Politique

Georgia emerges as an unlikely Kremlin ally Members Public

The Georgian government’s long and slow drift toward improved relations with Russia has borne some fruit. Last week, President Vladimir Putin canceled visa requirements for Georgian citizens visiting Russia and lifted a flight ban between the two countries. The Georgian government likely achieved these results after refusing to impose

The Bell
Politique

The conflict between Wagner and the Defense Ministry heats up Members Public

Over the last year, mercenary group Wagner and Russia’s Defense Ministry have regularly clashed. Last week, this spat reached new heights when Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin released several clips in which he aggressively accused the Russian defense minister and his chief of staff of failing to provide shells for

The Bell
Politique

One more pro-war Russian propagandist is targeted in a car bomb attack Members Public

This weekend saw another attempted assassination of a prominent supporter of Russia’s war. Writer and politician Zakhar Prilepin survived a car bomb but was seriously injured. His driver was killed at the scene. This is the third assassination attempt in the past nine months. Earlier, the daughter of pro-Kremlin

The Bell
Politique

Another scandal hits Russia’s opposition Members Public

Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine influential figures in Russia's opposition continue to squabble among themselves. The latest public spat was between jailed politician Alexei Navalny and former oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The fight broke out after Khodorkovsky hired a man blamed for persecuting one of Navalny’s

The Bell
Politique

Did the son of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov fight in Ukraine? Members Public

The children of Russia’s elite are allegedly joining the ranks of ordinary citizens to fight in Ukraine. The most notable example is Nikolai Choles, the son of the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Last week, Choles gave an interview to the tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, where he said he was fighting

The Bell
Politique

TV ads and social networks urge Russian men to enlist Members Public

The Russian authorities have launched a new recruitment campaign for contract soldiers in recent weeks. According to media sources, the Defense Ministry wants to call up 400,000 fighting men. It’s an ambitious plan. Before the war, Russia’s entire army totaled 400,000 troops. The new recruitment drive

The Bell
Politique

Security officer who fled Russia tells of Putin’s growing isolation Members Public

Dossier, an investigative center linked to former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, last week published an interview with a captain in the Federal Guards Service (FSO) who fled abroad in protest at the war. Gleb Karakulov served for 13 years in the FSO, which is responsible for the president’s

The Bell
Politique

High-ranking Russian officials face travel ban Members Public

Since the war started, Russian officials and employees of state-owned companies have found it difficult to travel. The reason is not only Western sanctions, even though these have affected many. Instead, Russian officials and employees at state-run organizations have been subjected to stringent new travel restrictions. * Recent changes mean that

The Bell
Politique

La lettre d'information de The Bell

Un regard de l'intérieur sur l'économie et la politique russes. En exclusivité dans votre boîte de réception chaque semaine.