
Propagandists cheer Putin’s “boring” visit to China PRO Members Public
Vladimir Putin and a heavyweight team of advisors, ministers and business leaders visited China last week in the president’s first overseas trip since his latest inauguration. The packed delegation was yet again unable to secure an agreement on the elusive Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline — a project Russia

THE BELL WEEKLY: Putin’s ‘boring’ China visit PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how Russian media put an upbeat spin on Putin’s underwhelming visit to China. We also look at a clash between pro-military bloggers and Chechen authorities over a domestic violence case and Dmitry Medvedev threatening Yandex over its AI chatbot. Propagandists cheer Putin’s

In a war of attrition, you want an economist as defense minister 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. This week our top story is about the appointment of economist Andrei Belousov as defense minister, and what it means for Russia’s war effort. We

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

Resurrecting Soviet five-year plans 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. This week our top story is about the “May decree” that Putin signed following his inauguration this week, and how it resembles Soviet-era practices. We also

Russia displays captured NATO military equipment PRO Members Public
An exhibition of captured military “trophies” has opened in Moscow, showing off Western military equipment and vehicles that Russian forces had destroyed and seized on the battlefield in Ukraine. Russian propaganda exploited the show to demonstrate the Russian army’s success on the front and tell the public that there

‘Almost Naked’ party host backs Putin PRO Members Public
Anastasia Ivleyeva, the host of the notorious “Almost Naked” party that provoked fury among supporters of the war and cost its guests lucrative advertising contracts, has come out in support of Vladimir Putin. In her first interview since the much-discussed event, she revealed she had visited soldiers on the front

1990s reform architect Chubais sets up research project on the future of Russia PRO Members Public
Anatoly Chubais, one of the key architects of the 1990s economic reforms, has opened a center for Russian Studies at Tel Aviv University. Chubais, who held senior positions in the Russian government and state-run companies until 2022, “organized a group of sponsors” for a new project that will explore possible

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

Assessing Mishustin’s first four years PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy — written by Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This week our top story is a look at Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s record in government ahead of a likely reshuffle. We also look at