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Opinion

opinion Michele A. Berdy

Flying Objects and Other Horrors of Russian

Russian paronyms - летучий, летящий, летательный, летающий and лётный - are horrible.
Artyom Shraibman

Does Belarus Election Mark Start of New Era?

Two figures are set to challenge Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential election this summer, laying the ground for a shake-up of politics in Belarus...
Ilya Klishin

Russians Watch the American Protests as Clouds Gather at Home

Russians are more fascinated by the images of the mass protests in response to George Floyd’s death.
Mark Galeotti

Russian Newspaper Coverage of the U.S. Time of Troubles

It turns out much of Russian media is just not that interested in the American riots.
Michele A. Berdy

When a Russian Bum Is Not a Bum

Answering a question in my mailbag sent me down the rabbit hole of Russian abbreviations - great fun!
Vladimir Frolov

Trump Wants a Nuclear Deal. Why Is This Bad News for Moscow?

Russia is about to lose its exclusive channel of cooperation with the U.S.
Mark Galeotti

No Victory Day for Sobyanin, or the Other Regional Bosses

Even in the best-case scenario, the victory parade will mean more infections across Russia.
Ilya Klishin

Putin and the 'Distinct Russian Civilization'

How the Kremlin tries to explain the coronavirus crisis to its people.
Dmitry Trenin

U.S. Withdrawal From Open Skies Bolsters Case for New Strategic Regime

The 50-year-old arms control regime that helped keep the Cold War cold is beyond repair. It's time to start discussing ways of moving toward a new global...
Michele A. Berdy

The Russian Dos of Don'ts

When the command нельзя means don't, and when it means something else entirely.
Mark Galeotti

Putin Withdraws From the Coronavirus Crisis in a Political Abdication

Putin is clearly eager to avoid being identified with the pandemic and the difficult measures being adopted to fight it.
Ilya Shepelin

How Kremlin Propaganda Destroyed Russian Healthcare

Russian physicians are quitting en masse while receiving only empty sympathy from state media.
Dmitry Yakushkin

The True Meaning of Victory Day

Today some shout “We can do it again!” But in those days the motto was “Never again.” A new war was unthinkable.
Michele A. Berdy

Shall We Zoom? I Zoom, Do You?

A very silly update on the language of our new normal in Russia.
Denis Corboy, William Courtney and Kenneth Yalowitz

Covid-19 Crisis Could Spur Post-Soviet Fixes

Five practical steps in the post-Soviet space could improve healthcare and effective governance. 
Tatyana Stanovaya

The Putin Regime Cracks

Vladimir Putin has become increasingly disengaged from routine matters of governing and prefers to delegate most issues.
Vladislav Inozemtsev

Russia's Confused Coronavirus Response

The authorities pretend that they are leading, while the people try to pretend that they are following orders.
Ilya Klishin

Why Showcase the Prime Minister’s Illness on TV?

Russian citizens instinctively expect their leaders to lie to them during crises but the authorities now seem intent on proving that they are not hiding...
Michele A. Berdy

Russian Patience is a Virtue

We start today with a pop quiz about a curious word. Tune in.
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