Gregory Feifer

Also by Gregory Feifer

• November 09, 2011

  Russian Support For Iran Seen As Bargaining Chip

  As the West calls for new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, Russia has come out in strong support of its sometime ally. After recently criticizing Tehran, analysts say this may have more to do with bargaining with the West than Moscow's real interests in Iran.

• November 04, 2011

  Radicalization Splitting Society In Russia's North Caucasus

  Outside the violent North Caucasus, there may be a growing perception that a certain, even managed, level of instability suits one or more groups among the authorities in Moscow. But as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin prepares to return to the presidency next year, developments in Daghestan and elsewhere show the situation in the Caucasus is anything but stable, and that traditional society is tearing at the seams.

• November 04, 2011

  Russian Attitudes Help Fuel Instability In The North Caucasus

  The tiny village of Balakhani clings to a mountainside at the end of a rough dirt road winding high into the Caucasus Mountains in Russia's region of Daghestan.

• October 08, 2011

  Russian Media Tests Boundaries Of State Censorship

  It's not easy being a journalist in Russia, where attacks against reporters have made it one of the most dangerous places to work, and the government has sidelined much of the free press. Still, some media outlets remain highly critical of the authorities. Their journalists say their main difficulty isn't so much that they're not able to report about the country's problems, it's that no one's listening.

• October 07, 2011

  Russian Media Landscape Varied Despite Heavy State Control

  To mark the fifth anniversary of the assassination of "Novaya gazeta" journalist and author Anna Politkovskaya, RFE/RL presents a six-part series, "The State Of The Russian Media."

• September 13, 2011

  As Crisis Continues, Euro's Future Hinges On Merkel

  As Europe slides closer toward economic crisis, all eyes are on Germany, which would have to lead any plan to save the sinking euro. But as Angela Merkel approaches a decision over greater EU fiscal union, opposition from within her coalition is threatening her chancellorship.

• September 06, 2011

  Kyiv Prepares Suit In Russia Gas Dispute

  With Ukraine threatening to take Russia to international court over a natural gas deal, it's clear the thaw in relations brought on by the election of Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych last year has ended.

• August 14, 2011

  Russian Health Care Provides No Real Safety Net

  Two decades after the demise of the Soviet Union, Russia still prides itself on providing cradle-to-grave health care for everyone. On paper, that is. In fact, many Russians have to pay for medical care that's supposedly free. Although the government is spending billions of dollars to overhaul the creaking health-care system, there are few hopes of reversing its decline.

• August 12, 2011

  Poland Sorry It Gave Minsk Activist Info

  Poland has apologized for handing the Belarusian authorities information about a prominent rights activist arrested this month. Another European Union country, Lithuania, has already apologized for providing Belarus with banking details that led to his detainment.

• July 29, 2011

  U.S.-Russia 'Reset' Faces Biggest Challenge

  The White House touts its "reset" policy toward Russia as one of its key diplomatic successes. But a new U.S. blacklist of Russian officials is threatening to undo some of the gains Washington has made boosting ties with Moscow.

• July 27, 2011

  Heat And Fire Return To Russia As Questions Linger Over Deaths In 2010

  With much of Russia sweltering under a heat wave and forest fires ravaging the Far East, concern is mounting over a possible repeat of a health disaster that engulfed the country last summer.

• July 16, 2011

  Casino Investigation Reflects Turf War In Russia

  In Russia, the exposure of prosecutors participating in an illegal gambling ring is not being seen as a blow to corruption, as one might expect. Instead, it's being read mainly as evidence of a turf war between state agencies.

• July 11, 2011

  Too Special A Friendship: Is Germany Questioning Russia's Embrace?

  It's no secret Germany has one of Europe's closest relationships with Russia. Berlin is Moscow's largest customer for natural gas and its biggest trading partner in general. The close ties worry those who believe Russia is using its natural resources for political advantage as well as commercial profit, but there are signs the relationship might be changing.

• April 12, 2011

  Russian Blogger Leads Crusade Against Corruption

  A recent series of hacker attacks against Russian websites has drawn attention to the central role the Internet plays as a forum for free speech in Russia. One blogger in particular is dominating attention: Aleksei Navalny.

• April 07, 2011

  One Year Later, Kyrgyz Revolution Under Threat

  Last year, people in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan overthrew their president and established the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia. But one year to the day after the start of violence that helped lead to the unrest, Kyrgyzstan's government is struggling to keep the country from falling into chaos.

• March 29, 2011

  New Civil Society Forum Hopes To Influence EU-Russia Relations

  Human rights groups and other NGOs are inaugurating an EU-backed forum on civil society they hope will have a say in relations with Moscow. But the activists from Russia and European countries taking part face an uphill struggle to pressure a Kremlin that has periodically paid lip service to reform while maintaining its growing grip on power.

• March 24, 2011

  International Crises Boost Russia’s Energy Posture

  With U.S.-led fighter jets pounding military assets in oil-rich Libya, and Japan still struggling to contain radiation at its stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, concerns are rising around the world about the future of energy supplies. But not in Russia.

• March 23, 2011

  Havel Film Premieres In Prague

  Moviegoers in Prague are attending the premiere of former Czech President Vaclav Havel's first feature film this week, marking the latest career twist of the internationally renowned playwright and ex-dissident who led the Velvet Revolution that toppled communism in 1989.

• March 18, 2011

  Experts Deny Russia's 'Safe' Nuclear Reactor Claims

  As Japan's deepening nuclear crisis prompts global debate about the safety and sense of atomic power, Russia is pressing ahead with plans to build new nuclear power plants at home and abroad. The government promises its atomic power designs are completely safe, but experts say that's just not true.

• March 10, 2011

  Moscow Boasts World's Most Billionaires

  Two years ago, the global financial crisis sent Russia's economy spiraling downward, slashing the number of Russian billionaires by two thirds. But now they're back.

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