Putin Says U.S. Antimissile Plan Is Blocking New Arms Treaty – NYTimes.com

Posted by Matt in December 29th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Russia, Aggressiveness, Balance Of Power, Cold-War, Economics, Journalists, Missile Defense System, Mr Putin, Nytimes, Obstacle, Offensive Weapons, Prime Minister, Real Politics, Umbrella, Vladimir Putin, Vladivostok

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin said on Tuesday that the main obstacle to replacing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or Start, is Washington’s plan to build a missile defense system, which he said endangered the cold war-era balance of power.
“If we don’t develop a missile defense system, a danger arises for us that with an [...]

Russia’s Economic Crisis and U.S.-Russia Relations: Troubled Times Ahead

Posted by Matt in November 2nd, 2009 | no comment

Published in Russia, Defense Spending, Dissatisfaction, Economic Crisis, kremlin, Poverty Line, Protests, Public Displays, putin, Reported Event, Riot Police, Russia Relations, Russian Leadership, Safety Net, Social Safety, Social Tensions, Social Unrest, Swat Teams, Troubled Times, Vladivostok, Willingness

Rising Unemployment and Growing Social Unrest
The crisis has also exacerbated social tensions in Russia. So far, no serious threat to the regime has materialized, despite a wave of spontaneous strikes and the use of SWAT teams to put down a demonstration in Vladivostok. Notably, the Russian leadership showed the limits to its tolerance of public [...]

Russia’s Triads – Chinese Organized Crime in Russia

Posted by Matt in August 13th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Russia, Academic Circles, Blog, China, Chinatown, Chinese Mafia, Criminal Gangs, Economy, Jamestown, Jamestown Foundation, Jewel In The Crown, Maritime City, moscow, Organized Crime In Russia, Russian Far East, San Francisco, Triads, Vladivostok

The jewel in the crown of the Russian Far East is Vladivostok, a hilly maritime city often compared to San Francisco. And while San Francisco prides itself on having a thriving Chinatown, Vladivostok is home to a thriving Chinese criminal community.
The damage these criminal gangs do to the region’s economy is enormous, yet, according to [...]

Russian Nuclear Bunkers Back in Business : WCJB

Posted by Matt in July 31st, 2009 | no comment

Published in Shelters, antics, Expensive Furniture, Kilometers, North-Korea, Nuclear Bunkers, Nuclear Strike, Oak Doors, rockets, Russia, Russian Officials, Vladivostok

Thanks, to North Korea’s recent antics, Russia is planning to reactivate the 266 shelters which surround the Eastern city of Vladivostok.
With rockets flying just a few hundred kilometers away, Russian officials find it necessary to keep these shelters operational.
Vladivostok has more bunkers than any other city in the country, but only half are judged to [...]

Civil unrest in Russia mounts

Posted by Matt in April 14th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Russia, Activists, Civil Unrest, Communist Party, Discontent, Dozens, Economic Decline, Leadership, moscow, Observers, Political Demonstrations, Prime Minister, Protest, Russia, Security Fears, Social Unrest, Spite, Vladimir Putin, Vladivostok

In spite of security fears, activists try to capitalize on discontent caused by economic decline.
Dozens of demonstrations were held across Russia this weekend, attracting about 2,000 people in the far eastern city of Vladivostok and about the same number in Moscow, where a Communist Party protest had the largest showing.
The numbers are small, but in [...]