Vladimir Pastukhov

Vladimir Pastukhov is visiting fellow at St Anthony's College, Oxford and advisor to the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation

A Pyrrhic victory for Abramovich?

The judgment in the Berezovsky vs Abramovich case was a long time coming. Berezovsky lost comprehensively, but Abramovich would do well to consider carefully whether his victory was actually worth winning, says Vladimir Pastukhov

By Vladimir Pastukhov

/ 3 Sep 2012

‘Pussysteria’, or the awakening of Russia’s conscience

On 10th July a Moscow court extended the pre-trial detention of three members of feminist punk rock band Pussy Riot, charged with hooliganism after they performed a ‘blasphemous’ and anti-Putin song in the city’s main cathedral in February. Vladimir Pastukhov believes there is much the case tells

By Vladimir Pastukhov

/ 11 Jul 2012

Vladimir Putin: his place in history

Vladimir Putin’s one great achievement is the restoration of bureaucratic order after its near destruction by Gorbachev and privatisation by Yeltsin. Yet the end game is fast approaching, and the longer Putin clings on, the more likely he will be instead remembered for letting greedy friends and b

By Vladimir Pastukhov

/ 9 Feb 2012

Sergei Sobyanin: man after Russia’s heart?

As new mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin inherited a hugely wealthy city and a mass of problems. Putin’s vertical of power is collapsing and there are elections ahead. How will Sobyanin manage the inevitable political infighting, wonders Vladimir Pastukhov.

By Vladimir Pastukhov

/ 7 Mar 2011

Putin’s retreat — beginning at the gates of Moscow

President Medvedev recently sacked the longstanding Moscow mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, despite his closeness to Putin. This move, redolent of Soviet politics, won him no points and now the activities of the new mayor are threatening to affect Putin too. Regular changes of government are essential, explai

By Vladimir Pastukhov

/ 1 Dec 2010

Forget Luzhkov: bulldogs under the carpet again

The struggle between Moscow’s mayor Luzhkov and President Medvedev has gripped Russia. What are those’ bulldogs under the carpet’ really fighting about? There are bigger battles going on, explains Vladimir Pastukhov.

By Vladimir Pastukhov

/ 21 Sep 2010

Putin: on the shifting sands of doubt

A recent Kommersant newspaper interview with Putin revealed the extent of his isolation from reality and inability to see things in any way other than his own. This is potentially dangerous, explains Vladimir Pastukhov

By Vladimir Pastukhov

/ 7 Sep 2010