Analyses

• Medvedev's 'manifesto': political conservatism and economic adjustments

  On 10 September, a popular independent website Gazeta.ru published a pro-liberal article calling for economic modernisation authored by President Dmitry Medvedev. Even if most of the concepts presented in the text will probably remain as just words, the article seems to signal the Russian leadership's readiness to make limited adjustments to its economic policy, including selective reforms in the crisis-affected sectors. It also signals Russia's openness to foreign investments and its intention to acquire high technologies. Nevertheless, these liberal economic declarations are accompanied by 'conservative' political concepts which affirm the existing political order in Russia and warn the West against interfering with Russia's internal affairs.

• Moldova: Vladimir Voronin's gambit

  On 11 September, Vladimir Voronin stepped down as the president of Moldova, enabling Mihai Ghimpu, the parliament speaker and leader of the Liberal Party, to take over as acting president. As a result, the Alliance for European Integration created in August by the Liberal Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Democratic Party and the Party Alliance Our Moldova, which has a parliamentary majority (53 out of 101 seats) may now form the new government.