How do civil society organizations operate in the authoritarian environment of Vladimir Putin’s “sovereign democracy?”  To what extent are they able to further their causes despite pervasive corruption and the rule of courts that take their cues from the Kremlin?

What does this election mean for Russia’s relations with the United States?

When Vladimir Putin returns to the Russian presidency on Monday, May 7, the pageantry surrounding his inauguration will aim to portray a picture of unassailable strength, a confident master of his domain invulnerable to pressures from within or without. But things are not quite as stable...

For several weeks now it’s been clear that Putin won’t attend this month’s NATO summit in Chicago. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen recently spoke with Russia’s new/old president and explained that it’s “not possible and not practical” for Putin to participate because of his “busy domestic calendar.”

Drudge is leading with Obama’s revealing open mike chat with outgoing Russian President Medvedev. Here’s the whole convo, courtesy of abcnews.

The Kremlin’s most recent response to U.S....

How much can Russia contribute to the world's growing demand for oil and gas, and will the Putin administration's treatment of this lucrative industry damage its future prospects?

The Moscow City Duma election of December 2005 yields clues to national trends in voter attitudes and how the parties should strategize in advance of the 2007 national elections.