Politics
The end of Radio Liberty: What does it mean for Russia? Paid Members Public
President Donald Trump’s decision to liquidate the U.S. Agency for Global Media and stop funding Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has had a particularly strong impact on Russian society – not least because of the important role RFE/RL played throughout Soviet/Russian history. If RFE/RL ceases its
Renowned opposition rapper accused in grooming-and-assault scandal Paid Members Public
Russia’s #MeToo movement resurfaced last week, after journalist Nastya Krasilnikov released an investigation into popular rapper Oxxxymiron, in which he was accused of grooming underage girls and sexually assaulting them once they had turned 16. For more than a decade, the performer has been not only a prominent figure
Moscow revels in Oval Office row between Zelensky and Trump Paid Members Public
Russia can’t get enough of last week’s unprecedented row between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in front of the world’s media in the Oval Office. The growing rift between the United States, Ukraine and Europe gives the Kremlin hope that it can strike a deal normalizing relations
Moscow celebrates after Putin’s conversation with Trump Paid Members Public
With officials preparing for Tuesday’s talks with the US in Saudi Arabia, Russian authorities and state media at home can hardly contain their delight over last week’s phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. It is unclear how the talks will go, or whether the Putin-Trump relationship
Moscow to demolish two Soviet architecture gems Paid Members Public
Moscow has decided to demolish two famous landmarks of the Soviet period: the former building of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) and the Great Moscow State Circus. Moscow's civic authorities have the right to pull down any building which, in their opinion, does not fit with
Opposition infighting: Navalny allies hit back at Katz Paid Members Public
Alexei Navalny’s The Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) — run by the late opposition leader’s allies in exile — last week accused the wife of Maxim Katz, a popular opposition blogger, of earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from working with companies close to the Russian authorities. The investigation has prompted another
US aid suspension hits Russian independent media and NGOs Paid Members Public
The decree by US President Donald Trump’s decree halting American aid to foreign countries and suspending the work of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hits exiled Russian media and NGOs hard. For many organizations and publications, grant funding is the sole means they have of ensuring
Fake news scandals hit Russian independent media Paid Members Public
One of the biggest scandals to hit Russian independent media in years has emerged over the last week: a journalist who wrote about the war was accused of falsification and making up material. Almost every publication that worked with her rushed to take down her work and apologize to their
Putin-Trump talks: What to expect Paid Members Public
Following Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. President, the prospect of Washington brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has shot up the global agenda. A source with contacts inside the Kremlin told The Bell that a deal is possible — but with many caveats. Trump’s signals In
Putin awaits Trump meeting Paid Members Public
Despite the signals from Trump’s team that the new US President will continue to provide military support for Ukraine, Moscow has viewed his inauguration as a cause for celebration. The Kremlin sees it as unlikely Trump can offer Russia an acceptable deal to end the war, but Trump has
