The population of a colossal country may be clinging to its Soviet self-perception, but it is no longer Soviet—nor Western—and has lost all semblance of identity.
Andrei Kolesnikov is no longer with the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.
Andrei Kolesnikov was a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. His research focuses on the major trends shaping Russian domestic politics, with particular focus on ideological shifts inside Russian society.
Kolesnikov is also a member of the scientific advisory council of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) and a senior research associate fellow at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI).
Before joining Carnegie in 2015, Kolesnikov worked for a number of leading Russian publications. He previously was the managing editor of Novaya Gazeta newspaper and served as deputy editor in chief of Izvestia and The New Times.
He has won numerous journalism awards, including the Russian Golden Quill (Zolotoye Pero Rossii) Award, the Adam Smith Prize, and the 2021 Yegor Gaidar Award for outstanding contribution to the study of history.
Kolesnikov is author of several books, including a biography of the Russian reformer Yegor Gaidar.
The population of a colossal country may be clinging to its Soviet self-perception, but it is no longer Soviet—nor Western—and has lost all semblance of identity.
Relearning a Soviet-Era Art Amid Repression and War.
The formation in Russia of a new concept of “fairness” is testament to how long the war in Ukraine is expected to continue. The “special military operation” is fast approaching a way of life.
While there is no doubt over the election’s outcome, the presidential campaign is already exposing the myth of complete consolidation around an irreplaceable president. Vladimir Putin may be winning in the short term, but he is strewing mines beneath the country’s future.
How Putin’s Pursuit of Power Has Hollowed Out the Country and Its People.
Alexei Navalny will not be forgotten. He was a unique example of a fearless politician in a country where politics in the traditional sense of the word is directly forbidden on the threat of reprisals.
It’s been almost two years since the Kremlin launched what it terms its “special military operation” against Ukraine, and most Russians have learned to cope with wartime pressures by distancing themselves as much as possible from what is unfolding on the battlefield.
Andrei Kolesnikov spoke with Foreign Affairs Senior Editor Hugh Eakin on January 8 about Putin’s hold on power and how Russians view their leader and his disastrous war.
2024 is a crucial year for Russia. The Kremlin will face the challenge of elections and the conflict in Ukraine in a tumultuous geopolitical context. Andrei Kolesnikov delves into the complexities of the country's internal dynamics, the impending presidential elections, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Many Russians equate their country with the political regime that rules it, and believe it is their duty to support the state’s actions. This belief and the limited impact the war in Ukraine has had on the day-to-day lives of most Russians go some way to explaining continuing high levels of support for the war among Russians.