Half a million Russians lose out on a Turkish beach holiday PRO Members Public
Moscow announced a ban on flights to Istanbul last week due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation in Turkey, ruining the holiday plans of hundreds of thousands of ordinary Russians. Turkey has always been one of the most popular destinations for Russian tourists and, during the pandemic, it has been one
New U.S. sanctions on Russia are mostly symbolic PRO Members Public
In the week after a phone call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Putin, Russia-U.S. relations continue to oscillate wildly. New U.S. sanctions on Russia imposed Thursday were mostly symbolic, but Washington has kept the door open to new restrictions. Meanwhile, preparations for a face-to-face meeting between
Political repression intensifies as Navalny supporters plan new protest PRO Members Public
A police crackdown against opposition activists and independent media dramatically gathered pace last week. Not only has the health of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny reportedly deteriorated to a point at which his life is now in danger, but law enforcement took unprecedented steps to shut-down his political organization and
Intensifying crackdown PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is about the escalating pressure on independent journalists and supporters of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny. We also look at new U.S. sanctions on Russia that turned out to be more bark than bite, and how the Russian government ruined the holidays of
Russia-Ukraine tensions rise PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is an analysis of the military escalation between Russia and Ukraine and whether it could lead to all-out war. We also look at the ruble’s recent woes, and have highlights from a blockbuster investigation into Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s matrimonial situation. Tensions
The Sputnik paradox PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is about the low take-up of Russia’s coronavirus vaccine despite it being widely available. We also look at the latest crisis caused by state regulation of food prices, why a famous Russian television presenter had to leave neighboring Georgia in a hurry, and
FSB accused of stealing pharma business after arrest of billionaire PRO Members Public
A high-stakes corruption case dominated the news in Russia this week. The star of the drama was billionaire Boris Shpigel, owner of pharmaceutical company Biotech and a former senator in the upper house of parliament. For many years Shpigel was part of Russia’s powerful pharma lobby that enjoyed connections
Sobchak interview with serial rapist causes fury PRO Members Public
TV presenter and ex-presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak sparked debate this week after her video interview with kidnapper and serial rapist Viktor Mokhov. In 2000, Mokhov seized two under-age girls and imprisoned them in a specially-built cellar, where he kept them for four years, raping them repeatedly. For his crimes, Mokhov
Navalny reports health problems as new protest announced PRO Members Public
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny — who has just begun a two-and-a-half year jail sentence — is already suffering from health problems. Not only is Navalny experiencing severe back pain, the cause of which is unclear, but his lawyers claim prison doctors are refusing him treatment. At the same time, Navalny’s colleagues
FSB accused of stealing pharma business after arrest of billionaire PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is a lurid tale of corruption involving two high-profile arrests, the pharmaceutical industry and the security services. We also look at how opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s health has deteriorated in prison, and the fallout from ex-presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak’s controversial YouTube interview
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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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