Russia on the Record

This month, several senior officials in Russia's republic of Chechnya have been reshuffled or replaced. Meanwhile, strongman ruler Ramzan Kadyrov's children have been appointed to a number of government posts. Overshadowing all this are reports that Kadyrov, 47, is gravely ill, fueling rumors about his ability to rule and the future of the republic, which fought two separatist wars against Moscow in the 1990s and 2000s.Harold Chambers, an analyst focusing on nationalism, conflict and security in the North Caucasus, joins us to explain what it all means.Find us at:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

This week in Russia, a man was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after he pleaded guilty to trying to persuade his friend to surrender to the Ukrainian army. Cases like this are on the rise, with over 5,500 desertion cases prosecuted in Russia in 2023 alone.Idite Lesom (Get Lost), an NGO founded in Georgia after Russia declared its "partial" mobilization in fall 2022, helps Russians escape from mobilization or from the front lines. In almost two years, Get Lost has helped over 500 conscientious objectors evade service.Its founder, Grigory Sverdlin, formerly director of the Nochlezhka homeless aid charity, spoke to The Moscow Times about the organization's work.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/ https://twitter.com/moscowtimes https://t.me/moscowtimes_en https://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

As Russia opens a new front in its invasion of Ukraine, the country has a new defense minister. Sergei Shoigu has been replaced with the economist Andrei Belousov. Who is he, and what does his appointment mean for Russia's war machine?This week we talked with Ruben Enikolopov, a political economist and professor at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, about what to expect from Belousov's new role.Find us at:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Protesters in Georgia have for weeks rallied against a controversial "foreign influence" bill that critics say resembles legislation in Russia used to crack down on independent media and the opposition. Introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party, the draft law would force organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as entities "pursuing the interests of a foreign power." The bill's third and final reading is expected on May 13.In this episode, we spoke with Bidzina Lebanidze, Senior Analyst at the Georgian Institute of Politics, about why the ruling party is trying to pass the "foreign influence" bill and what negative consequences they might face if it is adopted. We also sat down with journalist Marta Ardashelia to talk about the ongoing protests against the draft law in Tbilisi.Find us at:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

In April, reports emerged that Russia had opened criminal cases against two prominent Russian feminist activists – Daria Serenko, one of the founders of Feminist Anti-War Resistance, and Zalina Marshenkulova, who also openly opposed the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Though both women now live abroad, they were added to Russia's federal wanted list. Join us to explore the influence of Russia's feminist movement, and whether women's rights activists are the next target of the Kremlin's repressions. Find us at:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

April 26 marks 38 years since Chernobyl, the world's worst nuclear disaster. In this episode, we discuss the legacy of this tragedy on modern-day Russia, how nuclear energy is used in Russia today, and its underexamined role as a Russian foreign policy tool.Joining us is Vladimir Slivyak, co-chair of the Russian Environmental Group Eco-Defense and winner of the 2021 Right Livelihood Award.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/ https://twitter.com/moscowtimes https://t.me/moscowtimes_en https://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/ 

Israel and Iran's exchange of drone strikes over the past week has fueled fears that the longstanding enmity between the two countries could spill over into all-out war as Israel continues its offensive on Gaza in the wake of the attack on Israel by the Tehran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas.Moscow has traditionally tried to maintain relations with all the major powers in the Middle East. But the war in Ukraine has brought Moscow and Tehran especially close, with the same Shahed drones that targeted Israel having been used to deadly effect against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.For this episode, we decided to explore Russia's place in the region through Iranian and Israeli eyes. We speak to Rajan Menon, director of the Grand Strategy Program at the U.S. think tank Defense Priorities, about Russia's ties with Iran. We also spoke to Israeli journalist Milan Czerny about how relations between Russia and Israel have changed over recent months.Find us at:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

The Russian city of Orenburg is famous for its elegant lace shawls, which are so fine they can be folded up to be so small that they can fit in a goose's egg. But the city and its surrounding regions have hit the headlines for a different reason this week, as historic flooding from the Ural River has forced thousands of people to be evacuated.In this episode, we read out a dispatch from Orenburg by one of our reporters who went this week.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Russia has seen a resurgence in xenophobic sentiment since the suspected gunmen in the Crocus City Hall attack were identified as Tajikistan citizens. Moscow police have established special units to carry out document checks on motorways and in migrant hostels, and police raids targeting migrants have been seen in several Russian cities. This rise in migrant-phobia and xenophobia has drawn concern from NGOs and activists defending the rights of migrants and ethnic minorities in Russia.For this episode, we asked Alexander Verkhovsky, head of the Sova Center think tank which researches nationalism and racism in Russia, about the dangerous rise in these sentiments. We then speak with Vika Maladaeva, the co-founder of Free Buryatia and president of the Indigenous of Russia Foundation, about Russia's problems with xenophobia.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

The attack on Crocus City Hall has become the deadliest attack in Russia's modern history. Its repercussions for Russian society are already being felt, with a spike in xenophobic sentiment against people from Central Asia.For this episode, we talked to Ruslan Suleymanov, an expert on Central Asia, about how the attack was possible in Moscow, despite the city's heightened security measures.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, a former journalist for The Moscow Times, has been held in Moscow's notorious Lerfortovo prison for almost a year on espionage charges that he, the U.S. and his employer vehemently deny.Gershovich, who was arrested while working on a story in Yekaterinburg, is the first American journalist since the Cold War to be charged with espionage. Amid persistent rumors that he could be exchanged as part of a prisoner swap, Evan's pre-trial detention is regularly extended.We speak to Evan's friend, The Guardian's Russia correspondent Pjotr Sauer, about the first anniversary of Evan's arrest, the conditions he faces in prison, how he is doing, and the possible future of his case.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Russia's three-day presidential election is off to a start, with Vladimir Putin expected to secure an easy victory after sidelining the opposition, leaving only his hand-picked opponents on the ballot.Since the last presidential election of 2018, there have been significant changes to electoral legislation, significantly reducing the opportunities for independent observers to ensure the fairness of the process.Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the independent election watchdog Golos, joins us this episode to discuss the nature of electoral fraud in Russia and whether anything can be done to combat it.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Russia celebrates March 8, International Women's Day, as a national public holiday. But in recent years, and especially after the start of the war in Ukraine, the Russian government has largely neglected gender-equality initiatives. Instead, the state has encouraged women to prioritize having children and passed new restrictions on reproductive rights.Sasha Talaver, a Ph.D. candidate in gender studies and a feminist activist, joins us this episode to discuss the evolution of women's rights in Russia and the role of women in Russia's anti-war resistance.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

About 116,000 people have been subjected to direct political repression in Russia over the past six years, according to a recent study by the investigative outlet Proekt.According to Proekt, the number of people convicted on political charges during President Vladimir Putin's current presidential term alone exceeds the numbers recorded under Soviet leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev.For this episode, we analyzed the study's results with Sergei Davidis, head of the Political Prisoners Support Program and a member of the board at the Memorial human rights group.Pavel Butorin, the director of the Current Time media outlet, then joins us to discuss the case of his wife, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was jailed last year on charges seen as politically motivated.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, died in a remote Arctic prison on Feb. 16, sparking an outpouring of grief among his supporters and Russians who hope for a democratic, peaceful future. This episode is dedicated to remembering Navalny's life, his impact on Russian politics and the legacy he leaves behind.We first recap how the news of Navalny's death has played out in the headlines over the past week before hearing from ordinary Russians who are laying flowers at memorials across the country to honor the politician's memory, Navalny supporters, and people who knew him personally.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

As the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches, the Kremlin continues to rely on historical narratives to justify its aggression.In an interview with Tucker Carlson last week, President Vladimir Putin dedicated significant time to reciting his distorted view of Ukraine's history, which calls Ukraine's very statehood into question.Researcher Jade McGlynn joins us to discuss and deconstruct the mechanics and motives behind Russia's weaponization of history, and why Ukraine has been the primary target of this historical weaponization.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russian comedians who have openly voiced their anti-war views have had to emigrate in order to keep speaking openly about politics. Some of them are starting to form communities with fellow comedians in countries that have become hubs for Russian exiles.In this episode, comedians Ilya Ovechkin and Denis Chuzhoy, who fled Russia shortly after the invasion, join us to discuss how they've continued to pursue their stand-up careers abroad. Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, there have been a number of scandals related to surveillance of Russians abroad by Moscow's intelligence services and alleged Russian spies working in foreign countries.Investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov joins us to discuss the work of Russian intelligence services outside Russia —and how they put pressure on journalists, activists and public persons living in exile.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Russia's republic of Bashkortostan, located in the Ural Mountains region, erupted in protests in mid-January following the arrest of Fayil Alsynov, a well-known local activist who was sentenced to four years in prison.In one of the few major protests since the invasion of Ukraine made public dissent almost impossible, thousands of people came to the small town of Baymak to show their support for Alsynov and call for his release.In this episode we speak with Abbas Galyamov, a Bashkir political scientist now in exile, and Moscow Times journalist Leyla Latypova, who specializes in Russia's ethnic republics, about the factors that catalyzed the protests and whether we can expect more rallies soon.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

A widespread heating crisis and the controversy surrounding the "almost-naked party" have both dominated Russia's news headlines in recent weeks. In this episode, researcher Andras Toth-Czifra and music critic Artemy Troitsky join us to analyze these events and how they will impact the wider social mood across the country.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

The Russian city of Belgorod has made international headlines in late 2023 and early 2024 after it was rocked by a deadly shelling incident on Dec. 30. The attack in central Belgorod, occurring just before New Year, wrought devastation on the city of approximately 350,000 that sits just 40 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. It claimed the lives of 25 individuals, including five children, and left over 100 injured, many of whom remain hospitalized in serious condition. The city continues to be plagued by frequent shelling.In the latest episode of Russia on the Record, we hear from Belgorod residents about life in the city following the attack, their feelings toward Russian authorities and their views of the ongoing war in Ukraine.*Some names have been altered to protect the identities of our guests. Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

President Vladimir Putin has officially entered his fifth presidential election. He is seeking six more years in power as Russiaremains bogged down in the nearly two-year war in Ukraineand grapples with an increasingly difficult economic outlookdue to sanctions and international isolation.In this episode, we discuss the political platform Putin is likely planning for his new campaign and whether he couldface any challenges to his re-election before the March vote.We are joined by Margarita Zavadskaya, a senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

President Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for almost a quarter-century, announced he will run for a fifth term in the 2024 presidential election next March. Putin announced his decision after a Kremlin award ceremony when Donbas war veterans asked him to seek re-election. This will be the first Russian presidential election since the invasion of Ukraine and a post-Cold-War collapse in relations with the West.As the presidential campaign has not officially begun, we decided to reflect on Putin's past elections. We speak with historian Nina Khrushcheva, a great-granddaughter of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, about Putin's presidential campaigns since 2000 and how his attitude toward the West has changed throughout his rule.Find us at:  https://www.themoscowtimes.com/  https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Russia's Supreme Court labeled the so-called “international LGBT movement” as a banned “extremist” group in a closed ruling late last month. It is not yet clear what exact changes will come from the court's ruling. But activists warn that it sets the stage for a sweeping crackdown on LGBT rights not seen since the Soviet era.To better understand the changes and risks for Russia's LGBT community under the new ban, we spoke with LGBT people living in Russia as well as Dilya Gafurova, head of the Sfera foundation, and Alex (Sasha) Kayner from the Center-T transgender rights group.*Names and voices of some guests have been modified for their safety.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/ https://twitter.com/moscowtimes https://t.me/moscowtimes_en https://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

The number of politically motivated cases in Russia has significantly risen over the past five years, reaching a record of 700 cases in 2022, the first year of the war in Ukraine. Today, more than 1,000 people are in jail or prison in Russia for political reasons, according to the human rights media project OVD-Info.But these numbers don't give the full picture of what happens to those who do not agree with Russian policies. In this episode we will discuss the people who are politically persecuted: their profile, the reasons for their persecution, how the Russian justice system treats them, and how the war in Ukraine has changed political prosecutions.Joining us are lawyer Olga Podoplelova, OVD-Info analyst Dariya Korolenko and OVD-Info's English-language editor Dan Storyev. The projects and stories mentioned in this episode can be found here:OVD-Info's weekly Dissident DigestLetters Across Borders, OVD-Info's letter-writing toolOVD-Info's database of political persecution in RussiaYegor Balazeikin, the 17-year-old imprisoned for six years, featured in the Dissident Digest Vladimir Rumyantsev, an elderly boiler operator sentenced to three years for an anti-war radio broadcast, featured on OVD-InfoLev Skoryakin, kidnapped in Kyrgyzstan, featured in the Dissident DigestSasha Skochilenko in the Dissident DigestInterview with Ilya Yashin 

Amid Russia's isolation from the Western world, Central Asia remains one of the few places where President Vladimir Putin continues to travel regularly. The leaders of these countries are some of the few with whom the Russian president still seems to find common ground.In this episode, we look at how Moscow's relations with each of the countries in this region are developing, how the war in Ukraine has affected the public mood toward Russia, and whether Russian influence in Central Asia is weakening. Joining us is Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/ https://twitter.com/moscowtimes https://t.me/moscowtimes_en https://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

The Soviet Union was the first country in the world to allow abortion. Until this year, modern Russia has had some of the world's most liberal abortion legislation. But in recent months, several Russian regions have pursued anti-abortion policies ranging from outlawing the so-called act of “coercing women” into having an abortion — which could also be interpreted as banning any information about safe abortion — to banning the procedure in private clinics.In this episode we explore the outlook for  reproductive rights in Russia, why the restrictions are taking place now, who is behind these initiatives and what further restrictions we can expect in the near future.Joining us are Anna Efimova, a journalist and gender researcher, and Dariana Gryaznova, a lawyer and expert on gender-based violence against women.Find us at:  https://www.themoscowtimes.com/  https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/ 

Street artist Philippenzo, or Philipp Kozlov, has used his political graffiti to oppose the war in Ukraine. He was arrested at a Moscow airport this summer, and in October, he was added to the wanted list on criminal charges.His example shows how Russian authorities are closely monitoring contemporary artists, leaving them with two main choices: to emigrate or to silence their views on the war.In this episode, we speak with artists in Russia and abroad and people from the contemporary art world about what has changed in this field since February 2022 and how they see the prospects for Russian contemporary art. Artists who spoke for this episode: Philippenzo: https://www.instagram.com/philippenzo/ Pavel Otdelnov: https://www.instagram.com/pavel_otdelnov/ https://otdelnov.com/en Vlada MV Picture: https://www.instagram.com/mv_picture/ Irina Petrakova: https://www.instagram.com/irinapetrakova/ Alisa Gorshenina: https://www.instagram.com/alicehualice/ Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

This week, Russia's North Caucasus made global headlines when an anti-Israeli riot broke out in Dagestan.Another recent story from this region that has been widely discussed in the Russian media is that of Marina Yandieva, 28, from the republic of Ingushetia, who fled her home after years of domestic violence. To help her escape, Magomed Alamov, a Chechen lawyer working with the human rights organization SK SOS, gave her a ride to the nearest town at the group's request, without even knowing her story. After the family learned of their daughter's disappearance, Alamov was taken hostage and threatened with death if Marina did not return home.Yandieva's story is not unique. Human rights activists regularly report on women who flee from domestic violence but who are hindered by the police, who take their families' side and help return them to their families, no matter what region of Russia they have fled to. According to activists, many of these women disappear forever after being returned to their native regions, where honor killings are still committed.In this episode, we examine women's rights in the North Caucasus, a conservative, predominantly Muslim part of Russia. We asked Marina Yandieva to tell her story. We then speak with a representative of SK SOS and a playwright from Dagestan about the problems, discrimination and challenges faced by young women in the North Caucasus today.Editors' note: This episode touches upon themes including domestic violence, depression, suicide, and honor killings.Find us at:  https://www.themoscowtimes.com/  https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/ 

In the nearly two years since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a common criticism of Russians by outside observers has been that they largely continue to live their lives as if nothing serious is happening.In this episode, we take a closer look at how Russians are living amid the war. We speak with residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg who share how their lives have been changed by the war. We later hear from leading sociologist Denis Volkov about how the behavior of Russian society is unique against the backdrop of the war and what trends have emerged in different regions of the country.The Moscow Times recently published a report on the Muscovites who party hard as a form of escapism from the war. For this episode, we asked the report's author if she was shocked by such behavior when she returned to the Russian capital after several months abroad. You can read the article on our website using this link:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/10/21/15-years-into-war-clubs-festivals-and-nightlife-offer-an-escape-for-russians-a82665Find us at:  https://www.themoscowtimes.com/  https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/ 

Russia, one of the world's top emitters of greenhouse gases, is already feeling the impacts of climate change. But compared to Western countries, where concerns about the climate crisis are widespread, this topic is nearly invisible in Russian media, politics and education.In this episode, we decided to find out how Russian society views climate change and the factors that cause many Russians to ignore environmental issues. Climate activist Arshak Makichyan and climate scientist Alexei Kokorin join us to discuss.For more information about climate denial and skepticism in Russia check our recent report:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/10/18/russias-climate-skeptics-muddy-public-understanding-of-warming-planet-a82752Find us at:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

The latest hostilities in the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict have dominated news headlines and overshadowed the war in Ukraine. In Russia, the conflict is also at the center of attention. State propaganda has criticized the actions of the Israeli authorities, blamed the United States for failing to secure peace and mocked Russians who moved to Israel in opposition to the invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, thousands of Russians who moved to Israel since February 2022 have voiced solidarity with their new country and are taking part in efforts to help the victims of the conflict.In this episode, we talked to Russians who moved to Israel last year, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, about their experiences amid these events. We also speak with Ivan U. Klyszcz, a researcher of Russian policy at the International Center for Defense and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, on the official Russian position on the conflict and how the war might affect the course of the war in Ukraine.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

For decades, Russia has been an important political player in the South Caucasus and was perceived as a mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. However, after the Nagorno-Karabakh war of 2020, Armenia began to lose faith in Russia as an ally and protector. With the latest Azerbaijani escalation and the dissolution of Nagorno-Karabakh's Armenian separatist government, Russian-Armenian relations appear to have reached the most tense point in their history.In this episode, we will discuss why Russian peacekeepers did not intervene when Azerbaijan launched its offensive and how the crisis changes the balance of power in the South Caucasus with our guests, Caucasus expert Kirill Krivosheev and journalist Tom Bennett.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowti...

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, a small fraction of independent foreign journalists in Russia have stayed there to continue reporting on what is happening on the ground. Faced with both administrative difficulties and editorial pressure,  their work becomes more dangerous every day, especially after the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.This year, Russia has refused to extend the visas and press accreditations of several foreign journalists, leaving them no choice but to depart the country. Among them are this week's guests: Dutch journalist and former Moscow Times editor-in-chief Eva Hartog and Finnish journalist Anna-Lena Lauren, who also works for Swedish media. They reflected on their work in Russia and discussed why Russia might have refused to extend their visas.Find us at: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowti... 

Over the past year, Russia has managed to withstand unprecedented Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. Part of this success has been the war itself — increased military spending has helped boost the economy, as Moscow produces more tanks, missiles, guns and ammo. But how sustainable is the militarization of Russia's economy?In this episode, we are joined by business and economics reporter Jake Cordell, who explains what emergency measures the Russian authorities have taken to defy earlier predictions of economic collapse, how ordinary Russians are feeling the impact of sanctions, and where the economy might be headed into the future.Find us at:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/

Russia on the Record is a new podcast from The Moscow Times where we reflect, analyze and explain what's going on in Russia right now.In this week's episode, we discuss Russia's regional and local elections — and how they have unofficially kicked off a new election cycle that will culminate with the presidential elections next March.While President Vladimir Putin has said he will not announce his participation in the elections till the end of the year, his public behavior may indicate that his re-election campaign for a fifth term has already begun.Researcher Andras Toth-Czifra and MT journalist Pyotr Kozlov join us in discussing the conclusions that we can draw from the September election results and how they can define the coming election season. Find us at:  https://www.themoscowtimes.com/https://www.facebook.com/MoscowTimes/https://twitter.com/moscowtimeshttps://t.me/moscowtimes_enhttps://www.instagram.com/themoscowtimes/