Makarkin Aleksei

Saint-Pete team in Moscow: Russian President’s political entourage

The article covers the research on the sources of formation, the development stages and the prospects of the part of the President’s entourage called “the Saint Pete team”. The author considers it one of the most influential players on the Russian political arena.

The work follows the horizontal and vertical links of the Saint-Pete team, the nature of its connections with other groups of Moscow political elite, business etc. Alexei Makarkin states that there exists certain disagreement inside the team, although in most cases such disagreement is not exposed to light. He accounts for that by the existence of different sources of recruiting and complicated and complex relationships inside some of the groups within the team.

According to the author, at least at the present time, the influence of the Saint Pete team has not yet acquired the dominant nature. This can be explained by the existence of considerable limitations including the ‘back-bench’s’ low numbers and narrowness. Nonetheless, the article asserts that the team is on the rise and its cadre expansion is most likely to continue in the future.

DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2002-26-3-68-85

Pages: 68-85

Alternative Orthodoxy in Russia: history and modern status

The article covers the analysis of the history and modern status of alternative Orthodox organizations in Russia. A. Makarkin investigates the strategy of the survival of such organizations under the unquestionable dominance of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC.) According to the author the very existence of such organizations and the conversion of some ROC clergy and laymen into alternative Orthodoxy proves to the objective public demand promoting their development.

DOI: 10.30570/2078-5089-2002-24-1-118-145

Pages: 118-145