Ivan Fomin

Why Russia’s Anti-Putin Election Protest Matters

The “Noon Against Putin” campaign didn’t stop the president’s re-election. But that does not mean the protest achieved nothing.
5 Min read
Lucy Birge

What’s the Kremlin Scared Of? Pro-War Ultranationalists

Lenient sentences for high-profile ultranationalists who criticize Putin show that the Kremlin is worried about the power of these voices.
4 Min read
Vladimir Kara-Murza

Putin's Re-Election Must Be Deemed Illegitimate: Vladimir Kara-Murza Writes From Prison

The jailed opposition politician calls on the international community to refuse to recognize Putin as president after the Russian presidential election...
4 Min read
Bektour Iskender

Kyrgyzstan Is Copying Russia’s Dictatorship. I Fear It Could Get Worse

Kyrgyzstan's descent into authoritarianism does not make global headlines, making it more likely Bishkek will continue along its dark path.
5 Min read
Alexander Archagov

Why Haven’t Russians Rebelled Against The War? Psychology Has Answers

For virtually all Russians, the war came as a shock. To avoid shattering their existing worldview, they made the war a part of it.
7 Min read
Juliane Fürst

Soldiers’ Mothers Have Long Been a Thorn in the Kremlin’s Side

Putin leads a collective of old men being confronted by younger women. The Soviet-era cult of the soldier’s mother might swing against him.
6 Min read
Lana Estemirova

Russia Imprisoned My Friend Oleg Orlov For Telling It Like It Is

He could have left the country, and many insisted he should have done. But that’s not his style. Oleg has always been a rebel with a cause. 
6 Min read
Dankhayaa Khovalyg

Navalny’s Difficult Relationship With Indigenous Russians

A decolonial agenda that thought about anyone other than ethnic Russians was never part of Navalny’s plan, nor is it likely to be after his death.
8 Min read
Stanislav Shakirov

What Should Russians Do If VPNs Are Banned?

The Kremlin has been slow in the cat-and-mouse game for a free internet. But there are steps Russians can take to beat future censorship.
5 Min read
Oleg Orlov

‘Our Country Is Sinking Into Darkness’: Oleg Orlov’s Final Word in Court

The veteran rights campaigner was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison on Tuesday for his opposition to the war in Ukraine.
5 Min read
Boris Bondarev

After Navalny, What Next For Russia’s Opposition?

Navalny’s death presents an opportunity for Russia’s fractured opposition to develop a serious strategy. But they could repeat past mistakes.
7 Min read
Elena Davlikanova

After 10 Years of War, Ukraine’s Allies Lack Critical Survival Instinct

The West’s support is far from enough when the initial bar – allowing Russia to overpower and occupy the entirety of Ukraine – was so low. 
5 Min read
Harold Chambers

80 Years Later, Deportation of Chechen and Ingush Peoples Shapes the North Caucasus

Ramzan Kadyrov continues to leverage the painful memory of the genocidal deportation to exert his influence on his neighbors.
4 Min read
Dan Storyev

Fear Is Part of Life in Russia. But Navalny Said We Mustn’t Be Afraid

There are plenty of reasons to be afraid. That is why we should acknowledge our fear and let it fuel our hope for a “beautiful Russia of the future."...
4 Min read
Ilya Yashin

I Have No Doubt That Putin Killed Navalny

In a letter from Russian prison, Ilya Yashin — a close associate of the late opposition leader — vowed to "fight tyranny."
3 Min read
Ivan U. Klyszcz

Ukraine Could Lose the War. The U.S. and Europe Aren’t Doing Enough

If the West keeps waiting for the U.S. elections and the defense industry to scale-up production, it will be too late to help Ukraine win the war.
5 Min read
Ivan Fomin

What Can Navalny Teach Us About Fighting Putin’s Regime?

Navalny's way of fighting Putinism was based on a continuous search for pressure points, innovative alliances, and inventive ways to mobilize supporters...
6 Min read
Morvan Lallouet

Navalny Has Entered the History Books, But His Words Will Live On

Navalny died yesterday, and many in Russia saw hope die with him. We know why Navalny died — or, rather, was killed — and we know who did it. 
5 Min read