RUSSIAN STUDIES

Nastassia Sianko
(Energy Security Analyst)

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In recent years, many analysts have noted the dependence of many European countries on Russian energy. In 2008, 40% of the European Union (EU) natural gas and 33% of oil imports came from Russia. And these figures, especially imports of natural gas (being seen by many as ‘fortunate fuel’), are expected to grow because the global demand for energy is increasing.....  Read more

Alexis Giannoulis
(RIEAS Senior Analyst)

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In 2003 the Goldman Sachs’ ‘Global Economics Paper No: 99 ’ publication confirmed Jim O’Neill’s term ‘BRIC’ (first coined in 2001) and set forward the prospect of the then-most dynamic countries with regards to medium and long-term future growth and development. The BRICs were the countries with the biggest populations and with economies set to surpass most, if not all of the G7 nations in a rather speedy fashion by 2025. Brazil, Russia, India and China are all countries with substantial and young (in most cases) populations with good growth outlooks, vast resources and governments willing to enter the global markets as the most dynamic and major economies of the future..... Read more 

Zhyldyz Oskonbaeva
(RIEAS Senior Advisor & Eurasian Liaison)

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With the world’s political scenarios changing, Russia’s foreign military “footholds” might be changing in the near future. This is an analysis of the bases, their purposes and the relationship between Russia and hosting countries. Using the tenant-landlord analogy to explain, many of these bases differ in importance.  For some of these bases no rent is paid.  In some much rent is paid and in all the cases there exists a ‘flirting politics’ between the landlord host countries and their Russian tenant............ Read more

Alexis Giannoulis
(RIEAS Senior Analyst)

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The Duma 2011 elections turned out to be business unusual for the Kremlin and the political establishment in Russia. Although United Russia remained united to a large extend, the Sunday elections marked the biggest backdrop for PM V. Putin since 1999......  Read more

By Alexis Giannoulis
(RIEAS Research Associate & Security Analyst)

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The autumn and winter of 2011 mark two important anniversaries for European and world history. Ten years ago, the spectacularly tragic events in New York and Washington, DC on September 11th, 2001 marked a new post-Cold War era for global affairs as well as for issues such as national, international security and international cooperation. Twenty years ago, during the period between the summer of 1991 and the December of that year, the world saw the gradual demise of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) following an uneasy period of reforms under Mikhael Gorbachev and a traumatic for all parts concerned decade of immense financial and leadership problems toppled with a painfully costly war and occupation in Afghanistan.

Dimitris B. Kokkinos
Managing Partner
INDEURCOG Energy Consultants Ltd.

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Note: The paper was delivered by Mr. Dimitris B. Kokkinos at the Conference “Caspian Energy Crossroads: The New Energy Routes and Axis”, organized by RIEAS and the Press Code Journal at Titania Hotel (29 January 2009) in Athens, Greece.

My ten years of involvement as an E.C. external consultant and my position INOGATE coordinator in a number of Inogate projects gave me a good understanding of the hydrocarbon situation in Russia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Eastern Europe.

I consider the link between the European Union and RUSSIA in the supply and consumption of natural gas as vital to the European Union interests and I contribute this article stating that the views expressed are strictly my own.

The present state of affairs in the supply of Russian Gas to Europe underwent an acute crisis. The acuteness of this crisis does not however make it short. The many parameters of this crisis threaten to make it endemic.

There is no doubt that a main factor of the Gas dispute is the political quarrel between Russia and Ukraine. Russia considers that Ukraine is almost not a state but a mix of Russian and other peoples and its Government and ruling elite are neither trustworthy nor strong, which is not completely wrong.