The Moscow Times Opinion

Central Bank Focusing on the Wrong Rate

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Once in a while, as in early 2007 and more recently, the Central Bank has purposefully pursued an appreciation of the nominal exchange rate in the theoretically correct but misguided belief that it would help to curb inflation.

Cutting-Edge Incompetence

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Could it really be that our leaders care nothing about the country and worry only about their private villas and other assets overseas?

The Best Way to Deal With Nationalists

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Educating people about extremism, giving nationalists their own political representation and prosecuting extremist behavior according to the Constitution would be a start.

More Walls Need to Fall

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The climate crisis is the new wall dividing us from our future, and global leaders must tear down this wall as well.

Finding the Right Tone For Medvedev�s Speech

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Medvedev needs to decide whether he wants to make his regular smart speech or go for the jugular and ask Russians to sacrifice for their country to bridge the �modernization divide� with leading powers.

The Moscow Bubble

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Moscow remains beholden to the Russian economic boom, which in turn directly depends on oil prices, and if they fall again in coming months, the city's real estate bubble may burst spectacularly.

The Wall That Changed Modern History

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Even the most seemingly trivial factor can spark a historical event.

Spending Money Hand Over Fist

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Today if you want to describe a spendthrift, you might use the word ��, � noun derived from the verb �� (to spend wastefully), which came to Russian from the French.

Very Little to Celebrate

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

While the rest of the world is commemorating the 20th-year anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain, Russia is left wondering why it has so little to celebrate.

Hunting Tourists and Pensioners

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

On the whole, the Kremlin has little to worry about since the threat from protests is very low, which may explain why the training that riot police received last week was focused on rounding up a bunch of frail pensioners.

Fall of Berlin Wall Led to Asia�s Rise

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

For Asia, the most important consequence of the fall of the Berlin Wall was that the collapse of communism produced a shift from the primacy of military power to economic power in shaping the international order.

Russia�s Eternal Military-Industrial Kolkhoz

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

People have long ceased to be amazed by the fact that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has a habit of meddling in Russia�s military affairs, national security and foreign policy � all of which belong to the constitutional domain of President Dmitry Medvedev.

Between The Lines: The Politics of Figure Skating

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

When Anton Sikharulidze, the former figure skater and current United Russia member, was asked why he awarded low marks to a pair of figure skaters who had just given a touching portrayal of lovers who reunite during the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Missile Defense Could Be the Silver Bullet

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

In the eyes of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the �resetting� of U.S.-Russian relations became a reality only six weeks ago, when U.S. President Barack Obama announced his decision to reconfigure U.S. missile defense plans for Europe.

Stronger Than You Think

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Russia, whose influence extends to Europe, Central Asia, the Far East and the Arctic, is much more than a just a �regional power.�

South of the Border: Saakashvili, Sin and The Georgian Church

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

In a country where the patriarch has become an increasingly potent and unquestionable figure, criticism of the religious establishment is a fast track to pariah status.

The Russian Front: Kommersant and Cappuccino

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Are the free media like Kommersant and Ekho Moskvy radio really free or only purposely tolerated to let the intelligentsia blow off steam?

The Word's Worth: Plastered, Sealed and Delivered

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

It turns out that in kitchen terminology, �� is the backsplash � the wall tiles between the base and wall cabinets. It�s also roof flashing (which I know because we�ve been fixing that, too).

Time to Take the Devil Out of NATO

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

There is a rich Soviet history of crude anti-NATO propaganda. Unfortunately, this Krokodil-like depiction continues today.

No Need to Get Grumpy

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The United States moved from an era when civil rights workers were killed to electing a black president. Nothing to get grumpy about.

Always a Dissident: Rehabilitating Marx

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The Vatican is displaying basic common sense in stating that a Marxist analysis can and should be used to find answers to questions raised by the worst modern economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Go, Sovereign Democracy!

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The United States seemed to take a hands-off approach to Russia�s election irregularities, as did most Russians.

The Leader of the CIS Is Lonely and Weak

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The Kremlin is spoiling its relations with its neighbors in a seemingly mindless fashion.

Inside Russia: Zyazikov�s Endless Power Struggle

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Maksharip Aushev�s killing could be linked to the issue of whether to initiate criminal proceedings in Moscow against the Zyazikov administration for embezzlement of state funds.

How to Keep Iran Nuclear-Free

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Iran�s leaders publicly deny any plans for developing nuclear weapons, but there are three main reasons why Iran wants nuclear weapons.