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Aleh Tsyvinski
For Aleh Tsyvinski's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 9, 2012
Russia's inevitable democratization
Twenty years ago, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, the Soviet Union ended, and Russia began an imperfect transition to democratic capitalism — a transition that has proven to be far more difficult than expected.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 14, 2011
Medvedev's purge of the Kremlin chairmen
MOSCOW — In recent days, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has moved against some of the most powerful men in the Kremlin, including Igor Sechin, a deputy prime minister who is perhaps the closest figure to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin — and who is also the chairman of Rosneft, Russia's largest oil firm. A decree signed by Medvedev with the stated purpose of improving the country's investment climate will strip Sechin and others of their chairmanships of some of Russia's biggest state-owned companies. But the purge may reflect other, more important goals.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 26, 2011
Conscripted prisoners of the Russian Army
MOSCOW — Some of the most interesting artifacts of the Soviet Union in Russia are the holidays that continue to be celebrated, almost two decades after the fall of communism. On Feb. 23, Russians celebrated the "Day of the Defender of the Fatherland," a rough equivalent of Father's Day but with a militaristic flavor. On this day, daughters, wives, and girlfriends give presents to Russian men and lavish them with attention. (In fairness, there is also "Women's Day" — March 8 — and a newly popular Valentine's Day.)
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 4, 2010
That 70s show in Russia
MOSCOW — Can Russia escape the "resource curse" implied by high oil prices, or will it succumb to what we call a "70-80" scenario? That is the question confronting Russians today, and we fear that their fate will be the latter: If oil prices remain at $70 to $80 per barrel, Russia is likely to relive key features of the Brezhnev era of the 1970s and 1980s — with a stagnating economy and 70 to 80 percent approval ratings for its political leaders.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 5, 2009
Can Russia's economy be saved?
MOSCOW — Russia's economy is collapsing, but the situation could be worse. The economic crisis has finally forced the government to adopt sensible policies, thereby staving off disaster — at least for now.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 18, 2008
The Russians are coming — loaded with cash
MOSCOW — Russia's government is sitting on a giant pile of cash that it plans to invest in foreign assets. The glimpse of its economic muscle was revealed when the prime minister of Iceland announced that Russia may come with about $5 billion to save its troubled economy. Who could have thought that, given the chaotic Russia of the 1990s, only 10 years later it would be in the position to bail out a developed country? Even more surprising is the fact that the helping hand for Iceland comes at a time when the domestic stock market is in a free fall and trading on the Moscow stock exchange is routinely halted.

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A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world