Russia and The New Cold War Flashcards
Why is now the most peaceful moment of our species time on earth?
90% reduction in the number of deaths by genocide and fewer civil wars
When did the Eastern Bloc collapse?
1989
Who was the last leader of the soviet union (1985-1991)
Mikhail Gorbachev
Who was the first president of the Russian Federation?
Boris Yeltsin
What was wrong with Yeltsin’s decade?
Uncontrollable and corrupt, privatization of state assets Rise of oligarchs, economic and social problems. Rise of regional conflicts such as Chechnya
Who is the prime minister of Russia
Dmitry Medvedev
What was putin’s strategic aim?
To regain control of central and eastern europe and rebuild russia’s sphere of influence.
What were the 4 countries Russia fuelled separatist conflicts in?
Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Kyrgastan
What was putin’s main weapon
Oil and gas pipelines
How did putin manage international affairs
With a tough approach, shutting opposition voices, controlling domestic politics and oligarchs.
Who is the chairman of the KGB (1967-1982)
Yuri Andropov
Who has an ongoing vendetta with Boris Berosovsky?
Roman Abramovich
Who was arrested for tax fraud and imprisoned in a labour camp on putins orders?
Mikhail Khordorkovsky
What taxes did Mikhail Khordorkovksy evade?
Oil taxes
Who was the wealthiest man in Russia in early 2000’s?
Mikhail Khordorkovsky
Who was known as ‘Putin’s son’?
Roman Abramovich
Who was given the title of ‘King of Aluminium’
Oleg Deripaska
Who is the president of Russneft?
Mikhail Gutseriyev
Who’s son was killed to lure them back into Russia?
Mikhail Gutseriyev
Who did the owner of Russeft sell it to?
Oleg Deripaska
What is Rosneft?
State run oil company
What is RUSAL and who owns it?
Aluminium company and Oleg Deripaska
Who is the journalistic oligarch owning Novaya Gazeta and also has stakes in Gazprom?
Alexander Lebedev
Which oligarch is in the precious metals sector, is among the richest men in Russia and launched a presidential campaign in 2011?
Mikhail Prokhorov
Which oligarach has attempted to gain a canadian citizenship but was denied due to involvement in money laundering and arms deals
Vitaly Malkin
Who was the co-founder of Rossisskii Kredit, 3rd largest bank in the 1990’s?
Vitaly Malkin
Who made a fortune in Yeltsin’s decade
Boris Berosovsky
Who is linked to chechyn rebels
Boris Berosovsky
What year did Boris Berosovsky die?
2013
Why did people assume Boris killed himself?
Financial difficulties and post mortem identified hanging as cause of death. He seemed depressed after having to pay 35m in legal fees.
What are putins rules of the game?
Never sponser opposition Never do business with the west Don't show off, not in russia Do not send your money abroad Do not attempt to influence economic policy
What year did Russia cut off Ukraines natural gas
2006
Who is the CEO of Gazprom
Alexey Miller
What company turned off Ukraines gas?
Gazprom
Who is the elected president of Ukraine?
Petro Poroshenko
What does Petro Poroshenko want for Ukraine?
wants Ukraine to intergrate with EU and NATO but also wants to restore relations with Russia
What was the number of the plane that got shot down and crashed in Donetsk
MH17
Who did Russia blame for the crash of flight MH17
Ukraine government
What is the Minsk Protocol?
Immediate ceasefire and humanitarian intervention signed by Ukraine Donetsk peoples republic DPR and Russia in 2014
Was the Minsk protocol successful?
No, January 2015 the ceasefire breaks down, a minsk II is made between the normandy 4. That wasn’t so successful either with failed ceasefires and regular killings
How much does Russia rely on oil revenues for it’s budget
oil revenues add up to half of russias budget. needs to sell at more than $100 to balance the budget
Did Russia fund Greece’s economy
No, after the referendum on a draft bailout agreement, Greek PM finds out that Russia is NOT prepared to fund Greece’s economy.
What were putins aims for Georgia?
Stop Georgias accession to NATO, bring down pro west georgian president Mikheil saakashviki and contrl flow of oil and natural gas
What are the 2 main georgian regions that became contested territories with strong russian influence?
South Ossetia and Abkhazia
What happened at the end of the war with Georgia?
Russia withdrew uncontested but left ‘peacekeeping troops throughout south ossetia and abkhazia
What is Transnistria
Part of Moldova that is a hothouse of international crime
What deal did Russia make with the Dissidents of Transistria?
Dissidents will settle for Autonomy rather than independece but Moldova WONT seek entry to NATO
What is special about Kyrgyzstan
It was the only country to hist a Russian and a US military air base
When did the Tulip revolution take place and in what country?
2005 Kyrgyzstan
Who did the Tulip Revolution overthrow?
Akayev, then Bakiyev was overthrown then new president Otunbayeva turned towards russia and they close the US airbase in 2014
What 5 terrorist attacks did putin use to consolodate power
Moscow apartment bombings (1999) Theatre Siege (2002) Beslan School Siege (2004) Moscow Metro Bombings (2010) Moscow Airport bombing (2011)
What was the most devastating attack with most people killed? How many were killed and taken as hostages?
Beslan School Seige 1,110 hostages and 380+ killed
How many were held hostage in the theatre siege?
850
What terrorist attack led to the second chechen war?
Moscow Apartment Bombings
Who was Anna Politkovskaya?
A journalist, writer and human rights activist who was a critic of Putin. Accused him of establishing a dictatorship. She was poisoned whilst covering the Beslan School Siege in 2004 and then was assassinated in 2006 in her apartment lift.
What was litveneko poisened with?
Polonium 210
Who was Natalia Estemirova
Awarded the Anna politkovkskaya award, documented hundreds of cases of abuse in Chechnya. Abducted from home and shot dead in 2009.
Who was Boris Nemtsov
Oppostion and vocal critic of The Kremlin. Was working on a report that would have proven that Russia aided the separatists in east ukraine. Died in 2015 - Some are suspicious of putin for his death.
What is Ria Novosti?
Russias biggest international news agency
Which anti-west homophobic russian guy was appointed by putin to be the head of the new government controlled news agency?
Dmitry Kiselyov
What is Russias position in the press freedom index?
148/180
What year was the law passed giving the FSB
further expanding powers
2010 under Dmity Medvedev
What were the new expanded powers of the FSB?
Warn citizens of creating the conditions for crimes
obstructing an FSB officer of refusing a request can lead to a detention or fine
What is Occupy Pedophilia
Catfishing gay men and injuring them and humiliating them
When was the bill outlawing the promotion of homosexuality passed?
2013
Who are Russias ‘allies’ that Russia took part in joint military exercises with?
Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
What was the new role given to the FSB?
Fight corruption
What was the new equipment introduced when the Russian armed forces was reformed?
Tupolev Tu-160 (Blackjack) August 2007.
Sukhoi PAK FA T50 (Stealth fighter jet)
Submarine Yuri Dolgorukiy
Who did Russia test out the Tupolev Tu-160 with?
China
Who intercepted the Tupolev’s after they breached NATO airspace?
Norway and Britain
Where and when did the Tu-160 breach UK airspace?
September 2008 was revealed that a Tupolev breached UK airspace undetected and got 20 miles off Hull
Who was the Sukhoi PAK FA T50 develpoed in collaboration with?
India
What was the first fighter jet to be designed since the collapse of the USSR
Sukhoi PAK FA T50
When will the Sukhoi be rolled out?
2018
Who did the US negotiate with for the construction of a missile shield installation
Poland and Czech Republic
What was the aim of the missile shield?
To protect europe from Iran
What did Russia threaten poland with for signing formal agreements with NATO about an anti missile shield?
Russia Threatened poland with a strike or even a nuclear attack.
Why did Medvedev announce deployment if Iskander to Kaliningrad?
Because US, Czech republic and Poland were discussing a anti missile shield
What was Obama’s reaction to the deployment of Iskander?
He cancels the missile defence project in poland and czech republic
What was Medvedev’s response to Obama cancelling missile shield?
He cancels deployment of Iskander missiles to Kalingrad but then announces extensive network of iskander missiles in every district apart from Kaliningrad
Who announced a deal with the US to install anti missile shield in 2010?
Romania
Where did the talks take place about NATO’s Missile defence system in 2012
The 2012 Chicago Summit
Where are Nato’s 6 new command posts based? (2015)
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria
What were the 5 key targets set by NATO in their 10 year plan during the 2010 Lisbon Summit
Tackling cyber attacks War on drugs Preventing terrorism Nuclear non-proliferation Maritime security
Why were the 6 new command posts activated in the first place?
To better protect the region in the event of any threat from Russia
