A year on from Russia’s ‘partial mobilization’, a second wave seems inevitable Paid Members Public
Last week was the first anniversary of Russia’s mobilization drive, announced on Sep. 21, 2022. At the time, Putin told Russians in an early-morning address to the nation that the country was facing “the entire military machine of the collective west” in Ukraine. At least 300,000 mobilized Russians
How the Kremlin’s internet propaganda HQ operates Paid Members Public
The low-profile non-profit organization Dialog started life as a way for the Russian authorities to stay in contact and gather feedback from different parts of society. Since then, it’s evolved into one of the Russian internet’s most prolific pro-Kremlin propaganda mouthpieces. Journalists from The Bell, Meduza and IStories
Fresh Karabakh conflict dents Russia’s standing in the Caucasus Paid Members Public
Last week, Azerbaijan launched fresh military action to seize control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist republic in the Caucasus populated mainly by ethnic Armenians but which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. Not only did this one-day “anti-terrorist operation,” as Baku called it, seemingly bring an end to any independent
THE BELL WEEKLY: A blow to Russia in the Caucasus Paid Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how Azerbaijan’s use of military force to seize control of Nagorno-Karabakh has dealt yet another blow to Russia’s standing in the Caucasus. We also summarize a new investigation into Dialog, a major player in the Kremlin’s online propaganda machine, and assess
Will the West tap Russia’s frozen assets? Paid Members Public
Hello! This is your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story is a look at whether the West might be on the verge of utilizing Russian assets that were frozen as the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We also look
Russia’s authorities are talking about blocking WhatsApp. What would this mean in reality? Paid Members Public
For the first time in 18 months of war, Russian authorities alarmedWhatsApp users with talk of blocking the popular messaging app. Along with YouTube, it is one of two international services that the Kremlin has long wished to switch off, but fears a public backlash too much to follow through.
EU bans Russian-registered cars while lifting sanctions on the oligarch who helped Putin’s friends seize the media Paid Members Public
La politique de sanctions de l'UE continue d'engendrer des paradoxes. Suite au scandale de la semaine dernière concernant la confiscation des objets personnels que les Russes introduisent en Europe, l'UE a confirmé l'interdiction de conduire des véhicules immatriculés en Russie dans ses États membres. Dans le même temps, la Commission européenne a levé les sanctions à l'encontre de trois pays de l'Union européenne.
THE BELL WEEKLY: The Sanctions Paradox Paid Members Public
Hello! Before we get down to the news, another announcement: For the past year, The Moscow Times has been our partner in this newsletter. But starting this fall, we have made the decision to develop our products separately. Nothing will change for you — you will continue to receive this newsletter
