Russia Reform Monitor: No. 2087

July 30:

In the midst of accusations that the Russian government is behind a recent hack of the Democratic National Convention, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has claimed that it itself was the victim of a coordinated cyberattack which infected the networks of no fewer than 20 Russian state agencies and defense companies with spyware. According to the International Business Times, Russian officials have claimed that the virus was "spread, planned, and made professionally," implying the attack was an act of cyber espionage.

July 31:

Russia's Interior Ministry has announced that it is looking to buy software that will give law enforcement more access to the social network information of Russian Internet users, including private messages, geolocation information, and the ability to map connections between different online users. The initiative, however, is already being implemented on a local level; according to The Moscow Times, seven of Russia's regions are already quietly using the software. The Ministry has maintained that the information gathered as a result of the new software will be used to "counter terrorism and extremism."

August 1:

Back in May, Russia's Economic Development Minister, Alexei Ulyukayev, asserted that the country had been out of recession for six months. A recent report by Moscow's Higher School of Economics, however, suggests otherwise. According to The Moscow Times, the study found that the Russian economy contracted across almost all sectors in the first half of 2016, and GDP could fall as much as 1.5 percent by the end of the year. The overall prognosis is grim - in spite of Kremlin platitudes. "We do not expect sustainable growth to start again in the near future," the report's authors conclude.

August 2:

Worsening relations between Washington and Moscow have led to an increase in the number of Americans facing visa problems and deportation from Russia, The Moscow Times reports. In the first half of 2016 alone, twenty-five U.S. citizens had their residence permits revoked, compared to two in 2015. Russia's Interior Ministry, however, denies the visa recalls are politically motivated, instead claiming visitors are staying past their permits' expiration dates and that the accusations are a part of "anti-Russian hysteria in Washington."

August 3:

A recent anthrax outbreak in northern Siberia has left thousands of reindeer infected, one child dead, and authorities scrambling to keep the bacteria under control, reports NPR. Russian officials believe the outbreak was caused by a recent heat wave that thawed frozen soil in which a reindeer carcass was buried. The reindeer was likely infected with anthrax decades ago. Scientists warn that the outbreak is only one example of the potential side effects of climate change in the region, where temperatures are rising three times faster than in other parts of the world.

August 4:

In a further blow to Ukrainian-Russian diplomatic relations, Kyiv has rejected Russia's newly appointed ambassador to Ukraine. Not having an ambassador would "not have any impact, [as] the role of the former ambassador in building normal relations was completely minimal," the Poroshenko government said in a formal statement. Ukraine has thus far offered no explanation for the rejection of the Kremlin's new appointee, Mikhail Babich, Reuters reports. Moscow, meanwhile, is standing its ground. The Kremlin has made clear that it will continue to offer Babich as a candidate, but will accept a diminished level of diplomatic relations if Ukraine continues to reject him.