State nuclear agency turns to China to build Russian electric vehicles Paid Members Public
Despite being cut off from Western technology, the Kremlin has not given up on creating a Russian electric car. Newspaper Kommersant last week uncovered some of the details. The key to Russia’s project now, according to Kommersant, is Rosatom, the state nuclear agency, which is using Chinese technology to
Russia looks to ensure social media influencers pay tax Paid Members Public
The Russian authorities appear to be continuing in their quest for ways to maximize tax revenue amid Western sanctions and rising military expenditure. Now, even the country’s social media stars are in their sights. Police last week carried out a very public arrest of Yelena Blinovskaya, a self-styled “personal
THE BELL WEEKLY: Squeezing influencers Paid Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is about the high-profile arrest of top social media influencer Yelena Blinovskaya and whether Russia is looking for innovative ways to boost tax revenue. We also look at how Russia is trying to revive its problem-hit electric car program and the Kremlin’s decision
Kremlin opts to seize foreign assets as ‘sanctions war’ hots up Paid Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. This week we look at the Kremlin’s decision to nationalize the assets of several companies owned by foreign states (in a way that benefits Putin’s ally Igor Sechin) and
Another scandal hits Russia’s opposition Paid Members Public
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine influential figures in Russia's opposition continue to squabble among themselves. The latest public spat was between jailed politician Alexei Navalny and former oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The fight broke out after Khodorkovsky hired a man blamed for persecuting one of Navalny’s
Did the son of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov fight in Ukraine? Paid Members Public
The children of Russia’s elite are allegedly joining the ranks of ordinary citizens to fight in Ukraine. The most notable example is Nikolai Choles, the son of the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Last week, Choles gave an interview to the tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, where he said he was fighting
TV ads and social networks urge Russian men to enlist Paid Members Public
The Russian authorities have launched a new recruitment campaign for contract soldiers in recent weeks. According to media sources, the Defense Ministry wants to call up 400,000 fighting men. It’s an ambitious plan. Before the war, Russia’s entire army totaled 400,000 troops. The new recruitment drive
THE BELL WEEKLY: Army recruitment drive Paid Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is about an enormous military recruitment drive in Russia seeking to attract hundreds of thousands of soldiers. We also look at reports that the children of the Russian elite are fighting on the frontlines in Ukraine and another spat between different factions of Russia’
