Articles - The Moscow Times

Support The Moscow Times!

Contribute today

‘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.

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.

‘Our Dreams Are Shattered’: Russian Soldiers’ Wives Learn of Infidelity on the Front

For some Russian military wives, their husbands' deployment to Ukraine has led to infidelity — throwing their marriages and their futures into disarray...

Russian Authorities Glorify Military Wives and Mothers on Women’s Day

Ahead of International Women's Day, events across the country are upholding the image of soldiers' wives and mothers as the feminine ideal.

Chechen Domestic Violence Survivor Briefly Detained in Kazakhstan, Activists Say

Elza Soltayeva was reportedly taken to a police station in western Kazakhstan after officers demanded she speak with her relatives.

‘I’m a Real-Life Katyusha’: As Russia Hikes Payments for Soldiers, Their Wives Flaunt Newfound Affluence

Soldiers’ wives and girlfriends are taking to social media to show off their comfortable new lives, often while espousing their pro-Kremlin views.

Chechnya Opens First Gender-Segregated Pharmacy

The new pharmacy in Grozny is the first of 15 locations that will soon open across the Chechen capital.

Battling Fear and Indifference, Exiled Chechen Women Protest Kadyrov

An all-women protest aimed to spotlight Kadyrov's “fight against defenseless women” and cases of women kidnapped or imprisoned in the North Caucasus...

‘Our Work Remains Crucial’: Tanya Lokshina of HRW on Defending Human Rights in Russia

The prominent Russian human rights activist, journalist and researcher oversees investigations and advocacy on human rights issues in Russia, Belarus and...

‘Soviet-Minded Men Rule Everything in Russia’: Journalist Ekaterina Kotrikadze

The TV Rain presenter speaks about her career, women in Russian propaganda and how she helped start Russia's #MeToo moment.

Ex-State TV Reporter Zhanna Agalakova: 'We All Bear Some Degree of Responsibility'

Zhanna Agalakova made international headlines by resigning from her position in protest of the invasion of Ukraine and telling Russians “to switch the...

‘Russia Wants Family Violence to Persist’: Feminist Activist Zalina Marshenkulova

The prominent feminist blogger and activist speaks about activism in exile, the Kremlin’s repressive laws and the state of women’s rights in Russia...

‘Alexander*a’: A Journey into the Life of Soviet Revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai

Created by exiled artists, producers and actors, the play seeks to raise questions about the role of women today and how they are affected by historical...

Russian Orthodox Church to Promote ‘Miracle of Birth’ in Anti-Abortion Letters to Pregnant Women

The letters will sent out to regional prenatal centers at a time when women “face the most difficult choice of keeping or killing their baby.”

Russia Takes Aim at 'Childfree' Ideology in Controversial Bid to Boost Birth Rates

Experts say that proposed legislation to ban “childfree propaganda” is “repressive” and fails to address the root causes of falling birth rates...

Russia to Raise Maternity Subsidies in 2025 Amid Population Crisis

The program was set to end in 2026, but President Vladimir Putin extended it until 2030 during his re-election campaign earlier this year.

AP Investigates Russia’s Recruitment of African Women to Make Drones: What We Learned

Drawn to Russia by promises of plane tickets, education, higher salaries and a “European” adventure, the young women instead end up at a drone plant...

In Russia, International Safe Abortion Day Is a Reminder of Reproductive Rights Backsliding

Russia has backtracked on its once-liberal abortion policies, leaving thousands of women with increasingly limited access to abortion care.

Russia’s Primorye Region Outlaws ‘Coercion’ Into Abortion

The law defines “coercion” as actions like persuasion, bribery, deceit, blackmail or workplace pressure that compel women to terminate a pregnancy...

Prominent Russian Muslim Cleric Gets Into Hot Water Over 'Wife-Beating Guidance'

A video in which an Imam appears to instruct believers on the proper ways to beat one’s wife has sparked controversy far beyond Russia’s Muslim community...

View more articles