Yavlinsky calls on Putin to comment on dead Russians in Syria
Yabloko presidential candidate Grigory Yavlinsky has issued a statement calling on election rival and incumbent President Vladimir Putin to report publicly about "the actions of Russian troops in Syria at present and the number of deaths of Russian citizens regardless of their military status."
"I also think it is essential to account publicly on interactions with the United States, since the danger of an accidental or intentional direct military engagement between Russia and the United States is growing," the statement said.
He called on Putin to explain why Russian "in general are participating in ground operations in Syria despite statements by the president and defense minister about the withdrawal of Russian forces from that country and the end of Syria's civil war."
Earlier, Russian and international media reported that an unspecified number of Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria had been killed during an attack by U.S.-led coalition forces overnight on February 7. Unconfirmed reports suggested "dozens" of Russians had been killed.
We reported about the so-called Vagner paramilitary formation that has fought in Ukraine and Syria in December 2016.
- By Mike Eckel
Putin Is Running As Independent. What Does That Mean For The United Russia Party?
Unlike in the last presidential election, in 2012, Putin is running without any party affiliation.
That’s left many political observers wondering what it might mean for the ruling party, United Russia, whose lawmakers dominate the national parliament as well as many regional legislatures.
In A New Role For United Russia, the Carnegie Moscow Center's Andrei Pertsev says that despite Putin’s distancing himself from it, the party is still trying to ride his coattails.
He talks about the "intriguing role" in this election of Andrei Turkchak, the son of an old Putin acquaintance and the "head of United Russia, who in just a few months has revamped the ruling party."
Pertsev argues:
There is little the presidential administration can do to bring United Russia back under its full control as the key figures in the party are now either neutral or have been brought in by Turchak.
Turchak has waded into the "race...to become the informal headquarters that will contribute most to Putin’s victory and high voter turnout," Pertsev says.
He concludes:
Turchak’s stance is an indication of how there are now different autonomous forces in Russian domestic politics, whose leaders have their own personal access to the main stakeholder, Vladimir Putin. Each structure has its own bargaining power and can form coalitions with others under the umbrella of a “Domestic Policy Corporation.” In this new corporate setup, the influence of each subsidiary will depend on Putin’s assessment of its contribution to his campaign. Meanwhile, the subsidiaries will continue to break away from the grip of a once-unified domestic policy holding and try to take over their counterparts.
Yabloko Alleges Airing Of Oliver Stone's Putin Interview Is Unfair
Channel One is planning to show the Oliver Stone interview with Putin this week.
Yabloko says it has appealed to the Election Commission asking it to prevent the showing of the film.
- By Mike Eckel
Russian Polling Station Posters
Election officials have unveiled the official posters that will be displayed at Russian voting sites around the country next month, showing photographs and short biographies of all eight candidates.
Channel One plans to air The Putin Interviews between February 12 and 15, by the way.
'Real Man' Running
On The Interpreter, the website of Australia's Lowy Institute Think Tank, American Foreign Policy Council senior fellow Stephen Blank slams the election as a "sham and a travesty." He argues that since Putin is unable to transform Russia's economy without hurting his own position, the Kremlin leader plays "the role of exponent and embodiment of traditional masculine and Russian values."
Says Blank:
Such farcical stunts as having a 65-year-old Putin play ice hockey and do well against professionals, or be seen taking a public plunge into freezing waters as he carries out an Orthodox rite of Epiphany, are public relations gambits designed to reassure the older, less urban, less educated, and certainly less sophisticated sections of the electorate that their ruler not only remains a vigorous “real man” but also a representative of classic Russian and Christian values.
Masha Gessen portrait of Sobchak
Nothing new here, but an overview for English-speakers who are late to the Russian election party.
Here's a bite:
Ksenia Sobchak had a generally understanding attitude toward Putin. “I think he is a patriot,” she said. “I think he sees himself as holding Russia together through superhuman effort—and yet not letting it slide into some sort of a military-junta situation.”
- By Carl Schreck
Russian Voting In Breakaway Georgian Regions Of Abkhazia, South Ossetia
Some news on Russian presidential election voting in the Moscow-backed breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which Russia recognized as independent states following its brief 2008 war with Georgia.
Only a few other UN member states recognize the two regions as sovereign countries.
Schools, Kindergartens Holding National 'Draw Putin's Portrait' Competition
A Russia-wide contest to draw President Vladimir Putin is being held simultaneously with his reelection bid as a "private initiative" by something called the Resource Center of the Information Agency Infrastructure of Charity.
Under the competition, children aged 5 to 17 are invited to submit portraits of the president. The winning entries will be printed up in large format and presented to the presidential administration in May, on inauguration day (could be embarrassing if the winner is not Putin!).
Deadline for submissions is March 18, which is coincidentally election day.
Entry fee: 400 rubles ($7)