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Opinion

Denis Mikhailov

There Remains a Way to Make Russia Pay for Its Crimes

Russia may act as though international law does not matter. But there is still an untried way to bring justice to its victims that hurts the Kremlin.
Artyom Shraibman

Is Belarus Coming In From the Cold Following a U.S. Visit?

Lukashenko is trying to squeeze as much out of potential peace talks for as long as he can. Washington appears prepared to play along.
5 Min read
Elena Davlikanova

Trump Is Toughening on Russia. But Some Senators Want Him to Go Further.

Trump may have hardened his position on Russia. But his 50-day ultimatum could stop the imposition of much harsher actions.
4 Min read
Boris Bondarev

Not Even a Putinist Minister's Suicide Could Unite Russia's Opposition

From ghoulish gloating to performative righteousness, the response of Russia's exiled opposition was empty and disjointed.
3 Min read
David Szakonyi

Why Russia's Last Independent Election Monitor Mattered to the World

Golos shone a light on the darkening world of Russia's sham elections. It shut down this week after years of attacks from the authorities.
5 Min read
An Anonymous Writer in Russia

I'm Still Working as an Independent Journalist in Russia. Here's What It's Like.

An anonymous journalist shares why he stayed in the country and continues reporting for banned media, including The Moscow Times.
6 Min read
Andras Toth-Czifra

Starovoit’s Apparent Suicide Could Shock the Kremlin’s System

The Transportation Minister was the textbook official of Putin’s Kremlin. However he died, the position of Russia’s elite is less certain.
5 Min read
Ksenia Turkova

Putin Redefined ‘Patriotism.’ Now Trump Is Doing the Same.

Coming from Russia, I sees echoes of Putin when Trump says protesters "hate" their country.
4 Min read
Andrey Shashkov

How Far Will Russia’s Wartime Anti-LGBTQ+ Campaign Go?

Russia has passed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and ramped up censorship. But criminal cases remain rare and indiscriminate persecution is unlikely.
5 Min read
Nicholas Castillo

Yerevan and Baku Now Have a Shared Enemy in Moscow

The South Caucasus countries are far from allies. But one thing they have in common is a fracturing relationship with the Kremlin.
5 Min read
Tatyana Rybakova

Here's Why Russia's Birth Rate Plan Won't Work

Paying teenagers to give birth and restricting access to family planning will only mean families will be locked in situations that discourage childrearing...
6 Min read
Leyla Latypova

In Russia’s Dagestan, Iran-Israel Conflict Hits Close to Home

As the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities, the risk of radioactive contamination reaching Dagestan brought the hostilities into stark relief.
4 Min read
Alexander Shulga

Moldova Is the Testing Ground for Russia's Disinformation Machine

Moldova's upcoming parliamentary elections could see Moscow test out tactics to use in other European countries.
5 Min read
Joshua R. Kroeker

While the World Watched the Middle East, This Happened in Ukraine

The situation has not been this dire since the early days of the full-scale invasion. But the difference is that Western resolve is far weaker.
5 Min read
Andras Toth-Czifra

A Push For Local Government Efficiency in Russia Is Really About Kremlin Control

Reforms sweeping Russia will hit the levels of government Russians are most likely to interact with and strengthen the power of local elites.
5 Min read
Denis Mikhailov

The Kremlin Finally Acknowledged Russia Holds Political Prisoners. That’s a Big Step.

Moscow used to say that political prisoners were common criminals. But the acknowledgement that they exist has an ulterior motive.
5 Min read
Nikita Smagin

As the New Syrian Regime Gains Legitimacy, It Is Pushing Russia Out

Moscow risks losing its foothold in the Middle East as Syria has other options beyond turning to the pariah state.
6 Min read
Leyla Latypova

In Altai Republic, a Kremlin-Backed Government Reform Aids the Tycoons

Despite staging one of Russia's largest wartime protests, Altai's peoples are set to lose political representation and in some cases their livelihoods...
5 Min read
Sarkis Darbinyan

Western Tech Companies Are Capitulating to Russian Censors. Here's How Russians Can Fight Back.

Both Google and Apple have been making VPNs inaccessible at Moscow's request. Thankfully, there are still ways Russians can use the internet freely.
5 Min read
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