LIVE UPDATES: EU members decided at a summit last week to postpone new sanctions against Russia; today 5 non-EU members joined previous EU sanctions. Despite sanctions, Germany nearly doubled investments in Russia.
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 Analysis and Translations:
Anna Politkovskaya’s Last Interview to the Regional Russian Press On Day of Her Murder
‘The Dirty Deeds of the Pentagon in Syria’: An Example of Russian Propaganda
– What Has Ramzan Kadyrov Been Up To? Quietly Cultivating Regional and Kremlin Officials, Now He Meets with Putin
– RBC Publishes Report Sourced in FSB and Military on Wagner Private Military Contractor with 2,500 Fighters in Syria
UPDATES BELOW
The ruble is trading at 62.09 to the dollar and 67.62 to the euro. Brent crude is selling for $51.80 per barrel.
The following headlines are taken from 7:40 na perrone, RBC, Gazeta, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Regnum, Radio CZ, New York Times, Expert, and Vesti.
– Russian Foreign Ministry: Russia Has Ready Series of Responses to New US Sanctions
– Russia Will Respond Asymmetrically to US Toughening of Sanctions
– St. Petersburg Artist Summoned for Interrogation for Posting Lozhkin’s Image a Year Ago on VKontakte
Translation: Law-enforcers check report of death of two dolphins in Primorye Ocean Aquarium
What We’re Reading
Image by Vasya Lozhkin, “Great Wonderful Russia,” map of Russia with ethnic slurs instead of names of surrounding countries.
— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick