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Articles by Alexander Baunov

opinion Alexander Baunov

Will Putin Get What He Wants on Ukraine?

For now, Biden is the leader who prevented a war, but that’s not to say that the summit will be followed by a rapid de-escalation.
opinion Alexander Baunov

Are Russia and Ukraine Once Again on the Brink of War?

The West finds itself facing the uncomfortable dilemma of whether to boost Russia’s status or to refuse to give Moscow the promises it desires, thus...
opinion Alexander Baunov

Can COP26 Clear the Air Between Russia and the West?

Russia, it appears, wants to advance its own ecological agenda, but is not prepared to accept anyone else’s objectives.
opinion Alexander Baunov

Lessons for Russia From the U.S. Leadership Crisis

A retreat from Afghanistan doesn’t mean that the U.S. give up its positions so easily elsewhere.
opinion Alexander Baunov

Why Everyone’s a Winner in the Nord Stream 2 Deal

The agreement between Germany and the United States, is in fact beneficial to all parties—even Ukraine.
opinion Alexander Baunov

Navalny Joins the Ranks of Russia’s Religious Dissidents

During his final statement in court, Navalny surprised his own followers by quoting from the bible and confessing that he has become religious.
opinion Alexander Baunov

Why the Kremlin’s Anti-Navalny Strategy Just Might Work

The Kremlin believes the predominant mindset that protesting will not lead to any actual changes in society will ultimately prevail.
opinion Alexander Baunov

The Pandemic Has Failed to Unite Russia and Europe

The pandemic has shown once again that the European bubble does not include Russia.
opinion Alexander Baunov

The New Face of Russian Protest

Saturday’s protests were undeniably anti-regime, anti-elite, and anti-corruption, but not necessarily liberal and pro-Western.
opinion Alexander Baunov

Putin, Poison, and Self-Inflicted Wounds: Navalny’s Return to Russia

Instead of blackballing Navalny, the Kremlin has turned him into the world’s most famous political prisoner.
opinion Alexander Baunov

The Kremlin Takes On a Resurrected Navalny

The Kremlin's accusations against the opposition politician are an attempt to marginalize Navalny amid his post-poisoning prominence.
opinion Alexander Baunov

Where Navalny’s Poisoning Is Taking Russia, at Home and Abroad

Far from a purely internal or external affair, Alexei Navalny’s poisoning has shaken Russia’s domestic politics as well as its foreign relations.
opinion Alexander Baunov

Domestic Geopolitics: Belarusian Protests and Russia’s Power Transition

Any internal political activity is becoming conclusively geopoliticized.
opinion Alexander Baunov

The Perils of Perestroika: Why Putin Chose to Prolong His Rule

Observers must examine the president’s views on Russia’s 20th-century history and the legacy he inherited.
opinion Alexander Baunov

A New Russia Is Taking Shape and There Is No Turning Back

If Russia ever wants to return to the European model, it will have to dismantle the entire political legacy that this regime has built.
opinion Alexander Baunov

Heirless in Tashkent

Change is coming to the regimes of Central Asia, with Uzbekistan only the first state to experience a succession crisis. The departure of a long-standing...
opinion Alexander Baunov

Why Moscow Opposed the Grexit

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' first call outside the Hellenic Republic after the July 5 bailout referendum was to Russian President Vladimir...
opinion Alexander Baunov

Russians Crave Greatness, But at What Cost?

Someone wants to take the World Cup away from Russia, or at the very least besmirch the event, tarnish it, sully it — that's how President Vladimir...
opinion Alexander Baunov

Nemtsov Death Ushers In Russia's New Terror

Authoritarian regimes come in different shapes and sizes. In some states, the political opposition is deprived of power, influence, and participation...