Russia Reform Monitor No. 2438

MOSCOW REVELS IN CAPITOL RIOT
Mere hours after rioters poured through barricades and into the halls of the U.S. Capitol building, Russian state media was using the occasion to foretell the imminent end of American democracy. Members of the Russian legislative branch also weighed in on the issue, and in much the same way. Konstantin Kosachyov, Chairman of the Russian Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to his followers on Facebook that "it is clear American democracy is limping on both feet." Politicians also took shots at America's standing in the world. "The United States certainly cannot now impose electoral standards on other countries and claim to be the world's 'beacon of democracy,'" scoffed Leonid Slutsky, a member of the Russian Duma. (France 24, January 7, 2021)

FSB CASTS A SHADOW OVER RUSSIAN ACADEMIA
Faculty at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of History recently learned that their writings and activities were under observation by a "curator," or resident FSB agent who has been assigned to the institute since last year. News of the agent's presence among the faculty brought back memories of KGB infiltration of academia during the Cold War, when loyalty and contacts with the West were under constant scrutiny. The renewed attention appears to have to do with the Institute's work; in recent years, Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone to great lengths to alter the perception of historical events related to the Second World War, emphasizing the glory of the Red Army while minimizing the discussion surrounding atrocities committed on the Eastern Front. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, January 10, 2021)

PUTIN SUMMONS LEADERS OF AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA FOR TALKS
After helping broker the truce that ended 44 days of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, President Putin invited the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia to Moscow for the next phase of talks regarding long-term peace in the region. At their meeting, Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and the Russian leader discussed lingering issues such as prisoners-of-war, humanitarian relief, and the presence of nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers in the region. The development, however, was not received well in Yerevan; unhappy with the concessions their government made during last year's negotiations, Armenian protestors attempted to prevent Pashinyan from travelling to Russia by blocking roads along his route to the airport. (Al-Jazeera, January 11, 2021)

A WEAKER RUSSIAN VACCINE FOR INTERNATIONAL CONSUMPTION
In order to make good on their promise to provide the "Sputnik-V" coronavirus vaccine to several nations around the world, Russian authorities plan to conduct clinical trials of a diluted variant intended for international export. Dubbed "Sputnik Light," the vaccine will be administered in only a single dose and offer temporary immunity for those who receive it. Nearly a million Russians have already received their first dosage of the original "Sputnik-V" treatment, which will remain the vaccine of choice within the country. Trials of the "Sputnik Light" variant are set to take place in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, however, but will only include 150 participants. (Reuters, January 11, 2021)

NORTH KOREAN ILLICIT LABOR PICKS UP ANEW
According to a source in Pyongyang, the North Korean government is preparing to send an estimated 10,000 laborers to Russia for work in the logging industry. Russia has a history of accepting North Korean labor, but international sanctions and COVID-19 complications slowed the flow of workers in 2020. The source reports that the operation is illicit in nature, for most of the wages earned by the laborers will be returned to the North Korean government in the form of hard currency, and officials with sway in the selection process are reportedly accepting bribes from those looking to work outside the country. The workers are believed to be slated to travel to Russia next month. (Daily NK, January 12, 2021)

DRUGS, TREATMENTS IN SHORT SUPPLY
Due to factors exacerbated by the pandemic, shortages of drugs used to treat a variety of diseases ranging from cystic fibrosis to various forms of cancer are being reported across Russia. The shortfall is partly due due to the drugs' use as COVID-19 therapeutics, as the country continues to grapple with rising case numbers. Local production of the drugs has simply not been able to keep up with demand, while international imports have dwindled in recent years as a result of increased regulation. Medical advocates have already appealed to President Putin for targeted relief, but steps to ramp up either production or imports have yet to be taken. (The Pharma Letter, January 12, 2021)