Support The Moscow Times!
Contribute today

In-Depth

opinion Alexander Baunov

The Perils of Perestroika: Why Putin Chose to Prolong His Rule

Observers must examine the president’s views on Russia’s 20th-century history and the legacy he inherited.
RELIGIOUS RIFT

Fire and Brimstone: The Rise and Fall of Russia’s Coronavirus-Denying Rebel Priest

The Russian Orthodox Church is trying to remove defrocked, ultraconservative Father Sergei Romanov from a monastery he has taken over by force.
SEA CHANGE

A Wave of Sexual Harassment Claims Is Rocking Russia’s Independent Media

Novaya Gazeta has blazed a trail by instituting a sexual harassment policy after taking internal accusations of misconduct seriously.
THE PEOPLE’S GOVERNOR

Russia’s Khabarovsk Region Tasted Democracy. Now Voters Feel It Was Ripped Away.

Protesters told The Moscow Times they will continue rallying until their governor’s murder trial is held in Khabarovsk.
opinion Natalia Paramonova

Will EU Green Deal Force Russia to Clean Up Its Act?

Russia’s inaction on climate issues could lead to new problems in its relationship with the EU.
SHOW TRIALS

What a Growing List of ‘Instructional’ Court Cases in Russia Have in Common

A flurry of recent rulings are meant to identify “enemies of the state” for the public, rights defenders say.
standing in solidarity

Crusading Ex-Cop's Arrest Sparks Police Pushback in Russia

The rare public outcry among Russia's 750,000-strong police force could eventually spell trouble for the Kremlin.
ALARM BELLS

As Russia’s Constitution Reform Vote Kicks Off, Election Watchdog Decries ‘Manipulative’ Process

In an interview, Grigory Melkonyants of the Golos election monitor said the vote is set to be the “least transparent” in years.
opinion Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon

George Floyd, 'Brat 2' and Russian Depictions of African Americans

The recent 20th-anniversary showing of the cult film "Brat 2" included footage from the American BLM protests. It demonstrates the more significant issue...
Baltic Pollution

Lies and Disinformation Cover Up Russia's Environmental Assault on the Baltic Sea

Pollution linked to animal farming in northwestern Russia has contaminated rivers and killed large areas of seabed.
SHADES OF GRAY

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.
opinion Tatyana Stanovaya

The Putin Regime Cracks

Vladimir Putin has become increasingly disengaged from routine matters of governing and prefers to delegate most issues.
VIRUS HOTBEDS

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.
SYSTEMIC CRISIS

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.
STRATEGIC ERRORS

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.
coronavirus in the regions

'A City That Could Be the Russian Bergamo.' How Ulyanovsk Is Preparing for the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Medical personnel in this city on the Volga say the region is not prepared for a surge in coronavirus cases.
TRACKING CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus Outbreak Is Major Test for Russia’s Facial Recognition Network

Russia wants to follow China’s example in combating the virus with technology, but its systems are embryonic.
CORONAVIRUS CLASS DIVIDE

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

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

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.
View more articles