Audi drops Sobchak over racism allegations PRO Members Public
Russian TV presenter and former presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak was dropped as a brand ambassador by German carmaker Audi on Wednesday over social media posts she made about the Black Lives Matter protests. The decision was reminiscent of how Pepsi cut ties with TV journalist Regina Todorenko last month when
Putin wants Russia to become an IT hub PRO Members Public
In a televised address to the nation Tuesday, Putin also announced big tax cuts for the IT sector, apparently a bid to “turn Russia into India” by using tax incentives to attract and retain tech entrepreneurs. Putin claimed that, even in the midst of a pandemic, it was clear how
Voting underway in Putin’s constitutional referendum PRO Members Public
This week marked the beginning of the constitutional referendum that will likely ‘reset’ Putin’s presidential term count and allow him to remain Russian leader until 2036. In the build up to the vote, Putin gave a live TV address in which he praised Russia’s response to the coronavirus
Constitutional referendum underway PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is on the start of voting in Russia’s constitutional referendum that will pave the way for Vladimir Putin to remain president until 2036. We also look at Putin’s fantastical plan to turn Russia into an IT hub and why TV presenter Ksenia
The end of the road for Vedomosti PRO Members Public
This week saw the end of Vedomosti’s editorial independence after 20 years as one of Russia’s most respected business newspapers. The media outlet’s new owner, Ivan Yeryemin, confirmed Tuesday the appointment of chief editor Andrei Shmarov, who is deeply implicated in censorship and closely tied to state-owned
Kremlin considering an end to flat rate income tax PRO Members Public
Officials at the top of government are looking at scrapping the flat rate personal income tax, which has been a cornerstone of Russia’s tax policy under Putin. The move would be marketed as promoting ‘social justice’ and likely coincide with the constitutional referendum scheduled for the end of June
Is Russia about to develop a coronavirus vaccine? PRO Members Public
The Ministry of Health this week approved human trials for two coronavirus vaccines as Russia races to become the first country in the world to launch the industrial production of a coronavirus vaccine. The Bell looked into how two state-owned research institutes are competing against each other to be the
Putin defends the Soviet Union and proposes new Yalta conference PRO Members Public
It was a week of articles. President Vladimir Putin wrote a long article about the Second World War while Nikolai Patrushev, the influential head of the Security Council, published a column on how Russian conservative values will save the world. Even former president Dmitry Medvedev took to print to examine
Putin defends the Soviet Union and proposes new Yalta conference PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is Putin’s foray into op-ed writing with a long article on how the Soviet Union wasn’t responsible for the Second World War and why the world needs another Yalta conference. We also look at Russia’s efforts to find a coronavirus vaccine,
A famous actor’s lethal drunk driving splits Russia’s elite PRO Members Public
A fatal car crash took place late Monday in downtown Moscow when a jeep drove into oncoming traffic and hit a van at high speed. The driver of the van died in hospital. The man behind the jeep’s wheel was Mikhail Yefremov, a famous actor who has not shied
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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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