Editorial paper at Robert Lansing Institute

Lobbyists seeking workarounds for China to circumvent sanctions on Russian energy companies

Russian Gazprombank has doubled down on minimizing the impact by the sanctions, searching for ways to circumvent them.Gas buyers have opened accounts in Gazprombank JSC, to pay in rubles for Russian gas. China looks like priority area, as…

May 12, 2022China, Gazprombank, Russia

Democracy Geoeconomics

Turkmen women’s right restrictions signal about Ashgabat-Taliban cooperation

The Turkmen president change and the further women's right restrictions show clearly that Ashgabat plans to cooperate deeply with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Since Serdar Berdymukhammedov succeeded his father…

May 11, 2022Afghanistan, Turkmenistan

Corruption Geoeconomics

Hungary: no more sanctions on Russia, as top leaders defend their own corrupt interests

Some businesses in Hungary, tied to Viktor Orban and operating in strategic sectors, have Sberbank accounts, as they carry out various projects together with Russian partners. Gas traiders, railroad car builders, transport services, logistics, construction and nuclear energy are…

May 9, 2022Hungary, Russia

Democracy ideology

New round of anti-Semitism in Russia

Russia is about to resume a showdown with Israel, likely to get bilateral relations into the Cold War, as domestic anti-Semitism is growing. The statement by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov,…

May 5, 2022anti-semitism

Corruption Intelligence ops

Diplomatic passport cover to avoid sanctions requires the Vienna Convention privileges being restricted

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes a practice of the international sanction-free scheme to provide high-ranking Russians with a free pass to Europe and the United States, as well…

May 4, 2022Russia

Democracy Governance

Somalia: unblocked presidential elections amid risks of deepening crisis

Election of parliament leaders in Somalia paves way for presidential vote. After the protracted delays and obstacles in choosing the members of parliament, the election of the parliamentary leadership is a…

May 2, 2022Somalia

Governance

Putin likely not capable of functioning by year end

Putin's health worsens fast, raising questions whether he is capable of functioning. Consensus estimates agree the regime is about to change in winter 2022-2023. The Kremlin risks, otherwise, being run by a disabled…

April 28, 2022Putin, Russia

Psyops War crimes

The Kremlin keeps attacking France in Africa to divert attention from war crimes in Ukraine

Moscow tries to cover up its war crimes in Ukraine by staging similar accusations against Western countries worldwide. The Kremlin continues conducting anti-French smear campaigns in Africa following Emmanuel Macron's victory in the presidential election. The…

April 27, 2022Mali, Wagner Group

Coup Intelligence ops

Moldova leaders risk losing posts over protests inspired from outside

Provocative shelling of Transnistria’s Ministry of State Security speaks about upcoming escalation in Moldova with a view to overthrow the Sandu democratic regime and reignite the conflict between Chisinau and…

April 26, 2022FSB, GRU, Moldova, Russia

Conflict Intelligence ops

Russia uses African mercenaries as consumables in the war against Ukraine

Russia recruits mercenaries in African countries to have them engaged in the war against Ukraine. Despite lack of experience of combat operations in the climatic conditions of Europe, the Russian…

April 25, 2022Ethiopia, Russia

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