
Kremlin hopes for Erdogan victory as Turkey goes to the polls PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. This week we focus on the Turkish elections and what the outcome could mean for Turkish-Russian relations. We also look at how the Central Bank sees vulnerabilities of the financial sector.

What's driving rising Russian crude prices? PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. This week we look at why rising prices for Russian oil are a tactical victory for Russia in its economic war with the West — and at attacks on the Kremlin and

Kremlin opts to seize foreign assets as ‘sanctions war’ hots up PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. This week we look at the Kremlin’s decision to nationalize the assets of several companies owned by foreign states (in a way that benefits Putin’s ally Igor Sechin) and

The Ukraine war means Russia needs a digital ruble more than ever PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story is Russia’s digital ruble and why it could be of significant use to the Kremlin while it wages its brutal war in Ukraine. We also look at

How does Russia’s drift toward totalitarianism affect the economy? PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Our top story is the amendments to a military service law that entails a radical restriction on freedoms inside the country. We also look at why inflation is not falling as

Real incomes keep on falling PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Today, I am joined by The Bell economy reporter Denis Kasyanchuk and we’ll look at what’s happening to incomes and living standards in Russia. What risks does the current

Arresting foreigners and the Kremlin’s search for leverage PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. Although it doesn’t fit our economics-focus, given recent developments, I believe it is most appropriate to start this week’s newsletter with the arrest of our friend and colleague, WSJ

Russia has too few workers PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. In today’s newsletter, we focus on the dynamics of the Russian labor market where there is a growing staff shortage. We also look at how Russia became the biggest foreign

Russia’s Journey Toward Economic Dependence on China PRO Members Public
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Moscow next week. This is a traditional engagement: Russia is usually the first country any Chinese leader visits after his re-election. Moscow and Beijing describe their relationship as a strategic and comprehensive partnership and do all they can to emphasize a good