Prospects for Russian economy in 2016

Subject

Prospects for Russian economy in 2016.

Significance

Russia's economy in 2015 has continued to be plagued by low oil prices that hovered under 50 dollars per barrel, and Western sanctions over Moscow's actions in Ukraine. As the Syrian intervention has shown, President Vladimir Putin is still intent on using Russia's military power to influence global events and also possibly to deflect domestic attention from Russia's economic plight.