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Articles by Andrey Pertsev

opinion Andrey Pertsev

Russia’s Local Government Reform Will Destroy a Rare Channel for Letting Off Steam

Imminent changes will mean less interaction between officials and local residents, less money for small-town Russia and accelerated depopulation.
5 Min read
opinion Andrey Pertsev

How Russia Returned to Gerontocracy

The Russian regime increasingly resembles the gerontocracy that ran the late Soviet Union. Some elderly officials are starting to die on the job.
5 Min read
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Russia’s Managed Democracy Is Facing a Participation Crisis

The decision by some top-tier politicians to sit out the March presidential election makes it harder for officials to portray Putin’s win as historic...
5 Min read
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Jobs in Occupied Ukraine Are a Poisoned Chalice for Russian Officials

Military failures and Putin’s short attention span mean that Russian officials who hoped for quick career advancement have been left disappointed.
5 Min read
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Is Prigozhin’s Mutiny the Nail in the Coffin for Putin’s Golden Boy, Dyumin?

Putin’s former bodyguard and current Tula Governor Alexei Dyumin is eternally tipped for a position in the federal government, yet is still waiting after...
5 Min read
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Putin’s Silence Heralds the Return of Russia’s Governors as a Political Force

Amid the state of semi-paralysis within the power vertical, those nearer to the bottom of it are gaining unprecedented autonomy.
5 Min read
opinion Andrey Pertsev

For Ambitious Russian Officials, the War Has Failed to Become a Career Elevator

Career advancement off the back of Russia's war in Ukraine has proved to be elusive in the increasingly fragile Russian political system.
4 Min read
opinion Andrey Pertsev

How the War in Ukraine Became a Magnet for Russia's Career Politicians

For those in Russia’s ruling elite set on reaching the top, the war in Ukraine is an unexpected new career elevator. Ever sensitive to the whims...
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Lord of the Masses: How Russia’s Fringe Elements Went Mainstream

Russian President Vladimir Putin has one message that he likes to convey in his public speeches: that he is very much a man of the people, with the blood...
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Kremlin Must Placate Its Supporters Amid Outrage Over Kharkiv Retreat

The ultra-patriots are openly hinting that they are disappointed with Putin’s apparent lack of resolution. 
opinion Andrey Pertsev

War in Ukraine Has Sparked a New Race to Succeed Putin

Possible candidates are either making big bellicose statements or totally silent on the war.
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Why the Kremlin Isn’t Celebrating the Duma Election Results

The president did what he could to boost United Russia’s campaign, but the elections were still marred with controversy.
opinion Andrey Pertsev

In Declaring Navalny Extremist, Russia Has Crossed a New Rubicon

The Russian power system is becoming incontrovertibly monolithic, and any voices not in tune with the chorus are automatically declared to be enemy.
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Putin the Unstable

Consistency and predictability in Russian politics have all but died.
opinion Andrey Pertsev

The Slow Death of Russia's Human Rights Council

The replacement of Russia’s Human Rights Council head Mikhail Fedotov with United Russia party member Valery Fadeyev, determines the council’s status...
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Russians Are No Longer Scared to Protest

Russians, once cowed by the potential consequences of taking to the streets, are increasingly willing to protest over issues that matter to them.
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Kremlin Scapegoat: Russia’s In-System Opposition Is Under Attack

In-system politicians are now discovering that playing by the rules no longer protects them.
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Why Russians Are Going to Prison for Memes (Op-ed)

Eventually people will start asking why they are going to prison for memes while corrupt officials receive suspended sentences.
opinion Andrey Pertsev

The Telegram Ban Is Forcing Ordinary Russians to Break the Law (Op-ed)

No doubt the authorities were counting on the usual support.
opinion Andrey Pertsev

Russia’s Regions Strike Back: Provincial Leaders Want More From Moscow (Op-ed)

The Kremlin is learning an important lesson — that Russia is a federation
opinion Andrey Pertsev

It’s the End of the World as the Russian Elites Know it

Those who control resources are becoming feudal lords who are establishing new laws for their domains.