Return to: Home | Russia: The beggar becomes the belligerent
Russia: The beggar becomes the belligerent
In this week's New Statesman, we focus on Putin's Russia with reports from Bridget Kendall, Roman Shleinov and Jeremy Dear plus a gallery of photos of that nation's dead journalists.
The danger of ranting in Russia
How some ill-advised comments on an obscure blog resulted in a commenter being put on trial in Russia - part of a tightening grip over freedom of expression
Putin's war on civil society
In the run-up to Russia's presidential elections, the Kremlin continues to undermine democratic institutions and independent NGOS
Secrets of the state
The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia
Orlando Figes Allen Lane, the Penguin Press, 740pp, £25
Vlad the Great
Putin has dismantled the fragile democracy of the 1990s, but has never been more popular. The New Statesman's special focus on Russia, its politics, culture and society with Lilia Shevtsova, Artemy Troitsky, Robin Strummer and more
Loyalty card
Even the most-travelled, open-minded Russians are singing Putin's tune, writes Artemy Troitsky, the country's best-known cultural journalist
Putin's copycats
Whether in pro-western or pro-Moscow states, repression and corruption are flourishing among Russia's neighbours.
Appetite for destruction
Moscow's extraordinary architectural heritage is being wiped out in the ruthless pursuit of a new Russia
The modern Russian paradox
Ironies behind the elite’s confused thinking
Blue Noses
Blue Noses are an art collective from Siberia. Their work has been exhibited worldwide. http://e-gallery.guelman.ru
Mourning Alexander Litvinenko
A year on, Ivar Amundsen remembers his friend Alexander Litvinenko and reflects on the ruthlessness of Putin's Russia
Gay Cruise in stand-off with Russian Army
Gavin Knight takes a river cruise with some of Moscow's defiant gay community and encounters the Russian army
Russia: The beggar becomes the belligerent
From threats over weapons systems to blame for the Litvinenko murder, President Putin is adopting a hostility towards the US and Europe not seen since the end of the Cold War. But, as Bridget Kendall reports from Russia, the west shares much of the blame through the arrogance it showed in the 1990s
Rules of the game
Investigative journalists are being picked off one by one in Russia. Their "crime", says Roman Shleinov, is not so much criticising Vladimir Putin as exposing the corrupt nexus between business and politics
Solidarity with our Russian colleagues
NUJ chief Jeremy Dear reports on attempts to evict Russia's journalism union from its HQ in the latest persecution of that nation's reporters
Cricket's revolution
The Ashes and globalisation
Ziauddin Sardar
Move over viagra
Religion
Does God hate women?
Art
Medals of dishonour
James Macintyre
Cameron the bully?
Canada
The new dope lords
Television
Revelations
Travel
Brussels and surrealism
© New Statesman 1913 – 2009