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‘You’re a Second-Class Citizen’: Arrests, Club Raids and Extremism Charges Define LGBTQ+ Life in Russia in 2025

Russia's queer community has been subjected to growing pressure, fear and repression, prompting many people to hide their sexuality altogether.

Crime and Punishment: An Ex-Wagner Mercenary Recounts Russia’s Suicide Warfare in Ukraine

After surviving a suicide assault and sustaining severe shrapnel wounds, Alexander Platov shared his story with The Moscow Times.
7 Min read

Fatima Suleymanova: 'Europeans Have Far More in Common With Chechens Than With Russians'

The activist discusses her advocacy for Chechen independence, her support for Chechen refugees and her fight against misunderstandings about Chechens.
6 Min read

‘Blacklist’: The Groups Shaming Russian Women Who Marry Soldiers for Money

Women suspected of marrying a soldier for money rather than love can increasingly expect to become a target of widespread vitriol online.
5 Min read

By Employing Putin’s Alleged Daughter, Paris Gallery Sparks Debate Over Collective Responsibility

The news raises questions over safety risks for Russian artists in exile and ethical risks for Ukrainian artists. But the gallery defends its choice.
5 Min read

In Russia, Being Openly Gay Is 'Extremist.' But Some People Bend the Rules.

In a country where queerness has been legally equated to terrorism, the line between what is acceptable and what is not has blurred.
4 Min read

Exiled Artist and Activist Leda Garina: ‘We Must Stop Believing in the Myth of Greatness’

The founder of the feminist cultural project Eve’s Ribs challenges authoritarianism, patriarchy and war through her work.
6 Min read

Russia’s New Indigenous Policy Enables Unchecked Resource Exploitation, Experts Warn

Beneath the lofty language, the policy framework offers few, if any, tangible benefits to Indigenous communities, Indigenous experts told MT.
5 Min read

‘Hero Under Fire’: As Putin Visited Kursk, the Kremlin Told Russians That He Was Dodging Ukrainian Drones

The PR stunt sought to convince Russians bearing the domestic brunt of the war that he, too, is making sacrifices for the country, officials said.
4 Min read

In Occupied Ukraine, the Kremlin Is Grooming the Next Generation of Pro-Russian Bloggers

Russian authorities are launching media schools and promoting the neo-imperial ideology of the “Russian World” to teens in the occupied regions.
5 Min read

In Russia’s Sakha, a Fallen Conscript’s Family Searches for Justice on the State’s Terms

The case of conscript Aman Malyshev reflects the careful line that military families in Russia must tread when seeking answers from the government.
4 Min read

‘No One Will Bring My Husband Back’: Russian Military Widows Process Their Loss Through Social Media

After their husbands are killed in combat, military widows turn to social media as an outlet for their emotions and as a source of support.
4 Min read

Ukraine War Creeps Into Victory Day Commemorations in Russia’s Regions and Ethnic Republics

Local governments fueled patriotic fervor, while relatives of soldiers killed in Ukraine seized the chance to mourn loved ones.
4 Min read

In Kazakhstan, Russia Looms Large Over World War II Commemorations

The 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II has brought up complicated questions about Russian influence and colonialism.
5 Min read

A Disastrous Black Sea Oil Spill Unites Z-Activists and Anti-War Russians Alike

Volunteers are leading the fight against one of the worst environmental disasters in recent history. The authorities aren't thrilled.
5 Min read

With Access to Europe’s Rights Court Lost, How Can Russians Still Seek Justice on the International Stage?

Human rights lawyer Karinna Moskalenko discusses the international mechanisms still available to Russian citizens and her current work on Belarus.
6 Min read

Silence or Jail: Teens Targeted in Russia’s Wartime Political Crackdown

Schoolchildren who voice anti-war views are increasingly pressured, from teachers reporting them to the authorities and interrogations to being jailed...
4 Min read

‘We Need to Recognize Russia’s Colonial Violence’: Buryat Illustrator Seseg Jigjitova

Jigjitova has emerged as a prominent critic of Russian colonialism and an advocate for the rights of Buryats amid the invasion of Ukraine. 
5 Min read

'We Have Our Own Gestapo': A Russian Military Deserter Recalls His Time Inside a Secret Jail for Defectors

Georgy, 44, describes his ordeal in secret detention facilities where defectors were held in brutal conditions.
7 Min read
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