PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE

Table of Contents

Letter from the Crisis Director Page 2

Letter from the Chair Page 3

Background Page 4

Russia Since 2016 – Notable Events Page 5

Delegate Positions Page 7

Committee Structure Page 10

Committee Goals Page 11

Sources Page 11

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Delegates, My name is Milan Liu and I’ll be serving as your crisis director for the Russian Unity Conference 2020 at PUNC X. I’m a freshman at Penn State, pursuing a double major in International Politics and Geography, as well as minors in Chinese and Global Security. In addition to my love for international affairs and maps, I enjoy horseback riding, traveling, and binge-watching political dramas on Netflix. I have been involved in Model UN since my sophomore year of high school, and attended conferences at Penn State twice. I joined PSIADA last semester, and had the pleasure of crisis directing the Antarctic Treaty 2038 committee at PHUNC, Penn State’s high school Model UN conference, in the fall. I have always looked forward to Model UN conferences, and PUNC X is no exception. I’m excited to see the creativity of this group of delegates, and how you respond to the challenges will face throughout the weekend. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns, and I’ll be happy to help in any way I can.

Best, Milan [email protected]

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Delegates, Hello everyone! My name is Robert Liu and I am excited to be your Chair for Russian Unity Conference 2020. I am a Junior majoring in Biology and Asian studies with minors in Japanese and Astrobiology. I enjoy PC gaming, watching anime and spending way too much time on reddit. Penn State International Affairs and Debate Association (PSIADA) has been a big part of my college career ever since I arrived at Penn state three years ago. This will be my third time chairing a committee and my fifth time overall on a Model UN committee.

Best, Robert [email protected]

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Background

History of Modern Russia Modern Russia’s history has been shaped by the collapse of the and the subsequent formation of the Russian Federation. Boris Yeltsin led protests under the flag of the Soviet Union, and after the USSR’s breakup, Yeltsin emerged as President of the Russian Federation. Yeltsin’s legacy centered around his advocacy for shock therapy, a series of reforms promoting democracy and the free-market. These radical reforms following the communist Soviet Era devastated the economy, leading to hyperinflation, a severe economic downturn, and declining standards of living in Russia.

Following Yeltsin’s presidency, asserted control over the Russian government. Putin was elected president in 2000 and 2004, as he headed , a political party originally formed to support Putin in the 2000 elections. The United Russia Party has been described as “ideologically...hard to define except that it is pro-Putin.” Putin’s reforms followed an aggressive path towards centralization of power, steering the country away from democracy. Under Putin’s leadership, the economy improved, fueled primarily by oil and gas reserves, and took the shape of a state corporatist model. Putin served as president for two terms, before his hand-picked successor, , was elected in 2008. Putin remained in politics as Medvedev’s Prime Minister, shifting power to his new position and retaining control of the government. Putin won the election in 2012 and returned to his original position as president.

Modern Russia’s political system has been characterized as an unpredictable illiberal democracy. The state has a history of maintaining a blended authoritarian and democratic system, with citizens maintaining few political rights. Political decisions have typically lacked transparency, made in secret by the group of those close to the Kremlin, and much of Russian politics is shadowed by corruption. Russia has suffered from numerous problems, including economic difficulties, unstable foreign relations, lack of development of civil society, and a declining population. Questions Russia continues to struggle with include centralization or decentralization of the government, openness of the country to the west, and capitalism or socialism as the basis for the economy.

Chechnya

Chechnya has been a historically troublesome region for Russia. Located in the Northern Caucasus, the region is home to a primarily Muslim population, as well a separatist movement which comes into the public view every decade or so.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation refused to recognize Chechen independence and utilized military force to assert dominance in the region. The First Chechen War began in 1994 and ended in 1996 with the tabling of Chechen independence negotiations alongside the withdrawal of Russian troops. The interwar period left Chechnya’s economy and infrastructure destroyed, and kidnappings and killings by rebels continued. The Second Chechen War erupted in 1999 and while battles only continued into early 2000, the widespread separatist movement was not sufficiently weakened to completely cease fighting until 2009. 4

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Chechen separatists are characterized by their often extreme tactics. They have been known to kidnap, kill, or take hostage civilians and important political figures to further their goals, and have a history of partaking in terrorism, including suicide bombings and other attacks in Moscow, Chechnya, and neighboring Dagestan. Crimea

Crimea’s complicated history is backed by an ongoing battle between Russia and Ukraine for the region. A geopolitically important peninsula on the Black Sea, Crimea has experienced periods of occupation by a number of actors, as well as brief periods as its own sovereign state. Under the flag of the Soviet Union, Crimea was gifted to Ukraine in 1954. Despite this, the majority of the Crimean population is still ethnically Russian.

Unrest in Crimea erupted after violent protests in Kiev drove pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych from power in early 2014. Russian backed forces seized control of the peninsula, and a referendum following the occupation resulted in a vote for the region to join Russia. While the Kremlin declared control of Crimea, Ukraine and the West refused to recognize the results of the referendum as legal and legitimate.

Note: the history of Russia included in this background information is brief and simplifies the nuanced history and culture of the country. Much more information regarding Russia can be found online, in addition to information about the history of the Soviet Union. For the purposes of the committee, history will be assumed to be frozen at the end of 2016; any events occurring in 2017 will be assumed to not have happened.

Russia Since 2016 - Notable Events

January 1, 2017 – deviate from history.

January 20, 2017 – Donald Trump is inaugurated, and assumes office as president of the United States. Trump’s public statements remain pro-Russia during his early presidency, and he even recognizes Crimea as Russian territory (drawing criticism from the rest of the Western world.) While Putin hopes to work to with the new administration, during the first hundred days President Trump struggles to be on the same page as his Congress–particularly Speaker of the House Paul Ryan–on US-Russian relations. Putin and the become increasingly frustrated with the lack of improvement in relations with the United States.

April 24, 2017 – Russia expels 35 American diplomats in retaliation for the Obama administration’s sanctions in December of 2016 and in response to stagnant relations between the countries. Angered by the Kremlin’s actions, Trump’s dialogue with the media quickly turns anti-Russian.

June 17, 2017 – the United States places additional economic sanctions on Russia, limiting financing for Russian banks, energy companies, and infrastructure projects, as well as restricting trade with Russia. The Russian economy is weakened by these sanctions.

August 28, 2017 – WikiLeaks releases information insinuating the Kremlin was involved in the deaths of a number of pro-Ukrainian activists in Crimea in 2015. Putin denies the allegations. 5

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September 4, 2017 – the European Union places additional economic sanctions on Russia as a result of the leaks, following precedent set by sanctions in 2014. This is a severe blow to the already struggling Russian economy.

January 12, 2018 – protests in Moscow arise over high electricity prices during a cold winter, in addition to the rising unemployment rate, which has risen to 9.2%. Numerous protestors are arrested and fined. Some of the protests turn violent, with Russian police beating protesters in the streets.

February 4, 2018 – despite increased military presence in the streets, protests continue and spread to St. Petersburg. Protests are violent, and international human rights groups and pro- democracy groups within Russia criticize the government, calling for freedom of speech and preservation of citizens’ ability to partake in peaceful protest.

June 29, 2018 – Interfax reports growing support for socialist reforms and parties reforming such reforms, including A Just Russia and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). The report cites the support as a result of the perceived failure of capitalistic reforms in the economy to provide for Russian citizens, as well as growing fear of the West following US and EU sanctions on the Russian Federation.

June 30, 2018 – Anatoly Dolgachyov makes a public statement about the rise of socialist support in Russia, commending Russians for their newfound approval and urging them to join the CPRF. Hours later, Sergey Mironov criticizes Dolgachyov and the CPRF’s policies, describing them as “too radical in the context of today’s Russia.” Dolgachyov responds by calling Mironov and A Just Russia’s policies “incredibly moderate and mediocre, obviously too weak to effect significant improvement.”

August 12, 2018 – Muslim terrorists attempt to bomb a Russian government building in Grozny, but authorities are alerted and the attackers are shot before they can detonate the bombs. President Putin attempts to keep the attack quiet, amidst fears knowledge of the occurrence will prompt widespread protests in Chechnya. State media is forbidden from reporting on the attack, but international media outlets still cover the event.

November 7, 2018 – unemployment remains high, still hovering at around 9%. Unrest across the country has resulted in the formation of a number of pockets of violence across the country, with crime rising in the cities. Reports released show that one of the few sectors of the economy that is growing is the vodka industry, as men turn to liquor in the wake of unemployment and increased societal tension.

May 15, 2019 – Petro Poroshenko is re-elected as president of Ukraine. One component of his platform is retaking Crimea from the Russians. The election campaigning draws protests from pro-Ukrainian groups within Crimea, against Russian control of the region. While Crimea remains under Russian control, the protests are the first widespread dissent since 2014. The Kremlin sends additional troops and military equipment to Sevastopol.

July 6, 2019 – Ukrainian parliamentary elections occur. Protests by pro-Ukrainian groups continue when Crimean’s are unable to vote in the elections, leaving some parliament seats 6

PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE empty. Putin describes protestors as “separatists” and asserts military in Sevastopol will stop protests if necessary. True to his words, arrests are made and several are shot and killed in the streets. Protests die down after these incidents.

November 13, 2019 – Vladimir Putin is shot in the chest while leaving his home during a weekend vacation at Lake Baikal. Just before being killed by Putin’s bodyguards, the shooter yells “freedom and democracy for Russia!” Putin is taken to a nearby hospital. The nation waits with bated breath as Putin undergoes surgery for the gunshot wound.

November 14, 2019 – Dmitry Medvedev announces to the media that Vladimir Putin passed away in the hospital early in the morning following surgery. Medvedev assumes office as acting president of the Russian Federation, while the nation mourns the death of its beloved leader.

November - December 2019 – dissent in Crimea and Chechnya worsens, protesters taking to the streets as anti-Russian groups see a window of opportunity to fight against a weak government. The West looks expectantly to President Medvedev for a solution to Russia’s escalating problems–political and economic.

December 15, 2019 – President Medvedev calls together Russian political figures for a Unity Conference, citing the need to find a pathway to peace for Russia as unrest continues in Crimea and Chechnya, and the economy remains in shambles due to international sanctions.

January 5, 2020 – Russian Unity Conference begins.

Delegate Positions

Boris Gryzlov (Prime Minister) , former Chairman of the Supreme Council of United Russia and close ally of Vladimir Putin, was appointed by President Medvedev following Putin’s death. Gryzlov has previously served as the Chairman of the State Duma, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Parliamentary leader of United Russia in the State Duma. With a background in engineering, Gryzlov is known for his support of the industry sector, particularly expansions in STEM fields. Gryzlov has also been vocal about his opinions regarding Chechnya and Ukraine, hoping to crush any dissent in the regions and gain decisive control over the areas by whatever means necessary.

Vladislav Surkov (Head of Unity Party) , of Chechen descent, currently serves as the head of the Unity Party. Surkov proposed the concept of sovereign democracy in Russia, but it has been suggested in recent years his advocacy of the concept is a political maneuver. Surkov is wary of the modernization of Russia’s political system and has warned against the opening of the country to Western influence, suggesting this “could rip Russia apart.” Surkov has a business background and has supported pro•business reforms in the past. Surkov remains under sanctions from the United States and European Union which prevent him from entering either, and has received much criticism from activists and opposition groups. Still, Surkov remains on good terms with President Medvedev.

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Anatoly Dolgachyov (Leader of Communist Party of Russian Federation) Anatoly Dolgachyov rose quickly to power in the Communist Party of the Russian Federation following death of the previous leader, . Dolgachyov was first involved with the Young Communist League, for which he served as Secretary General. During his time there, Dolgachyov gained the support of many younger Russians and developed strong beliefs regarding the necessity of socialist reforms to address the socio•economic problems plaguing youth, which led to youth crime, unemployment, lack of education, and healthcare problems. Dolgachyov supports movement towards a socialist economy, advocating for nationalization of industries and the gradual reduction of private enterprise. In recent years, Dolgachyov has been known for his strong support of the CPRF’s platform, his views sometimes being seen as extreme even for the party. Dolgachyov finds himself part of an ongoing feud with Sergey Mironov, as Mironov criticizes Dolgachyov for his radical socialist policies, which he believes are too extreme to gain support, while Dolgachyov criticizes Mironov for being unwilling to take the steps necessary to make socialist reform happen. The two have exchanged harsh words in the public sphere, and have been willing to readily denounce each other’s policies.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky (Liberal Democrat Party leader) , the well•known radical politician, remains head of the Liberal Democratic Party. Widely believed to be puppet of the Kremlin to test radical policies, Zhirinovsky is an ultra•nationalist who favors Russian expansion to the west and highly opposes Western influence. He remains on good terms with President Medvedev, but is apt to step on the toes of other politicians who view his positions as too extreme. Zhirinovsky, originally a vocal admirer of Donald Trump, has been increasingly opposed to the American president since the fallout between the two nations. The party leader continues to favor harsh measures to keep Russian controlled areas in check.

Sergey Mironov (A Just Russia leader) Sergey Mironov serves as the leader of A Just Russia. Despite leading an opposition party and having run for president multiple times, Mironov remains in staunch support of the United Russia party. Mironov supports moderate socialist reforms, and has cultivated his party to offer a more pragmatic left•wing platform than the CPRF. President Medvedev chose to include Mironov in the unity conference in an attempt to address the concerns of the growing faction of moderate Russians supporting socialist reforms within the Russian political system, despite worries about the party leader’s ongoing feud with Anatoly Dolgachyov.

Movzar Shuzov (Head of Chechen Republic) In the months following Putin’s death, unrest in Chechnya reemerged, with protests in the region growing and widespread calls for Chechen independence; angered by Ramzan Kadyrov’s inability to retain control over the region, President Medvedev dismissed Kadyrov and appointed Oleksander Shuzov. A local politician born in Grozny, Shuzov gained a positive reputation and popularity among Chechens as a result of his willingness to listen and work to meet the needs of those in the region without silencing their voices. Shuzov works closely with Medvedev and Gryzlov behind closed doors, and remains strongly in favor of a unified Russian state, criticizing separatists for their work to split up the nation as he continues to fight dissent in Chechnya. Shuzov has seen the devastating effects of Chechnya’s dependence on Moscow, and believes that while Chechnya should remain a part of the Russian Federation, it should retain power in Grozny

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PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE and move towards a more capitalistic economy with openness to the west, to allow individuals more economic opportunity and encourage investment from wealthy Western nations.

Alexei Tarasenko (Head of Republic of Crimea) Alexei Tarasenko was appointed Head of the Republic of Crimea just before Putin’s assassination, at the strong recommendation of former Prime Minister Medvedev, who has been close friends with Tarasenko for years. Tarasenko, born and raised in Crimea, attended university in Moscow and has been unfailingly loyal to the Russian government, making him popular with both current Prime Minister Gryzlov and President Medvedev. With little political experience prior to his appointment, Tarasenko struggled at first to keep dissent in check, but since his appointment, has been more and more willing to use whatever means necessary to quash pro•Ukrainian uprisings in the region he governs. Tarasenko favors a strong Kremlin, and sees Western meddling in the region (and in Russian affairs in general) as unjust and dislikes capitalism, two forces he views as pulling Crimea away from Moscow.

Valery Gerasimov (Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia) Valery Gerasimov has maintained control of the Armed Forces of Russia since the reshuffling of upper level military officials just prior to his appointment in 2012. Gerasimov is respected by President Medvedev for his understanding of what has been termed the “Gerasimov Doctrine”– the cognizance of a new type of war whose rules have been blurred and must be adapted to new technological circumstances. Gerasimov has proven willing to take military risks, often risking war with other nations to exert Russian military influence around the world. Gerasimov has quietly voiced his intention to continue with riskier military action, both internally and externally, to attempt to best maintain Russian power.

Alexey Miller (Leader of Gazprom) Alexey Miller stands as head of Gazprom, Russia’s largest public energy supplier. Miller was appointed CEO as a result of his connections with Putin, securing the company’s allegiance to Moscow amidst fears upper level executives in the company maintained harmful ties with third parties. Miller has been known for his harsh stance on gas payments, and his latest concerns rest with instability in Ukraine. Miller must protect the gas industry’s interests, and as a Russian oligarch, President Medvedev recognizes the power Miller maintains in his negotiations with Kiev when it comes to unrest in Crimea.

Igor Sechin (Leader of Rosneft) Igor Sechin is the Executive Chairman of Rosneft, Russia’s biggest oil company. Sechin has worked in Russian government, having close ties with Putin and Medvedev; at times Sechin was even rumored to be the most powerful man in Russia, second to Putin himself. Sechin has long looked to open Rosneft to more capitalist markets, and despite his loyalty to the government (especially regarding the issues surrounding Crimea) and sanctions placed against him by the United States, Sechin hopes to open Rosneft more to the global market.

Roman Abramovich (Oligarch) Roman Abramovich, well known Russian businessman, has maintained close ties to the Kremlin since Boris Yeltsin’s presidency. Following Putin’s assassination, Abramovich’s relationship with Medvedev strengthened as he advised the new President through the rocky transition. Abramovich has been involved with several corruption scandals, and has prided himself in his 9

PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ability to keep his business dealings private. In recent years, Abramovich has expressed the opinion that Russia must open its markets more, while still maintaining Russian spirit and culture.

Alexander Bortnikov (Director of FSB) Alexander Bortnikov has been the Director of the FSB, Russia’s primary security agency–widely viewed as the successor to the KGB. Bortnikov is incredibly loyal to Medvedev, believed by many to be Medvedev’s right hand man. Due to the extensive time Bortnikov has spent as the Director of the FSB, he has built a loyal following within the organization. It is suspected that Bortnikov will do what is necessary to maintain both his and his good friend Medvedev’s power in the Russian political system.

Vladimir Kolokoltsev (Minister of Internal Affairs/Head of Police) Vladimir Kolokoltsev was appointed the Minister of Internal Affairs under Medvedev in 2012, and has remained in the position since. Kolokoltsev is the head of police, and maintains control of the internal troops. Kolokoltsev has not been involved in any major corruption scandals, and unlike many of his colleagues, seems rather unwilling to abuse the rights of Russian citizens to further the Kremlin’s, or his own, goals.

Vyacheslav Volodin (Chairman of Duma) Volodin, Chairman of the Duma, has a background in engineering and is a member of the United Russia Party. Like Prime Minister Gryzlov, Volodin supports the expansion of STEM fields within Russia, and favors a nation more closed off to outside influence. Volodin has become close with Gryzlov following his appointment as Prime Minister, and favors resolution of conflict through dialogue, rather than suppression of dissent.

Valentina Matviyenko (Chairwoman of Federation Council) remains the Chairwoman of the Federation Council, and is purported to be the most powerful female politician in Russia. A member of the United Russia Party, Matviyenko is supported by Medvedev, and was a close ally of Putin before his assassination. Having served as governor of St. Petersburg, Matviyenko has a history of favoring decentralized government, but strongly supports United Russia’s policies.

Committee Structure

Committee Composition & Portfolio Powers The Russian Unity Conference is not an already existing body in the Russian political system. Rather, this committee is made up of a number of the most powerful actors in Russia, who have been called together by the President. Some are political leaders or the heads of parties, while others run corporations and have historically close ties with the Kremlin. Each delegate will have unique powers within the Russian political system relating to the geographic regions, government bodies, and economic resources they control. While directives passed are not laws, per se, President Medvedev will honor the decisions voted upon by the majority of the committee, and implement the contents of these directives to the best of his ability.

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Debate & Crisis While this committee has no set topics (as there might be in a traditional General Assembly), debate in the sessions should center around the major subjects related to the problems Russia faces. Some topics to consider are government structure (should Russia be more centralized or decentralized? Should the country move towards a democracy?), openness of the country to the West, the structure and type of economy (capitalist or socialist?), and how best to respond to unrest in disenfranchised regions. These issues will come up in crisis updates throughout the conference. The flow of debate will be shaped by two things: collective committee actions and crisis interactions. Delegates will communicate with crisis, who will represent all actors outside of the scope of the committee. This communication will happen primarily through notes (though attachés will periodically be available.) Delegates’ actions will shape the development of the committee throughout the conference.

Committee Goals In addition to effectively addressing crises presented to the committee throughout the weekend, the ultimate goal of this committee is to achieve peace and stability for Russia, avoiding war both internally and externally. Furthermore, delegates should aim to set a precedent for post- Putin Russia (through committee actions carried out via directives) on the following issues: 1. Government structure – should Russia’s government move towards centralized or decentralized power? Should the country make democratic reforms, or is autocracy a better fitting model? 2. Openness of the country to the West – how should Russia interact with outside nations, and to what extent should the international community influence Russia? 3. Structure and type of economy – will Russia’s economy thrive under a capitalist or socialist economic model? What balance of the two models will be most effective? 4. How best to respond to unrest – should Russia aim to silence dissent by any means possible, or is it more important for the government to respect civil rights and liberties? What structures should the nation have in place to respond to protests and uprisings in marginalized regions?

Sources Bhattacharji, Preeti. "Chechen Terrorism (Russia, Chechnya, Separatist)." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 08 Apr. 2010. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. "Crimea Profile." BBC News. BBC, 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. "Russia Profile - Timeline." BBC News. BBC, 27 Dec. 2016. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. "Russia." Freedom House. Freedom House, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. Taylor, Adam. "To Understand Crimea, Take a Look Back at Its Complicated History." The Washington Post. WP Company, 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 01 Jan. 2017.

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