Class notes February 19

In 2004, Putin was reelected with a huge margin. Some of the major changes he incites while in office are,
1. He reigned in the regional governors back to his control. He pushed a law through the Duma that allowed him to not only appoint the governors but also gave him the ability to fire them at his discretion.
2. He restricted the press and television media and brings most of the media under government control. Whereas his predecessor Yeltsin encouraged freedom of the press, Putin acted strongly against it. The internet has come into governmental sights as of late with 25% of Russia's population having internet access compared to 8% in 2002. There have been actions taken to buy out anti-United Russia party blogs and replace them with supportive ones.
3. Putin brought the oligarchs under control by threatening Boris Berezovski and Gusiniski until they left the country. In November of 2003, however, an oligarch by the name of Khodorkovsky was found to be giving money to an opposition party called Yabloko. He is soon arrested for fraud and tax evasion and his oil company is broken up and governmentalized. He remains in prison to this day.
4. In June of 2002, a bill was passed in Duman that allowed the purchase of private farmland in an effort to reduce foreign food dependence. Vast tracks of land were privatized and Russia's agricultural output has increased.
5. Putin brought more control over elections as the government run media outlets ran almost universal support for Putin and his party. Druing the campaign, 56% of all television news was about the United Russian party. They all ran an issueless campaign, lacking any platform or debates aside from agreeing with whatever Putin says. Despite a legal spending limit, it is estimated that over $400 million was spent in 2003 for the United Russian party's campaign. Millions of pieces of opposing party campaign literature was destroyed, campaign workers were detained, an opposition party candidate was assassinated, and even grocery store clerks were required to wear U.R. party clothing. A law was also changed that required 7% of the vote to go to a party in order for them to get any representation in the legislature.
6. In october of 2004, Putin gains control over the Supreme Qualifaction Colegium, the agency that appoints federal judges. He is allowed to name 11 of the 21 members, basically getting a majority in all decisions.
7. In December of 2005, a bill was passed so that Non-Governmental Agencies had to re-register with the central government and all foreign political funding ceased. By doing this, Putin initiated a 'control' interest group system where no NGO can exist without governmental blessing.

Russia became an 'illiberal democracy' wherein it is technically a democracy but citizens have severely restricted liberties.

In late 207, Putin's term ended and Demitri Medvedev became president. His first act was to appoint Putin as the prime minister, leading many to think that Medvedev is only a puppet under Putin's will. In December of 2008, the constitution was ammended, changing the presidential term from 4 years to 6 years and 5 years for the Duma. Opposition parties complain but it is still easily ratified. Putin was appointed to Chairman of the U.R. party which gives him power to remove anyone in the party he so chooses, essentially making him supreme ruler of Russia.