Russia Matters

Mukhin writes that any positive result is a noteworthy victory, while Shepelin notes that in Moscow, pro-government deputies still hold a simple majority. More in our latest analytical round-up.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin lamented the population decline in the country’s Far East, saying it falls in an “alarming, red zone.” While this region, which borders China, may raise particularly acute demographic concerns for the Kremlin, the country’s population decline more broadly is once again vexing the Russian leadership.

From the early 19th century to today, the “Russia” of American political construction is almost as far from the real Russia as the “America” of Russian propaganda is from the real United States.