The war between Russia and Georgia caught most of the world by surprise but it is a conflict that has long been brewing – and one that is part of a larger drama. The bigger context is Russia's attempt to regain the influence it enjoyed during the years of the Cold War, and the hurdles that stand in the way of projecting its identity as a unified, sovereign nation.
Russian, Muslim, and at Peace
Published February 6, 2009
Brutal wars in Chechnya and now trouble in places such as Ossetia and Ingushetia have shown the world that ethnic conflict and Islamic separatism are seen as serious threats to Russia, even as it tries to regain some of the power it wielded during the Cold War.
But not all of Russia's Muslim republics are so restive. Welcome to sunny Tatarstan.
Produced by Jason Maloney & Zygmunt Dzieciolowski
Field Producer: Oleg Pavlov
Associate Producer: Aidar Galyautdinov
In association with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and the Bureau for International Reporting
With support from the Stanley Foundation's Rising Powers project. Learn more at: risingpowers.stanleyfoundation.org/
Last year openDemocracy Russia editor Zygmunt Dzieciolowski travelled in Georgia and Abkhazia.
I'm not sure I can recommend the Abkhazian house wine that gets served in the bars and restaurants of Sukhumi.
Grantee
Jason Maloney is a co-founder, producer, videographer and editor with the Bureau for International Reporting (BIR) – a non-profit organization dedicated to producing and providing vital...
Grantee
Zygmunt is a Polish born journalist, writer and documentary film director.
For the last twenty years his main interests have been Russia and other post soviet republics. He took up journalism in...
