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denkfabrik Russia Digest · 17 August 2026 17 August 2026 Russia enters 2026 with momentum fading — Q1 showed the first annual GDP contraction in three years. Inflation held flat at 6.0% in July but gasoline prices accelerated sharply (+25.9% YoY) from refinery drone strikes. The Bank of Russia cut rates to 14.0% in July,…
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Once hailed as the ultimate “democratizing force,” the internet has undergone a dark transformation. Today, the digital landscape is increasingly dominated by state-sponsored surveillance, sophisticated censorship, and the relentless spread of propaganda. For many living under modern autocracies, the dream of an open web has been replaced by the reality of a “Digital Gulag.”How did we…
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Across Iran, a powerful wave of anti-government protests is making headlines. Driven by soaring prices, a collapsing currency, lack of social freedom, and deep political frustration, people are taking to the streets in record numbers. While some see this as the beginning of the end for the current regime, the state has met the movement…
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Across Iran, a powerful wave of anti-government protests is making headlines. Driven by soaring prices, a collapsing currency, lack of social freedom, and deep political frustration, people are taking to the streets in record numbers. While some see this as the beginning of the end for the current regime, the state has met the movement…
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Armed conflict is inherently destructive. Beyond the immediate human suffering, war leaves behind a toxic legacy: it devastates ecosystems, endangers human health, and threatens long-term recovery. What does international experience tell us on the lasting impact of war on environment and what can Ukraine learn from it to overcome it? To get the answers, we…
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Traditionally, many saw the rise of a stable middle class as a key to political democratization—and Russia was no exception. Yet just a decade after the onset of civil protests of 2011-2013, many of the well-educated, urban professionals were within the ranks of Putin’s authoritarian state machine. What has become of those on whom so…
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Armed conflict is inherently destructive. Beyond the immediate human suffering, war leaves behind a toxic legacy: it devastates ecosystems, endangers human health, and threatens long-term recovery. What does international experience tell us on the lasting impact of war on environment and what can Ukraine learn from it to overcome it?
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Traditionally, many saw the rise of a stable middle class as a key to political democratization—and Russia was no exception. Yet just a decade after the onset of civil protests of 2011-2013, many of the well-educated, urban professionals were within the ranks of Putin’s authoritarian state machine. What has become of those on whom so…
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In 2010, the Republican Party in the US stood for free markets, constitutional governance, and the transatlantic alliance. A decade later, it had changed beyond recognition following Trump’s rise to power. How did the Republican Party transform from a mainstream political force into a personalized movement centered around Donald Trump? To guide us through this…
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After years of dependence on Russia as its main security guarantor, Armenia is entering a new and uncertain chapter. The peace deal with Azerbaijan has reopened old wounds while forcing the country to rethink its alliances. For many Armenians, the idea of looking West is no longer abstract but a matter of survival and political…