EastWest Institute
Russian Regional Report
Vol. 4, No. 23, 17 June 1999
Russian Cohesion Index: -24 (up 5 this week)
Disintegration.............L.T..............0..............Democratic Federalism
(T = this week; L = last week; 0 = 17 March)
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For a graphic display of the Russian Cohesion Index since 17 March, see:
http://www.iews.org/RRRabout.nsf/pages/Russian+Cohesion+Index
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+++++ Former Prime Minister Sergei Kirienko's decision to enter the Moscow mayor's race has given him a platform to criticize incumbent Yurii Luzhkov's style of leadership. Although the criticisms are not new, and Kirineko has no chance of winning the elections, such criticisms of Luzhkov have rarely been aired. Whether Kirienko's candidacy is sponsored by the Kremlin or not, the intense criticism will help demonstrate what kind of president Luzhkov would make before June 2000, giving voters a better basis for making their decisions. (+5)
+++++ Several enterprises in Tver have launched a rebellion against the local electricity monopolist, Tverenergo. They are seeking better prices by trying to find new suppliers. The protest could be the beginning of a new trend across the country that could bring down electricity prices and stimulate more domestic production. (+3)
+++++ Moscow politicians and foreign investors are both increasingly recognizing the importance of the Russian regions. The Moscow politicians want more information from the regions so they can win the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Foreign investors, fed up with the chaos at the federal level, are seeking more stable politics at the regional level. (+2)
----- The federal government has again lost its way in dealing with Karachaevo-Cherkesiya. Although the republican court has declared Vladimir Semenov the winner, Moscow has not decided what it will do yet. Admittedly, there are no good options. But as it waits, the situation in the region continues to deteriorate. (-1)
----- The vast majority of news coming out of Russian election campaigns concerns the innovative development of ever-newer techniques for dirty campaigning. The election season is barely underway and scandals abound. Publication of an article linking the ethnic German Sverdlovsk Governor Eduard Rossel to Russia's fascist parties is only the latest example in this on-going trend. (-2)
----- Local government continues to be held hostage by regional governments in numerous republics and oblasts. Regions like Kursk and Voronezh are trying to recreate the top-down control already in place in republics like Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and North Osetiya. Prognoses for the future development of local government institutions are bleak. (-2)