Pro-Kremlin media’s talking points on the conflict in the Middle East Paid Members Public
After the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas militants, Russian propagandists have scrambled to push the focus away from events in Ukraine and onto the situation in the Middle East. The Kremlin’s loyalists on TV and in print quickly started talking up the West’s role in the
THE BELL WEEKLY: Russian propaganda on the Middle-East conflict Paid Members Public
Hello! This week we highlight the main Russian propaganda talking points on the Israel-Hamas conflict. We also cover how the arrest of a US-Russian reporter marks yet another escalation in Russia’s campaign against independent journalism, and why Putin wants to bring back sporting parades beloved by Josef Stalin. Pro-Kremlin
Putin returns empty-handed from Beijing Paid Members Public
Hello! This is your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story is about Putin’s trip to Beijing and why he failed to land any major economic agreements. We also look at whether Russia stands to make money from the Israel-Hamas war
Putin’s priest gets a Crimean flock Paid Members Public
Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in the Russian Orthodox Church has been named the religious leader of occupied Crimea. Officially, the move to name Metropolitan Tikhon as head of the Church's Metropolis of Crimea represents a second successive demotion for Tikhon (whose secular name is Georgiy Shevkunov). That
Fridman heads home, as pro-war lobby push for punishments against emigrants Paid Members Public
Russia’s pro-war lobby last week launched a new campaign against Russian citizens who left the country after the invasion of Ukraine. The speaker of Russia’s Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, proposed conducting checks on those that come back to Russia to ensure they showed no “desire for Nazi victory,” in
Why Putin is backing Hamas Paid Members Public
The Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel were a rare boost for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian authorities – inasmuch as they pushed Russia’s war in Ukraine off the global front pages. For the first time in many years, Putin showed unambiguous solidarity with Palestine, and took more than
THE BELL WEEKLY: Why Putin is backing Hamas Paid Members Public
Hello! This week our top story covers what Moscow has to gain from the Hamas-Israel conflict and why Putin is openly backing the Palestinians. We also look at a billionaire’s return to Russia amid a new campaign against emigrants, and analyze a new religious appointment for Putin’s personal
The return of currency controls Paid Members Public
Hello! This is your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story is on the currency controls re-imposed by Russia and why they are likely linked to presidential elections scheduled for next year. We also look at Belgium’s decision to transfer some
