Getting Used to the Unpredictable
For the first time in many decades a federal minister was arrested on a bribe accusation in Russia. Although the anti-corruption campaign has been going on for quite a while, its overall imitative nature created a lasting impression that top level government officials were immune as long as they obeyed some unofficial rules. However, now the unspoken rules of conduct are once again blurred as corruption is still spread nationwide and there is no clear indication what is allowed and what is punishable.
Russia’s new Foreign Policy Concept was signed and published right in time to allow the US President-elect Donald Trump’s team members to analyze it while developing their Russia strategy. Although the new document has a somewhat stronger language and sometimes refers to antagonistic terms, there is a clear signal from Russia that Moscow seeks a mutually acceptable way of ensuring security.
Russia re-started exploring the option of improving relations with Japan. With the US foreign policy in the Asia Pacific considered largely unpredictable in Moscow, Russia’s leadership believe that now may be a good time as Japan may be in greater need of regional allies than ever.
Russians view migrants as a very significant factor in their lives. Large majorities agree that employers are interested in hiring migrants working illegally for smaller salaries and that drives locals’ income down. Some 70% of urban residents think there is a rather large or large number of migrants in their settlements.
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