Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests
Abstract
Dmitry Medvedev, Putin's chosen successor and long-time protege, was elected President of the Russian Federation on March 2, 2008 with about 70% of the vote. Medvedev, formerly First Deputy Prime Minister, announced during the campaign that if elected, he would propose Putin as Prime Minister. Medvedev was inaugurated as President on May 7; Putin was confirmed as Prime Minister the next day. The Kremlin s Unified Russia party had previously swept the parliamentary election (December 2, 2007), winning more than two-thirds of the seats in the Duma. U.S. and EU observers criticized both elections as unfairly controlled by the governing authorities. Nevertheless, Putin s widespread popularity in Russia led many to conclude that the election results corresponded to Russian public opinion. The economic upturn that began in 1999 is continuing. The GDP, domestic investment, and the general living standard have been growing impressively after a decade-long decline, fueled in large part by profits from oil and gas exports. There is a budget surplus, and the ruble is stable. Some major problems remain: 15% of the population live below the poverty line; foreign investment is relatively low; inflation is rising; and crime, corruption, capital flight, and unemployment remain high. Russian foreign policy has grown more self-confident, assertive and antiwestern, fueled by its perceived status as an energy superpower. Russia s drive to reassert dominance in and integration of the former Soviet states is most successful with Belarus and Armenia but arouses opposition in Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova. The Commonwealth of Independent States as an institution is failing. Washington and Moscow have found some common ground on the Iranian and North Korean nuclear concerns, but tension is rising on other issues such as NATO enlargement, Kosovo, and proposed U.S. missile defenses in Eastern Europe.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 28, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA486041
Entities
People
- Stuart D. Goldman
Organizations
- Library of Congress