Lucian Kim

Jan 23, 2025 | journalofdemocracy.org | Lucian Kim |Kathryn Stoner

It is almost a year since the death of Alexei Navalny. The Russian opposition leader sought to channel Russian nationalism as a challenge to Putin’s autocracy. He gave everything in the fight. By Lucian KimJanuary 2025Perhaps the greatest paradox of Alexei Navalny was that although he called himself a Russian nationalist, supporters at home and abroad saw him as a liberal who would bring Russia closer to the West.

Jan 14, 2025 | wilsoncenter.org | Boris Grozovski |William Hill |Maxim Trudolyubov |Lucian Kim

Russia’s exiled opposition faces a critical challenge of legitimacy, struggling to connect with the Russian people at home and abroad, and with international audiences as well. While united in their anti-Putin stance, divisions over patriotism, national identity, and Western alignment have hindered their ability to build a cohesive movement.

Jan 10, 2025 | wilsoncenter.org | Boris Grozovski |William Hill |Maxim Trudolyubov |Lucian Kim

Russia’s war economy, now in its third year, is facing mounting challenges, including rising inflation, labor shortages, and growing economic imbalances. While these issues strain the civilian economy, they have not been severe enough to force Vladimir Putin to halt the war.

Jan 7, 2025 | wilsoncenter.org | William Hill |Maxim Trudolyubov |Lucian Kim |Alla Polishchuk

On January 1, 2025, at 8 am Moscow time, Gazprom ceased delivery of natural gas to Moldova. Moldova was left with a diminished supply of natural gas, and its breakaway Transnistrian region was left totally without. Gazprom’s action has also caused reduced supplies of electricity throughout Moldova, with rolling blackouts in Transnistria. Consumers in Moldova are already affected by rising prices for light and heat. The Transnistrian economy has largely shut down.

Feb 16, 2024 | journalofdemocracy.org | Lucian Kim |Kathryn Stoner |Maria Snegovaya |Michael A. McFaul

Alexei Navalny loved Russia and was willing to risk everything for it. It is hard to grasp the magnitude of his death for his people and his country. By Lucian KimFebruary 2024Alexei Navalny defied death several times in his career as Vladimir Putin’s chief domestic opponent. When I worked as National Public Radio’s correspondent in Moscow a few years ago, my editors asked me to prepare an obituary in the event of Navalny’s untimely death.