ROSJA: W STRONĘ OBLĘŻONEJ TWIERDZY
RUSSIA: A TOWER UNDER SIEGE

Author(s): Marek Menkiszak
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Economy, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Geography, Regional studies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: Address to the Federal Council; amendments to the constitution; coronavirus; Idlib; INF Treaty; Dmitriy Medwedev; Mikhail Mishustin; Nord Stream 2; NEW START Treaty; Vladimir Putin
Summary/Abstract: The still relatively weak public support for the government and the outbreak of localprotests were a source of concern for the Kremlin in 2019. Responding to those,the authorities tightened control over the Internet and launched a historical campaignto create an image of an external enemy. Above all, however, at the beginningof 2020, the Kremlin changed the government, initiated constitutional amendmentsand announced new social transfers. This was not only meant to meet the socialdemand for change, but also to prepare a process of power succession, which aimedin fact at guaranteeing the continuation of Putin’s rule. This process was acceleratedbecause the economy was stagnant, with no prospects of much improvement while newchallenges appeared on the horizon. In foreign aff airs, Russia continued its currentpolicy, abandoning hope for a breakthrough in relations with the US. However, it hopedthat growing transatlantic tensions and the fear of strengthening Russian-Chinesecooperation would lead European countries to revise their policy in a direction morefavourable for Moscow, which was reinforced by France’s initiatives to normalizerelations with Russia.

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