Opinion

opinion
Alexei Levinson

Has Russia Finally Found its Niche in the World?

The annexation of Crimea was the end of an uncertain phase in Russian history.
Tatyana Stanovaya

How Russia Took Over Crimea, and Crimea Took Over Putin

Five years after the Crimea annexation, the country has undoubtedly changed — but no less important is the change Putin himself has undergone.
Leonid Bershidsky

The U.S. College Admissions Scandal Is So Post-Soviet

Academic corruption is typical for Post-Soviet countries because of the power of informal networks.
Ben Aris

Boycotting the St. Petersburg Economic Forum Won’t Free Calvey

One month after Michael Calvey’s dramatic arrest, his future remains uncertain.
Rachel Denber

The Court Case Against Oyub Titiyev Is a Tragic Farce

After 14 months behind bars, Chechen human rights activist Oyub Titiyev gave his closing statement on Monday.
Maria Zheleznova

How Russia ‘Won’ the 2019 Winter Student Olympics

Russia's crushing victory at the 2019 Winter Student Olympics raised a few eyebrows.
Leonid Bershidsky

Trump Is Winning, Putin's Losing in Global Arms Sales

Russia's arms sales are on the decline, a sign that Vladimir Putin’s geopolitical bets aren’t turning into long-term influence.
Gleb Pavlovsky

Taking to the Street Left Russia’s Opposition Out in the Cold

Now that Putinism is in transition, it is time for the opposition to get off the streets.
Nikolaus von Twickel

The State of Play in the Donbass

The European public has become comfortably numb about the war in the Donbass.
Alexei Levinson

Who's to Blame for Gender Stereotypes in Russia?

On International Women's Day, Levada Center sociologist Alexei Levinson reveals Russian society's attitudes on gender roles.
Ilya Shumanov

Troika Bank Scandal Exposed Global Failure to Prevent Money Laundering

Ultimately, it is not Vardanyan who will suffer the consequences of the Troika Laundromat exposé .
Leonid Bershidsky

Putin Turns Swathes of Russia Into Flyover Country

A major part of the country will be treated as a social and economic liability.
Maxim Trudolyubov

When Trust Fails: How Long Can the Russian State Withstand Waning Public Support?

Russians find themselves in the fifth consecutive year of falling real incomes, and the national mood is finally catching up with reality.
Leonid Bershidsky

The Troika Laundromat Shows How Not to Combat Money Laundering

Focus on shady transactions, not the banks themselves.
Maria Zheleznova and Vladimir Ruvinsky

What Putin Thinks About Michael Calvey’s Arrest

The president doesn’t consider it necessary to share his opinion on the most heated case of 2019, and that is a bad sign
Leonid Bershidsky

Russian Generals’ Biggest Fear? Ordinary Russians

What General Gerasimov and the Kremlin are really scared of is their own people.
Leonid Bershidsky

New Russian Emigres Aren’t All Dissidents

The bulk of Russians moving to the West aren’t anti-Putin exiles.
Mark Galeotti

A Year After the Skripal Poisoning, How Much Has Really Changed?

Mark Galeotti on the legacy of the Skripal poisoning.
Michele A. Berdy

Russian Boys Just Want to Have Fun

I finally figured out why Russian words for young men are so confusing. We think of age differently.
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