Kremlin says criminals are “atoning with blood” on the battlefield in Ukraine Paid Members Public
With every passing week, more attention is being paid to the thousands of criminals, including brutal murderers, receiving pardons after being released from prison to serve with the Wagner private militia and other paramilitaries fighting in Ukraine. The problems stemming from the policy were inevitable. Unlike draftees, pardoned criminals are
Russian regions’ anti-abortion drive Paid Members Public
Russia’s war on Ukraine is proving to be no obstacle for the battle to promote “traditional values” – the conservative social program and messaging that Vladimir Putin has long placed at the heart of his domestic ideological agenda. The latest part of that agenda has now emerged, with the state
The Kremlin gears up to launch Putin’s re-election campaign Paid Members Public
President Vladimir Putin is preparing to announce his plans to run in the 2024 Presidential Election. The Kremlin is already assembling a working group of “social activists” who will officially announce and back his candidacy. The group may include the singer Shaman, who has become the latest symbol of Russian
THE BELL WEEKLY: Putin’s election procession Paid Members Public
Hello! This week our main story is President Vladimir Putin’s plans for re-election and what his campaign will look like. We also cover the growing trend of anti-abortion measures and public outrage over convicted criminals now returning to society after fighting in Ukraine. The Kremlin gears up to launch
Rising inflation becoming political hot potato Paid Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story this time is the growing political problem of inflation, how the government is seeking to dampen price rises, and what effect this will have on the economy. We also look at
Russia’s delicate balancing act on inflation Paid Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story this time is a look at why state-owned companies have requested subsidized loans, and why this poses a major inflationary risk. We also look at U.S. sanctions targeting conglomerate Sistema
Central Bank tips economy towards recession to stem inflation Paid Members Public
The central bank has reacted aggressively to surging inflation, the falling ruble and the imminent increase in government spending. It hiked the base rate on Friday by two full percentage points, from 13% to 15%, and signalled there was little likelihood of rates coming back down again before spring or
Putin blames the West after anti-Israel riot shocks Moscow Paid Members Public
In Russia’s North Caucasus, the weekend brought a series of antisemitic protests, culminating in a mass riot in Makhachkala, the capital of the predominantly Muslim republic of Dagestan. Angry crowds of protestors stormed the city’s airport, breaking through to the runway in a bid to get to passengers
