Biggest regional protests in 10 years PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is on a wave of protests: large ones in the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk and smaller ones in Moscow. We also look at the bad blood between opposition leader Navalny and some prominent independent journalists, and a series of #metoo allegations in the
A week of repression follows constitutional referendum PRO Members Public
Many believed there would be a reckoning after Russia’s constitutional referendum, but few expected the authorities to act so quickly, and with such ferocity. In the week since Russians voted to allow Putin to ‘reset’ his presidential term count, two major criminal cases were opened: one into a prominent
When Russian celebrities and Western brands collide PRO Members Public
The reaction of some Russians to the Black Lives Matter movement has led to Western brands re-thinking their collaborations. Xenophobia and other types of abusive behavior look like they will become more financially risky for Russian celebrities. * Last week we wrote about how socialite and former presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak
Belarus heads for political turmoil as election approaches PRO Members Public
As Putin puts the pieces in place to remain president through 2036, his Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko is facing a serious political challenge. Belarus will hold presidential elections on August 9 and, according to surveys, Lukashenko will get only a tiny percentage of the vote. Two of his three main
Constitutional referendum delivers big win for Putin PRO Members Public
The outcome of Russia’s constitutional referendum was exactly as predicted and the stage is now set for Vladimir Putin to remain president through 2036. In the end, neither coronavirus nor an economic crisis was a problem for Kremlin planners, and 77.9 percent of Russians voted in favor of
Repression follows referendum PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is about a series of high-profile arrests and searches that have followed the recent constitutional referendum. We also look at a record $2 billion environmental fine for mining giant Norilsk Nickel, and messaging app Telegram’s unexpected rapprochement with the Russian authorities. A week
Putin’s referendum victory PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is on how Russians voted ‘yes’ in Putin’s constitutional referendum marred by unprecedented levels of electoral fraud. We also look at the political turmoil in neighboring Belarus, and what happens when Russian celebrities fall foul of the ethical standards upheld by Western brands.
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
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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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