Looking east at Russia on eve of elections

Russia, Poland's biggest neighbour and critical partner of European Union, is to face serious challenges to its internal prospects and international position in the coming months. Recent protests in Moscow express only some of the problems emerging in the daily life of the post-Soviet giant.

Recent report by Demos Europa and the Carnegie Moscow Center called "The Future of Russia: Modernisation or Decline" looks at some of the issues in Russia ahead of this year's election. Our reporter Danuta Isler talks to Nicolay Petrov, a scholar in residence at the Carnegie Moscow Center and one of the authors of the report about report's main conclusions.

Read the full report on the Demos Europa website.

Russian billionaire businessman and presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov signs autographs for his supporters during his visit to the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation in Moscow. Photo: PAP/EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

Russian girl writes a Valentine message addressed to Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin in front of the government headquarters in Moscow. The text reads: Happy St. Valentine's day! We like you. Wishing your victory! Photo: PAP/EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

Members of The Other Russia opposition organization shout We need the other Russia!, holding a poster reading We'll stop dictatorship!, as they protest against the upcoming president elections in front of the Central Election Commission office in Moscow. About 20 participants were detained by the police. Photo: PAP/EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

A Gazprom employee tries to remove a Ukrainian feminist group Femen activist during a protest against what they call anti-Ukraine gas terror, in front of the Gazprom headquarters in Moscow. Photo: PAP?EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

Cover Photo: PAP/EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV