Post soviet RussiaRussiaPart II: The Putin yearsPart II: The Putin years

Russian Government TodayRussian Government Today

• Executive• President: Two consecutive four-year terms; BUT in 2008,

the constitution was amended to allow presidents to serve two consecutive six-year terms, to be effective from 2012

• Prime Minister: has a role similar to Vice President in US

• Legislative • Bicameral Federal Assembly• Sovet Federatsii (168 seats)• State Duma (450 seats)

• Judicial• Judges appointed for life Seal of Russia’s Seal of Russia’s

GovernmentGovernment

Joke #1Joke #1

Putin and Bush are fishing on the Volga River. After half an hour, Bush complains, “Vladimir, I’m getting bitten like crazy by mosquitoes, but I haven’t seen a single one bothering you.” Putin: “They know better than that.”

Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinVladimir Vladimirovich Putin

• Elected in March 2000• The era of huge leaps and reversals “is over”. “It is time to understand that

prolonged and hard work lies ahead. Our main problems are far too deep to be solved in one stroke.”

• United Russia Party

• Re-elected March 2004 with 70% of the vote

• Russian constitution allows only 2 terms in office• Putin stepped down March, 2008• Putin became Prime Minister• Amended constitution on term limits (in effect 2012)

• His nominated ‘successor’, Dmitri Medvedev, won Russian 2008 election

Russian White house: For Federal Assembly

Kremlin: The seat of power of the Russian government in Moscow

Joke #2Joke #2

Putin goes to a restaurant with Medvedev and orders a steak. The waiter asks, “And what about the vegetable?” Putin answers, “the vegetable will have steak too.”

Medvedev.Medvedev.• Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in as president in May 2008

• The chosen successor of former president Vladimir Putin, Mr Medvedev won just over 70% of the vote in presidential elections held in March.

• He conducted a fairly low-key campaign, but received generous media coverage and was always the clear favorite to win.

• He said there would be little change in Russia's foreign policy. In August 2008, he showed that he was determined to maintain the assertive stance set by his mentor when, in the wake of the conflict between Russia and Georgia, he declared that Russia did not want a new Cold War but was not afraid of one either.

• Medvedev is a lawyer by training and managed Putin's presidential election campaign in 2000.

• He subsequently worked as chairman of Gazprom and as first deputy prime minister in charge of social programs.

Joke #3Joke #3

Stalin’s ghost appears to Putin in a dream and Putin asks for his help running the country. Stalin says, “Round up and shoot all the democrats , and then paint the inside of the Kremlin blue.” “Why blue?” Putin asks. “Ha!” Says Stalin. “I knew you wouldn’t ask me about the first part.”

After Medvedev? Putin. After Medvedev? Putin. Again.Again.

• Putin was reelected in March 2012 for the first of potentially two more 6 year terms.

• He won by 64.7%

• “While the issue of widespread allegations of fraud and vote rigging in December’s parliamentary poll has taken center stage, other issues such as the country’s chronic demographic problems and continuing inability to diversify its economy away from its reliance on raw materials are also being debated.”

• Voting: Russian Style. In Parliamentary elections December 2011, some regions appeared to have 140% voter turnout

• Voter fraud in the 2012 presidential elections?

• “Endemic corruption is another major theme, with the opposition arguing that the problem is a direct consequence of the policies of Vladimir Putin, who will be running for president for a third term, in strengthening the powers of the state and cracking down on any evolution of the country’s civil society.”

• Protesters explain their positions

• Video of Putin after win

A man like A man like Putin.Putin.

• Hockey Reel

• A Man Like Putin (documentary)

• A Man Like Putin (song)

• Get Lucky

• Jimmy Fallon Spoof

Putin’s Russia- Putin’s Russia- (Jigsaw)

• Fyodor’s Russia (2006)• Coming to Age in Today’s Russia

• How Oil is Propping Up Putin (2012)• The dirty little secret of the Russian Leader’s success? $116-a-barrel oil

• Russian Democracy has Disappeared (2011) /From Russia with Hope (2013)• On the 20th anniversary of the Soviet Union's Collapse, Vladimir Putin is taking Russia

down an autocratic path• Elena Sorokina, 23, on her generation’s desire for a more democratic Russia

• Putin’s Power Play (2014)/ Putin’s Annexation of Crimea? (2014)• Russia’s President threatens neighboring Ukraine– and alarms the rest of the world

• The Killing of Boris Nemtsov and the Degradation of Russian Authoritarianism (2015)/• Analyzing Nemtsov’s untimely death

Steps to Jigsaw:Steps to Jigsaw:

• Read article (Response #5)

• Look up additional information on iPad• Look up any questions you have

• Look up any clarifying points

• Look up any modern updates/ news stories

• Discuss in group

• Decide 3 things your classmates should know about the article

• Grab big chart paper and markers

• Write your 3 things on chart paper

• When everyone is finished, we will present! (Monday)

JigsawJigsaw

2006: 37% of Russians between the ages of 16 and 29 fully embraced democracy2000: 15% of Russian’s in Middle Class2011: 25% of Russian’s in Middle Class

2012: Oil prices at $116 per barrel

2015: Oil prices at $50 per barrel

Growth based on COMMODITIES!

Jigsaw (con’t)Jigsaw (con’t)

In 2004, Putin made a decision to eliminate elections

for key regional governors and city mayors. The Kremlin now appoints these positions.

Citizens born before 1991 versus after 1991?

Gorbachev Blasts Russian Leaders as he turns 80

(2011)

Average Russia salary: $8,500

Fine for individual protester:$9,000

NYT

A– The Hills explain the beginning of the crisis (& buzzfeed background)B-- New York Times; Ukraine Crisis in Maps & Mapping the crisis in perspective

Crimean status referendum, 2014 •A referendum on the status of Crimea held on March 16, 2014, by the legislature of Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the local government of Sevastopol, both part of Ukraine. •The referendum asked the people of Crimea whether they wanted to join Russia as a federal subject, or if they wanted to restore Crimea's status as a part of Ukraine (any status quo vote?)•96.77% wanted to be part of Russia•US contends this vote was illegal by international law.•US and EU imposed sanctions on Russia; hitting the energy, banking and defense sectors.

Until Friday night, none of us realized how much Russia belonged to the first type of a dictatorship in which, after another round of lashing out at the regime and its leader, a long-time professional opposition member quietly goes for dinner at a historic shopping mall and then proceeds to walk the streets of the capital, to be killed. Not arrested. Killed.