The Bell

Prigozhin abandons media empire following failed mutiny Members Public

Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin faces disgrace after his failed mutiny on June 23-24. As a result, he is rushing to dispose of his assets, including the Patriot media group — which encompasses the Internet Research Agency, widely known as a "troll factory.” Hunt for trolls Prigozhin owns multiple news

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Politics

THE BELL WEEKLY: Prigozhin’s Patriot Media Group closes up shop Members Public

Hello! This week, our main story is about the end of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s media empire. We also look into Bacardi’s ongoing business presence in Russia despite the company’s promise to halt all exports to Russia and freeze investments and advertising. Finally, we talk with political scientist Grigory

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Russia, Explained

Bacardi reneges on promise to quit Russia, sees profits triple Members Public

After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, alcohol manufacturer Bacardi International announced that it would cease exporting its alcoholic drink range to Russia and would freeze investment and promotion programs. However, the pledge to halt supplies disappeared from the press release soon after and, over the past year, the profits

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The trans community is the latest to fall victim to Russian state repression Members Public

While much of the world is celebrating Pride month in support and solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, Russia is preparing changes to legislation that would prohibit gender transition. Russian lawmakers explain these changes as protection of “traditional values” and “national interests.” But in reality, it means that the lives of

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Politics

How Russia’s most mysterious retailer is building its business in the West Members Public

For most Russian businesses, following the invasion of Ukraine, it’s better to forget about any plans to expand into Europe. However, one Russian company is continuing its efforts to conquer the European market despite the war. Svetofor, founded by Krasnoyarsk’s Schneider brothers, remains Russia’s most mysterious retailer.

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Economy

Russia sends ‘nuclear’ signals to the West Members Public

Nuclear threats have probably not been debated so widely in Russia all year as they are being debated now. Last week, there were several reasons why the country’s atomic arsenal was back in the news. Sergei Karaganov, an international affairs expert known in the West for his Kremlin ties,

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Politics

THE BELL WEEKLY: Russia sends ‘nuclear’ signals to the West Members Public

Hello! This week, our main story is a look into the expansion of a budget Russian supermarket chain in Europe despite the war in Ukraine. We also look at the return of nuclear threats to Putin’s rhetoric and Russian lawmakers’ latest efforts to pass draconian anti-LGBT legislation. Russia sends

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Russia, Explained

Why is the Kremlin quiet about drone attacks on Moscow and raids in the border regions? Members Public

In the first year or so since Russia invaded Ukraine, the war barely touched the home front. However, that has changed sharply since May: Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow and the surrounding region, while Ukrainian artillery fire forced the evacuation of Shebekino, a town of 40,000 people near the border.

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Politics

The first week of Ukraine’s counteroffensive fails to deliver a clear outcome Members Public

The first week of Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive has not brought any tangible results, nor even any clear vision of how events might develop in the future. Russia’s Defense Ministry produces daily reports of how Ukrainian attacks are repelled and, more importantly, how much Western equipment was destroyed. However,

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Politics

Russia struggles to respond to Kakhovka dam destruction Members Public

The first week of Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive did not bring any tangible results, nor even any clear vision of how events might develop in the future. Instead, the big issue was the catastrophic destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Russian authorities accuse Ukraine of blowing the dam, but are struggling

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Politics
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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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