{
  "id": 11501178,
  "title": "Parliamentary government and political competition are the oldest traditions in Russian politics. Where did they come from, and why did they disappear? Writer Mikhail Zygar explains in a new film.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/parliamentary-government-and-political-competition-are-the-oldest",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T18:08:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/02/parliamentary-government-and-political-competition-are-the-oldest-traditions-in-russian-politics-where-did-they-come-from-and-why-did-they-disappear-writer-mikhail-zygar-explains-in-a-new-film"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rus’ boasted a parliamentary system thousands of years before Britain’s first parliament rose to power, and a female prime minister long before Margaret Thatcher took office. In his documentary, journalist Mikhail Zygar unravels the history of this remarkable political landscape, tracing its origins and eventual decline. The Novgorod Republic, a state where the prince functioned more as a manager and key decisions were made by the popular assembly known as the veche, bore striking similarities to Western European political culture at the time. Zygar's film delves into the factors that led to the rise of Moscow as the dominant political power and the Russian leader Vladimir Putin's fascination with Alexander Nevsky, a historical figure revered for his leadership during a crucial battle. The production of this piece adhered to strict editorial standards, with the original Russian text translated and the English version reviewed by Meduza editors before publication.",
  "summary": "It’s hard to believe today, but Rus’ had a parliament before Britain did and a woman with the political stature of a prime minister five centuries before Margaret Thatcher. The Novgorod Republic was a state in which the prince was a hired manager, major decisions were made by the veche or popular assembly, and political culture resembled that of Western Europe in many ways. In his new film,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}