Putins Russia and the new cold war

Question 1

When did the Eastern bloc collapse?

Answer 1

1989

Question 2

When did the USSR collapse?

Answer 2

1991

Question 3

When did challenges to Russias own federal existence begin?

Answer 3

1990s/ 2000’s

Question 4

Who is Yuri Andropov?

Answer 4

Chairman of the KGB between 1967- 1982

He was the general secretary of the Central committee of the communist part of the Soviet union

Question 5

Who is Lavrentiy Beria?

Answer 5

Chief of the secret and security policy system (NVKD) under Joseph Stalin in the 1930s and 40s
-Deputy premier from 1946- 53

Question 6

Who is Mikhail Gorbachev?

Answer 6

Last leader of the Soviet Union between (1985 - 1999)

He led the reforms Glasnost and Perestroika

Question 7

Who is Boris Yeltsin and what happened in Yeltsin’s decade?

Answer 7

First president of the Russian federation
between (1991- 1999)

• His plan was to transform Russian socialist economy and create a capitalist market economy but this created Economic shock which led to price liberalisation and nationwide privatisation.
• There was a loss of state power, rise of oligarchs and lots of economic and social problems

Question 8

Who is Vladmir Putin?

Answer 8

He is the current president, EX KGB
“Tsar of the new Russia”
-He resurrected Russias pride, new sense of direction and strategy especially after Yeltsin’s disastrous decade

Question 9

What does Vladmir Putin aim to build?

Answer 9

A statist, patriotic politics and a new authoritarianism

Question 10

What are Putin’s key tools internally and internationally?

Answer 10

Internally: control of state mechanisms
Internationally: Oil and gas pipelines and army presence

Question 11

What does Merridale (2009) say?

Answer 11

It is the Kremlins view that Russia needs a coherent story and that the tale should not only encourage romantic patriotism, but it should, in the process justify the kind of centralised government that Putin and his aides desire

Question 12

What is Putin’s strategic aim?

Answer 12

To regain control of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and rebuild Russia’s sphere of influence

Question 13

What does Putins strategic aim mean?

Answer 13

• It means fueling conflicts within ex soviet states (e.g Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova)
• Resisting the US Missile shield in CEE
• Using oil and gas pipelines as strategic weapons, controlling the price and flow to Europe and Central & Eastern Europe
• Reforming and rebuilding the Russian Army; Investing in the space race, cyber warfare and technology
• Taking a much more dynamic (tough) approach to international affairs; shutting opposing voices; controlling domestic politics and oligarchs

Question 14

Who is Roman Abramovich?

Answer 14

He is on the 8 oligarchs
“Putins son”
He was worth $7 billion in 2016 and the 151st richest man in the world, 13th in Russia
-Small private army of 40
-He is the owner of Chelsea football club, based in London
-He is the ex -business partner of Berezovsky
-He is involved in theft, fraud, antitrust law violation scandals and aluminium wars

Question 15

Who is Mikhail Khodorkovsky?

Answer 15

He was the most successful oligarch of the 90s
He bought Yukos in 1995
Controlled 17% of Russian oil exports
In the early 2000’s he was the wealthiest man in Russia
2003: Arrested on Putin’s orders for tax fraud; Yukos shares collapsed he was imprisoned in labour camp for 9 years and was convicted for money laundering in second trial

Question 16

Why did Mikhail Khodorovsky get in so much trouble?

Answer 16

Because he used his fortune for political influence, and resisted oil taxes and approached Exxon

Question 17

Where did Mikhail Khodorovsky go in December 2013?

Answer 17

He was pardoned by Putin and moved to Switzerland and launched Open Russia

Question 18

Who is Oleg Deripaska?

Answer 18

He is known as the King of aluminium and is the CEO of RUSAL

• He is the Kremlins favourite oligarch but owes this all to Putin
• in 2008 he was the 9th richest man in the world
• His wealth dramatically declined in one year due to the global financial crisis

Question 19

Who was involved in a controversy with Peter Mandelson and George Osbourne?

Answer 19

Oleg Deripaska

Question 20

Who is Mikhail Gutseriyev?

Answer 20

President of Russneft (Russneft is a huge oil company)

in 2007: announced that he was pressed by the Russian govt to sell Russneft to Oleg Deripaska

Question 21

What year did Mikhail Gutseriyev exile himself to London?

Answer 21

2007

Question 22

What happened to Mikhail Gutseriyev’s son?

Answer 22

He was murdered to lure him in to returning to Russia where was facing allegations of tax fraud

Question 23

What did Mikhail Gutseriyev do in February 2010?

Answer 23

He made a deal with Putin to return to Russia and resume Russneft activities. Gutseriyev becomes president of Russneft again in 2013

Question 24

Who is Alexander Lebedev?

Answer 24

He is an Ex-KGB business partly based in London

• Used to own part of Aeroloft; owns Novaya Gazeta
• Have stakes in Gazprom
• Owns the Evening standard and The Independent

Question 25

What is the Novoya Gazeta?

Answer 25

A Russian newspaper very critical of Putin, four of its journalists have been assassinated; included Politkovskaya

Question 26

What is Alexander Lebedev called by the west?

Answer 26

Trojan Horse

Question 27

Who is Mikhail Prokhorov?

Answer 27

One of Russian leading industrialists in the precious metals sector

• Amongst the richest men in Russia, worth $8.9 billion dollars
• Owns the New Jersey nets

Question 28

What did Mikhail Prokhorov do in December 2011?

Answer 28

Launched his presidential campaign and got 7.94%
-He was the only newcomer allowed to take part in elections (2 million signatures are required to formally register as a presidential candidate)

Question 29

Who is Vitaly Malkin?

Answer 29

Russian- Israeli businessman
Worth $1 billion
Co-founder of Rossisski Kredit, 3rd largest bank in the 1990s
-Member of the Russian senate since 2004
-Invested millions in Toronto and had been trying to get Canadian citizenship since 1994 but Canadian authorities denied entry due to involvement in money laundering and it’s arms deals
-Dual RU/ISR nationality scandal (2013) led to his resignation from the Federation council

Question 30

Who is Boris Berezovsky?

Answer 30

He made his fortune by capturing state assets at knockdown prices after the collapse of the USSR

• He reached his peak during the Yeltsin’s years
• He survived a series of assassination attempts
• He was very critical of Putin

Question 31

What did Boris Berezovsky do in 2001?

Answer 31

Fled to Britain in 2001; granted political asylum; based in London since
-He was implicated by the Russian govt in murders of prominent Russia agentts

Question 32

What happened to Boris Berezovsky on Saturday the 23rd march 2013?

Answer 32

He was found dead in his home in Ascot, Berkshire

• His body was discovered in a locked bathroom by his bodyguard, the post-mortem identified hanging as the cause of death
• The outcome was a suicide because he seemed depressed as he was facing financial difficulties/covered in debt

Question 33

Who did Berezovsky lose a court battle against?

Answer 33

Abramovich and he was forced to pay 35m in legal costs and he had to sell his Surrey home

Question 34

What did Berezovsky do before dying?

Answer 34

He asked Putin for forgiveness and a chance to return to Russia

Question 35

What are five of Putin’s principles/ Rules of the game?

Answer 35

1. Never sponsor the opposition; whoever does that is treated as an enemy
2. Never do business with the West; has total control over energy (oil and natural gas) and aluminium policy
3. Do not attempt to influence economic policy; you can make as much money as you like by exploiting ex-state assets but don’t get involved in policy making
4. Do not show off (at least not within Russia)
5. Do not send your money abroad, otherwise you’d better follow them ($40 billion were taken out of the country in 2009 alone)