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Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests Jim Nichol, Coordinator Specialist in Russian and Eurasian Affairs December 21, 2012 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33407 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests Summary Russia made uneven progress in democratization during the 1990s, but this limited progress was reversed after Vladimir Putin rose to power in 1999-2000, according to many observers. During this period, the State Duma (lower legislative chamber) became dominated by government- approved parties, gubernatorial elections were abolished, and the government consolidated ownership or control over major media and industries, including the energy sector. The Putin government showed low regard for the rule of law and human rights in suppressing insurgency in the North Caucasus, according to critics. Dmitriy Medvedev, Putin’s longtime protégé, was elected president in 2008; President Medvedev immediately designated Putin as prime minister and continued Putin’s policies. In August 2008, the Medvedev-Putin “tandem” directed military operations against Georgia and recognized the independence of Georgia’s separatist South Ossetia and Abkhazia, actions condemned by most of the international community. In late 2011, Putin announced that he would return to the presidency and that Medvedev would become prime minister. This announcement, and flawed Duma elections at the end of the year, spurred popular protests, which the government addressed by launching some reforms (such as the return of gubernatorial elections) and holding pro-Putin rallies. In March 2012, Putin was (re)elected president by a wide margin. The day after Putin’s inauguration on May 7, the legislature confirmed Medvedev as prime minister. Since then, Putin appears to be tightening restrictions on freedom of assembly and other human rights. Russia’s Economy Russia’s economy began to recover from the Soviet collapse in 1999, led mainly by oil and gas exports, but the decline in oil and gas prices and other aspects of the global economic downturn beginning in 2008 contributed to an 8% drop in gross domestic product in 2009. Since then, rising world oil prices have bolstered the economy. Russian economic growth continues to be dependent on oil and gas exports. The economy is also plagued by an unreformed healthcare system and unhealthy lifestyles; low domestic and foreign investment; and high rates of crime, corruption, capital flight, and unemployment. Russia’s Armed Forces Russia’s armed forces now number less than one million, down from 4.3 million Soviet troops in 1986. Troop readiness, training, morale, and discipline have suffered, and much of the arms industry has become antiquated. Russia’s economic growth during most of the 2000s allowed it to increase defense spending to begin addressing these problems. Stepped-up efforts have begun to restructure the armed forces and improve their quality. Opposition from some in the armed forces, mismanagement, and corruption seemingly have slowed this restructuring. U.S. – Russia Relations After the Soviet Union’s collapse, the United States sought a cooperative relationship with Moscow and supplied almost $19 billion in aid for Russia from FY1992 through FY2010 to encourage democracy and market reforms and in particular to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). In the past, U.S.-Russia tensions on issues such as NATO enlargement and proposed U.S. missile defenses in Eastern Europe were accompanied by some cooperation between the two countries on anti-terrorism and nonproliferation. Russia’s 2008 conflict with Georgia, however, threatened such cooperation. The Obama Administration has Congressional Research Service Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests worked to “re-set” relations with Russia and has hailed such steps as the signing of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in April 2010; the approval of new sanctions against Iran by Russia and other members of the U.N. Security Council in June 2010; the accession of Russia to the World Trade Organization on August 22, 2012; and the cooperation of Russia in Afghanistan as signifying the “re-set” of bilateral relations. However, in late 2012, Russia ousted the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from the country, and criticized the help that USAID had provided over the years as unnecessary or intrusive. H.R. 6156 (Camp), authorizing permanent normal trade relations for Russia, was signed into law on December 14, 2012 (P.L. 112-108). The bill includes provisions sanctioning those responsible for the detention and death of lawyer Sergey Magnitsky and for other gross human rights abuses in Russia. Congressional Research Service Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests Contents Most Recent Developments ............................................................................................................. 1 Post-Soviet Russia and Its Significance for the United States ......................................................... 2 Political and Human Rights Developments ..................................................................................... 3 Background................................................................................................................................ 3 Putin’s First Two Presidential Terms: The Tightening of Presidential Power ........................... 4 The 2008-2012 Medvedev-Putin “Tandem” .............................................................................. 5 The Run-Up to the 2011-2012 Elections ............................................................................. 6 Putin’s September 2011 Announcement of Candidacy for the Presidency ......................... 7 The December 4, 2011, State Duma Election ..................................................................... 7 The March 2012 Presidential Election and Its Aftermath ................................................. 10 President Putin Redux ............................................................................................................. 11 Human Rights Problems .......................................................................................................... 14 The Magnitskiy Case ......................................................................................................... 14 The Case of Punk Rockers Mariya Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova ............................................................................................... 16 Other Moves Against Oppositionists ................................................................................. 16 Russia’s Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights .................................. 18 The U.S.-Russia Working Group on Civil Society ............................................................ 19 Insurgency in the North Caucasus ..................................................................................... 19 Defense Reforms ..................................................................................................................... 22 U.S. Perspectives ............................................................................................................... 25 Trade, Economic, and Energy Issues ............................................................................................. 26 Russia and the Global Economic Crisis .................................................................................. 26 Russia’s Accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and PNTR for Russia .............. 27 Russian Energy Policy ............................................................................................................. 28 Foreign Policy ................................................................................................................................ 31 Russia and the West ................................................................................................................. 31 NATO-Russia Relations .................................................................................................... 33 Russia and the European Union ........................................................................................ 36 Russia and the Soviet Successor States ................................................................................... 38 U.S.-Russia Relations .................................................................................................................... 42 The Obama Administration “Re-sets” Bilateral Relations ...................................................... 42 Bilateral Relations and Afghanistan ........................................................................................ 48 Bilateral Relations and Iran ..................................................................................................... 51 Russia’s Role in the Middle East Quartet ................................................................................ 55 Bilateral Relations and North Korea ....................................................................................... 58 Bilateral Relations and Syria ................................................................................................... 60 Arms Control Issues ...............................................................................................................
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