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 fate of YouTube in Russia PRO Members Public
Hello! Our main story this week is how YouTube has fared in Russia in the year since authorities started blocking it — and what its future could be. We also pay tribute to Derk Sauer, one of the founding fathers of Russian independent media, who died last week, aged 72. Russia
Security services turn on unruly tabloid PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover the raids and arrests of top figures at the Baza Telegram channel, an outlet with close ties to the security agencies, which appear to have now turned against the publication they fed for years. Baza targeted in Russia’s escalating media crackdown Baza — the Telegram
A new level of repression PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover a new piece of legislation that would punish Russians for reading “extremist” content online, in what could be the opening salvo in a massive new ramp-up of repression. Russia to fine people for searching or reading material online Russia is taking its biggest step towards
Censorship in Russia – back to the USSR? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at plans to revive Soviet-era censorship, what the Kremlin thinks of the idea and what it would mean, if anything, for Russian media. Russia gets serious about bring back Soviet-style censorship Talk of reviving official censorship in Russia, while not new, has taken on a
Sacked transport minister dies by suicide PRO Members Public
Hello! Our top story is the shock suicide of Russia’s transport minister, whose body was discovered hours after he was fired amid looming corruption charges. We also look at how a string of internet outages and major disruption at airports could spell trouble for the Kremlin’s support among
How Russian banks adapted to sanctions PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we detail our investigation into how Russian banks are skirting sanctions to transfer money to the EU — the latest in a string of restriction-busting innovations rolled out by the sector amid the Ukraine invasion. The Central Asian fix: Sending rubles to Europe Sanctions against Russia over its
Domodedovo and SPIEF: a masterclass in ignoring reality PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how the nationalization of Moscow’s Domodedovo airport came about and why it was a non-issue at Russia’s premier business and investment forum in Saint Petersburg. SPIEF shrugs off Domodedovo nationalization The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has long ceased to be a
Iran-Israel war plays into Kremlin hands PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover how Moscow could benefit from the conflict between Iran and Israel. We also unpack an investigation into Telegram and the FSB, examining what mobile data Russia’s security services can and cannot access. Moscow stands to benefit from all-out war between Israel and Iran Although
Russia prepares for a war on WhatsApp PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at Russia’s plans to create a domestic messenger platform – and why that spells trouble for the almost 100 million Russian WhatsApp users. Putin backs creation of ‘national messenger’ Russian authorities are moving towards blocking the last major foreign online service that had been – until
Russia’s Pearl Harbor? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look in depth at Ukraine’s attacks on Russian air bases housing its strategic bomber fleet — what it means for the war, could Russia go nuclear in response, and why state TV hasn’t been talking about it. Ukraine attacks Russian strategic bomber fleet in stunning
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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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