Medvedev looks to Silicon Valley as model for Russia tech city

Pavel Salin, an analyst at Russian political consulting firm Center for Political Conjuncture, told NYT the strategy is not part of a sea-change in Russian politics.

“We will take technology from the West, but we will not adopt its political system.” said Salin. For that, “we need, at a minimum, nonconfrontational relations.”

Cliff Kupchan, a director at the global consulting firm Eurasia Group, said the recent shift reflects a new openness in Russia to accepting outside help for the country’s aging infrastructure. But he said Russia may not be willing to take all of the necessary steps to modernize its economy — yet.

“Competition produces innovation,” said Kupchan. “I still don’t see a working appreciation of that.”