Gregory Feifer is an author, journalist and executive director of the Institute of Current World Affairs. During his fellowship in Russia from 2000 to 2002, he reported on political culture, politics and society during President Vladimir Putin’s first term. He lived in Russia for a decade, including as NPR’s Moscow correspondent. His books include Russians: The Power behind the People, The Great Gamble, a history of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, and Spy Handler, cowritten with former KGB colonel Victor Cherkashin. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Harvard University.