Russia mulls cryptocurrency ban PRO Members Public
Russia could impose tough restrictions on cryptocurrencies, according to a report published Thursday by the Central Bank. When China banned cryptocurrencies last year, there was an exodus of miners to neighboring states, and Russia suddenly found itself the world’s third-largest bitcoin miner after the U.S. and Kazakhstan. What
Markets tumble as U.S.-Russia talks drag on PRO Members Public
Nothing in the whole of last week — including a Friday meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva — shed any meaningful light on a possible outcome of the confrontation between Russia and the West over Ukraine. But tensions are so high
Omicron arrives in Russia PRO Members Public
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus finally reached Russia last week. The Saturday tally of new cases hit 57,212, almost doubling in six days and hitting a new pandemic record. However, the authorities remain anxious about attempting to curb the spread of the virus. * Compared with other countries, Russia’
Bitcoin ban? PRO Members Public
Hello! Our top story is the discussions about a cryptocurrency ban among Russian officials as the Central Bank comes out in support of tougher restrictions. We also look at market turbulence amid U.S.-Russia talks over Ukraine and rapidly rising coronavirus case numbers as the Omicron variant finally arrives
Stalling US-Russia talks spook markets PRO Members Public
High-stake diplomatic negotiations between Russia, the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) over security guarantees and Ukraine last week yielded no obvious results. Instead, for the first time, investors apparently began to believe war was a real possibility: an interview Thursday by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei
Talks stall, fears rise PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we’re focusing on just one news story: the high-stakes diplomatic negotiations between Russia, the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) over security guarantees and Ukraine. Apart from growing fears of war, there were no obvious results. Instead, for the first time, investors began
Year in review: looking back at 2021 PRO Members Public
The year 2021 was a seismic year for Russia as the Kremlin launched an unprecedented crackdown on the political opposition to President Vladimir Putin, talk of war escalated and inflation spiraled. In our review of 2021, we look at four main topics: domestic politics, foreign policy, the economy, and the
Kremlin sees opportunity in Kazakh unrest PRO Members Public
An outbreak of violence in Kazakhstan last week that has left dozens of protestors dead could dramatically shake-up the political situation in one of Russia’s most politically-important neighbors. Most experts said the unexpected flare-up of discontent was the result of weariness with the 32-year rule of Nursultan Nazarbayev. More
Coronavirus restrictions divide Russian political elite PRO Members Public
Despite stubbornly high COVID-19 death rates and the emergence of the Omicron variant, the Russian authorities remain unwilling to introduce unpopular restrictions. The government has proposed several new laws that would make life difficult for the unvaccinated, but it’s not clear if they will ever be passed. The wrangling
Car dealership tycoon sells up amid criminal case PRO Members Public
Former opposition deputy Sergei Petrov sold his Rolf car dealership to a competitor last Monday amid a long-running criminal case. The value of the deal (likely between $300 million and $500 million) was far less than the real value of Russia’s largest car dealership. * Rolf was sold to a
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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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