Impressions of the Special Military Operation’s Effects on Russian Politics and Economics and Encounters with Russian Culture
This summer I and my largely Russian family, culturally and ethnically speaking, traveled to St. Petersburg to visit relatives and friends. We do this several times a year. Last summer we had a much far-ranging itinerary that included Moscow, Novorossiisk, Crimea, Sochi, and Gelendzhik in addition to St. Petersburg. The following is a series of thoughts and observations regarding this year’s July trip to Russia’ ‘northern capitol.’
Domestic Politics: The Mel’nichenko ‘Manifesto’ ……….. . . . . . . . . . . .
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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED THERE ON 4 AUGUST 2026
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About the Author –
Gordon M. Hahn, Ph.D., is an Expert Analyst at Corr Analytics, www.canalyt.com. Websites: Russian and Eurasian Politics, gordonhahn.com and gordonhahn.academia.edu
Dr. Hahn is the author of the new book: Russian Tselostnost’: Wholeness in Russian Thought, Culture, History, and Politics (Europe Books, 2022). He has authored five previous, well-received books: The Russian Dilemma: Security, Vigilance, and Relations with the West from Ivan III to Putin (McFarland, 2021); Ukraine Over the Edge: Russia, the West, and the “New Cold War” (McFarland, 2018); The Caucasus Emirate Mujahedin: Global Jihadism in Russia’s North Caucasus and Beyond (McFarland, 2014), Russia’s Islamic Threat (Yale University Press, 2007), and Russia’s Revolution From Above: Reform, Transition and Revolution in the Fall of the Soviet Communist Regime, 1985-2000 (Transaction, 2002). He also has published numerous think tank reports, academic articles, analyses, and commentaries in both English and Russian language media.
Dr. Hahn taught at Boston, American, Stanford, San Jose State, and San Francisco State Universities and as a Fulbright Scholar at Saint Petersburg State University, Russia and was a senior associate and visiting fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Kennan Institute in Washington DC, the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and the Center for Terrorism and Intelligence Studies (CETIS), Akribis Group.



