Epstein Secrets

, double-digit income growth soothed the sting for quite a while. And after the economic crisis of 2009 removed that anaesthetic, the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev provided something of a placebo. With his tweets and iPad, he appealed to the most modern part of the middle class, promising liberalisation and in

ore than happy to hand him what power it has; and he could count on support from the communists, nationalists and the military-industrial complex. Alexei Kudrin, a former finance minister who has sided with the call for early elections, says a lurch to the left could be a necessary evil on the path to democ

e to promote the image of Russia as a besieged fortress surrounded by linked enemies, foreign governments and democratic reformers. Thus, President Dmitry Medvedev said, in March 2011: Look at the current situation in the Middle East and the Arab world. It is extremely difficult and great problems still lie a

rices to spike to over $100 per barrel unit (bbl). This windfall simultaneously plays a key role in Russian domestic politics. As Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin has stated, Russia's budget is in deficit if oil prices fall below $120/bbl. Consequently this windfall relieves pressure on the budget. But more i

double-digit income growth soothed the sting for quite a while. And after the economic crisis of 2009 removed that anaesthetic, the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev provided something of a placebo. With his tweets and iPad, he appealed to the most modern part of the middle class, promising liberalisation and i

ore than happy to hand him what power it has; and he could count on support from the communists, nationalists and the military-industrial complex. Alexei Kudrin, a former finance minister who has sided with the call for early elections, says a lurch to the left could be a necessary evil on the path to democ