Russia Reform Monitor: No. 2031

December 19:

In a sign of Russia's fraught political climate, local elections in Siberia have veered into the absurd. The Associated Press reports that in Barnaul, a city of 650,000 in Altai Krai, the leading candidate for governor is a cat. The feline, named Barsik, has captured popular attention - and affection - outpacing six real political candidates standing for office in online polls of potential voters.

Barsik's popularity, local officials acknowledge, is a sad sign of the times. "Through the image of Barsik the cat, our people are sending definite wishes to the future head of Barnaul," the current regional governor, Alexander Karlin, has admitted. Others concur; "The conclusion has been made that there's absolutely no trust among voters for any of the candidates," notes Communist Party pol Ivan Karpov.

December 21:

The European Union has extended its sanctions on Russia yet again. According to the Wall Street Journal, the EU has voted to prolong the economic sanctions levied against Russia in July 2014 for its aggression against Ukraine until at least July of 2016.

Russia has imposed new tariffs on Ukrainian goods, the BBC reports. The restrictions are set to take effect on January 1st. The measures are a response to Kyiv's recent sanctions on Russia, as well as the Ukrainian government's free trade deal with the European Union, which Moscow opposes. The Kremlin fears that Ukraine's unfolding agreement with Europe, officially known as the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), could disadvantage Russia by providing an avenue into the post-Soviet space for cheap European goods. Russian officials say that they have attempted to address their concerns to Ukraine "peacefully and in a mutually beneficial way," but to no avail. "Ukraine and the EU are not prepared to sign a legally binding accord that would take account of Russia's interests," Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

December 22:

Russia's legislature is moving to dramatically expand the power wielded by the country's security services, The Moscow Times reports. A new law, just approved approved by the State Duma, broadens the authorities of officers of the FSB, granting them permission to shoot at crowds, as well as at women and children under certain conditions. The bill now moves to Russia's upper chamber, the Federation Council, and after that will be presented to President Vladimir Putin for signature.

December 23:

The Kremlin is making common cause with other Islamist radicals in the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group. The Washington Post reports that Russia's government has admitted it is sharing information with the Taliban, Afghanistan's Islamist insurgent movement, as part of efforts to beat back the advances of Islamic State radicals in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the "post-Soviet space." According to Zamir Kabulov, the Kremlin's special representative for Afghanistan, the cooperation is possible because "the Taliban interest objectively coincides with ours" and as a result Russia and the Taliban currently "have channels for exchanging information."

Former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky is facing mounting legal troubles from Russia. According to The Moscow Times, the former YUKOS chief has been arrested "in absentia" in the Russian Federation, and declared an internationally wanted fugitive by the Russian government. The charges, leveled by the country's Investigative Committee, stem from a reopened probe into the 1998 murder of Vladimir Petukhov, the mayor of the Siberian city of Nefteyugansk. They allege that Khodorkovsky, currently residing in London, masterminded Petukhov's murder as well as another killing, and attempted to orchestrate the murder of four other individuals.