India's approach to Russia must take stock of Moscow's imperialist history

This week, Russia marks two anniversaries — the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Soviet Union and the 31st anniversary of its dissolution. Following the Bolshevik Revolution in November 1917, the Soviet Union was proclaimed on December 30, 1922. Until its dissolution on December 26, 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as it was called, had an outsized influence in world affairs. Moscow played a decisive role in defeating Nazi Germany in the Second World War, influenced revolutionary and progressive movements around the world, offered an alternative to the Western capitalist model, drove advances in science and technology,…