Alexandra Prokopenko
Independent analyst, fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, former advisor at Russia’s Central Bank
- 87 Posts
Slaughtering a sacred cow: How the IT-sector lost its tax breaks PRO Members Public
To top up the budget, the government decided not only to hike VAT and taxes on small and medium businesses. For the first time, it is trimming its system of support for the IT industry, one of the few sectors regarded as strategically important and that has long enjoyed a
Russia’s budget at risk of economic reality PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. This week we continue our analysis of next year’s budget, digging into how economic reality could upset its overly optimistic assumptions. Russia overlooks sanctions and
Russia’s budget: Paper tiger or invincible bear? PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This week we analyze Russia’s draft budget plans for 2026, which show neither the “paper tiger” economy portrayed by Donald Trump nor the invincible “bear”
Russia prepares tax hikes. Again. PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This week we report on the government’s plans to raise taxes and cut spending to keep the state’s finances on track and make sure
Does Russia’s economy have a China problem? PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. Our main story this week covers how Vladimir Putin’s trip to China laid bare Moscow’s reliance on Beijing. We also analyze growing calls for
Russia’s investment climate is still getting worse PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This week our top story is a look at what Exxon Mobil’s possible return to Russia, and charges against a billionaire food manufacturing tycoon, tell
Could foreign investors flock back to Russia? PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. This week our main story is a look at whether foreign investors might return to Russia if Western sanctions were lifted. We also look at the
The state of Russia’s economy as Putin meets Trump PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. As Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump meet in Alaska, we take stock of how the Russian economy is faring after three-and-a-half years of war, and the
The Alaska summit: Will Trump lift sanctions on Russia? PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. This week we preview the Putin-Trump summit, set for Friday in Alaska, and ask whether Russia could be on the brink of securing sanctions relief. We
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