Moscow
President Vladimir Putin surprised Russians this week by appointing as prime minister a technocrat who is relatively unknown in political circles. Mikhail Fradkov is widely expected to carry out Putin’s programs without offering criticism—unlike his predecessor, the outspoken Yeltsin appointee Mikhail Kasyanov, whom Putin fired last week. “Fradkov is an experienced specialist on international economic relations,” former economics minister Yevgenii Yasin told Radio Liberty. “But I personally have never seen him come up with ideas, generate initiatives, and so on. And evidently that is not required of him.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 1, 2025Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - broken eggs, contagious lies, and more
-
5 humorously unhealthy cartoons about RFK Jr.Cartoons Artists take on medical innovation, disease spreading, and more
-
Brodet (fish stew) recipeThe Week Recommends This hearty dish is best accompanied by a bowl of polenta
