The rise of Russia’s foreign trade middlemen Paid 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. Our top story this week is about the transformative effect Western financial sanctions are having on Russia’s foreign trade. We also look at why so
Putin puts on a BRICS spectacle Paid Members Public
Last week’s BRICS summit in Kazan was probably the most successful international event staged by Vladimir Putin since the start of the war. It was the largest diplomatic forum, with the most world leaders, since at least 2022. Despite the show that Putin managed to put on and the
Georgia’s ruling party wins key election, triggering opposition protests Paid Members Public
Moscow has followed Georgia’s parliamentary elections almost as closely as the upcoming US presidential contest. Oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili’s ruling “Georgian Dream” party has been pursuing increasingly pro-Russian policies since the start of the war in Ukraine, triggering a falling out with the West and accusations of democratic backsliding.
THE BELL WEEKLY: Victory for Georgia’s pro-Russia ruling party Paid Members Public
Hello! This week’s main story is Georgia’s pro-Moscow ruling party securing victory in crucial parliamentary elections. We also cover last week’s BRICS summit — a political victory for Putin, but with no progress on anything important or meaningful. Georgia’s ruling party wins key election, triggering opposition protests
Central Bank hikes rates to 21% Paid 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. Our top story is the Central Bank’s decision to hike interest rates to a record 21%. We also look at the IMF’s upgrade of
The Central Bank readies another rate hike Paid Members Public
There is little doubt that the central bank is gearing up to raise its key interest rate in its next meeting on Friday. Currently set at 19%, it’s expected to be hiked to 20-21% — matching or surpassing the emergency interest rate introduced days after Russia invaded Ukraine. This time
Russia proposes confiscating exiles’ property Paid Members Public
A bill that would allow authorities to seize property from Russians that have left the country has been introduced to Russia’s parliament. Although it had an unusual path to the floor of the Duma, it has every chance of being voted into law and could have been ordered by
Putin’s new passion: boosting Russia’s flagging birth rate Paid Members Public
The bleak demographic prospects for Russia’s near future have prompted the authorities into fresh action, with new legislation set to come into force to try to boost the country’s low birth rate. Last week, a bill banning “childfree propaganda” passed the first of three readings in parliament. The
