 20, 2019

An incomplete end to the MH17 tragedy

By Michael Bociurkiw

Aside from the blowback from Russia and its refusal to cooperate, there are a couple of storm clouds on the horizon for the resolution of the MH17 tragedy.

Conflict Disinformation

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2019

US senator condemns Putin’s complicit role in Venezuela

By David A. Wemer

US Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s support for Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela, saying on June 20 that the Russian president is a "co-conspirator" in Maduro's human rights abuses.

Russia Venezuela

Experts