What changed this spring was Mr Khodorkovsky's decision to get deeply involved in Russian politics.
But despite the international acclaim, in Russian politics Mr Gorbachev is something of non-person.
When announcing that proposal, Bob Dudley, BP's boss, trumpeted his knowledge of Russian politics.
Or, more sinisterly, it could truly herald the intrusion of generals into Russian politics.
Some seem implausible to outsiders, but less so in the opaque, cynical world of Russian politics.
Mr Skuratov claims, plausibly, to have material proving corruption at the top of Russian politics.
Another bright spot is that the tycoons who used to dominate Russian politics have been weakened.
In fact it was BP's misjudgment of Russian politics and corporate culture that did for the deal.
At least some of this history, however, consists of misjudging Russian politics and quarrelling with its partners.
Having delivered his attacks on America, Mr Medvedev spent most of his 90-minute speech talking about Russian politics.
It is a rare, large-scale display of popular unease with Russian politics post-Yeltsin.
This has provoked the Kremlin, which accuses America of using its aid agency in Moscow to influence Russian politics.
Given the volatility of Russian politics, his candidacy would not be laughed off.
Elizabeth Kiem is a contributing writer for The Morning News, where she has written about Russian politics since 2007.
Mr Luzhkov and Mr Primakov are positioned near the centre of Russian politics, but appeal also to some nationalist voters.
But in its attempts to keep a lid on Russian politics, it likes to maintain parties of all shades and sizes.
It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the most unpleasant side of Russian politics is leaking to its near neighbours.
The BBC Moscow correspondent says many in Russian politics believe Mr Yeltsin's health is now so bad that he should retire.
Indeed, by past standards Russian politics and economics are now quite dull.
To dismiss it as fanciful is to underestimate not only the wiles of Mr Lukashenka, but also the volatility of Russian politics.
BP's exposure to the "uncertainties" of Russian politics is also a point of concern, analysts at Deutsche Bank said in a recent research note.
An obvious explanation that she acted of her own volition because she was disillusioned with the system seemed too implausible for the conspiracy-laden world of Russian politics.
The party is currently led by Putin and dominates Russian politics.
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Eventually the "grandmaster" of Russian politics was defeated by Vladimir Putin.
BBC: Boris Berezovsky: Few tears in Russia for 'master of chaos'
NATO's arrogant cowboys, while weakening the pro-westerners still in Russian politics.
The former KGB agent is credited with stabilizing the Russian economy with various tax policies and bringing some clout to Russian politics on the world stage.
At this point, Georgian- Russian politics is the only roadblock.
Yukos's boss, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was also thrown into jail, perhaps partly because he planned to build a private oil pipeline to China (he also meddled in internal Russian politics).
And just as the prime minister's black-belt diplomacy looks to be coming into its own abroad, the traditional spring fever in Russian politics could yet floor him at home.
But perhaps McFaul is actually a perfect match for the current moment in Russian politics, a time when Russian citizens seem to be demanding ever-greater degrees of openness and transparency.
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