https://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion The Moscow Times offers everything you need to know about Russia: Breaking news, top stories, business, analysis, opinion, multimedia en-us Sat, 14 Nov 2026 02:21:02 +0300 600 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/13/heres-why-russia-keeps-outplaying-the-us-and-europe-in-ukraine-war-peace-talks-a94253 Washington is too eager to take the Kremlin at its word, while Europe is more concerned with words than taking decisive action. Fri, 13 Nov 2026 19:24:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/13/heres-why-russia-keeps-outplaying-the-us-and-europe-in-ukraine-war-peace-talks-a94253 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/12/russias-war-has-its-novel-a94242 Published for free on Telegram, Dmitry Glukhovsky's "Registration" decries the moral corruption wrought on Russia by the war. Thu, 12 Nov 2026 16:57:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/12/russias-war-has-its-novel-a94242 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/10/russia-normalized-torture-long-before-it-quit-the-european-treaty-meant-to-prevent-it-a94222 Without external oversight, even ordinary detention sites have turned into black holes of torture. Tue, 10 Nov 2026 19:32:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/10/russia-normalized-torture-long-before-it-quit-the-european-treaty-meant-to-prevent-it-a94222 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/09/novaya-gazeta-has-been-killed-but-putin-must-not-be-given-the-final-word-a94210 The legendary newspaper's fate shows why supporting Russian independent journalism is more important than ever before. Mon, 09 Nov 2026 19:45:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/09/novaya-gazeta-has-been-killed-but-putin-must-not-be-given-the-final-word-a94210 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/06/dont-believe-russias-propaganda-about-the-oleshky-evacuation-a94197 Before Russia allowed the world to watch it "saving" Oleshky from Ukraine, it had to hide the humanitarian crisis it created. Fri, 06 Nov 2026 21:29:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/06/dont-believe-russias-propaganda-about-the-oleshky-evacuation-a94197 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/russian-companies-want-to-avoid-liability-for-war-related-damages-that-might-be-impossible-a94178 Russian companies may not be able to use the war as a get-out-of-jail-free card if cyberattacks or Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt their services. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 20:13:37 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/russian-companies-want-to-avoid-liability-for-war-related-damages-that-might-be-impossible-a94178 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/for-russians-simply-saying-no-to-war-is-no-longer-enough-a94169 It's easy for your pacifism to be passive when you come from the world's largest country. But the rest of the world doesn't have that luxury. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:37:01 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/for-russians-simply-saying-no-to-war-is-no-longer-enough-a94169 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/let-sleeping-bears-lie-not-in-russia-a94153 Somehow, the conversation around hunting bears has gone from saving lives to having fun and training future soldiers. Mon, 02 Nov 2026 20:15:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/let-sleeping-bears-lie-not-in-russia-a94153 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/free-the-kremlins-political-prisoners-and-stop-sending-it-new-ones-a94139 The Trump administration’s one-off deals won’t empty Russia’s prisons — especially while U.S. deportations are refilling them. Fri, 30 Oct 2026 20:45:51 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/free-the-kremlins-political-prisoners-and-stop-sending-it-new-ones-a94139 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/scapegoating-russian-tourists-is-dangerous-security-theater-a94127 Europe's security problems go much deeper than the simple presence of Russian tourists. Banning them distracts from those harder fixes. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:36:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/scapegoating-russian-tourists-is-dangerous-security-theater-a94127 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/28/is-washington-getting-special-treatment-as-putin-goes-after-western-companies-a94103 Only three of the 20 companies Russia expropriated since Trump's inauguration had U.S. links. Any more would spoil the mood, wouldn't it? Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:47:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/28/is-washington-getting-special-treatment-as-putin-goes-after-western-companies-a94103 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/27/will-russia-and-serbia-remain-brothers-forever-after-shock-election-result-a94100 The Kremlin's response to the fall of Aleksandar Vučić has been surprisingly tepid. That could change as the Student List takes shape. Tue, 27 Oct 2026 21:22:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/27/will-russia-and-serbia-remain-brothers-forever-after-shock-election-result-a94100 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/27/the-ghosts-of-gulag-survivors-live-on-in-evan-gershkovichs-prison-memoir-a94089 Experiencing captivity both as the American Evan and the Russian Vanya, Gershkovich's account adds to the legacy of Solzhenitsyn and Ginzburg. Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:42:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/27/the-ghosts-of-gulag-survivors-live-on-in-evan-gershkovichs-prison-memoir-a94089 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/26/dictatorship-isnt-destiny-for-russias-indigenous-peoples-they-can-build-independent-democracies-a94088 When Indigenous people seek autonomy, well-meaning liberals warn that they could end up with autocracy. But that is not inevitable. Mon, 26 Oct 2026 19:47:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/26/dictatorship-isnt-destiny-for-russias-indigenous-peoples-they-can-build-independent-democracies-a94088 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/23/the-digital-ruble-gives-the-kremlin-a-kill-switch-for-dissent-a94057 Russians should be concerned about the power the Central Bank's new digital ruble would give the state over their finances. Fri, 23 Oct 2026 18:47:05 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/23/the-digital-ruble-gives-the-kremlin-a-kill-switch-for-dissent-a94057 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/22/what-is-russia-trying-to-achieve-by-arresting-a-japanese-journalist-a94048 Russia has a history of arresting foreign journalists as a political gambit — and the relationship between Moscow and Tokyo is rarely simple. Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:20:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/22/what-is-russia-trying-to-achieve-by-arresting-a-japanese-journalist-a94048 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/21/kazakhstans-antiwar-orthodox-priests-remain-under-russias-thumb-some-are-paying-the-price-a94028 The story of Father Yakov shows the consequences of Kazakhstan not having an Orthodox Church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:47:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/21/kazakhstans-antiwar-orthodox-priests-remain-under-russias-thumb-some-are-paying-the-price-a94028 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/19/russias-opposition-urgently-needs-to-take-sexism-seriously-a94024 Women should be given a voice and taken seriously, not brushed aside as if the only problem the opposition faces is that Putin is in power. Mon, 19 Oct 2026 18:49:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/19/russias-opposition-urgently-needs-to-take-sexism-seriously-a94024 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/to-the-west-rich-russians-can-plead-powerlessness-everyone-else-must-prove-their-courage-a94004 If a billionaire can say he has little ability to influence Putin, how are Russians with no access to power supposed to do so? Fri, 16 Oct 2026 19:38:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/to-the-west-rich-russians-can-plead-powerlessness-everyone-else-must-prove-their-courage-a94004 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/from-wildberries-to-yandex-ukraine-is-turning-russian-business-giants-dominance-into-a-liability-a93976 Key Russian firms become so powerful that nobody else truly rivals them. That creates a weakness that Kyiv is all too happy to exploit. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:33:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/from-wildberries-to-yandex-ukraine-is-turning-russian-business-giants-dominance-into-a-liability-a93976 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/plague-research-isnt-the-problem-but-russia-still-has-questions-to-answer-a93959 The death of a laboratory worker in Irkutsk has turned the spotlight on how Russian laboratories can ensure workers' safety and earn public trust. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:33:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/plague-research-isnt-the-problem-but-russia-still-has-questions-to-answer-a93959 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/12/trumps-russian-diesel-debacle-risks-backfiring-a93950 Driven more by domestic political concerns than any real strategy to end the war, Washington's latest moves shows how little Trump has learned. Mon, 12 Oct 2026 18:34:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/12/trumps-russian-diesel-debacle-risks-backfiring-a93950 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/09/fear-and-distrust-are-the-real-russian-plague-a93933 After years of official secrecy, it’s no surprise that a suspected plague case has left Russians unsure what to believe about risks to their health. Fri, 09 Oct 2026 19:46:12 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/09/fear-and-distrust-are-the-real-russian-plague-a93933 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/09/why-i-left-russia-the-same-day-i-was-released-from-detention-a93935 The founder of The St. Petersburg Times recounts how he fled Russia after being fined for donating $40 to Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation. Fri, 09 Oct 2026 17:58:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/09/why-i-left-russia-the-same-day-i-was-released-from-detention-a93935 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/07/afraid-of-mobilization-many-russians-are-still-preparing-for-the-worst-the-west-should-help-a93911 Every Russian who escapes mobilization, covert or otherwise, is one more Russian who is not fighting in Ukraine. Wed, 07 Oct 2026 17:41:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/07/afraid-of-mobilization-many-russians-are-still-preparing-for-the-worst-the-west-should-help-a93911 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/06/are-russian-gray-ops-the-new-war-on-terror-a93888 Russia poses a real threat to Western security. But treating every incident with the same weight risks distorting the threat and helping Moscow. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 17:36:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/06/are-russian-gray-ops-the-new-war-on-terror-a93888 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/05/the-kremlins-election-fraud-works-because-thousands-are-complicit-a93869 The primitive election rigging of the 2000s and 2010s has become an embedded system built on the compliance and desensitization of thousands. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:42:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/05/the-kremlins-election-fraud-works-because-thousands-are-complicit-a93869 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/30/russias-war-veterans-pose-a-threat-to-the-kremlin-so-putin-is-bringing-them-onside-a93827 History shows that discontent among veterans is politically dangerous. The Kremlin thinks easing their entry into politics could prevent that problem. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:59:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/30/russias-war-veterans-pose-a-threat-to-the-kremlin-so-putin-is-bringing-them-onside-a93827 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/something-strange-is-happening-with-russian-romantasy-a93813 Women all over the world are devouring stories involving sexy, powerful men. In Russia, women have developed an appetite for generals and commanders. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:25:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/something-strange-is-happening-with-russian-romantasy-a93813 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/28/moscows-audacious-asset-grab-is-a-warning-to-western-companies-a93802 The seizure of Auchan and Nestlé is an unmistakable signal that even playing by the rules won't protect you from nationalization in Russia. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:34:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/28/moscows-audacious-asset-grab-is-a-warning-to-western-companies-a93802 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/25/heres-how-we-know-russias-elections-were-fixed-a93792 The official data shows how the results of this year's election were manipulated — and the lack of imagination of the people doing the manipulating. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 22:31:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/25/heres-how-we-know-russias-elections-were-fixed-a93792 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/24/i-just-bought-a-loaf-of-bread-am-i-complicit-in-the-kremlins-actions-a93787 A Russian considers whether their compatriots are to blame for enabling Moscow's military actions through the taxes they pay into the budget. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 18:54:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/24/i-just-bought-a-loaf-of-bread-am-i-complicit-in-the-kremlins-actions-a93787 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russia-is-down-but-not-out-in-armenia-a93775 Armenia may be looking West, but the Kremlin still has tools up its sleeve to punish Yerevan's political realignment. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:20:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/23/russia-is-down-but-not-out-in-armenia-a93775 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/22/if-russias-opposition-wants-change-they-must-change-themselves-a93766 The strategy put forward by Russia's opposition in this year's elections shows that they still have no plan for building a better future. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:04:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/22/if-russias-opposition-wants-change-they-must-change-themselves-a93766 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/21/russias-green-party-helps-putin-more-than-the-environment-a93756 Russians tempted to vote for a party that styles itself on eco-activism would be in for a shock — not that the Greens ever stood a chance. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:45:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/21/russias-green-party-helps-putin-more-than-the-environment-a93756 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/18/russia-has-a-labor-shortage-so-why-cant-anyone-find-a-job-a93713 Russia’s official unemployment rate of 2.3% should indicate a severe shortage of workers. But workers themselves tell a different story. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:34:16 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/18/russia-has-a-labor-shortage-so-why-cant-anyone-find-a-job-a93713 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/17/russian-businessmans-wedding-gift-shows-that-moscow-hasnt-given-up-on-a-trump-backchannel-a93735 What is most astonishing is that the Kremlin actually believed that Umar Kremlev's bankrolling of Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding would pay off. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:14:36 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/17/russian-businessmans-wedding-gift-shows-that-moscow-hasnt-given-up-on-a-trump-backchannel-a93735 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/16/im-proud-that-we-published-the-syutkins-columns-a93721 The Moscow Times’ publisher explains how a leading ambassador for Russian cuisine became an enemy of the Russian state. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:17:47 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/16/im-proud-that-we-published-the-syutkins-columns-a93721 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/15/my-case-is-unquestionably-political-russian-culinary-historian-pavel-syutkin-on-his-prosecution-a93716 Syutkin, a longtime food columnist for The Moscow Times, describes the criminal case against him in his own words. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 17:38:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/15/my-case-is-unquestionably-political-russian-culinary-historian-pavel-syutkin-on-his-prosecution-a93716 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/14/russias-opposition-wants-you-to-vote-against-united-russia-thats-where-its-strategy-ends-a93704 Building lasting political power takes more than telling people which box to check on the ballot. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:18:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/14/russias-opposition-wants-you-to-vote-against-united-russia-thats-where-its-strategy-ends-a93704 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/11/putin-does-not-need-an-economic-revolution-yet-a93687 Despite mounting economic pressure, a radical shift to a “mobilization economy” is less likely than it may seem. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:43:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/11/putin-does-not-need-an-economic-revolution-yet-a93687 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/10/belgiums-golden-goose-is-keeping-billions-from-ukraine-a93661 Europe can use Russia’s frozen billions to fund Ukraine without seizing them. So why hasn’t it? Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:09:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/10/belgiums-golden-goose-is-keeping-billions-from-ukraine-a93661 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/09/vostok-oils-first-tanker-cannot-conceal-rosnefts-empty-promises-a93665 Putin touts Vostok Oil as one of the world’s largest oil projects. After years of broken promises from Rosneft, the numbers still don’t add up. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 13:14:57 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/09/vostok-oils-first-tanker-cannot-conceal-rosnefts-empty-promises-a93665 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/04/the-echr-has-abandoned-russians-who-are-victims-of-their-own-government-a93639 The ECHR's decision to scrap almost 900 cases brought by Russians against their government will enable human rights abusers globally. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:56:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/04/the-echr-has-abandoned-russians-who-are-victims-of-their-own-government-a93639 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/04/the-tate-brothers-have-a-russia-problem-they-could-be-in-big-trouble-a93632 The Tate brothers’ Russia trip has officials wondering where pro-Kremlin speech ends and undeclared foreign influence begins. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:15:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/04/the-tate-brothers-have-a-russia-problem-they-could-be-in-big-trouble-a93632 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/01/how-russia-developed-the-first-killer-ai-drone-despite-struggling-in-the-ai-race-a93618 Russian AI has little chance of overtaking China or the United States. But the Russian tech community is changing the nature of war. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 19:45:52 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/01/how-russia-developed-the-first-killer-ai-drone-despite-struggling-in-the-ai-race-a93618 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/31/russias-economic-doomsayers-were-wrong-so-were-the-optimists-a93608 Neither Kremlin loyalists nor independent analysts consistently saw what was coming. The question is what they make of what comes next. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:32:48 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/31/russias-economic-doomsayers-were-wrong-so-were-the-optimists-a93608 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/28/for-russians-in-exile-germanys-new-intelligence-hotline-is-worth-using-a93587 Russians have learned not to trust the security services. But we should accept this offer of help to combat transnational repression. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:09:38 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/28/for-russians-in-exile-germanys-new-intelligence-hotline-is-worth-using-a93587 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/21/theres-a-better-way-to-measure-how-much-russians-support-putin-a93558 Most polls just measure the ability of Russians to pick the safest answer. But when questions are more open-ended, they are more skeptical. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:16:54 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/21/theres-a-better-way-to-measure-how-much-russians-support-putin-a93558 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/20/tear-down-the-wall-of-silence-around-negotiations-to-end-russia-ukraine-war-a93533 Confidentiality often helps diplomacy. But it also protects the parties from accountability rather than the talks from disruption. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:01:59 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/20/tear-down-the-wall-of-silence-around-negotiations-to-end-russia-ukraine-war-a93533