Carnegie Moscow Center
here's a sea of rumors and theories raging about the Russian presidential succession and what Vladimir Putin would do after -- and if -- he stepped down. The diversity of theories is impressive, illustrating how unpredictable and potentially unstable the situation may become. The range of guesses made by pundits, Kremlin insiders, political analysts and experts at home and abroad is getting broader, not narrower, as the election draws nearer. Moreover, those who venture guesses don't seem to be basing them on even partial knowledge; rather, it's a desire by each to sound more interesting than the other guy.
The Russian government's recent decision to outlaw foreign migrant workers at retail markets is a politically motivated decision born of intolerance. It is more likely to harm Russian consumers and further exacerbate the difficult situation of migrant workers.
Although the official statement yesterday on Turkmenistan's president spoke of his "divine foresight," not even this dictator could foresee his own death or what will happen to his country afterward.
The anti-Georgian campaign may well turn out to be simply a resentful overreaction to Georgia's arrogance with regard to the alleged spying rather than a deliberate policy aimed at capitalizing on public xenophobia. But in the xenophobic atmosphere of today's Russia, this threatens to further encourage ethnic hatred and lead to more loss of life.