In Kazakhstan, the crushing of protests in 2022 spawned despair. A high-profile conviction has renewed hope that the law can actually bring justice. Botakoz Kassymbekova and I reflect on the greater implications of Bishimbayev’s trial foreignpolicy.com/2024/05/22/kaz…

After translating and analyzing 50,000+ pages of documents and close to a dozen interviews so glad the general thrust of my thesis argument is out thank you to everyone at Riddle

The only sensible assessment about Whitemoustachov.
Patrushev is repeating the fate of Sergei Ivanov, getting shoved into the background for everyone to forget. Ivanov once too was the second most powerful man in Russia but his ambition grew too large for Putin's comfort in 2008.

Rickrolling on the BBC's frontpage

In 2024, #Russia stands as one of the world's leaders in cryptocurrency mining. While the government is trying to make Irkutsk the “mining” capital of Russia, crypto extraction has become the most popular business idea and investment area in #Dagestan ./1

theins.press/en/society/271…

Dmitry Patrushev is the candidate for the position of Vice Prime Minister. Given that the son is still in favor, the father, Nikolai, is probably getting a new title and a new job. Most current positions of import are already assigned.

Europe’s Bankers Push Ukraine Toward the Abyss

Euroopan on todellakin syytä herätä ja käyttää kaikki Venäjän jäädytetyt varat Ukrainan tukemiseen. Esitetyt 'pelot' tämän seurauksista ovat vain tekosyitä. cepa.org/article/europe…

'If Russia wins the US presidential election, then Russia wins the war on Ukraine' - and that is just the start.

mirror.co.uk/news/world-new…

Anyone doubting Ukraine's chances to win the war against Russia, remember that the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria won the first war against Russia *alone* without any Western support.

Unfortunately, the world's ignorance allowed the chance for the Russians to come back in 1999.

Western observers look for and exaggerate opposition in Moscow but oversee true struggles for democracy and freedom among Moscow‘s former colonized. It’s time to change the perspective

A good time to dust this off again.

NATO's articles keep being tested and there is still no salient response.