Page 26 - RusRPTSept19

2.12 Politics - misc
The US has enacted a second round of sanctions that analysts say are largely symbolic against Russia linked to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal on British soil, Bloomberg reported on August 3 citing the US State Department. The new sanctions, effective of August 26, will prohibit US banks from participating in the issuance of Russian sovereign debt but do not stop them buying on the secondary market, the State Department and Treasury Department said in separate statements. Thesanctions prohibit the extension of financial or technical assistance to Russia from international financial institutions and prohibiting US banks from participating in the primary market for non-ruble-denominated Russian sovereign debt and lending non- ruble denominated funds to the Russian government.
Russia's Federal Security Bureau (FSB) will be given new powers that will allow it to block websites without the need for a court order, Kommersant daily reported on August 6 citing unnamed sources. Reportedly, the National Coordination Centre on Computer Incidents (NKCKI) controlled by the FSB will be able to block the domains faster than a normal legal procedure through court of RosKomNadzor communication watchdog would require. NKCKI was founded in autumn 2018 by the direct order of the FSB head Alexander Bortnikov, and has its main goals prevention of cyber attacks, information exchange between security institutions, as well as analysis of past cyberattacks. The data of the centre claims that since December 2018 it prevented over 7,000 cyberattacks in Russia and abroad.
2.13 Polls & Sociology
A third (29%) of Russian respondents described late 1970s-early 1980s Soviet rule as “close to people” when offered a list of choices, according to Levada’s results published August 5. A quarter of the respondents said Soviet rule was “strong and enduring,” 22% called it “just” and 20% “legitimate.” When asked to characterize Russia's current leadership, 41% called it “criminal and corrupt” and 31% called it “distant from the people and alien.” Another 24% called the regime “bureaucratic,” 19% “shortsighted” and 15% “inconsistent.” The poll’s methodology of giving multiple choices makes it less likely for respondents to provide the answer they think is expected from them, Lev Gudkov, the head of Levada, said in comments to the Vedomosti business daily.
Nearly 200,000 more Russians died than were born in the first half of this year, the worst figure since 2008, data published by the Russian Federal State Statistics Service shows, according to Nezavisimaya Gazeta. In January- June 2019, some 719,700 people were born in Russia, 8% fewer than in the same period in 2018. Meanwhile, 918,500 people died, or 3% fewer than the previous year. The only positive note is that infant mortality has significantly declined (nearly 8% per year), the state statistics agency said.
More than half of Russians fear a nuclear war, according to the state owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM). A third (33%) of respondents are worried about a war, 14% are very anxious, and 5% are constantly afraid. Almost 80% of respondents are confident that in the event of such a conflict, they will not be able to survive, despite the bomb shelters and
26 RUSSIA Country Report September 2019 www.intellinews.com