Sochi’s Impact: Russia, the Caucasus, and Beyond
Following a year of international diplomatic victories for President Putin, the Sochi Olympic Games will be a chance for the Kremlin to showcase Russia’s resurgence. By the same token, Sochi will test the Russian leadership’s ability to deliver on its promises about economic development and infrastructure building, coordination with local government and civic leaders in the North Caucasus, and calm and control around the event itself, despite likely protests from many groups and close international scrutiny.
Overview
Following a year of international diplomatic victories for President Putin, the Sochi Olympic Games will be a chance for the Kremlin to showcase Russia’s resurgence. By the same token, Sochi will test the Russian leadership’s ability to deliver on its promises about economic development and infrastructure building, coordination with local government and civic leaders in the North Caucasus, and calm and control around the event itself, despite likely protests from many groups and close international scrutiny. The event takes place on Vladimir Putin’s turf, but not necessarily on his terms, and it may be hard for him to disown the political problems that the event may trigger. To discuss the immediate and longer term implications of Sochi for Putin and Russia, the Kennan Institute convened three top experts on the region.
Speakers
![Charles King](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/images/person/charles-king-opt.jpg)
Charles King
![Thomas de Waal](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/uploads/images/de%20Waal%20photo.jpg)
Thomas de Waal
![Hon. Kenneth S. Yalowitz](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/images/person/kenneth_yalowitz.jpg)
Hon. Kenneth S. Yalowitz
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus from 1994-1997 and to Georgia from 1998-2001; former Career Diplomat and Member of the Senior Foreign Service, U.S. Department of State; former Director of the Dickey Center for International Understanding, Dartmouth College
Hosted By
![Kennan Institute](https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/media/uploads/images/K50_NoText_red.png)
Kennan Institute
The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange. Read more
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