‘Reputation whitewashing’ scandal rocks Russian opposition Paid Members Public
Yet another scandal is tearing the Russian opposition apart. This time, the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), set up by the late Alexei Navalny, is under fire. Maxim Katz, a former municipal deputy turned popular YouTuber, released an investigation that accuses the foundation of close ties with fugitive Russian bankers and alleged
THE BELL WEEKLY: Navalny aides accused of legitimizing fraudsters Paid Members Public
Hello! This week we look at another scandal that has thrown yet more divisions into Russia’s fraught opposition. We also look at a round of tech layoffs that has spooked Russians working abroad and a Russian opposition figure killed while fighting for Ukraine. ‘Reputation whitewashing’ scandal rocks Russian opposition
Inside Russia’s budget: Taxes, borrowing, reserves 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. This week we look inside Russia’s record high government budget, detailing the plans for taxes and spending, assessing the solidity of Moscow’s reserves and
Putin edges up the nuclear escalation ladder Paid Members Public
While Volodymyr Zelensky was busy meeting Ukraine’s Western allies in the United States to push for fresh military aid, from halfway round the world in Moscow, Vladimir Putin was doing everything he could to make himself the elephant in the room. On the eve of Zelensky’s meeting with
Secret spending hits record level Paid Members Public
The Russian government on Monday sent its 2025-2027 budget to the State Duma, outlining plans that will see defense spending hit a post-Soviet record at 6.3% of GDP. We wrote about the plans for another ramp-up in Russia’s military spending in Friday’s newsletter. The publication of the
THE BELL WEEKLY: Russia’s unprecedented secret spending Paid Members Public
Hello! This week we analyze Russia’s official spending plans for 2025 — the most classified budget proposal in history with record-high defense spending that neither the government nor business press are talking about. We also look at Vladimir Putin’s latest set of nuclear threats to the West. Secret spending
Russia on track to set new military spending records 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. This week, our top story is a deep-dive analysis of the draft budget for the next three years. We also look at why Gazprom’s profitability
Russia vs Darwin Paid Members Public
School education in Russia remains a key area for reform among the authorities and legislators, seeking to embed a deeper nationalistic and conservative identity among the next generation. Recent proposals include introducing“chastity” lessons and removing English language classes from the curriculum. Now the Russian authorities, encouraged by the Russian
