Russians voice frustration over EU visa tightening PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover Europe ending the issuance of multi-entry visas for Russians, a step that will likely do little to stop nefarious actors and Russian spies infiltrating the bloc. EU ends multi-entry visas to stop Russian espionage, but spies likely to keep flowing In the fourth year of
Lukoil’s sanctions deal collapses: What does it mean? PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. This week we analyze the implications of Washington blocking a multi-billion-euro deal involving sanctioned Russian oil giant Lukoil, and a partial climbdown by the government over
Is Russia’s labor market cooling? PRO Members Public
Russia has recorded its first rise in unemployment since February, climbing from a record low of 2.1% to 2.2% in September. * Super-low unemployment, which Vladimir Putin loves to hail as an example of Russia’s economic success, is a sign of the on-going overheating in the labor market.
Exiled Russians hit by EU sanctions PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover the exiled Russians being locked out of their bank accounts, and why it could fuel hostility towards the West among the liberal, anti-war, anti-Kremlin crowd. Anti-Putin Russians in Europe caught up by latest sanctions Since the EU introduced its latest packet of sanctions on Moscow
How Russia exploits Western banks to repress Kremlin critics PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This week we look at how Russia is abusing the West’s financial infrastructure and compliance checks to crack down on Kremlin opponents who have fled
Central Bank in no rush to cut rates PRO Members Public
As we predicted, the Central Bank is not eager to slash interest rates. On Friday, it reduced its base rate by just 50 basis points to 16.5%. This sent a clear signal that its monetary policy will continue to be very cautious, while leaving it some room for maneuver
Debunking Moscow’s sanctions myth PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we dig into the myth Russia tells itself about Western sanctions — that they don’t work — highlighting where Moscow has got it wrong. Russia says it isn’t bothered by sanctions. The data says otherwise “Sanctions aren’t working.” That’s been one of the key narratives
Trump sanctions Russian oil: What does it mean? PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. This week we analyze the possible impact of Donald Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil majors, Rosneft and Lukoil. We also cover the central bank’s
Sanctions split PRO Members Public
Europe and the US are still moving in different directions over sanctions. This week Britain greatly expanded its sanctions list to include major Russian oil companies. But the practical effect may be limited unless other countries join in. Meanwhile, after speaking with Putin over the phone, President Donald Trump said
What could Putin and Trump agree on in Budapest? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover the surprise announcement of a second summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, asking why now and what kind of agreement they might reach. Putin-Trump 2.0: Hungary calling The saga of the Putin-Trump talks is entering its second cycle. After yet another round of
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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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