Monday, May 20, 2013



Transmission

Odds, Ends, And Autocrats

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (right) with Bekkhan Ibragimov in a photo posted to Kadyrov's Instagram account

After Photo Scandal, No More Instagram For Kadyrov? (UPDATED)

Chechnya's maverick leader Ramzan Kadyrov is threatening to close his Instagram account after he was criticized for posting a photo of himself standing with an ethnic Chechen convicted for involvement in the killing of a Russian soccer fan in 2010. More

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Power Vertical

How Russia Is Ruled

Audio Podcast: Cracking Surkov’s Hall Of Mirrors

Did the gray cardinal of the Kremlin jump ship? Was he pushed? And what are the implications of Vladislav Surkov’s exit from the halls of power? More

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Caucasus Report

Regional Smoke Detector

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (left) chairs a meeting of the Government Commission on Social and Economic Development of the North Caucasian Federal District in Grozny in June 2012, flanked by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, Ingushetia head Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, and Daghestan's Magomedsalam Magomedov (left to right).

Two North Caucasus Republics Set Election Precedent

In line with a recent amendment to last year's law reintroducing direct elections for the heads of Russia's 83 federation subjects, the Daghestani and Ingushetian parliaments have voted overwhelmingly for an alternative option. Will others follow suit? More

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Tangled Web

Digital Dissidents, Rogues

Why Technology-Penetration Rates Are Worthless

Governments and policy pundits frequently cite technology-penetration rates -- Internet, mobile phone, or social media -- as meaningful proxies for deeper concepts. Despite this, in fact, penetrations rates are futile. More

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Gandhara

Blogging Afghanistan

Incoming Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wipes his brow during a meeting with journalists at his house on the outskirts of Lahore on May 13.

Rashid On Sharif: 'I Don't Think The Military Will Be A Hindrance To Him'

Pakistan's Prime Minister-designate Nawaz Sharif is seen as keen on improving relations with the country's neighbors. In an interview with RFE/RL correspondent Abubakar Siddique, Pakistani author Ahmed Rashid weighed in on Sharif's likely approach to relations with Pakistan's neighbors and the United States. More

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