Alexandr Bastrykin, head of Russia’s
influential Investigative Committee, is one of the most powerful individuals in
the Putinite power system, but his biography is relatively unknown. Richard Sakwa
has, however, been tracking the rise of this shadowy figure. 
THE CEELBAS DEBATE// Stavropol is the only one of seven North Caucasus territories with a majority Russian population. Andrew Foxall explores the
implications of interethnic conflict on this increasingly fraught political frontline.
THE CEELBAS DEBATE // Since the collapse of the USSR the Tajik government has striven to establish
a new historical narrative. Statues of Lenin may have disappeared, but for many
the difficulties of post-Soviet life are a poor substitute for their previous
life, says Eleanor Dalgleish 
THE CEELBAS DEBATE// Russia has a booming and influential video-game market. The authorities want to capitalise on the industry, but do they really understand how it works? 
How far has culture become a frontline in Russian politics, and how does it compare to earlier periods in the country's history? Introducing a new week-long CEELBAS debate on oDRussia, Artemy Troitsky, Peter Pomerantsev and Oliver Carroll discuss the nature of art, protest and the absurd. .jpg)
The death of Boris Berezovsky created a storm of
speculation and reminiscences in the world press. But for most Russians Berezovsky was a forgotten
figure, so why the explosion of interest there too? Because it’s a classic
Russian fable, thinks Zygmunt Dzieciolowski .jpg)
The frequent conflicts in Abkhazia have devastated the landscape.
Tourism could be encouraged by restoring some of the old buildings, now in
ruins, but ownership is often unclear, so they remain a stark reminder of the
desperate need to rebuild the economy, while preserving the architectural
legacy, says Maxim Edwards
Throughout
Russia’s history its rulers have attempted to curtail the consumption of
alcohol and/or tobacco. Gorbachev had little success in the 1980s; will this year's new laws have any more success, asks Mikhail Loginov? 
Russia's ruling party, ‘United Russia’, is significantly weaker than previously. Does
Putin still need ‘his’ party or is it now more of a millstone round his neck? 
Moscow uses energy as a geopolitical weapon and is thus in a strong
position vis a vis the EU, 40% of whose gas supplies come from Russia. But new
developments, including shale gas discoveries, are enabling Europe to retaliate
and the outcome is not a foregone conclusion, says Agnia Grigas
Ukraine’s President
Yanukovych has completed his takeover of his country’s TV channels, and is
making inroads into the internet. As
Ukraine faces a choice of whether to align itself with Europe or Eurasia,
Sergii Leshchenko wonders if there is a way back. 
On
paper, Russia’s political system is an impressive reproduction of Western
representative democracy, while the Chinese system remains an unreconstructed
autocracy. The reality of the situation is much more complex, says Ivan
Krastev. Regions
Russia's year of elections
Privatizatsiya, twenty years on
Russian economy: trying to please people doesn’t help, Dmitry Travin
Privatisation, but no private property, Andrei Zaostrovtsev
Is corruption in Russia's DNA?, Pyotr Filippov
The Russian banking system: between the market and the state, Pavel Usanov
Russia’s crony capitalism: the swing of the pendulum, Vladimir Gelman
Russian reforms, twenty years on. Introduction to the series, Dmitry Travin
Russian economy: trying to please people doesn’t help, Dmitry Travin
Privatisation, but no private property, Andrei Zaostrovtsev
Is corruption in Russia's DNA?, Pyotr Filippov
The Russian banking system: between the market and the state, Pavel Usanov
Russia’s crony capitalism: the swing of the pendulum, Vladimir Gelman
Russian reforms, twenty years on. Introduction to the series, Dmitry Travin
Women, tradition and power in the North Caucasus
The new year in Russia
Russia's new economy
Project_ID
Russia-China
Russian rights at the crossroads
Beyond the gastarbeiter: post-Soviet migration
Madeleine Reeves (Manchester University, UK) presents the other side of post-Soviet migration.
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