Russia, Explained
Pyotr Mironenko, co-founder of The Bell, and Denis Kasyanchuk, our economics editor, take a closer look at the week's top Russia stories, and explain why they matter. An in-depth look at how Russia works, what is bothering the elite, how public opinion is changing, and how to read between the lines of state propaganda.
THE BELL WEEKLY: Shoigu removed, Belousov to become defense minister PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at the surprise removal of Sergei Shoigu as Russia’s defense minister and dig into his replacement, Andrei Belousov, and what his priorities will be, What to expect from Belousov as the new defense minister Russian President Vladimir Putin sprang a Sunday night surprise with
THE BELL WEEKLY: Back to the Future – Anatoly Chubais’s new think tank PRO Members Public
Hello. This week we look at Anatoly Chubais opening a Russia studies institute in exile, and the bitter debate over his legacy at home. We also cover the ongoing fallout from last year’s scandalous “Almost Naked” party and a new war exhibition in Moscow. 1990s reform architect Chubais sets
THE BELL WEEKLY: A nepo-baby shuffle at VK PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we report on a possible shake-up at one of Russia’s most important tech companies. We also assess the impact of the West’s oil price cap with two of its authors and highlight the latest crackdown on independent journalists, media outlets and their readers. Russia’s
THE BELL WEEKLY: The shadow of the 90s haunts the Russian opposition PRO Members Public
Hello. This week we cover the opposition backlash to a major documentary on the 1990s published by Team Navalny. We also look at the latest piece of pro-war propaganda in Russian schools and how Moscow is responding to new US aid for Ukraine. Team Navalny film about 1990s oligarchs divides
THE BELL WEEKLY: Special benefits for Russia’s ‘new elite’ PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover the growing number of special benefits and legal exemptions for Russian soldiers coming back from Ukraine. We also look at the authorities’ response to unprecedented flooding and plans to use AI to improve online censorship. Airlines told to roll out the red carpet for Russian
THE BELL WEEKLY: Xenophobia takes hold after Moscow terror attack PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at a rise in xenophobia after the Moscow terror attack. We also cover a state-funded patriotic video game that became a multi-million dollar flop and a new case against an ailing Soviet dissident. Russia hit by wave of xenophobia after biggest terror attack in 20
THE BELL WEEKLY: Will Russia block Telegram, again? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at Russian officials’ attempts to get more control over Telegram, the most popular messaging app in the country. We also provide a snapshot of a new The Bell investigation into one of the major Russian winners from the mass departure of foreign firms. Russian officials
THE BELL WEEKLY: Russia’s worst terror attack in 20 years PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at the worst terror attack in Russia for two decades. We cover what happened at Crocus City Hall on Friday evening and how the authorities are responding. The shadow of the 1990s looms over concert hall massacre In the late 1990s and early 2000s, terrorist
THE BELL WEEKLY: Putin’s implausible landslide PRO Members Public
Hello. This week we dig into Vladimir Putin’s inevitable election victory. We cover the official results, claims of manipulation and how the Kremlin orchestrated the “record” figures. We also look at an escalation in Ukrainian attacks on the eve of the poll and analyze the opposition’s attempts to
THE BELL WEEKLY: Russia’s new business elite PRO Members Public
Hello! Apologies for the late arrival of this week’s newsletter. This time we are presenting The Bell’s latest project — a ranking of the new Russian business elite, the winners from the exodus of Western firms. We also cover how Putin’s friends are trying to use the election
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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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