‘Silent’ tech layoffs despite massive labour shortages PRO Members Public
As the year comes to an end, Russian companies are laying off IT staff. Back in 2022, the government and employers were bending over backwards to keep them in the country, offering exemption from military service, preferential mortgages and pay rises. But two-decade-high interest rates are taking a toll: despite
Russian “foreign agents” to lose property and asset income PRO Members Public
Russia’s authorities continue to crack down on opposition figures and journalists they have designated “foreign agents.” In the latest set of measures, they will be barred from earning income on their Russian assets, with proposed bans on collecting money from the sale or rental of property, through dividends or
THE BELL WEEKLY: Russia targets foreign agents’ income, again PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our main story looks at new measures to bar more income streams for “foreign agents.” We also look at a wave of under-the-radar IT layoffs and Russia saying it is preparing for a direct conflict with NATO. Russian “foreign agents” to lose property and asset income Russia’
Tough choices for Russia’s Central Bank 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 about the Central Bank’s upcoming decision on whether to raise interest rates and risk the ire of government and
Ruble stabilizes after latest sanctions slump PRO Members Public
The ruble has recovered from a sudden devaluation last month, which was largely tied to liquidity problems in the wake of US sanctions against dozens of Russian banks — chiefly Gazprombank. The value of the currency against both the dollar and the yuan, on various measures, had reached its worst level
PR man appointed Kursk governor PRO Members Public
Russia’s Kursk Region, partially occupied by Ukrainian forces, has got its second new governor in under a year. The Russian army has failed to recapture the region since Ukrainian troops stormed across the border in August, and it faces a social catastrophe which has forced residents into rare public
How did the Kremlin squander Syria PRO Members Public
After more than 20 years in power, Syrian president Bashir Assad saw his regime collapse in the space of two dramatic weeks. Russia, mired in its own war in Ukraine, did not come to the rescue, largely leaving him to face the country’s opposition forces alone. Nine years ago
THE BELL WEEKLY: How Russia lost Syria PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look into Russia’s retreat from Syria after the fall of Bashar Assad and his regime. We also tell the story of a PR man appointed new Kursk governor and how the ruble recovers after a recent slump. How did the Kremlin squander Syria After more
Russia has given up on foreign investment 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 top story is a look at the annual “Russia Calling!” forum, where horizons have dramatically narrowed as a result of the war in
THE BELL WEEKLY: Georgia rocked by pro-EU protests PRO Members Public
After a less-than-convincing victory in Georgia’s parliamentary elections for his Georgian Dream party, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili is rolling the dice, with the government in Tbilisi announcing a complete halt to talks on joining the EU. In effect, Georgian Dream has gone all-in on its confrontation with the West — and
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The Bell was founded in 2017 by journalists Elizaveta Osetinskaya, Irina Malkova and Peter Mironenko as a news outlet independent from the Russian authorities, after its founders have been sacked as top editors at the largest Russian news website RBC because of pressure from the Kremlin.
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