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: A blow to Russia in the Caucasus PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how Azerbaijan’s use of military force to seize control of Nagorno-Karabakh has dealt yet another blow to Russia’s standing in the Caucasus. We also summarize a new investigation into Dialog, a major player in the Kremlin’s online propaganda machine, and assess
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
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
THE BELL WEEKLY: Prigozhin’s legacy PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we explore the fallout from Yevgeny Prigozhin’s dramatic death last Wednesday. In this newsletter, we’ll explore how a restaraunt owner from St. Petersburg became one of the most powerful businessmen in Russia, and what will happen to his businesses now he’s gone. Who will
THE BELL WEEKLY: More Than Just an Exchange Rate PRO Members Public
Hello! This week, in our main story we explain why Russians take the ruble exchange rate so personally that its devaluation is a serious political problem for the Kremlin. Then we turn to a failed launch of a Russian lunar station. Finaly, we look at how one of the most
THE BELL WEEKLY: The Founder of “Russian Google” Condemns the War PRO Members Public
Hello! This week, our main story is comments from the founder of Yandex, in which he criticized Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as “barbaric.” We also explore the decision by Russia’s Central Bank to call an extraordinary meeting to stop the ruble from plummeting below 100 against the dollar.
THE BELL WEEKLY: Government trying to ease pressure on the ruble PRO Members Public
Hello! This week, our main story is another week of turbulence for the ruble, as the falling national currency can push the government into abandoning one of its key budget principles. We also look at the founder of Yandex rebrand himself as “an Israeli businessman, born in Kazakhstan” and explain
THE BELL WEEKLY: Ukraine’s counteroffensive and Russia's war economy PRO Members Public
Hello! This week, our main story is a raft of legislation predicated on a long-running war adopted by the Russian parliament. We also look at the Russia-Africa summit and explain what a ban on Dozhd says about the Kremlin’s tactics against independent media. Amid military escalation, Russia adopts laws
THE BELL WEEKLY: Why the nationalization of Danone and Carlsberg matters PRO Members Public
President Vladimir Putin has recently signed a decree nationalizing the Russian assets of French dairy producer Danone and the Baltika brewery, owned by Denmark's Carlsberg. One of them is now under the ownership of an old friend of Putin’s from 1990s St. Petersburg, while the other went
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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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