Long before Edward Snowden worked for the NSA — before PRISM and Wikileaks — there was SORM, the Russian system of intercepting and monitoring communications. In the hands of a dictator, SORM has become a powerful weapon for the Kremlin to target his opponents both at home and abroad. Bloomberg has even questions whether Russia’s […]
The Russian economic development minister, Alexei Ulyukayev, has announced that an embargo on all Ukrainian food imports will be introduced from January 1, 2016. Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the Russian government’s foreign and domestic policies. The previous issue is here. Recent Translations: […]
The Kremlin has finally admitted what other governments and experts have been saying for weeks – that the Metrojet flight downed over the Sinai on October 31 was destroyed by a bomb. FSB chief Aleksandr Bortnikov told President Putin during a for-camera briefing that traces of explosives had been found among the wreckage. Welcome to […]
Russian parliamentarians are asking Russian intelligence to consider restricting access to Telegram, an encrypted messaging system invented by Russian entpreneur Pavel Durov alleged to be used by the terrorists in the Paris attacks. Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the Russian government’s foreign and […]
The State Duma or lower house of the Russian parliament is discussing whether to re-introduce exit visas for Russian citizens, a feature of the Soviet system that was dismantled after the defeat of the August 1991 coup. Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the […]
Russian authorities have decided to close all temporary placement centers for refugees from war-torn areas of Ukraine by December 31 Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the Russian government’s foreign and domestic policies. The previous issue is here. Recent Translations: –The Non-Hybrid War –Kashin […]
War returns to Ukraine, as fighting has broken out across the front. World powers and intelligence sources continue to debate whether the Metrojet crash in Egypt was an act of terrorism. These are big, ugly headlines, but another headline may give insight into the source of so many of Russia’s problems — President Vladimir Putin’s […]
Russia’s Supreme Court has issued a final ruling that the presidential decree making secret information about military casualties in peace time is lawful. Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the Russian government’s foreign and domestic policies. The previous issue is here. Recent Translations: –The […]
Workers have sealed the entrance of the Lyubanka, the building that has housed Russia’s secret police for nearly a century, following an act of protest staged by artist Pyotr Pavlensky. Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the Russian government’s foreign and domestic policies. The […]
A Russian source has once again invoked the prospect of the Kremlin selling S-300s to Iran, with an agreement possibly to be reached in early 2015 for delivery 18 months later. Welcome to our column, Russia Update, where we will be closely following day-to-day developments in Russia, including the Russian government’s foreign and domestic policies. […]
