‘Foreign agent’ label given to top independent media outlet Meduza PRO Members Public
The authorities are stepping up their attack on independent media. The Ministry of Justice announced Friday that Meduza, Russia’s most popular independent media outlet, has been designated a ‘foreign agent’ (a Soviet-era term implying espionage). Theoretically, this has no impact. However, in reality, it limits Meduza’s ability to
Meet the Siberian brothers who built a ‘cut-price Walmart’ PRO Members Public
Even today, there are huge Russian companies about which there is almost no public information. This week, The Bell published a long article telling the story of one of them: a Russian Walmart copy-cat known as Svetofor. With 2020 revenue of about $2.5 billion, this Siberian company recently became
Geopolitical tensions fade PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is an analysis of why strained relations between Russia and the U.S. appeared to ease, and what the two sides were trying to get out of an escalation. We also look at what might happen now top independent media outlet Meduza has been
Half a million Russians lose out on a Turkish beach holiday PRO Members Public
Moscow announced a ban on flights to Istanbul last week due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation in Turkey, ruining the holiday plans of hundreds of thousands of ordinary Russians. Turkey has always been one of the most popular destinations for Russian tourists and, during the pandemic, it has been one
New U.S. sanctions on Russia are mostly symbolic PRO Members Public
In the week after a phone call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Putin, Russia-U.S. relations continue to oscillate wildly. New U.S. sanctions on Russia imposed Thursday were mostly symbolic, but Washington has kept the door open to new restrictions. Meanwhile, preparations for a face-to-face meeting between
Political repression intensifies as Navalny supporters plan new protest PRO Members Public
A police crackdown against opposition activists and independent media dramatically gathered pace last week. Not only has the health of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny reportedly deteriorated to a point at which his life is now in danger, but law enforcement took unprecedented steps to shut-down his political organization and
Intensifying crackdown PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is about the escalating pressure on independent journalists and supporters of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny. We also look at new U.S. sanctions on Russia that turned out to be more bark than bite, and how the Russian government ruined the holidays of
Russia-Ukraine tensions rise PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is an analysis of the military escalation between Russia and Ukraine and whether it could lead to all-out war. We also look at the ruble’s recent woes, and have highlights from a blockbuster investigation into Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s matrimonial situation. Tensions
The Sputnik paradox PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is about the low take-up of Russia’s coronavirus vaccine despite it being widely available. We also look at the latest crisis caused by state regulation of food prices, why a famous Russian television presenter had to leave neighboring Georgia in a hurry, and
FSB accused of stealing pharma business after arrest of billionaire PRO Members Public
A high-stakes corruption case dominated the news in Russia this week. The star of the drama was billionaire Boris Shpigel, owner of pharmaceutical company Biotech and a former senator in the upper house of parliament. For many years Shpigel was part of Russia’s powerful pharma lobby that enjoyed connections
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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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