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Church-state tensions in Russia
The symbiosis between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church has long been taken for granted. Yet tensions are emerging at the worst possible moment for the Kremlin, in part due to the church hierarchy’s misjudged appetite for property. The ensuing backlash could complicate President Vladimir Putin’s bid for a ...
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As sanctions take their toll, Russia turns to import substitution
As the Russian economy’s difficulties deepen, the Kremlin is putting a brave face on things. It maintains that Western sanctions have been beneficial and that its own anti-crisis program is working. Moreover, the government is talking up a new “Strategy 2030” to boost domestic self-sufficiency based on import substitution. The ...
