Inflation confounds expectations, hits 3-year high Paid Members Public
Annual inflation was reported last week to be running at up to 8.5 percent in December, its highest level for three years. It shows no sign of slowing despite the Central Bank raising interest rates seven times last year. Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina said recently that inflation was
Kadyrov & the Kremlin Paid Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is on the Kremlin’s apparent backing for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov in his extra-judicial pursuit of an opposition blogger. We also look at why inflation continues to rise despite predictions by officials and analysts, and the reaction to HBO’s documentary on opposition
Guessing game as US-Russia talks pause for Putin Paid Members Public
Russia did not get the response it wanted last week from the West about security guarantees in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin is now thinking over Moscow’s next move. Whatever he decides will likely raise the stakes, and indicate how far Russia is prepared to go. What will Putin
Studies suggest ‘negative efficacy’ for vaccine EpiVacCorona Paid Members Public
Sputnik V may be the most famous Russian coronavirus vaccine, but it is not the only one. Back in 2020 the country developed two vaccines: Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona. While the effectiveness of Sputnik V has been proven beyond doubt, it’s still very unclear if EpiVacCorona works at all.
Geopolitics rule on Russian markets Paid Members Public
There was an unusual phenomenon on Russian currency markets last week: while crude oil passed $90 a barrel for the first time since 2014, the ruble extended its decline. The ruble fell Wednesday below 80 to the U.S. dollar for the first time since late 2020. * Russia’s currency
Waiting for Putin Paid Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is on the formal U.S. response to Russian demands over Ukraine and European security, and how the Kremlin might respond. We also look at why scientists and journalists are raising questions about the efficacy of the coronavirus vaccine EpiVacCorona, and how geopolitics are
Russia mulls cryptocurrency ban Paid 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 Paid 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
