Russia and the CIS in 2009: Pillar of the system shaken

In the global financial crisis, Russia faces the most severe challenge to its politicoeconomic system. Oil prices plummeted, and Russia's exports and state revenues dropped with them. The economy was severely shaken, and cracks appeared in its semi-democratic system headed by the Putin-Medvedev diarchy. However, relations with Washington showed signs of improvement as President Obama reset the overall tone of U.S. foreign policy. Russia pursued cordial ties with Asia, in part to compensate for volatile relations with the West.