Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: Russia Runs Out of Human Resources

Dmitry Medvedev has recently broached the issue of an acute personnel shortage that the Russian governmental apparatus is facing. The president believes that time has come to put an end to cronyism, where loyalty was seen as more valuable than experience, and will thus start assessing potential candidates’ qualifications himself. Is the solution he has outlined – creating a database of presidential personnel reserve– likely to succeed? Or does the task of brining new talented people into the Russian government service require more sweeping political reforms, like reintroduction of popular elections for regional governors and members of the Federation Council?
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The Grand Game of Symbols

The 1020th Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’, which took place in Kiev last weekend, brought the worldwide Orthodox Church to the brink of a major schism. The drama over the creation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church is likely to continue, but to date, the results of the celebrations are not what President Victor Yushchenko was trying to accomplish.
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A Truck with a Brand Name

While Russia has been the hottest market for automobiles over the past decade, trucks have been somewhat under the radar. The country’s largest producer of heavy-duty vehicles Kamaz is making headlines this week due to Daimler’s intention to buy a share of the company. As the world’s leading manufacturer of heavy-duty vehicles, the famous German carmaker, known for its luxurious Mercedes Benz brand, is willing to share its know-how with Russia’s expanding industry.
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A Russian Jewish Group Warns Ukrainian Leadership Against Praising Collaborators

As mutual accusations rooted in divergent perceptions of historical issues continue flying back and fourth between Russia and Ukraine, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia calls for restraint and realism in assessing the events of the 1930s and 1940s and in glorifying controversial historical figures.
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