Carnegie Moscow Center
Despite the Kremlin's need for domestic and international legitimacy, there was widespread irregularity and fraud in Russia's recent presidential elections.
While fraud was less prevalent in the March 4 Russian presidential election, abuses still occurred.
Russia has entered a new period in its political history and protests are likely to continue long after the election results are in.
Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party received just shy of 50 percent of the vote in the recent elections for Russia’s lower house in parliament, an unexpected blow to the once extremely popular ruler.
Almost two decades after negotiations began Russia is set to join the World Trade Organization. Russia, the biggest country to enter the WTO since China joined ten years ago, is expected to be confirmed as a member during the ministerial meeting in mid-December.
The recent parliamentary elections in Russia offer evidence of the corruption afflicting the country’s political system, as officials manipulated the system to guarantee that the ruling United Russia party would remain in power.
Corruption remains a serious hindrance to increased trade and investment between the United States and Russia, and the two countries must work together to build strong institutions, develop better business practices, and enforce compliance.
The plans of Russia’s ruling elite, headed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, to retain power face increasing challenges from a crumbling infrastructure, economic stagnation, and growing social unrest.
Twenty years after the end of the Soviet Union, Russia lacks a responsible and accountable government and is missing a shared sense of nationhood.
The regime of personalized power that Russians have grown accustomed to is at risk of collapse. The People’s Freedom Party “For Russia Without Arbitrariness and Corruption” aims to play a role in helping change Russian politics through legitimate means.