DOCSLIB.ORG

Russia-Monitor-Month

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Russia-Monitor-Month MONTHLY November 2018 MONTHLY AugustOctober 2018 2018 The publication prepared exclusively for PERN S.A. Date of publication in the public domain: 19th17th NovemberSeptember 2018. 2018. CONTENTS 8 11 28 SPY HUNTING RUSSIA’S FSB SHAKEN BY MORE RUSSIAN BASES IN RUSSIA REGIONAL RESHUFFLES IN CENTRAL ASIA? PUTIN’S VOICES SOLID DRY-DOCK BREAKDOWN SUPPORT FOR GRU MILITARY COMPLICATES KREMLIN’S 3 INTELLIGENCE 17 NAVAL PLANS RUSSIA’S NEW WEAPON: PUTIN PUTIN PLEASED WITH MACRON’S 4 DID NOT KEEP HIS WORD IDEA OF FORMING 19 A EUROPEAN ARMY TALIBAN DELEGATION TO VISIT 5 MOSCOW KADYROV’S OIL ASSETS: END OF THE WAR FOR CHECHEN THE KREMLIN TO STRENGTHEN 20 RESOURCES 7 RUSSIA’S FAR EAST GAZPROM’S LAVISH SPENDING 8 SPY HUNTING IN RUSSIA ON NORD STREAM 2 AND 22 TURKISH STREAM RUSSIA AND CUBA: UNITED IN 10 THE FACE OF A COMMON ENEMY OIL COMPANIES KEEP PAYING OFF 23 THEIR DEBTS TO THE KREMLIN RUSSIA’S FSB SHAKEN BY REGIONAL 11 RESHUFFLES CASPIAN OPPORTUNITY 25 FOR THE WEST A NEW REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM: RUSSIA’S FSB HEAD ROSNEFT AND LUKOIL IN A ROW 13 IDENTIFIES THE ENEMY OVER OIL SUPPLIES IN RUSSIA’S 26 FAR NORTH RUSSIAN-AUSTRIAN PROBLEM WITH THE GRU MORE RUSSIAN BASES IN 14 IN THE BACKGROUND 28 CENTRAL ASIA? U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY RICK RUSSIA HELPS VENEZUELA PERRY VISITS POLAND: BAD 29 ALLEVIATE THE CRISIS 16 NEWS FOR RUSSIA’S GAZPROM 31 ROSNEFT AFRAID OF SANCTIONS www.warsawinstitute.org 2 SOURCE: KREMLIN.RU 5 November 2018 PUTIN VOICES SOLID SUPPORT FOR GRU MILITARY INTELLIGENCE Vladimir Putin’s presence in a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Russia’s military intelligence services – as well as his speech – clearly indicate that the GRU should not be afraid of any purges, even in the face of a series of mishaps that have occurred over the past few months. The state’s military intelligence services obediently follow the Kremlin’s instructions, thus gaining Putin’s trust. Moreover, the President’s announcement to restore the GRU to its original name constitutes a symbolic part of the Kremlin’s aggressive policy. ollowing the nerve-agent poisoning of has no possibility to antagonize and weaken FSergei Skripal, a series of cyberattacks the unit while Russia continues war activities and an unsuccessful attempt to hack the on several fronts and is already involved in an global chemical weapons watchdog in the arms race with Western countries. Netherlands, the unit was widely expected to fall into the Kremlin’s disgrace. In addition, Over the last few weeks, there emerged many Russian public opinion even speculated speculations about possible repercussions about a major conflict between the country’s that may be felt by the GRU after some facts various special services. Yet it turned out that that had been revealed by independent the service may enjoy Putin’s full trust and media or accusations made by Western support. Naturally, it is not known if such states. Nevertheless, none of them seemed approval stems from the President’s personal to exert any negative impact on the military assessment of the GRU’s hitherto activities or intelligence units; on the contrary, it was from a very strong position of the army and the time to take advantage of the “besieged Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. In fact, Putin fortress” mechanism. On November 2, www.warsawinstitute.org 3 President Vladimir Putin took part in In particular, he seemed most enthusiastic a ceremony marking the centenary of Russia’s about the GRU’s huge role in the civil war military intelligence agency. While addressing in Syria. Such state of matters seems to both current and former intelligence officers, corroborate that in the context of Russia’s he expressed his wishes on the occasion current “war” policy, military intelligence on the “centenary of the legendary GRU”. is likely to remain a vital tool to achieve Furthermore, Russian President called the all Kremlin’s goals. The Russian President GRU to be restored to its former name; it reiterated that the officers of the Imperial is noteworthy that since 2010, the unit is Russian Army, who were incorporated into officially called the Main Directorate of the the new structure after the 1917 revolution, General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia ensured the continuation of the service. In his (GU) but the GRU abbreviation is still quoted opinion, they realized that “there is no greater by politicians and experts. Applauded by the shame than to betray the Fatherland and their gathered audience, Putin urged that the word comrades.” In such a manner, the President “intelligence” be brought back to the original sought to refer to the case of former Russian name. spy Sergei Skripal, called by Putin “a traitor to the motherland”, at the same time sending In addition, the Russian leader expressed his a clear warning to all officers of Russia’s special utter conviction that the service performed its forces. duties in a professional and effective manner. 5 November 2018 RUSSIA’S NEW WEAPON: PUTIN DID NOT KEEP HIS WORD According to Russian information agencies, quoting sources in the country’s armaments industry, the new generation inter-continental ballistic missile Sarmat is scheduled to enter duty no sooner than in 2021. Back in May this year, President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian army was expected to receive a weapon in 2020. Such was the initial schedule, yet it is not known whether it would be possible to enter the system into service by 2021 as the missiles do not appear to have started testing yet. ited by official news agencies, some program is being implemented according to Cofficials in the Russian armaments the schedule constitute a kind of ”propaganda industry have claimed that the Sarmat missile of success”. According to the original plan, development plan is being implemented with the test flight would start in 2017 while only no major impediments while the two first three years later, the weapon will be deployed missiles will enter duty in 2021. The missile’s to Russian units. On May 18, such goal was serial production is also scheduled for the announced by President Vladimir Putin same year. The weapon will be first provided during a meeting with leading officials of the for a missile regiment stationed in the city of Russian defense industry held in the Black Uzhur in Krasnoyarsk Krai (eastern Russia). Sea resort of Sochi. Nevertheless, the ballistic Later, four more Sarmat missiles will be program has already encountered some deployed to the same military regiment. difficulties; although the tests began in 2017, these were merely tested launches and not So all media leaks and information that the flights. Following three attempts of that kind, www.warsawinstitute.org 4 SOURCE: STRUCTURE.MIL.RU it seems that the Sarmat missile is finally ready Avangard hypersonic missile systems. to phase out its first test flight that would probably take place in early 2019. Russia is currently modernizing its nuclear arsenal of the intercontinental range while The RS-2 Sarmat is a Russian superheavy making an attempt to diminish it, according intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) of to the provisions of the NEW START deal. a practically global range of 10,900 kilometers. Nonetheless, the treaty is bound to expire in In addition, it can pack as much as eight 2021 while the Trump administration does not megatons of energy. It is to replace the seem willing to extend its duration. According hitherto R-36M2 Voevoda ICBM (NATO: SS- to the latest data, exchanged in September 18 Satan). The Command of Russia’s Strategic 2018, Russia has deployed 1,420 nuclear Rocket Forces declared that the first Sarmat warheads and 517 strategic delivery systems regiments (with a total of 46 missiles) would (with a total of 775 launchers). In February be provided for missiles divisions in Uzhur 2018, these numbers amounted to 1,444, 527 and Dombaravoy (Orenburg Oblast). and 779 respectively. The latter is also to be equipped with the 6 November 2018 TALIBAN DELEGATION TO VISIT MOSCOW Taliban delegation will attend peace talks scheduled to take place in Moscow on November 9. Yet it seems that this time, the Russian initiative will bring about better results than the two previous ones. Moscow’s diplomatic efforts, combined with Russia’s support for the Talikhs, clearly depicts that the Kremlin may play an increasingly important role in Afghanistan. n November 6, a spokesperson for the confirmed that the delegation agreed to OTaliban’s Qatar-based political office take part in the Moscow peace talks on www.warsawinstitute.org 5 SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA.ORG November 9. A day earlier, officials from more will depend on the U.S. standpoint; Afghanistan’s High Peace Council (HPC) so far, Washington has been very critical of also declared their readiness to pay a visit to Russian involvement in Afghan affairs. In Moscow. The organization operates within the April 2017, Russia hosted a global conference governmental program whose main task is on Afghanistan; the United States was invited to support peace processes and reintegration to participate but they did not send any of former militants into Afghani society. official delegation. The Defense Intelligence Thus, Russia’s Foreign Ministry could consider Agency (DIA) reported that Russia might that the statement of Afghan President have provided Afghan Taliban with financial Ashraf Ghani was, in fact, a green light for aid and weapons. Earlier, the same accusations sending a delegation of high-level politicians had been made by U.S. Defense Secretary to the Moscow peace talks. Nonetheless, James Mattis. Back in February, U.S. the HPC cannot be referred to as an Department of State reiterated that Russia’s official governmental body.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • An Ounce of Prevention: Snow Leopard Crime Revisited (PDF, 4
    TRAFFIC AN OUNCE REPORT OF PREVENTION: Snow Leopard Crime Revisited OCTOBER 2016 Kristin Nowell, Juan Li, Mikhail Paltsyn and Rishi Kumar Sharma TRAFFIC REPORT TRAFFIC, the wild life trade monitoring net work, is the leading non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. TRAFFIC is a strategic alliance of WWF and IUCN. All material appearing in this publication is copyrighted and may be reproduced with permission. Any reproduction in full or in part of this publication must credit TRAFFIC International as the copyright owner. Financial support for TRAFFIC’s research and the publication of this report was provided by the WWF Conservation and Adaptation in Asia’s High Mountain Landscapes and Communities Project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The views of the authors expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the TRAFFIC network, WWF, IUCN or the United States Agency for International Development. The designations of geographical entities in this publication, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of TRAFFIC or its supporting organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The TRAFFIC symbol copyright and Registered Trademark ownership is held by WWF. TRAFFIC is a strategic alliance of WWF and IUCN. Suggested citation: Nowell, K., Li, J., Paltsyn, M. and Sharma, R.K. (2016). An Ounce of Prevention: Snow Leopard Crime Revisited.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Lands of the Romanovs: an Annotated Bibliography of First-Hand English-Language Accounts of the Russian Empire
    ANTHONY CROSS In the Lands of the Romanovs An Annotated Bibliography of First-hand English-language Accounts of The Russian Empire (1613-1917) OpenBook Publishers To access digital resources including: blog posts videos online appendices and to purchase copies of this book in: hardback paperback ebook editions Go to: https://www.openbookpublishers.com/product/268 Open Book Publishers is a non-profit independent initiative. We rely on sales and donations to continue publishing high-quality academic works. In the Lands of the Romanovs An Annotated Bibliography of First-hand English-language Accounts of the Russian Empire (1613-1917) Anthony Cross http://www.openbookpublishers.com © 2014 Anthony Cross The text of this book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0). This license allows you to share, copy, distribute and transmit the text; to adapt it and to make commercial use of it providing that attribution is made to the author (but not in any way that suggests that he endorses you or your use of the work). Attribution should include the following information: Cross, Anthony, In the Land of the Romanovs: An Annotated Bibliography of First-hand English-language Accounts of the Russian Empire (1613-1917), Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.11647/ OBP.0042 Please see the list of illustrations for attribution relating to individual images. Every effort has been made to identify and contact copyright holders and any omissions or errors will be corrected if notification is made to the publisher. As for the rights of the images from Wikimedia Commons, please refer to the Wikimedia website (for each image, the link to the relevant page can be found in the list of illustrations).
    [Show full text]
  • Reindeer Husbandry/Hunting in Russia in the Past, Present and Future
    Reindeer husbandry/hunting in Russia in the past, present and future Leonid M. Baskin The dynamic state of reindeer husbandry in northern Russia during the 20th century was studied as a basis for predicting the consequences of the current drastic changes taking place there. Similar forms and methods of reindeer husbandry were used with different frequencies and effectiveness throughout the century. In the future reindeer husbandry will conform to market requirements, landscape features and national traditions. In some areas, the more sophisticated methods of management developed in conjunction with large-scale, highly productive reindeer husbandry, could be lost and a subsistence economy, including hunting, could predominate. L. M. Baskin, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 33 Leninsky Prospect, Moscow 117071, Russia. Since 1991, in the Russian North, social and population taken place in response to market economic reconstruction of the rural economy has requirements from the gas and oil industry had a strong impact upon reindeer husbandry. By development (Khmshchev & Klokov 1998). These the 1980s, in northern Russia, reindeer husbandry events are important for the human population of was highly productive (2.3 million domestic northern Russia (about 12 million) of which about reindeer produced for consumption; 4 1.9 thousand 130000 belong to minorities who are closely tonnes live weight). A steep decline occurred in connected with exploitation of reindeer as an the 1990s, and at present in Russia there are ca. 1.6 important food and fur resource. million domestic reindeer. In Chukotka (see This paper’s aim is to evaluate the ecological and Fig. I) their numbers declined from 500000 to social consequences of ongoing changes in reindeer 130OOG, and large declines were observed in husbandry.
    [Show full text]
  • Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast
    FEDERAL STATE BUDGETARY INSTITUTION OF SCIENCE VOLOGDA RESEARCH CENTER OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGES: FACTS, TRENDS, FORECAST Volume 11, Issue 5, 2018 The journal was founded in 2008 Publication frequency: six times a year According to the Decision of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, the journal Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast is on the List of peer-reviewed scientific journals and editions that are authorized to publish principal research findings of doctoral (candidate’s) dissertations in scientific specialties: 08.00.00 – economic sciences; 22.00.00 – sociological sciences. The journal is included in the following abstract and full text databases: Web of Science (ESCI), ProQuest, EBSCOhost, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), RePEc, Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory, VINITI RAS, Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI). The journal’s issues are sent to the U.S. Library of Congress and to the German National Library of Economics. All research articles submitted to the journal are subject to mandatory peer-review. Opinions presented in the articles can differ from those of the editor. Authors of the articles are responsible for the material selected and stated. ISSN 2307-0331 (Print) ISSN 2312-9824 (Online) © VolRC RAS, 2018 Internet address: http://esc.vscc.ac.ru ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGES: FACTS, TRENDS, FORECAST A peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers issues of analysis and forecast of changes in the economy and social spheres in various countries, regions, and local territories. The main purpose of the journal is to provide the scientific community and practitioners with an opportunity to publish socio-economic research findings, review different viewpoints on the topical issues of economic and social development, and participate in the discussion of these issues.
    [Show full text]
  • Possible Effects of Russia's WTO Accession on Agricultural Trade and Production
    April 2012 ICTSD Programme on Agricultural Trade and Sustainable Development Possible Effects of Russia's WTO Accession on Agricultural Trade and Production By Sergey Kiselev Roman Romashkin Issue Paper No. 40 April 2012 l ICTSD Programme on Agricultural Trade and Sustainable Development Possible Effects of Russiaʼs WTO Accession on Agricultural Trade and Production By Sergey Kiselev Roman Romashkin Issue Paper 40 ii S. Kiselev, R. Romashkin – Possible Effects of Russia’s WTO Accession on Agricultural Trade and Production Published by International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) International Environment House 2 7 Chemin de Balexert, 1219 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 917 8492 Fax: +41 22 917 8093 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.ictsd.org Publisher and Director: Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz Programmes Director: Christophe Bellmann Programme Team: Jonathan Hepburn, Ammad Bahalim, Tyler Blake Acknowledgments This paper has been produced under the ICTSD Programme on Agricultural Trade and Sustainable Development. ICTSD wishes gratefully to acknowledge the support of its core and thematic donors, including: the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA); the Netherlands Directorate-General of Development Cooperation (DGIS); the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Danida; the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway; Australia’s AusAID; the Inter American Development Bank (IADB); and Oxfam Novib. ICTSD gratefully acknowledges feedback and suggestions on earlier versions of this study, including detailed comments from Lars Brink, Alan Matthews and Eugenia Serova. For more information about ICTSD’s Programme on Agricultural Trade and SustainableDevelopment, visit our website at http://ictsd.net/programmes/agriculture/ ICTSD welcomes feedback and comments on this document.
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Moose Hunting in Russia - Magada 2022-2023 9-12 Hunting Days (Excluding Travel) Hosted Hunt for a Group of 4-6 People
    Giant Moose hunting in Russia - Magada 2022-2023 9-12 hunting days (excluding travel) Hosted hunt for a group of 4-6 people Highlights Siberia- the biggest untouched tundra-reserve on the earth- is the land of the giant moose. This hunting trip takes place in Magadan region, an about 1.2 million square kilometer- province in East Siberia. We hunt along the Omolon river’s hills and valleys, about a 2.5-hour charter flight from Magadan. Most of this vast land is covered by snow and ice all-year round. In the winter, the temperature can drop to minus 50-70 Celsius there. We offer an authentic, adventurous hosted trip for the gigantic-palmed moose. Hunters who want to get a taste of an authentic ‘Wild East’ hunt, could make a trip of lifetime. Our Russian partner takes only 2 small groups to this hunting area every year. Thanks to the limited hunting pressure, last years’ hunting proved to be phenomenal results. Most of our clients had a chance to harvest even a second animal additional to their contracted package. A multilingual staff from our agency will assist the group along the trip from the arrival in Magadan. Additional to moose, there are 4 other big game species available to hunt. Besides hunting, fishing is also allowed on the river. Travel: Hunters arrive in the region’s capital city, Magadan, usually via a connecting flight in Moscow. Our representative is waiting for the guests at the airport and help them check in the country through the VIP entry.
    [Show full text]
  • Modernism and Reindeer in the Bering Straits
    More Things on Heaven and Earth: Modernism and Reindeer in the Bering Straits By Bathsheba Demuth Summer 2012 Bathsheba Demuth is a PhD candidate in the Department of History at the University of California, Berkeley The Scene On a modern map, the shoulders of Eurasia and North America nearly touch at the Bering Strait, a 52-mile barrier between Old World and New. During the rolling period of ice ages known as the Pleistocene, the Pacific Ocean pulled back leaving the Chukchi Peninsula connected to Alaska’s Seward Peninsula by a wide, grassy plain. Two million years ago, the animal we call the reindeer emerged along this continental juncture.1 As glaciers spread, reindeer followed them southward; by 20,000 years ago, Rangifer tarandus had moved deep into Western Europe, forming the base of Neolithic hunters’ diets and appearing, antlers lowered in the fall rutting charge, on the walls of Lascaux.2 Reindeer, like our human ancestors who appeared a million and a half years after them, are products of the ice age. They are gangly, long-nosed, and knob-kneed, with a ruff of white fur around their deep chests, swooping antlers and nervous ears, and have the capacity to not just survive but thrive in million-strong herds despite the Arctic dark and cold. Like any animal living in the far north, reindeer – or caribou, as they are known in North America – must solve the problem of energy. With the sun gone for months of the year, the photosynthetic transfer of heat into palatable calories is minimal; plants are small, tough, often no more than the rock-like scrum of lichens.
    [Show full text]
  • ISSN 2221—2698 Arkhangelsk 2015
    ISSN 2221—2698 Arkhangelsk 2015. N18 Arctic and North. 2015. N 18 2 ISSN 2221—2698 Arctic and North. 2015. N 18 Multidisciplinary internet scientific journal © Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov, 2015 © Editorial board of the internet scientific journal “Arctic and North”, 2015 Published not less than four times per year The journal is registered at: Roskomnadzor as electronic periodical published in Russian and English. Registration certifi- cate of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technologies and Mass Media El № FS77-42809 from November 26, 2010. The ISSN International Centre — world catalog of serials and ongoing resources. ISSN 2221— 2698, 23—24 March 2011. The system of Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI). License contract № 96-04/2011R from April 12, 2011. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) — catalog of free access journals, 18.08.2013. The catalogs of international databases: EBSCO Publishing (USA) since December 2012; Global Se- rials Directory Ulrichsweb (USA) in October 2013. NSD — database of higher education in Norway (analog of Russian Higher Attestation Commis- sion) from February 2015. Founder — FSAEI HPE Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov. The editorial board staff of “Arctic and North” journal is published on the web site at: http://narfu.ru/aan/DOCS/redsovet.phpEditor-in-Chief — Yury Fedorovich Lukin, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Honorary Worker of the higher school of the Russian Federation. Multidisciplinary internet scientific journal publishes articles in which the Arctic and the North are research objects, specifically in the following fields of science: history, economics, social sciences; political science (geopolitics); ecology.
    [Show full text]
  • Land Use Changes in Russia and Their Impact on Migrating Geese Mikhail Grishchenko Propositions
    Land use changes in Russia and their impact on migrating geese Mikhail Grishchenko Land use changes in Russia and their impact on migrating geese Mikhail Grishchenko Propositions 1. Migration of geese in Western Palearctic is an expensive tradition. (this thesis) 2. Stopover sites play a far more important role in controlling the population of greater white-fronted goose than wintering or breeding sites. (this thesis) 3. EU subsidies to agriculture should be defined as unsustainable practices and abolished. 4. Western countries have neither legal nor moral rights to intervene in development of social values in Russia and the former USSR. 5. Current commitment of corporations to sustainability is merely a fad. 6. A remark of recruiters about job markets being overheated due a shortage of talent is a reflection of an ongoing class struggle in the world. 7. The capitalist system has no future due to unequal distribution of resources between classes and nations. Propositions belonging to the thesis, entitled ‘Land use changes in Russia and their impact on migrating geese’. Mikhail Grishchenko Wageningen, 12 June 2018. Land use changes in Russia and their impact on migrating geese Mikhail Grishchenko Thesis committee Promotors Prof. Dr H.H.T. Prins Professor of Resource Ecology Wageningen University & Research Prof. Dr R.C. Ydenberg Professor of Behavioural Ecology Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada Co-promotors Prof. Dr M.E. Schaepman Professor of Remote Sensing University of Zürich, Switzerland Dr H.J. de Knegt Researcher, Resource Ecology Group Wageningen University & Research Other members Prof. Dr M. Herold, Wageningen University & Research Prof. Dr D. Kleijn, Wageningen University & Research Dr E.S.
    [Show full text]
  • HUNTIN' FOOL Russia
    RUSSIA4 11 In this article, Link’s Wild Safaris General Manager Cyndy Boyce reminds us that the Cold War is over INVITED GUEST and the Iron Curtain has been removed, granting HF STAFF hunters access to the incredible opportunities Russia CYNDY BOYCE, provides. It’s a good bet that reading this article will REMARKS whet the appetite of any adventurous hunter who is LINK’S WILD SAFARIS looking for an unforgettable experience while hunting a wide range of species in a country that welcomes GENERAL MANAGER U.S. citizens with open arms. any of us grew up in a world Treaty. Shortly thereafter, in 1991, the it is one of the world’s largest surface where the Soviet Union was Soviet Union collapsed, making way water resources and contains 25% of Mconsidered the enemy. The for literal and psychological barriers to the world’s fresh water. Due to the threat of nuclear war was so palpable crumble away. Why the short history enormous size of Russia, temperatures that bomb shelters were common lesson on the Cold War and collapse vary drastically, from frigid Siberia discussion and the original “preppers” of the Soviet Union? In order to fully with a record low temperature of 96 made sure they had the necessary appreciate the opportunity to hunt in degrees below zero to other parts supplies to survive an imminent attack. Russia, it is important to set aside years of the country that feature a humid, The first major relief in the Cold War of mistrust and fear to realize that subtropical climate, heavily influenced came on December 3, 1989 when Russia has become a destination for by warm air masses from the Indian Mikhail Gorbachev and George W.
    [Show full text]
  • Illegal Recreational Hunting in Russia: the Role of Social Norms and Elite Violators
    Eurasian Geography and Economics ISSN: 1538-7216 (Print) 1938-2863 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rege20 Illegal recreational hunting in Russia: the role of social norms and elite violators Kathleen Braden To cite this article: Kathleen Braden (2014) Illegal recreational hunting in Russia: the role of social norms and elite violators, Eurasian Geography and Economics, 55:5, 457-490, DOI: 10.1080/15387216.2015.1020320 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15387216.2015.1020320 Published online: 08 Apr 2015. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 260 View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=rege20 Download by: [Dartmouth College Library] Date: 29 September 2016, At: 13:29 Eurasian Geography and Economics, 2014 Vol. 55, No. 5, 457–490, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15387216.2015.1020320 Illegal recreational hunting in Russia: the role of social norms and elite violators Kathleen Braden* School of Business, Government, and Economics, Seattle Pacific University, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98119, USA (Received 15 September 2014; accepted 13 February 2015) Poaching in Russia has been reported to be of catastrophic proportions and threatens maintenance of biodiversity. Management of game species has stabilized some num- bers, but both endangered species listed in the Russian Red Book and animals tradi- tionally viewed as hunting prey are diminishing in some regions. Rank-and-file hunters, increasingly shut off from access to hunting grounds, have expressed a nega- tive reaction to new hunting regulations adopted by the Russian government in 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • ILLEGAL GAME HUNTING by RUSSIAN ELITE (Note: a Longer
    1 ILLEGAL GAME HUNTING BY RUSSIAN ELITE (note: a longer form of this paper has been accepted by the journal Crime, Law and Social Change, pending approval of revisions, and many sections are reproduced here. Please do not circulate without permission) REECAS Northwest Conference April 30, 2016 University of Puget Sound ABSTRACT Despite recent attempts to strengthen laws on poaching in Russia, illegal activities continue and threaten biodiversity of Russian game species. Cases of Russian political and economic elite violating norms and escaping consequences are documented as an example of the challenge establishing rule of law in the Russian Federation. KEYWORDS: poaching, Russia, laws, power crime, impunity The rise in poaching among people of the Russian Federation has alarmed environmentalists. A series of laws on poaching under article 258 of the criminal code (State Duma 2013; WWF- Russia 2014) has been adopted to mitigate the damage and bring a halt to the crimes. The number of cases in which the alleged perpetrators are among the most powerful political or economic elites in the country is a concern I examine in this paper. Local people perceive that powerful outsiders make up the bulk of poaching cases, even though evidence suggests it is still rank-and-file hunters who are the majority of violators (Vaysman, Matveytchuk, and Min’kov 2012, 13; personal correspondence with S. Matveytchuk, 2015). An emerging literature on criminal behavior in post-Soviet Russia has underscored continued difficulties establishing the rule of law due to corruption and dysfunction by state institutions (Gilinskiy, 2006; Tittle and Botchkovar, 2005, Glazyrin, 2013).
    [Show full text]