Russian liberals, through their relentless criticism of Moscow’s domestic and foreign policies in the Western press, are actively offending ordinary Russians—and thus undermining any hope of the democratic reforms they want coming to pass.
A key Russian official is in Havana this week to discuss energy cooperation with Raul Castro. But there’s another reason for the deputy prime minister’s visit: sending a shot across Washington’s bow.
There’s more than Cold-War nostalgia in the fascination with the Russia-Georgia face-off. The West looks for signs of Moscow’s energy-policy temperament.
For the past year, oil analysts, politicians and investors have been bewildered by the Kremlin's legal assault in Russia's largest privately own company - oil giant Yukos.
Democracy is not going to bloom in Russia this spring.
A morality of results trumps a morality of intentions every time.
Soon after the September 11 attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a speech proclaiming Russia's readiness to become a reliable alternative for oil in case of a shortfall from an unstable Middle East.