belaruscaucasuscentralchechnyaconflictcontemporarycontestationcontrolcorruptioncovidcrisisdurabilityeconomicelectionsethnicextremismfirstformsfourthgeopoliticskremlinlawlearnedlipmanmediamemorymodernizationnationalopinionoppositionpandemicpolicypoliticalpoliticspositionspostpowerprotestprotestspublicputinregimeregionalrevolutionaryrussiarussianseriessocietysovietspacestatestatesstrategytermthreatukraineukrainianuseviolencevolodymyryearzelensky