March 17, 2022 Rapping for Peace Two of Russia's biggest rappers are taking a stance against the war in Ukraine. Music Politics Russians Abroad War Russia File
March 08, 2022 International Women's Day Today is International Women's Day, which traces its roots to 1917, when Russian women demanded "bread and peace." Four days later the tsar was forced to abdicate and the provisional government granted women the right to vote. What's going on today in Russia? History Politics War Women
March 02, 2022 Coping with the New Reality A letter from a friend, from the front lines in St. Petersburg. Cities & Towns Int'l Relations Politics War Russia File
March 01, 2022 Reading about Putin and Poetry In which we review two books: one full of poetry, another full of Putin. Literature Politics Reviews
February 20, 2022 Ukraine Invasions and Justifications: Catherine the Great Got There First An illustrated history that draws parallels between a potential invasion of Ukraine today and Catherine the Great’s occupation and annexation of Crimea in the late 1700s. History Int'l Relations Military Politics Regions War Women Russia File
February 11, 2022 Battle of the Zoo Mascots A Siberian zoo's mascot competition has ended in fraudulent activity, anger, and political outrage. Animals Cities & Towns Internet Politics Russia File
February 03, 2022 Slip-ups, Icicles, and (Not So) Sneaky Thieves In this week's Odder News: a propaganda failure, fishing robots, and a cross-dressing bandit. Law Politics Science Odder News
January 01, 2022 Undesirable Outcome The history of Russia since 2008 has been to repeatedly lop off appendages – nose, ears, digits – to spite itself. Obsessed by erroneous threats, it has invaded its neighbors, quashed all democratic activity, rigged votes, interfered in foreign elections, harbored and/or enabled international cybercrime… and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Int'l Relations NGOs Politics
January 01, 2022 Erasing Memory The government wants to close down Memorial, while at the same time not be seen as the sort of repressive state that brought about the need for a Memorial. Lose-lose balancing act. Government NGOs Politics
December 08, 2021 The Breadwinner "Any region [of the Russian Federation], a Russian citizen, a Russian person – these are our people. We have never split. Can we help with something in agriculture – please. We will give the last grain, super-elite [grain], so all is well." – From the website of Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, on December 2. Int'l Relations Politics Quote
December 01, 2021 Of the Old School "Let's revive the Soviet school of education. It was the best in the world, everyone has always recognized this, and this is what our legislative proposals should be aimed at. After all, the Unified State Exam is just some kind of torture for young people." – Chairman of Russia’s Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin, reminiscing about how the Soviet system of education really made the grade. Education Politics Social Issues Quote
November 24, 2021 After the Lord Mayor's Show "They are waiting for conversations from us, but not concrete actions.” – Andrei Alekseenko, the new mayor of Krasnodar, seems to have confused the demands of his citizens. Cities & Towns Politics Social Issues Quote