Coming Unhinged

Russian legislators have been busy unraveling key reforms that could have strengthened Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, spurring speculation that the Kremlin is working behind the scenes to weaken the former president. Since reclaiming the presidency in May, Vladimir Putin initiated a series of counter-reforms, culminating in the adoption of highly unpopular laws by Russian senators this week. The senators, who started a month-long summer recess on Wednesday, approved a number of legislative measures that critics say would significantly roll back limited reforms undertaken by former president Medvedev.