Russia First

Moscow's mayor uses city funds to advance the cause of ethnic Russians in neighboring countries.

Over the past decade, Mr. Luzhkov, 72, has spent hundreds of millions of dollars from Moscow’s well-padded city budget in Russia’s “near abroad,” several city officials said. He has supported pro-Russian separatists in Moldova, built highways in rebellious Georgian enclaves and constructed housing for the Russian military on the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine.

Sahil says: The resurgent nationalism is fueled in part by the massive oil revenues and Putin. How will Russia adjust to falling revenues and a slowing economy?