The Western banks are not leaving Russia yet Paid 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 time we take an in depth look at the two biggest European banks in Russia – Austria’s Raiffeisen and Italy’s UniCredit. Why are they
Russia’s new elite being pushed into politics Paid Members Public
Russian soldiers who have fought in Ukraine have become a powerful new social class in Russian society. They get state subsidies, extra welfare payments, career boosts, and, for some, a fast track to power. President Vladimir Putin often calls veterans and soldiers Russia’s “new elite,” asserting that the leadership
Russian propagandists slam Olympics opening ceremony Paid Members Public
The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics — which attracted criticism for its apparent reinterpretation of the Last Supper featuring drag performers — proved a gift for Russian propagandists. They jumped on the opportunity to rehash one of their favorite talking points — the decadence of a liberal Europe that has no
Divorce, Kadyrov and corporate raiders: The blockbuster saga at Wildberries Paid Members Public
Online shopping has belatedly become a major industry across Russia over the last five years. After a slow start, online marketplaces are thriving and pick-up points can be found all over the country, even in the smallest remote villages. But market leader Wildberries hit the headlines last week for something
THE BELL WEEKLY: Primetime scandal at Russia’s Amazon Paid Members Public
Hello! This week we look at an eye-popping scandal at Wildberries — Russia’s answer to Amazon — and how Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov got himself involved in the founder’s divorce. We also cover Russian propagandists having a field day with the Olympics opening ceremony and the war veterans being pushed
Preparing for new ‘confiscation wars’ Paid 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. Our top story this time is the discussions underway in Russia about a legal tool to allow the state to seize the frozen assets of foreign
Another Kremlin appointment at Moscow’s once-famed independent university Paid Members Public
Vladimir Putin’s notorious former economic advisor Sergei Glazyev is now a research fellow at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics — the latest sign of the Kremlin’s control over what used to be Russia’s leading liberal university. * Economist Sergei Glazyev was appointed chief researcher at the Higher School
Yandex founder tells The Bell about his new business Paid Members Public
After months of negotiations, Yandex has completed its break-up — splitting into a Russian arm that will keep the name, and the vast majority of the company’s revenues, employees and services; and an international division, to be headed up by its founder, Russian tech tycoon Arkady Volozh. In his only
