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Main page > Products > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts - The weekly bulletin > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (45) 786
Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (45) 786
November 02 - 08, 2009
Main tendencies of political week
Celebrations of People’s Unity Day on November 4 were in the spotlight last week. State authorities indicated they were able to control the semantic content of this day. In 2006 to 2008 nationalists actively employed this holiday to their advantage but in 2009 they were forced to the margins of the informational field. To a great extent this occurred because of the Nashi movement that long before the day declared about its intention to mobilize 20,000 supporters, which attracted the attention of all mass media sources. This simultaneously refuted rumors about state authorities planning to abandon Nashi as they did not need this movement any longer. Besides, it is indicative that the pro-Kremlin youth movement intensified its activities on the eve of the 5th anniversary of the “orange revolution” in Ukraine. Finally, Dmitry Medvedev highlighted November 4 as day of the Russian civil society that managed to mobilize itself and defend the country’s sovereignty in the turbulent time.
With November 12 set as the day of promulgation of the president’s state of the nation address attempts to oppose the president to the premier intensified in addition to imposing the anti-Putin agenda on Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev’s sharp criticism of Stalinism and the format of the presidential reception in the Kremlin on the occasion of Day of People’s Unity were interpreted as the head of state’s desire to distance himself from Vladimir Putin at least stylistically. Meanwhile, the ex-president several years ago quite toughly spoke about his attitude towards totalitarianism and the semantic and HR “content” of receptions devoted to November 4 (e.g. in 2007) did not much differ from the latest one. Attempts of some experts to substantiate the necessity of creating the “modernization vertical” continued; it should allegedly function simultaneously with the executive power vertical.
Judging by indirect signs, the tandem representatives got concerned with some decline in their rating and took measures to restore it. This was especially noticeable considering Vladimir Putin’s increased activities. In a short period of time he put forward two resonant social initiatives – to raise pensions by 50% in 2010 and to allocate over 50bn rubles in budget funds to AvtoVAZ. The premier also promised financial assistance to the domestic film industry. According to the latest polls, ratings of both politicians somewhat went up. Meanwhile, the president has a chance to strengthen his positions in the public consciousness after voicing his Address as it will be extensively covered by the mass media.
Major events November 02 - 08, 2009
| Event | Winning side | Defeated side | Development Outlooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dmitry Medvedev meets with members of the Federation Council board | Dmitry Medvedev, Yury Chaika | Alexander Bastrykin | This is the president’s last meeting with interested parties within the framework of preparations for the presidential address |
| Dmitry Medvedev’s interview with Der Spiegel | Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin | Tandem will keep demonstrating unity | |
| Celebrations of November 4 | Nashi movement | Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI) | Next year the nationalists will try to get revenge |
| Vladimir Putin intends to allocate over 50bn rubles to AvtoVAZ | Vladimir Putin | Rating of the president and the premier will go somewhat higher | |
| Vladimir Putin meets with Vyacheslav Volodin, secretary of the presidium of the UR general council | Vladimir Putin, Vyacheslav Volodin | The network of Putin’s public reception offices will expand, but this won’t improve the quality of feedback channels with the population | |
| Vladimir Putin promises financial assistance to the domestic film industry | Vladimir Putin, Nikita Mikhalkov | There will be tough struggle in the cinematographic community for the promised state assistance | |
| Prosecutor General’s Office refuses to approve indictments against Alexander Bulbov and Sergey Storchak | Prosecutor General’s Office | Investigation Committee | A possible release of Alexander Bulbov from custody will signal that both resonant cases will be closed sooner or later |
| President signs the bill on toughening the struggle against the organized crime into law | Investigation Committee, MVD, FSB | Law enforcement agencies won’t get significant authority under the pretext of tightening fight against criminals | |
| An appeal of police major Alexey Dymovsky to Vladimir Putin is posted | Rashid Nurgaliyev | Another phase of the campaign for dismissal of Rashid Nurgaliyev is starting |
Volume: 14 pages
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The new report analyzes the situation which followed «reformatting» of the political system in Russia within the «Successor» operation. Currently the new management structure and inter-elite situation have been formed aggressively in view of the existing model of «Putin-Medvedev» duumvirate.State Corporations in the Russian Economy
The new study analyses state corporations that many consider a new long-term direction of Russian economy development. Currently, these corporations are becoming nearly the main mechanism for Russian elite to convert and cash out political power. Therefore it is important to understand affiliation of different state corporations with dominating political players, their role in the 2008 election campaign and place in the next executive power configuration that we will see completed by spring-summer 2008. It is also interesting to analyze possible ways the state corporations may transform into other forms of property in the nearest and medium-term future.Political Results of 2007: Russia on the Eve of Power Shuffle
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The research studies the strategies of the main players racing for parliament, assesses their potential, and gives a prediction of how events will be developing.«Centers of influence» in the Russian politics
The study attempts to list the main centers of influence and show their hierarchy from the standpoint of availability of resources. Special attention is drawn to formal and informal channels of interaction between elite clans, the “conflict zones,” and the clans’ methods of promoting their interests. The study also attempts to predict developments in the short- and medium-term future.Leading Russian corporations and the executive power: interaction methods
The new study analyzes the methods of interaction between the executive power and the leading Russian businesses both when they carry out «pinpoint» projects and implement strategic partnership.Forecast of political developments after the presidential election in 2008
The new study contains thorough analysis of the possible scenarios of power succession in 2008 and a forecast of how events may develop.
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