Will the West tap Russia’s frozen assets? PRO Members Public
Hello! This is your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story is a look at whether the West might be on the verge of utilizing Russian assets that were frozen as the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We also look
Russia’s authorities are talking about blocking WhatsApp. What would this mean in reality? PRO Members Public
For the first time in 18 months of war, Russian authorities alarmedWhatsApp users with talk of blocking the popular messaging app. Along with YouTube, it is one of two international services that the Kremlin has long wished to switch off, but fears a public backlash too much to follow through.
EU bans Russian-registered cars while lifting sanctions on the oligarch who helped Putin’s friends seize the media PRO Members Public
The EU’s sanctions policy continues to throw up paradoxes. Following last week’s scandal around the confiscation of personal items that Russians bring into Europe, the EU confirmed a ban on driving Russian-registered vehicles into its member states. At the same time, the European Commission lifted sanctions on three
THE BELL WEEKLY: The Sanctions Paradox PRO Members Public
Hello! Before we get down to the news, another announcement: For the past year, The Moscow Times has been our partner in this newsletter. But starting this fall, we have made the decision to develop our products separately. Nothing will change for you — you will continue to receive this newsletter
Nobody is safe from Russia’s wave of re-nationalization PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. This time we are focusing on how Russia is quietly reversing the results of the privatizations that followed the Soviet collapse. Even Kremlin loyalist oligarchs and former officials have been among
A rehearsal before Putin’s election in 2024 PRO Members Public
Last week, Russia held federal and regional elections in 49 of its 83 regions, as well as in Crimea and the four regions of occupied Ukraine. Russians chose mayors, regional leaders and deputies for regional parliaments and the upper chamber of the Federation Council. * This year’s elections are affected
Russian authorities start winding down the preferential mortgage program PRO Members Public
With the Russian Central Bank raising its base rate, the Russian authorities have begun tightening the conditions to access preferential and family mortgages. Previously, this scheme allowed Russians to take advantage of subsidized loans to buy houses. The program is consuming increasing levels of budget funding, but the authorities are
Why cars and personal items could be confiscated PRO Members Public
The European Commission made new clarifications in the sanctions regime against Russian citizens — and it became apparent that Russians are now barred from bringing any personal items into the European Union, from cars and laptops to simply a tube of toothpaste. These “new” restrictions on Russians are described in the
THE BELL WEEKLY: Many Russians surprised by European ban on imports for personal use PRO Members Public
Hello! Before we get down to the news, an announcement: For almost five years The Bell has been providing you with weekly expertise and insight on what’s happening inside Russia. As ever, we are deeply grateful for your support — and for reading our newsletters. Soon, our newsletters will become
THE BELL WEEKLY: The richest Russian gives an exemplary statement about the mood of the oligarchs PRO Members Public
This week’s big story was Andrei Melnichenko; the richest man in Russia spoke in detail about the war and sanctions in an interview with FT. Melnichenko’s interview must be bookmarked as an exemplary statement about the mood among leading Russian business figures. It is far more representative than
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