Why is Russia’s economy booming? 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 top story this week is the St. Petersburg Economic Forum and Russia’s rapidly growing economy. We also look at the Central Bank’s decision
Russian “Trolls” turn to Western AI for their disinformation campaigns PRO Members Public
Russian internet trolls have been caught using Western AI to generate and spread disinformation about Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s own homegrown AI-powered services aren’t up to the task since they are coded to refuse to answer questions related to the war in order to avoid breaking
‘Pirate’ Western cars go on sale PRO Members Public
Almost all international car brands have left Russia since the start of the war, and it has become impossible to continue making authentic and licensed foreign vehicles from Russian factories. However, a loophole has emerged that enables Russian companies to manufacture so-called “pirate” cars, branded as Western models without the
When is a tax rise not a tax rise? When Russian propaganda talks about it PRO Members Public
Russia’s finance ministry last week officially put forward its proposals to “reform” the country’s tax system. The key change is the introduction of new progressive income tax bands, which will significantly raise taxes on the salaries of the country’s top earners. Businesses, too, will face a greater
THE BELL WEEKLY: Don’t call it a tax rise PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover the biggest tax hikes in Russia for two decades, and why the state is trying to call them something else. We also look at the fledgling “pirate” car industry of Western-branded vehicles being assembled in Russia, and cover how troll farms are using Western AI
Russia’s first major tax overhaul in 20 years 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. Our top story this week is analysis of big changes to the tax system. We also look at the possibility of sanctions on Russian insurer Ingosstrakh.
Russia moves towards recognising the Taliban PRO Members Public
Russia is planning to recognise the Taliban as the lawful government of Afghanistan and remove it from the list of “banned” organizations. This will put an end to the absurd situation where Taliban representatives are officially received in the Kremlin, while journalists can be jailed for mentioning them in their
Europe’s last land border closes to Russian tourists PRO Members Public
Norway has announced that it is closing its land border with Russia, the last remaining land crossing to Europe that was open to Russian tourists. During the 2022 mobilization, this was a popular way for Russians who did not want to be forced into the war to leave the country.
The Great Repatriation: Russian millionaires bring their cash back to the Motherland PRO Members Public
After trying to send their money overseas in the immediate aftermath of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, wealthy Russians are now bringing their millions back home, new data shows. The number of high net worth individuals jumped back above pre-war levels last year, after falling in 2022. Some 22,000
THE BELL WEEKLY: Rich Russians are bringing their money back home PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover Russian millionaires repatriating their cash from abroad, despite the threat of nationalization and higher taxes. We also cover another border closure for Russian tourists and Moscow moving to recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The Great Repatriation: Russian millionaires bring their cash back to the
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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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