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GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Kremlin Holds All the Cards as Russia-Backed Separatists Demand Recognition

“All hope is on Putin to recognize the Donbas.”

Russian Armed Volunteers Prepare for Action in Eastern Ukraine

As tensions over Ukraine have reached new heights, Russian volunteers are preparing to once again take up arms in the Donbas.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

In Search of a Better Life, Thousands of Russians Are Crossing the Mexican Border to America

Unscrupulous middlemen charge asylum seekers hefty fees to embark on the treacherous journey.

moment of truth

U.S., NATO Reject Russia’s Ukraine Demands, Offer ‘Diplomatic’ Path Forward

Both the U.S. and NATO said they were prepared for any scenario following their responses to Moscow's demands.

‘OUR HANDS ARE TIED’

As Markets Crash and War Fears Grow, Russia’s Business Elite Suffers in Silence

Some of the country’s most successful executives are preparing for heavy losses, but unable to speak out or influence events.

ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

As the Dust Settles on Kazakhstan’s Unrest, Reports of Torture and Violence Surface

Activists are trying to determine the full extent of the crackdown during anti-government protests that rocked the Central Asian nation.

'haven't gone anywhere'

Nazarbayev Denies Split Among Kazakh Elite, Says Tokayev Has ‘Full Power’ in First Post-Protest Comments

Nursultan Nazarbayev has not been seen in public since the worst unrest since Kazakhstan’s independence broke out this month.

Prigozhin Bankrolls New Movie About Russian ‘Instructors’ in Mozambique

“Granit” is the latest installment of films linked to Prigozhin that depict Russian mercenaries abroad.

sphere of influence

Russia Issues Demands to Limit NATO’s Influence in Post-Soviet Space, Eastern Europe

Moscow asks NATO to end military activity in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, and block future membership for ex-Soviet states.

‘MERCHANT OF DEATH’

As Biden and Putin Talk, a Jailed Arms Dealer’s Wife Hopes an Art Exhibition Will Keep Him in the Spotlight

Despite the effort, it’s unlikely the topic of prisoner exchange involving the notorious Viktor Bout will be raised in today’s virtual summit.

‘We Are the Lucky Few’: Migrants Describe Brutal Journey From Belarus to Europe

The Moscow Times followed a group of six Syrian men from Minsk to The Netherlands. They told a story of violence, swamps and hunger.

PROFIT FROM CRISIS

In Minsk, Migrants Have Become Part of Daily Life. And a Business Opportunity for Some.

Taxis, hotels and travel agencies in a transformed capital are making money from the border crisis.

‘LUCKY TICKET’

‘I’ll Camp All Winter if I Have To’: Onboard a Flight to Belarus With Iraqi Migrants

As Europe’s border crisis deepens, The Moscow Times flew from Istanbul to Minsk on one of the last planes full of Iraqis desperate to make it to Poland...

GASPING FOR AIR

‘It’s the New Gold’: Russian Regions Scramble for Oxygen as Covid Spikes

As hospitals in the country’s regions face shortages, Russia hopes heavy industry will step in with supplies.

As Moscow Prepares for Another Lockdown, Frustration Mounts Among Vaccinated Minority

Russians who had the jab say they are being punished for the country’s low vaccination rate.

EU's Climate Tsar Cancels Visit to Russia Ahead of COP26

The European Commissioner for Climate Action Frans Timmermans will not travel to Moscow to discuss climate action ahead of the crucial COP summit.

Moscow Will Go Into Full Lockdown if Cases Don’t Fall – Government Order

Moscow will go into a strict lockdown if coronavirus infections continue to rise, according to a Moscow government order sent to businesses.

Russian Recognition of Taliban Regime 'Not on the Table,' Says Afghanistan's Pro-Western Ambassador to Moscow

Russia “assured” Afghanistan's Ambassador to Moscow that the country is currently not considering recognizing the Taliban regime.

sending 'shockwaves'

'Unprecedented' Video Leak Shows Rampant Torture at Russian Prisons – NGO

The Gulagu.net rights group told The Moscow Times it has received over 40 gigabytes of files showing inmates being tortured.

Deripaska-Linked Firms Sent Thousands to Moscow On Election Day. Some Said They Were On Standby for a Pro-Kremlin Rally.

Around 11,000 employees came to the capital for an online conference covering topics from family values to geopolitics.

BITTERSWEET EXILE

As Crackdown Intensifies, Russian Emigres Find Refuge in Georgia

The small Caucasian nation has become the destination of choice for a new generation of dissidents fleeing their homeland.

Russians Say They Are Being Forced to Vote in Elections, This Time Online

As authorities push voters to go digital for the State Duma ballot, critics warn e-voting is a new test for the credibility of Russia’s elections.

Friends or Foes?

Taliban Rule Will Be a 'Threat' to Russia and the World, Top Panjshir Resistance Member Warns

In an interview with The Moscow Times, the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front has urged Russia to prioritize an inclusive Afghanistan.

Uncertainty Looms for Vocal Taliban Critic and Veteran Afghanistan Ambassador in Moscow

Said Jawad is a pro-Western politician who has slammed the Islamist militia as “savage killers.”

As Chaos Engulfs Kabul, Russia Says It’s Ready to Work With the Taliban

Moscow has a history of pragmatism toward the Islamist militia and appears well placed for a transition in Afghanistan.

Money For Nothing

As Incomes Fall, Russians Are Once Again Falling for Pyramid Schemes

Hundreds of people in search of a better future have been duped by the Finiko “investment vehicle.”

Kenya’s Failed Sputnik V Deal Used Emirati Resale Scheme

Documents obtained by The Moscow Times show a failed agreement used the same controversial resale deal linked to a royal middleman in the UAE.

A Royal Mark Up: How an Emirati Sheikh Resells Millions of Russian Vaccines to the Developing World

The Moscow Times investigated a deal between Russia and a minor Dubai royal to supply poor countries with Sputnik V — at high prices.

PRODUCTION CONCERNS

WHO Finds Production Infringements at Sputnik V Manufacturer

The World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined a series of concerns following inspections of Sputnik V manufacturing sites in Russia.

‘What We Did Before Just Isn’t Working’: Delta Variant Threatens to Overwhelm Russia

Russia has only vaccinated 13% of its population against Covid. With herd immunity a distant prospect, it now has to fend off an infectious variant.

WEEKEND PROFILE

‘You Have to Read the Signals’: The Human Rights Lawyer Taking On Russia’s Most Sensitive Cases

Pavel Chikov leads the Agora group of more than 200 lawyers in a system with the odds stacked against them.

Russia's Unprecedented Mandatory Vaccination Push Divides Society

Russian officials are desperate to get citizens vaccinated in a nation that distrusts vaccines.

Can Russia Replicate Its Historic World Cup Run?

Few expect a repeat performance from a team in the process of rebuilding but “nothing can be excluded.”

Russian Urbanites Embrace E-Scooters

How sharable two-wheelers are weaving their way into urban transport.

WEEKEND PROFILE

This Russian Teacher and Feminist Activist Is a ‘Foreign Media Agent’

“I look in the mirror and see a tired, aging legal entity.”

‘THE TOURIST’

New Movie Depicting Heroic Russian Instructors in Central African Republic Linked to ‘Putin’s Chef’

As Russian mercenaries are accused of human rights abuses in the impoverished African country, the film paints a rosier picture.

Top Myanmar Military Delegation to Visit Moscow – Embassy

Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Air Force Maung Maung Kyaw will lead the group as ties between the two countries strengthen.

blacklisted opposition

'End of an Era': Russia Adds Navalny Political Network to ‘Terrorist and Extremist’ List

From Murmansk to Samara, Navalny activists say their movement is done. But many, with years of newfound political experience, vow to stay in politics.

EU Regulators Complete Special Ethics Probe Into Sputnik V Clinical Trials – EMA

The results of the EMA probe into the ethics of Sputnik V’s clinical trials will only be published after all stages are complete.

Is Russia Entering a Third Coronavirus Wave?

Despite the Kremlin denying a hidden rise in cases, figures for Moscow and reports from hospitals paint a worrying picture.

Supporters Protest Across Russia for Release of Ailing Navalny

The jailed opposition leader has been on hunger strike for three weeks.

Military Exports

Myanmar Junta Imported $15M Worth of Russian Radar Equipment in February

Russia has continued to support the Myanmar regime after a military coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi.

‘Please, Let’s Not Have Another War.’ Few Want Conflict in Struggling Russian Border Town

In 2014, the coal town of Gukovo found itself caught up in the war in eastern Ukraine. Now, its residents just want better roads.

Vaccine Diplomacy

Slovakian Drug Institute Unable to Evaluate Sputnik V ‘Due to Lack of Data’

Slovakia, one of Europe’s hardest-hit countries by the pandemic, has bought 200,000 doses of the Russian vaccine but not yet given shots.

CRIMEA FOR RUSSIANS

New Crimean Land Law Banning Foreign Ownership Comes Into Force

Most of those affected are Ukrainians who were not born or registered on the annexed peninsula.

'strategic partner'

Russia to Deepen Ties With Myanmar Military Junta, Top Defense Official Says in First Visit After Coup

Experts told The Moscow Times that the visit showed that Russia is eager to cooperate with the military junta.

WANING TOLERANCE

Facing Heightened Threats, Russia’s Main Independent Paper Contemplates a Bleak Future

The latest attack on Novaya Gazeta is making some of its editors wonder how long it can survive in the country.

‘They Will Break You’: Inside Navalny’s Notorious New Prison Home

In conversations with The Moscow Times, former inmates of the jail spoke of psychological isolation and harsh conditions.

POTENTIAL CONTAGION

Russia’s Booming Intensive Animal Farming ‘A Ticking Time Bomb’ for Future Viruses

Following the discovery of the first case of H5N8 bird flu in humans, virologists fear farms will become virus “petri dishes.”

imposter syndrome

Russian Pranksters Trick Amnesty Heads in Navalny 'Prisoner of Conscience' Call

"We may have done more harm than good," an Amnesty International official says on the call.

SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Looming Supply Glut of Russia’s Sputnik V Vaccine Could Pave Way for Exports

Pharmaceutical industry experts told The Moscow Times that manufacturers are set to overshoot targets while Russians remain indifferent to the jab.

Russian Opposition Finds Refuge in Bitcoin

Putin critic Alexei Navalny’s team sees the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies as a useful tool for circumventing the Russian authorities.

‘RESISTANCE IS FUTILE’

Riot Squads on Red Square and Full Detention Centers: Moscow After Navalny Verdict

Monitors estimate over 10,000 people have been detained in a crackdown on protests across Russia since the opposition leader was arrested.

IDEOLOGICAL JOURNEY

True Beliefs and Opportunism: Navalny’s Tangled Political Development

While Russia’s opposition leader has veered from liberalism to nationalism and populism, his core values center on anti-corruption.

'This is my duty'

Navalny Supporters Defy Crackdown to Protest Across Russia

Police detain over 5,000 nationwide and authorities lock down Moscow city center.

McKinsey Chief Admits Email Banning Staff From Navalny Rally Incorrectly Reflected Policy

The first email also said the ban included social media posts “featuring your political views or your attitude to any action with a political flavor...

FRIENDLY REMINDER

McKinsey Bans Moscow Staff From Attending Pro-Navalny Protest

Russians nationwide took to the streets on Saturday in support of the opposition activist, who was jailed on his return from Germany to Russia.

‘A Step Into the Unknown’: Russians’ Relationship With Jailed Navalny Is Complicated

As the opposition activist calls for protests, polls show his support is small but growing.

TURBULENT FLIGHT

Navalny Plane Diversion Was 'Reckless,' Says Pilot of Another Hindered Flight

The pilot of a separate plane that had its landing delayed told The Moscow Times fuel ran low.

opinion Pjotr Sauer

Foreign Policy Experts Map Russia’s Plans for 2021

We asked 10 experts to predict what Russia has in store for the world next year.

COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE

‘Gross Violation’: In Open Letter, Russian Scientists Criticize Lack of Vaccine Data

Russia has launched mass Sputnik V vaccinations. But concerns over weak data and cut corners continue to mount.

As Russia Begins Mass Coronavirus Vaccination, Its Medics Aren't On Board

Skepticism among the medical community will make a nationwide Sputnik V push difficult.

DIGGING UP THE PAST

Russia Summons Veterans to Help Drive Its New Nazi War Crime Investigations

Research is extending beyond the archives in probes observers say reflect a newfound interest in World War II and how the world remembers it.

Is the WHO Too Soft on Russia?

Critics fear Russia is using the WHO’s structural weaknesses to validate its coronavirus approach.

'Uighur Jail' Note Found in St. Petersburg Shoe Alarms Human Right Experts

In the wake of reports implicating the fashion industry in use of forced labor activists say “burden of proof” lies with The North Face brand.

A Russian Town Gets Rid of Its Lenin Street and Emotions Run High

Tarusa’s decision to rename streets honoring communist leaders has exposed Russia’s complicated relationship with its past.

RISING TENSIONS

Shock and Fear Grips Chechens in France After Teacher’s Beheading by 'One of Our Own'

Chechen emigres are worried the killing will lead to stigmatization, or worse, deportation back to Chechnya.

‘We’re in Hell’: Russia’s Second Wave of Covid-19 Is Catching the Regions Off Guard

Medics in hospitals across Russia voiced frustration that authorities failed to use the summer respite to prepare for a second coronavirus wave.

Russia Recruits Rare Dogs to Sniff Out Coronavirus as Second Wave Tightens Grip

Breeders believe Shalaika canine-jackal crossbreeds have a unique sense of smell that can detect illness in humans.

PATRIOTIC FERVOR

‘I Want to Join the Final Battle.’ Armenians in Russia Flock to Karabakh

Members of the diaspora are desperate to join the fight, regardless of experience.

NO END IN SIGHT

‘We’re Out of Beds’: Russia’s Resurgent Coronavirus Outbreak Is Approaching First Peak

Moscow has readied additional hospitals for Covid-19 patients after the Russian capital reached capacity last week.

ESCAPE FROM BELARUS

‘A Bag of Snickers to Survive in the Forest.’ Lukashenko Critic’s Unlikely Journey From Belarus to Poland

Andrei Ostapovich says he had to flee after speaking out against the Belarusian president.

Strange Patterns

Leading Scientists Question 'Highly Improbable' Russian Vaccine Results Published in Lancet

“It’s like if you throw a dice and you get exactly the same sequence of numbers several times.”

The Coronavirus Is Crippling Baikonur, the City That Sends Humans Into Space

Covid-19 came late to the Kazakh city rented by Russia. It now threatens to overrun the vital spaceport.

RESURGENT PANDEMIC

As Russians Went to the Polls to Extend Putin’s Rule, Yekaterinburg’s Hospitals Were Overflowing

Doctors in Russia’s fourth largest city told The Moscow Times they are treating coronavirus patients in hallways as more keep arriving.

OBLIGATORY PARTICIPATION

Coronavirus Frontline Doctors Ordered to Vote on Changes Allowing Putin to Stay in Power

“This isn’t right. We shouldn’t be told what to do after all we have done.”

UNRELENTING CRISIS

Coronavirus Is Just Getting Started in Some Russian Regions. Their WWII Parades Are Going Ahead.

Meanwhile, 20 cities have canceled or delayed the June 24 parades because of the pandemic.

Russia to Start Testing Coronavirus Vaccine on Paid Participants – Head of Study

Participants who complete the trial will be paid 100,000 rubles ($1,450).

CONTENTIOUS DRUG

As Russian Officials Back Hydroxychloroquine, Doctors Take Matters Into Their Own Hands

Some experts suspect that the controversial anti-malaria medication causes higher death rates among coronavirus patients.

For This Russian Messianic Cult, Coronavirus Isolation Is a ‘Blessing’

As the pandemic sows fear and uncertainty, some are looking to a Siberian mystic for answers.

FAULTY TECHNOLOGY

‘Our Equipment Is Dangerous’: Russian Doctors Expected Ventilators Tragedy

Russian-made ventilators sent to the U.S. last month have been blamed for hospital fires that killed six Russian coronavirus patients in recent days.

Excess Mortality

Moscow Sees 20% Surge in Mortality in April: Official Data

The data comes as Russia sees the fastest growth in coronavirus infections in Europe.

Russia Is Boasting About Low Coronavirus Deaths. The Numbers Are Deceiving.

Increasing transparency by Russian officials shows that 233% more coronavirus-positive patients died in two regions than reported in the total count.

CORONAVIRUS DRAFT

Russia Is Coercing Medical Students Into Coronavirus Fight

Students told The Moscow Times they face academic repercussions if they reject a government order to work in coronavirus hospitals.

Inside Russia’s Secretive Prisons as Coronavirus Takes Hold

Prisoners described an anxious state of affairs in jails across the country. Meanwhile, calls for amnesty have been ignored.

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Exclusive: First Russian Doctor Treating Coronavirus Patients Dies From Virus, Medical Workers Say

A colleague told The Moscow Times that 64 of the Moscow hospital’s staff had tested positive last week.

Russia’s Healthcare System Faced Cuts for Years. Now Medical Students Are on the Coronavirus Frontlines.

In Moscow, medical students have been deployed to hospitals strained by the pandemic.

Italian Doctors Warned Hospitals Are Coronavirus Vectors. One Russian Region Proves Their Point.

The sparsely populated northern Komi Republic is one of Russia’s coronavirus hotspots. Six of its hospitals are now under quarantine.

When Your Home Isn't a Safe Space. Russian Women Fear Rise in Domestic Violence as Coronavirus Quarantine Starts.

In a country plagued by domestic violence, being forced to stay at home with an abusive partner could be a living nightmare.

Exclusive: Rich Russians Are Hoarding Ventilators to Protect Themselves Against the Coronavirus

Meanwhile, doctors worry that Russia’s regions don’t have enough.

Russia Says It Has Very Few Coronavirus Cases. The Numbers Don’t Tell the Full Story.

Experts say Russia’s testing procedures have been hampered by bureaucracy.

MH17 Trial Postponed as Prosecution Slams Russian 'Misinformation'

The defense team for one of the four suspects has asked for additional time.

MH17 Trial Begins With Emotion and Legal Technicalities

None of the murder suspects will be present for the hearings.

IN SEARCH OF JUSTICE

Everything You Need to Know About the MH17 Trial

At a highly secured court near Amsterdam, four men will be tried for the death of the 298 victims on the ill-fated flight.

CORONAVIRUS IN RUSSIA

Litany of Blunders: Treatment of Coronavirus Patient Highlights Russia’s Shortcomings

David Berov is the first known Russian national to test positive for coronavirus while in the country. He told The Moscow Times his story.

How North Korea’s Leader Buys Purebred White Horses From Russia’s Stud Farms

The Moscow Times spoke to horse breeders and agents who have sold many of Russia’s famous Orlov Trotters and a Welsh pony to Kim Jong-Un.

Russians Escape Coronavirus Quarantine ‘Cages’

Three patients have fled clinics. It’s not clear if their actions were illegal.

How Mishustin Rose to the Top: Old Ties, Savvy and a Knack for Systems

Vladimir Putin shocked the world when he named a little-known tax chief his number two. We delve into the new Russian prime minister’s background.

Foreign Policy Experts Map Russia’s Plans for 2020

We ask seven experts to predict what Russia has in store for the world next year.

Concentration Camps

Uighur Twins’ Asylum Plea Rejected as Deportation to China Looms

The brothers fear they will be placed in a concentration camp for Muslim minorities.