(EDM) The annual presidential address to the Federal Assembly (upper chamber of the Russian parliament) is a big political show in Russia, which tells little about the state of the country but much about the mood in the ruling elite. The address, delivered by President Vladimir Putin last week (February 20), revealed worries in the Kremlin about the spreading discontent and declining popularity of the leader who took charge nearly 20 years ago (Moscow Echo, February 20). His appeal not to lose any time in executing the ambitious guidelines was heavily recycled, but the keen attention to particular social problems was supposed to restore the population’s confidence in the benevolence of the supreme ruler (Newsru.com, February 22). Putin made no clear attempt to present a coherent ideology purportedly underpinning his reign; although one of his minor courtiers, Kremlin advisor Vladislav Surkov, had inventively suggested one a week prior to the presidential gala (Business Online, February 15). Moreover, in his speech, the Russian president only briefly touched on foreign policy. It is, therefore, quite illuminating to note the international matters of major importance to Moscow that he specifically omitted. […]
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