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Main page > Products > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts - The weekly bulletin > Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (37) 725
Politics in Russia: power, lobby, conflicts. Issue No (37) 725
September 1-7, 2008
Main tendencies of political week
The beginning of September was marked by the duumvirate members’ return to their traditional roles. On Knowledge Day Dmitry Medvedev acted as supervisor of education and family, while Vladimir Putin as a politician personifying masculine features (an episode of tranquilizing a tigress in the Far East). However the return to the origins was not complete; Dmitry Medvedev continued making sharp foreign policy statements and Vladimir Putin paid attention to education as prime minister. Meanwhile there were speculations regarding the real author of the decision to recognize independence of the republics in Transcaucasia on August 26, though it is likely to have been made by both politicians.
The August events were also reflected on TV channels last week that adjusted their program schedules to the domestic policy’s turn towards sovereign and patriotic values. In particular, the airtime of anchorpersons of a moderate liberal reputation was cut while supporters of hardliners towards the West increased their activity on television. Some liberal TV channels (REN TV first of all) made attempts to ‘reciprocate’ but their attempts were isolated due to scarce resources. In contrast to fears of some observers, changes on state TV channels will not lead to decline in ratings of trust in them by the population, which is confirmed by the retrospective analysis of survey results on the background of the previous evolution of TV channels towards the sovereign and patriotic rhetoric.
Coordination of actions by the duumvirate members did not lead to the weakening of inside elite conflicts on lower levels of power. In particular, the anti-monopoly service continued attempts to get additional levers of influence on sectors of economy. Deputy PM Igor Sechin is likely to provide support to the service in its attempts. A new sharpening of interdepartmental relations was observed in the natural resources ministry. Rostekhnadzor head Konstantin Pulikovsky left the post, while a conflict between Rosprirodnadzor chief Vladimir Kirillov and his deputy Oleg Mitvol entered the hot stage.
At the same time there was positive dynamics in confrontation of siloviki, namely between prosecutor general Yury Chaika and investigation committee head Alexander Bastrykin. The last week events showed the sides’ readiness to compromise. At the same time the outlooks for such cooperation are still under question since it is not clear what HR decisions will be made during the autumn reshuffle in the government.
Major events September 1 - September 7, 2008
| Event | Winning side | Defeated side | Development Outlooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting of the State Council chaired by president Dmitry Medvedev | Dmitry Medvedev |
| Russian president will intensify attempts to consolidate governors around him |
| Vladimir Putin’s interview with Rossiya TV channel | Vladimir Putin |
| Duumvirate members will keep on repeating previously voiced theses on Russia’s justified actions and showing lack of fears of confrontation with the West |
| Rosprirodnadzor head Vladimir Kirillov asks natural resources minister Yury Trutnev to dismiss Oleg Mitvol | Vladimir Kirillov | Oleg Mitvol | Mitvol may be dismissed but not earlier than the government reshuffle in autumn |
| Igor Shuvalov is appointed head of the organizing committee for preparations for the APEC summit in Vladivostok | Igor Shuvalov | Oleg Safonov, Viktor Ivanov | It is not ruled out that Oleg Safonov’s influence on distributing funds for preparing the summit will decrease substantially |
| Information is posted about Yury Sharandin’s possible appointment as head of the constitutional department of the Federation Council staff |
|
| Sharandin’s candidature is likely to be approved |
| A meeting in Moscow of presidential deputy envoys to federal districts regarding strike movement |
|
| The autumn wave of strikes will not be of political character in general |
| Rostekhnadzor head Konstantin Pulikovsky is dismissed | Yury Trutnev, Vladimir Kirillov | Konstantin Pulikovsky | Process of transferring authority in the sphere of ecological oversight from Rostekhnadzor to Rosprirodnadzor will be accelerated |
| Prosecutor general Yury Chaika visits anniversary meeting devoted to the beginning of functioning of the Investigation Committee | Yury Chaika, Alexander Bastrykin |
| Reconciliation between the prosecutor general’s office and investigation committee may happen |
| Information is posted that the prosecutor general’s office may become coordinator of struggle of power agencies against corruption | Yury Chaika |
| Without possibility to initiate criminal cases such functions will be fiction |
| Anti-monopoly service publishes initiatives aimed at toughening responsibility for violating anti-monopoly legislation | Igor Artemyev |
| Part of these initiatives will be supported by deputy PM Igor Sechin |
Volume: 15 pages
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