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Opinion

opinion Alexei Zakharov

Russians See Sputnik V Vaccine as Kremlin Prestige Project

Attitudes to the vaccine are strongly influenced by trust in the Kremlin and local governance.
Ilya Klishin

The Capitol Storming Gives Russians an Escape From Their Reality

The great majority of Russians have no say over the future of their cities or regions and so resort to events outside the country.
Mark Galeotti

No One Benefits From Renewed Demonizing of Russia

The continued presentation of a Russian threat that is both outsized and out of control is profoundly problematic for the West itself.
Sam Greene

‘Meet Me,’ Alexei Navalny Wrote

The opposition leader is setting up a showdown with both Putin and the people. Who will rise to the occasion?
Paul Bartlett

Bleak Outlook for Kyrgyzstan’s Free Press After Japarov’s Landslide Win in Presidential Poll

The country’s independent media are anxiously waiting to see if there will be a crackdown on outlets not in favor with the new regime.
Sergey Radchenko

For Russians, Trump's Twitter Ban Gets Lost in Translation

Russia's fierce reaction to Twitter's decision is rooted in the country's own painful experience with censorship and propaganda.
Sergei Kapitonov

Does China Need More Gas From Russia and Central Asia?

China is moving away from coal and dirtier energy sources. Can Russia help fill the gap?
Vladislav Inozemtsev for VTimes

The Kremlin Need Have No Fear of Mass Economic Protests

Many people are striving to do something to improve their financial situations, but few are willing to fight to change the system.
Pjotr Sauer

Foreign Policy Experts Map Russia’s Plans for 2021

We asked 10 experts to predict what Russia has in store for the world next year.
Mark Galeotti

Russia in 2021: Whitewashing Cliffs and Placing Sandbags

In an increasingly unpredictable world, the Kremlin is choosing to go on the defensive.
Abbas Gallyamov

The Kremlin Faces a Difficult 2021

The opposition has become more diverse and noticeably stronger.
Michele A. Berdy

'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Moscow 2020

A special column for a special day.
Dmitry Trenin

An 'Act of War?' Avoiding a Dangerous Crisis in Cyberspace

Unlike in the nuclear sphere, there are no rules governing the increasingly intense rivalry between the U.S. and Russia in the cyber sphere. 
Sergey Radchenko

Has Navalny’s Prank Shattered the FSB Myth Once and For All?

Even as the Soviet Union withered and declined, the KGB and the GRU seemed both more competent and, oddly, cleaner than the current security forces.
Anna Arutunyan

The Spy Who Took Out the Dirty Laundry

A prank call reveals the ugly new face of international espionage.
Kirill Martynov

How Navalny's Mock FSB Call Laid Bare a Country of Yes Men

For generations, Russians have grown accustomed to slavishly following orders.
Michael Kofman

A Look at the Military Lessons of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

It would be a mistake for great and middle powers to ignore the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Michele A. Berdy

2020 Words of the Year

This is the Year That Was in words and phrases.
Ilya Klishin

Warning! An Army of Russian Trolls Has Invaded TikTok

The Kremlin is using its tested methods on the viral social media platform, but TikTok users have developed “anti-bodies” to bots and trolls.
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