THE BELL WEEKLY. ‘More than hype’: Yandex founder bets on AI Members Public

Hello! This week we spoke to Yandex founder Arkady Volozh about his new business venture following the multi-billion-dollar break-up of the Russian tech giant. We also look at how a university appointment reveals the Kremlin’s deepening control over the most liberal corners of higher education. Yandex founder tells The

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Russia’s 650,000 wartime emigres Members Public

Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy — written by Denis Kasyanchuk and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. Our top story is The Bell’s study into the exodus of Russians following the invasion of Ukraine. We also look at headaches for the Central

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Economy Weekly

Jet crash prompts speculation over Russia’s import substitution drive Members Public

Last Friday, a Russian Sukhoi Superjet (SSJ) 100 passenger aircraft crashed near Moscow, killing all three crew members on board. The plane was flying to Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after having undergone repair work. First developed in the 2000s, the model never took off with airlines either abroad or at

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Economy

Russia cancels national ID cards for anti-war exiles Members Public

It seems that the Russian authorities have found a new way of pressuring opposition activists who left the country: annulling their internal passports — effectively a national ID card. So far a few cases have emerged and it is not clear whether this will be a widespread measure. But the potential

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Politics

Russia puts the brakes on YouTube, WhatsApp Members Public

After abandoning plans to block popular Western internet services, the Russian authorities have now moved to trying to slow them down. This week it emerged that YouTube was being throttled — a platform where millions of Russians watch reports and interviews from independent journalists undermining the Kremlin’s case for its

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Politics

THE BELL WEEKLY: The Kremlin versus YouTube Members Public

Hello! This week we cover Russian authorities slowing down traffic to YouTube and WhatsApp. We also look at the latest targeting of anti-war exiles and why a plane crash has shone a light on Russia’s import substitution drive. Russia puts the brakes on YouTube, WhatsApp After abandoning plans to

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Russia’s acute labor shortage 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 is a deep dive into Russia’s wartime labor shortage, and what’s driving it. We also look at some Western successes targeting

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Economy Weekly

Russia ends subsidized mortgages, leaving a housing bubble and inequality behind Members Public

On July 1, Russia halted its preferential mortgage program after awarding loans to millions of people at interest rates of up to 8% — half the Central Bank’s current base rate. The program was first introduced to support the real estate market during the Covid pandemic, but ultimately proved hugely

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Economy

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