THE BELL WEEKLY: Libertarian activist sows discord among Russian opposition PRO Members Public
Hello. This week we look at why two dubious articles published by a libertarian activist have captured the attention of Russia’s opposition. We also cover the lengthy prison sentence handed down for an anti-war sticker protest and Russia’s escalating campaign against the LGBT+ community. Troll farms and sanctions:
EU mulls Russia diamonds ban, tightening oil cap rules PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story is a deep-dive into the EU’s nineteenth packet of sanctions against Russia, which looks set to include a ban on Russian diamonds and new rules on Russian oil sales. We
Kremlin says criminals are “atoning with blood” on the battlefield in Ukraine PRO Members Public
With every passing week, more attention is being paid to the thousands of criminals, including brutal murderers, receiving pardons after being released from prison to serve with the Wagner private militia and other paramilitaries fighting in Ukraine. The problems stemming from the policy were inevitable. Unlike draftees, pardoned criminals are
Russian regions’ anti-abortion drive PRO Members Public
Russia’s war on Ukraine is proving to be no obstacle for the battle to promote “traditional values” – the conservative social program and messaging that Vladimir Putin has long placed at the heart of his domestic ideological agenda. The latest part of that agenda has now emerged, with the state
The Kremlin gears up to launch Putin’s re-election campaign PRO Members Public
President Vladimir Putin is preparing to announce his plans to run in the 2024 Presidential Election. The Kremlin is already assembling a working group of “social activists” who will officially announce and back his candidacy. The group may include the singer Shaman, who has become the latest symbol of Russian
THE BELL WEEKLY: Putin’s election procession PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our main story is President Vladimir Putin’s plans for re-election and what his campaign will look like. We also cover the growing trend of anti-abortion measures and public outrage over convicted criminals now returning to society after fighting in Ukraine. The Kremlin gears up to launch
Rising inflation becoming political hot potato PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story this time is the growing political problem of inflation, how the government is seeking to dampen price rises, and what effect this will have on the economy. We also look at
Back to the pandemic — Russian stats body delays bad news publications PRO Members Public
Rosstat, Russia’s statistics agency, appears to be reverting to its pandemic-era practice of delaying the publication of statistical reports. Last week, Rosstat withheld the release of its latest socio-economic report which included information on soaring inflation levels across the country, until well into the evening. * Last week, Rosstat delayed
The latest travails of the Alfa Group owners: Detained in France, forgiven in Russia PRO Members Public
The co-owners of Alfa Group, one of Russia’s largest business groups, have been held in disgrace in the West since the invasion of Ukraine — a point of view cemented by them being added to, and not removed from, various sanctions lists. Last year, British police searched properties belonging to
Islamic fundamentalism and the antisemitic airport riot in Dagestan PRO Members Public
The recent riot at Makhachkala airport, which involved 1,500 people chanting antisemitic slogans and waving Palestinian flags, continues to be a major topic in Russian-language media eight days on. The Bell has looked into how anonymous Telegram channels orchestrated the events that led to a mob storming the airport
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The Bell was founded in 2017 by journalists Elizaveta Osetinskaya, Irina Malkova and Peter Mironenko as a news outlet independent from the Russian authorities, after its founders have been sacked as top editors at the largest Russian news website RBC because of pressure from the Kremlin.
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