Dear CCI Friends,
Two major themes are competing for space in all news agencies today.
1. Putin’s radical changes in the Russian government from now forward.
2. Continued reverberations across the world regarding Soleimani’s assassination.
Natylie Baldwin’s excellent analysis of Putin’s changes will be first, followed by my backgrounder that may give perspective to the role Putin plays in this week’s news. Then the coverage on Soleimani’s death and its impact throughout the world.
Sharon Tennison
Center for Citizen Initiatives
PUTIN PROPOSES CHANGES TO CONSTITUTION AT ADDRESS TO FEDERAL ASSEMBLY; MEDVEDEV RESIGNS, HEAD OF RUSSIA’S TAX SERVICE NAMED NEW PRIME MINISTER – WHAT’S GOING ON?
January 17, 2020
By Natylie Baldwin
Russian President Vladimir Putin Preparing to Address the Federal Assembly, January 2020
There’s been a major shakeup this week in domestic Russian politics. It kicked off with Putin’s annual address to the Federal Assembly earlier this week, which usually happens in the spring, not in January. Among other topics, Putin announced changes he wanted made to the Russian constitution, which he had telegraphed during his December Q&A. This was followed by prime minister Dmitry Medvedev’s resignation (along with his cabinet) and the appointment of Mikhail Mishustin as his replacement.
However, before we delve into the details of this turn of events, it’s important to review what Putin’s priorities have been for Russia since he came to power, which will help to place these latest events into a larger context.
As I’ve discussed many times before, Russia was on the verge of being a failed state in 2000 when Putin took the helm. There were crises in every major area of state governance: the military was in shambles, the economy had collapsed, crime was rampant, massive poverty pervaded the country, and Russians were experiencing the worst mortality crisis since World War II.
Having studied Putin’s governance and how Russia has fared over the two decades in which he has ruled, it’s clear that he’s had three main priorities for Russia in the following order:
- Ensuring Russia’s national security and sovereignty as an independent nation. In previous writings, I’ve explained the importance of national security to Russians as a result of their history and geography;
- Improving the economy and living standards for Russians; and,
- The gradual democratization of the country.