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Two trends are transforming contemporary Uzbek–Russian relations: first, the leadership change following long-serving president Islam Karimov’s death and Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s election as president of Uzbekistan; and second, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. This short paper analyses the influence of both domestic and external changes on the two countries’ relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at how the Russo-Ukrainian war has affected Buryatia and Buryats, as well as what this might mean for the future of the region. Buryats are a Mongolic ethnic group who have historically been split across three countries: Russia, Mongolia, and China. Based on the available data, it appears that Buryats and/or soldiers from Buryatia are overrepresented among casualties on the Russian side. The article explores this overrepresentation and local reactions thereto, placing these grievances in historical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the decision of the Russian Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by environmentalists from Greenpeace Russia, who were trying to contest the government's January 2010 decree allowing Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill (BPPM) to operate within the world-famous nature reserve. The government decree lifts the ban on the production of cellulose, paper and cardboard with the use of waste-free systems of industrial water usage.

Contemporary Russian society does not visibly oppose the invasion of Ukraine. There are no barricades or protesters in the streets; even the military mobilization has not triggered an open clash between the public and the authorities. Despite several waves of active emigration from Russia, the majority--if surveys by sociologists at the Russian Levada Center are to be believed--remain silent. But does this silence mean consent and support for the war? In this paper, we examine the various forms of protest in which Russians are engaging, with a focus on the less visible, "silent" (and therefore in need of closer examination) forms of resistance to the regime. These are small acts of dissent that have generally been individual, spontaneous, and unarmed and that have taken place in spaces of everyday soccialization. They may be no more than words or symbols, yet they are not insignificant, as they demonstrate disagreement with the powers that be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the libretto of the opera Boris Goudenow (1710) by the composer and theorist Johann Mattheson in the context of Pseudo-Demetrius dramatic works written until around the end of the Baroque period. Pseudo-Demetrius dramatic works, i. e. works that depict events in early 17th century Russia and feature the character of False Dmitry I and often Boris Godunov, are not a rare phenomenon in European literary history. Most of them were written in the 19th century in Germany and Russia, where another and much more famous opera about tsar Boris Godunov was written by Modest P. Mussorgsky. However, the first playwrights began to deal with the two monarchs, Godunov and especially False Dmitry I, only a few years after the death of both tsars. The very first drama about Pseudo-Demetrius was written by Lope de Vega in Spain, followed by Italian writers, and the same theme appeared in England by the end of the Baroque. A comparison of these dramatic works shows that the prevailing religion of the authors' homeland played a significant role in their understanding of the characters of False Dmitry and Boris, which was also related to the sources from which they drew information when studying the subject matter. In Catholic countries, they generally used rather Jesuit and Catholic sources, and therefore understood False Dmitry I as the rightful successor and a virtuous Catholic, i. e. the opposite of the way he was described in hagiographical and historiographical works in Russia. In Protestant countries, the religious nature of False Dmitry's adventure played a secondary role. This is not unlike the opera by Mattheson, who not only wrote the music to Boris Goudenow but also the libretto. In his opera he depicted the period when Godunov allegedly pretended to be persuaded to ascend the throne, but his character is not negative (unlike Boris in the Catholic dramas) and his peripeties stand in the background of the love plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the death of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned by polonium, and the attempts of the British government to extradite his alleged killer Andrei Lugovoi. Russia has said that it will not send a citizen to a foreign country. The author discusses the lack of cooperation between Russian authorities and those in Great Britain. Russia cannot charge Litvinenko without receiving evidence from the British who have yet to indict anyone.

This paper analyzes the impact of the Ukraine war on Armenia's situation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). I argue that the Russia--Ukraine war and the ensuing deterioration of relations between the West and Russia have, with one notable exception, significantly limited Armenia's capacity to instrumentalize the Eurasian agenda to its political and economic advantages. The study will show that this new challenge has, by and large, been due to the huge asymmetry in economic power between Russia and other EAEU member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review and analyze how the development and utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for social responsibility are defined in the national AI strategies of the USA, Russia and China. Design/methodology/approach: The notion of responsibility concerning AI is currently not legally defined by any country in the world. The authors of this research are going to use the methodology, based on Luciano Floridi's Unified framework of five principles for AI in society, to determine how social responsibility is implemented in the AI strategies of the USA, Russia and China. Findings: All three strategies for the development of AI in the USA, Russia and China, as evaluated in the paper, contain some or other components aimed at achieving public responsibility and responsible use of AI. The Unified framework of five principles for AI in society, developed by L. Floridi, can be used as a viable assessment tool to determine at least in general terms how social responsibility is implied and implemented in national strategic documents in the field of AI. However, authors of the paper call for further development in the field of mutually recognizable ethical models for socially beneficial AI. Practical implications: This study allows us to better understand the linkages, overlaps and differences between modern philosophy of information, AI-ethics, social responsibility and government regulation. The analysis provided in this paper can serve as a basic blueprint for future attempts to define how social responsibility is understood and implied by government decision-makers. Originality/value: The analysis provided in the paper, however general and empirical it may be, is a first-time example of how the Unified framework of five principles for AI in society can be applied as an assessment tool to determine social responsibility in AI-related official documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review and analyze how the development and utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for social responsibility are defined in the national AI strategies of the USA, Russia and China. Design/methodology/approach: The notion of responsibility concerning AI is currently not legally defined by any country in the world. The authors of this research are going to use the methodology, based on Luciano Floridi's Unified framework of five principles for AI in society, to determine how social responsibility is implemented in the AI strategies of the USA, Russia and China. Findings: All three strategies for the development of AI in the USA, Russia and China, as evaluated in the paper, contain some or other components aimed at achieving public responsibility and responsible use of AI. The Unified framework of five principles for AI in society, developed by L. Floridi, can be used as a viable assessment tool to determine at least in general terms how social responsibility is implied and implemented in national strategic documents in the field of AI. However, authors of the paper call for further development in the field of mutually recognizable ethical models for socially beneficial AI. Practical implications: This study allows us to better understand the linkages, overlaps and differences between modern philosophy of information, AI-ethics, social responsibility and government regulation. The analysis provided in this paper can serve as a basic blueprint for future attempts to define how social responsibility is understood and implied by government decision-makers. Originality/value: The analysis provided in the paper, however general and empirical it may be, is a first-time example of how the Unified framework of five principles for AI in society can be applied as an assessment tool to determine social responsibility in AI-related official documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the political context of the spread of COVID-19 in Russia, identifies major social support programs, and evaluates their impact on mitigating undesired consequences for the population. Relying on the analysis of state support programs, expert evaluations of their impact, and academic papers devoted to the political and socioeconomic context, the paper reaches several conclusions. First, the particularity of the political regime and its dynamic account for (1) the prioritization of the political agenda to adopt amendments to the Constitution over preventive measures to contain the pandemic, (2) the leading role of presidential decrees in identifying the main priorities of state support, and (3) the limited managerial capacities and financial resources of regional authorities to contain the pandemic and its consequences. Second, the particularity of the social policy response, including the focus on families with children and the categorization of beneficiaries of state assistance, mirrors the existing principles and priorities of welfare provision in Russia. Third, the scope of financial support is seen as inadequate by experts. The introduced temporary measures and the absence of additional measures of support during the autumn rise in the number of COVID-19 cases show that the political leadership has underestimated the long-term consequences of the crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Big data are indispensable in scientific endeavours ranging from nuclear research to climate studies. However, there is a growing misperception that congeries of data can be easily reconstructed into competitive business insights. Such notions have been encouraged by a plethora of mainstream techno-utopian forecasts. Design/methodology/approach: This paper investigated such claims and related big data developments, including its "systems-first" and oligopolistic orientations. Due to the paucity of current scholarship on an admittedly pessimistic topic, the paper studied contrarian developments in the industry by relying on secondary data. The study of experts and scholars; industrial trends; and discrepancies and critical gaps in the mainstream data narrative were sourced to prognosticate the likely trajectory of many data giants. Findings: A key finding was that the big data industry faces an untenable market bubble worth trillions of dollars. This will have severe consequences for common digital access and social stability worldwide. Evidence presented also suggests that the data industrial complex may undergo a function creep by facilitating a transition from surveillance capitalism to surveillance society. Research limitations/implications: Primary data for a study of this nature may take years to materialize. This is a "first-pass" study that seeks to illuminate latent dangers facing the big data/AI sector. There is a paucity of scholarly study that even remotely touches on this topic. Therefore, supporting arguments was sourced from contemporary reports and expert study (secondary data). Practical implications: As control of data may have geostrategic implications, balkanization of the wired ecosystem may be underway with Russia and China leading the way. Future superpowers may be defined by the way they handle data. The concentration of data in fewer hands may also affect citizen innovation. Social implications: A break-down of the data industrial complex may lead to social mayhem as the monetization of presently free software, blogs and social media platforms may be unfeasible. Originality/value: This topic has hardly been explored due to the novelty of big data, its applications and the daily hype over its potentials. This paper boldly describes dark countercurrents in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has allowed the temporary reopening of a paper mill that was closed in 2008 due to environmental issues.

The article reports on two mass demonstrations in Irkutsk, Siberia which call for saving Lake Baikal and the reopening of the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill. The author explores the events during the two rallies and the conflict created by the people behind reviving Baikalsk led by its management which will pollute Lake Baikal and the environment. Several demands from the residents are mentioned. The author also emphasizes the awareness of having a safe environment and the pursuit to defend Lake Baikal.

Given its ambitious integration agenda, including the creation of a genuine internal market and a common external trade policy, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was expected to affect Russia's place in regional and global food trade. To date, however, the EAEU has performed below its potential as a vehicle for growth. This paper attributes this to the weakness of Eurasian institutions when it comes to removing regulatory distortions and their inability to constrain the politicization of Russia's food policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the white paper published by the German government which feature its security policy and the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). It mentions that the 2016 white paper highlights the increasing violence in the security environment of the country brought by the Russian government in the European continent.

The Central Asian states adopted an ambiguous positioning when addressing the sharp polarisation that Russia's invasion of Ukraine instigated within the geopolitics of Eurasia. This short paper analyses Russia-Central Asia relations within this newly polarised geopolitical settings, contextualising recent developments in the partnership within the processes of authoritarian consolidation currently at play in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the arrival of security officers from the Alcem firm at the Vyborg Pulp and Paper Combine in the early morning of January 16, 2000 in Russia. Cessation of the long standoff between the worker and the combine's owner; Terms of the agreement on settling the conflict.

Presents several newspaper accounts of problems arising from the merger of Vyborg Pulp and Paper and Altsema in Sovetsky, Russia. Employees' takeover of the Vyborg paper mill; Justice Ministry officials' plan to negotiate with employees; Similar events at the Barricades State Farm.

The article discusses special train celebrating Russian achievements in science, space and the arts. Topics discussed include story entitled "British scientists have explained why ‘British Scientists' exist" featuring a paper by Andrew Higginson and Marcus Munafo at Exeter and Bristol universities; the Research Excellence Framework and accusations of Russia's election hacking and fake-news creating.

This article offers a discussion of the environmental benefits of the economic recession. The authors explain that the stagnant global economy has caused many factories to close or reduce production dramatically which has reduced deforestation and pollution. The Russian region of Siberia's Lake Baikal is discussed, and the health of the environment due to the closing of the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of haggling for toilet paper at a market in Russia.

The article focuses on the petition of Dennis Lavrov, an evolutionary biologist, that encourages the Russian government to stop the dumping of a paper mill toxic waste in Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia. According to Lavrov, the lake is considered a unique laboratory for evolutionary studies due to its relative isolation and diverse ecosystem. He mentions that the reversal of the ban on toxic disposal by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has underestimated the ecological impact of the paper mill.

Reports the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with V. Glazyrin, general director of the local pulp and paper factory in Irkutsk Province, Russia. Environmental aspects on conversion of the plant; Finance for update of combine's equipment; Control of World Bank for the bidding of the contracts.

The contribution summarizes two research papers that examine the mechanisms of Russian agriculture subsidization considering the incentives of the key stakeholders involved. We first put Russian agricultural support in an international context, briefly comparing it with the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and other countries' support systems. Then, using a unique dataset from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and drawing on the political economy literature, we map the incentives of regional and federal governments in the distribution of targeted subsidies among the Russian regions. Results suggest that similar to the US and the EU, the regional and federal levels of the Russian government not only seek to boost agricultural development but also see subsidies as a tool for pursuing political goals. We conclude by discussing the implications of these results and the corresponding policy options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time series referring to water prices at different regions all over the world are examined in this paper by using fractionally integrated methods. We look at series corresponding to the following regions: Asia Pacific and Russia, Europe, United States and Latin America as well as global data. The results indicate large degrees of persistence, with the values of the differencing parameter being close to one in all cases and higher under the assumption of uncorrelated errors. If autocorrelation is permitted, a small degree of mean reversion is found in all except the Latin American series. The possibility of structural breaks is also investigated and the results indicate the presence of multiple breaks in the data: three in the case of Latin America and global data; four in Europe and USA and five for the Asian Pacific and Russia. Nevertheless, we do not observe a significant change in the degree of persistence across subsamples and once more mean reversion is found if autocorrelation is permitted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that Oleg Derispaska's Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill has been allowed to discharge wastewater into Lake Baikal, the deepest lake and the biggest natural reservoir of freshwater in the world. The mill produced unbleached pulp using a closed production cycle. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin amended the prohibited activities within the Central Environmental Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory, allowing the mill to produce bleached pulp. Also noted is the effort by social activists and environmentalists to protect the lake from effluents.

Purpose: This study aims to explain and illustrate the character of Russian systems thinking and to show how it is different and similar to traditions in the West. This study's second aim is to describe the contributions of some Russian scientists to developing systems thinking and the theory of evolution. This study introduces the predecessors of Charles Darwin in Russia, both supporters and critics of his ideas, as well as scientists who have made similar contributions to the development of systems thinking, particularly Vladimir Vernadsky and Alexander Bogdanov. Design/methodology/approach: Philosophical and theoretical comparisons. In the Russian intellectual tradition, the terms "Russia" and the "West" are likely codes for signifying fundamental philosophical questions about the universality of thinking and culture. The term "West" means universal, rational truth without taking into consideration any differences in life and cultural practice. The term "Russia" means impossibility of such a universal truth and a necessity to look for solutions on the level of life, not only on the level of rational thinking. Findings: Paying attention to differences in approaches to systems and cybernetics and the theory of evolution will enrich the further development of systems sciences in Russia and the West. The paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of science rather than just testing or extending an existing theory. The result is better mutual understanding among scientists with different backgrounds. Originality/value: This study suggests new avenues for research and expands the range of conceptual possibilities. It improves mutual understanding among scholars and countries. Also, it adds to the topics discussed within the field of systems and cybernetics and the theory of evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the extent of poverty in Russia and analyses the government's policies to combat it. Russia's fight against poverty only targets the most extreme poverty, not the entire lower third of the population which sociologists consider "poor." Extreme poverty, which affects about every eighth Russian, has become the focus of political attention, as shown by Putin's promise to halve poverty in Russia by 2024. To achieve this goal, Russia needs a sustained high rate of economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information related to a school located in Mari El Republic, Russia. It mentions that the school had only two grades and one teacher until 1892; and students who wanted to continue their education beyond the fifth grade would have to transfer to a neighboring village. It also mentions that classes are about to start again, and the principal, Polina Vladimirovna Sorokina has a tiny office that is jam-packed, with only enough room for a cabinet chock-full of papers.

Reports Russian Minister of Labor and Social Development Sergei Kalashnikov visited Vyborg in Leningrad Province, on November 2, 1999 as a part of a commission representing trade unions, employers and the government for the purpose of reviewing the situation at the Vyborg Pulp and Paper Combine.

Reports on the dismissal of the lawsuit against Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Combine by the Russian State Environmental Protection Committee. Concerns regarding the environmental effects of the company's production process on the Lake Baikal and its people; Resolutions issued by the Russian government in 1987 to halt the production of wood pulp.

Reports that the conflict between the Vyborg Pulp and Paper Combine management and the trade union is nearing a resolution to the general satisfaction of both parties. Drafting of an agreement to settle the conflict; Terms and conditions of the yet to be ratified agreement; Trade union committee's dismissal of its chairman whom they believe to be the instigator of the stand off between the management and the union.

The article reports on statements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin about his alleged role in the offshore tax shelters detailed in the Panama Papers. It discusses the involvement of Putin's friend Sergei Roldugin in the scandal, the claim by Putin about the involvement of the U.S. government in the scandal, and the claim by the Ukrainian service of Radio Free Europe about the offshore deals of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

The article reports on the involvement of wealthy Russians in the use of offshore tax havens to hide their assets, which was revealed in the "Panama Papers" that have leaked. It discusses the Russian government's effort to prevent tax avoidance through parking assets, and the involvement of Russian President Vladimir Putin's friends Sergei Roldugin and Arkady Rosenberg in the tax avoidance scandal.

Reports on the December 1999 meeting of labor unions on the grounds of Vyborg Pulp and Paper Combine in Russia. Agreement on the consolidation of protests against illegitimate privatization; Bid to use force to resolve property issues; Description of the armed conflict waged by the company's employees.

Focuses on the Russian State Duma's praise for the workers' takeover of the Vyborg Pulp and Paper Combine in Russia. Adoption of a statement rife with political cliches typical of the Duma's most radical leftists; Justice Ministry's probe of the legality of the sale of the enterprise to Nimonor Investment Ltd.

The article presents responses to a series of questions by journalist Stephen F. Cohen, who recently returned from Russia. Regarding the query related to new myths about Russia, he said that myths might not be entirely false. Usually, they inflate a partial truth into an overwhelming one that obscures other truths. He gave the example of the current notion that a civil society eager for a democratic market system, has emerged as the driving force in Russian political life, even defeating the coup last August. Regarding next query related to his lack of interest in the Commonwealth of Independence States, which was created in December by abolishing the Soviet Union, he said that it's a paper idea unlikely to withstand all the factors he has already mentioned, from the struggle over property to the enduring union grids. In fact, republic leaders who joined the commonwealth had conflicting reasons for doing so.

The author reflects on the passage of a bill that would give the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers the right to issue official warnings to any citizen or organization that their behavior is unacceptable. He questions where the criteria for what is unacceptable be found. He believes that the chairman of the Constitutional Court should have opposed the bill.

For his U.S. debut, a wild, whirlingpair of theatrical riffs, half-Russian andhalf-American--one adapting Pushkin and the otherdancing with Ernest Hemingway and EugeneO'Neill. Russian director Dmitry Krymov was embarkingon a trip to Philadelphia when Putin invadedUkraine; 18 months later, a short stay has becomea very big trip. [Extracted from the article]

This paper examines values and attitudes of Russian students towards their home country and federal and regional political elites. The study analyses the results of a quantitative questionnaire (N=6055) and 90 focus groups with students from across all federal districts of the Russian Federation. The majority of young Russian students describe themselves as the "Putin Generation" and perceive President Vladimir Putin as the ideal political leader of a nation-state. The students do not have a clear image of Russia's future. For them, Russia's future depends entirely on who will become the head of the Russian state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers news briefs in Russia. Starbucks Coffee has opened its first shop at a mall in the Moscow suburb of Khimki. International Paper Co. has signed a joint venture with the forestry firm IIim Holding, paying $650 million for a 50% stake. U.S.-based Freedom House gave Russia a civil liberties score of 5 and a political rights score of 6 which means the country continues to be ranked as not free.

Growing spatial differentiation is a major feature of competitive capitalism: rich metropolitan areas which maintain finance, research, and headquarter the service industries and government grow at the expense of agricultural, rural and traditional 'rust-belt' industrial localities. The empirical part of the paper shows that, with marketisation, these developments have occurred with increasing intensity in the Russian Federation; areas with material and human assets grow, whereas poor areas become even more deprived. The solution proposed by politicians predicated on orthodox economics is that the capitalist system has its own self-adjusting laws of reciprocal causality. Movements in one direction precipitate counter-forces which correct movements away from equilibrium. The paper demonstrates, on the contrary, that foreign direct investment goes to the more developed areas, that outmigration and unemployment are not reversed: a form of circular and cumulative causality characterises capitalist markets. Changes in one direction lead to processes which amplify such trends: rich and poor areas develop at an exponential rate and the differences between them increase. In the conclusion it is argued that market mechanisms are unable to reverse these developments. Only comprehensive state regulation can lead to greater equality between regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the system of patriotic education in Russia. The main focus is on the federal programs of patriotic education and their evolution since 2000. The analysis demonstrates how the features and priorities of federal programs have been changing with the growing significance of the patriotic agenda in the Russian political context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil industry is vital for the economy of the Komi Republic in Russia. It also benefits the municipalities near oil production sites in terms of benefit-sharing agreements between oil companies and local authorities. These agreements compose an important part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of oil companies working in the Komi Republic, and in Russia in general. While this financial support is essential for local communities, local people also primarily bear the negative environmental impacts of oil operations. Yet, they rarely have a chance to participate either in environmental decision-making or in formulating benefit-sharing agreements. This paper discusses why this is problematic, and demonstrates new developments in Russian CSR practices: in 2015, the oil company Lukoil-Komi concluded a new type of benefit-sharing agreement with the indigenous peoples' association Izvatas. In addition to traditional social benefits, the company agreed to consult the communities on new projects and committed to disclose information about oil leaks publicly. This more recent type of benefit-sharing arrangement incorporates elements of local participation in environmental issues into the prevailing form of philanthropic and paternalistic CSR practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endemic corruption in the country, the rising numbers in higher education, heightened competition between educational institutions at various levels and the creation of improper dependencies among all actors involved in the higher education sector are most likely the main reasons for the extensive spread of corruption at Russian universities. This paper discusses these issues as well as their consequences for further domestic development and for international cooperation with Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the independent newspapers "Nezavisimaya Gazata (NG)," which is becoming quiet successful in Russia. Its brave determination to continue publishing even through the Moscow coup attempt, with photocopied fly sheets posted on walls, provides a kind of battle honor of which journalistic legends are made. NG was launched before the coup, in the odd barter-plus-influence style that Moscow has developed instead of a financial system. The paper was a great success, thanks to the luck of Igor Zaherov, the deputy editor, who happened to be in the Gosplan building the day they were allocating newsprint.

The article presents a profile of Evgeny Lebedev, a Russian who lives in London, England and is the owner of the "London Evening Standard" newspaper. The way in which Lebedev bought the paper for £1 is described as are the financial aspects of the paper and changes that he has made to update the paper's image. Lebedev's relationship with his father, the billionaire Alexander Lebedev, is described as is how they created a business empire. Economic conditions in Russia are examined.

The article presents various news stories about the plan of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev to modernize the country. A paper by Tatyana Lysova and Natalya Kostenko presents their interview with Medvedev about the country's economic status, criminal justice system, political reform, and regional modernization. An article by Irina Granik and colleagues discusses Medvedev's assessment of the terrorist attack at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow and the global financial crisis. A paper by Andrei Kolesnikov deals with the modernization plan of the U.S.

The article contends that Russian government ministries are playing with figures and competing for whose forecast is more pessimistic in light of the looming economic crisis. The Economic Development Ministry predicted that oil prices will decline to 60 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2013, gross domestic product will plummet by 2.7% and industrial output by 1.9%. The Ministry was criticized by other ministries, including finance and energy, for allegedly being overly optimistic.