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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.

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

‘A Lot of Devil in This’: Russians Use Tarot Cards to Predict Peace in Ukraine

In uncertain times, many Russians are turning to tarot cards as a way of seeking answers.
5 Min read

Exiled Electronic Duo AIGEL Crashes the Dancefloor With ‘Killer Qız’

On their first album in five years, AIGEL channels exile, existential reckoning and rebirth into a club-ready soundscape.
6 Min read

Public Pride, Private Torment: The Russian Women Waiting for Men at War

State propaganda glorifies the image of a military wife waiting for her husband at the front. Beneath the surface, these women face a complex reality.
5 Min read

Trump Tower Moscow, Rare Earths and Geopolitical Perks: How the Kremlin Plans to Bait Trump Into a Grand Bargain

The Kremlin wants an outcome far more ambitious than a mere ceasefire in Ukraine. For that, it will need extraordinary incentives.
6 Min read

Hundreds of Ethnic Germans Are Dying for Russia in Ukraine. This Man Is Tracking Them.

Andrej Triller, a descendant of Volga Germans deported to Kazakhstan by the Soviets, has been documenting the new tragedy hitting his community.
4 Min read

Despite Deteriorating Rights in Russia, UN Rapporteur Still Believes in Dialogue

Mariana Katzarova told The Moscow Times that her work has documented a deliberate strategy of repression and subjugation in Russia.
6 Min read

With a Peace Deal at Hand, Armenians Demand Justice for Loved Ones Lost in War With Azerbaijan

Yerevan’s readiness to drop international lawsuits as part of the deal has sparked turmoil among the families of missing soldiers and refugees.
5 Min read

Kremlin Claims Ovechkin’s NHL Goal Record as Propaganda Victory

For many Russians, Alexander Ovechkin’s sporting feat over the weekend provided a rare source of pride recognized outside Russia’s borders.
4 Min read

Secretive Energy Supplies and Harboring Assad: Inside the Kremlin’s Balancing Act With Syria’s New Leaders

Putin wants to win the new Syrian leadership's loyalty with oil and gas — and keep the issue of Assad off the table.
5 Min read

After Losing Limbs to War, Russian Amputee Veterans Grapple With Officials’ Empty Promises

At least 54% of soldiers who have disabilities after fighting in Ukraine are amputees. They face a difficult path to rehabilitation.
6 Min read

Soviet Dissident Pavel Litvinov on Freedom of Speech Then and Now: ‘Nothing Is More Important’

The former dissident discusses freedom of speech in modern Russia, the U.S.S.R. and the U.S., including Trump’s dismantling of Voice of America.
3 Min read

Alla Gutnikova: ‘Dictatorships End, Walls Fall and Prisons Burn’

The ex-DOXA editor discusses resistance, repression and her difficult journey to freedom.
8 Min read

In Russia's Universities, Anti-War Voices Are Silenced. But Resistance Remains.

With public resistance to the war nearly impossible, some students still find ways to express their opposition and fight for their rights.
6 Min read
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