The repatriation of a Russian surveyor who had swum to safety after opposing the war has caused a stir in Riga. It serves as a reminder that, in the post-Soviet space, simply fleeing is not enough: one must contend with a web of mistrust, mutual contempt and control that outweighs any shared ideas.
National elections held on Dec. 7 resulted in a decisive victory for president Putin's "United Russia" Party with 37.1% of votes. Runner-up went to the Communist Party with 12.7% and Vladimir Zhirinovskij's ultra-nationalist party which obtained 11.6% of ballots cast on Sunday. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said that the government manipulated funds and the media in order to dominate elections. Even the United States expressed concern for the way in which the elections took place. Here Vladimir Rozanskij offers his expert commentary on the matter.
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