Fresh Karabakh conflict dents Russia’s standing in the Caucasus Members Public

Last week, Azerbaijan launched fresh military action to seize control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist republic in the Caucasus populated mainly by ethnic Armenians but which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. Not only did this one-day “anti-terrorist operation,” as Baku called it, seemingly bring an end to any independent

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Politics

THE BELL WEEKLY: A blow to Russia in the Caucasus Members Public

Hello! This week we look at how Azerbaijan’s use of military force to seize control of Nagorno-Karabakh has dealt yet another blow to Russia’s standing in the Caucasus. We also summarize a new investigation into Dialog, a major player in the Kremlin’s online propaganda machine, and assess

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Newsletters

Will the West tap Russia’s frozen assets? Members Public

Hello! This is your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story is a look at whether the West might be on the verge of utilizing Russian assets that were frozen as the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We also look

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Economy Weekly

Russia’s authorities are talking about blocking WhatsApp. What would this mean in reality? Members Public

For the first time in 18 months of war, Russian authorities alarmedWhatsApp users with talk of blocking the popular messaging app. Along with YouTube, it is one of two international services that the Kremlin has long wished to switch off, but fears a public backlash too much to follow through.

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Politics

EU bans Russian-registered cars while lifting sanctions on the oligarch who helped Putin’s friends seize the media Members Public

The EU’s sanctions policy continues to throw up paradoxes. Following last week’s scandal around the confiscation of personal items that Russians bring into Europe, the EU confirmed a ban on driving Russian-registered vehicles into its member states. At the same time, the European Commission lifted sanctions on three

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Politics

THE BELL WEEKLY: The Sanctions Paradox Members Public

Hello! Before we get down to the news, another announcement: For the past year, The Moscow Times has been our partner in this newsletter. But starting this fall, we have made the decision to develop our products separately. Nothing will change for you — you will continue to receive this newsletter

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Nobody is safe from Russia’s wave of re-nationalization Members Public

Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. This time we are focusing on how Russia is quietly reversing the results of the privatizations that followed the Soviet collapse. Even Kremlin loyalist oligarchs and former officials have been among

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Economy Weekly

A rehearsal before Putin’s election in 2024 Members Public

Last week, Russia held federal and regional elections in 49 of its 83 regions, as well as in Crimea and the four regions of occupied Ukraine. Russians chose mayors, regional leaders and deputies for regional parliaments and the upper chamber of the Federation Council. * This year’s elections are affected

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Politics
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