
Russia’s new elite being pushed into politics PRO Members Public
Russian soldiers who have fought in Ukraine have become a powerful new social class in Russian society. They get state subsidies, extra welfare payments, career boosts, and, for some, a fast track to power. President Vladimir Putin often calls veterans and soldiers Russia’s “new elite,” asserting that the leadership

Russian propagandists slam Olympics opening ceremony PRO Members Public
The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics — which attracted criticism for its apparent reinterpretation of the Last Supper featuring drag performers — proved a gift for Russian propagandists. They jumped on the opportunity to rehash one of their favorite talking points — the decadence of a liberal Europe that has no

Divorce, Kadyrov and corporate raiders: The blockbuster saga at Wildberries PRO Members Public
Online shopping has belatedly become a major industry across Russia over the last five years. After a slow start, online marketplaces are thriving and pick-up points can be found all over the country, even in the smallest remote villages. But market leader Wildberries hit the headlines last week for something

THE BELL WEEKLY: Primetime scandal at Russia’s Amazon PRO Members Public
Bonjour ! Cette semaine, nous nous penchons sur un scandale retentissant au sein de Wildberries - la réponse russe à Amazon - et sur la manière dont l'homme fort tchétchène Ramzan Kadyrov s'est retrouvé impliqué dans le divorce de la fondatrice. Nous évoquons également les propagandistes russes qui s'en donnent à cœur joie lors de la cérémonie d'ouverture des Jeux olympiques et les vétérans de guerre qui sont poussés à la faute.

Preparing for new ‘confiscation wars’ PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy — written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. Our top story this time is the discussions underway in Russia about a legal tool to allow the state to seize the frozen assets of foreign

Another Kremlin appointment at Moscow’s once-famed independent university PRO Members Public
Vladimir Putin’s notorious former economic advisor Sergei Glazyev is now a research fellow at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics — the latest sign of the Kremlin’s control over what used to be Russia’s leading liberal university. * Economist Sergei Glazyev was appointed chief researcher at the Higher School

Yandex founder tells The Bell about his new business PRO Members Public
After months of negotiations, Yandex has completed its break-up — splitting into a Russian arm that will keep the name, and the vast majority of the company’s revenues, employees and services; and an international division, to be headed up by its founder, Russian tech tycoon Arkady Volozh. In his only

THE BELL WEEKLY. ‘More than hype’: Yandex founder bets on AI PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we spoke to Yandex founder Arkady Volozh about his new business venture following the multi-billion-dollar break-up of the Russian tech giant. We also look at how a university appointment reveals the Kremlin’s deepening control over the most liberal corners of higher education. Yandex founder tells The

Russia’s 650,000 wartime emigres PRO Members Public
Bonjour ! Bienvenue dans votre guide hebdomadaire de l'économie russe, rédigé par Denis Kasyanchuk et Alexandra Prokopenko et présenté par The Bell. Notre sujet principal est l'étude de The Bell sur l'exode des Russes à la suite de l'invasion de l'Ukraine. Nous nous penchons également sur les maux de tête de la Banque centrale de Russie.

Jet crash prompts speculation over Russia’s import substitution drive PRO Members Public
Last Friday, a Russian Sukhoi Superjet (SSJ) 100 passenger aircraft crashed near Moscow, killing all three crew members on board. The plane was flying to Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after having undergone repair work. First developed in the 2000s, the model never took off with airlines either abroad or at