Weekly Newsletter
14th November, various sources
Anti-abortion measures in different regions of Russia
Priests have been assigned to women's clinics in Saratov to dissuade patients from having abortions. This follows from a decree signed by Metropolitan Ignatius of Saratov and Volsk. The Metropolitanate's website published a list of 19 medical institutions, each assigned a clergyman. Their mission is to "provide spiritual guidance to patients and medical staff at women's clinics."
Stavropol doctors have been banned from discouraging women from giving birth if a fetal abnormality is detected, and dialogue with patients must begin with the phrase "I'm sorry that happened this way" and other similar statements. At the same time, it is important to praise the pregnant woman and avoid language that could traumatise her or “make her want an abortion." In addition to the diagnosis and prognosis, the doctor should inform the woman about available social support measures and contact information for assistance services. If a pathology is discovered after birth, doctors will not immediately notify the mother unless emergency care is needed. Hospitals will also keep a record of all cases in which a woman abandons an unhealthy baby after birth.
14th November, Interfax
Yuri Dud was sentenced in absentia for failing to perform his duties as a foreign agent.
A magistrate judge in Moscow's Basmanny District sentenced journalist Yuri Dud (recognised as a foreign agent in Russia) in absentia to one year and 10 months in a general regime penal colony for failing to fulfil the duties of his status, the court's press service reported. The Moscow prosecutor's office reported that Dud was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code (evasion of duties stipulated by Russian legislation on foreign agents).
13th November, RBC
Ekaterina Shulman has been added to the list of terrorists and extremists.
Political scientist Ekaterina Shulman (designated a foreign agent in Russia) has been added to the Rosfinmonitoring register of terrorists and extremists. Her entry is number 18493. In July 2025, the Meshchansky Court of Moscow sentenced Shulman to two months of arrest in absentia on charges of evading her duties as a foreign agent. The case against Shulman was opened under Part 2 of Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code. The maximum penalty under this article is imprisonment for up to two years. An administrative preclusion applies: criminal liability occurs if a person is convicted of a similar offence under the Code of Administrative Offences twice within one year. Soon, everyone opposed to the Kremlin will be labelled a terrorist as dangerous as ISIS.
13th November, Mediazona
The Supreme Court of Bashkortostan upheld the sentence against journalist Olga Komleva in the case of military "fakes" and cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Foundation.
The Supreme Court of Bashkortostan upheld the sentence of Ufa journalist Olga Komleva. In July, Komleva was sentenced to 12 years in prison for allegedly publishing military "fakes" (Section "d" of Part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code) and collaborating with the Anti-Corruption Foundation (Part 2 of Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code). The details of the charges remain unclear; all hearings were held behind closed doors. The journalist pleaded not guilty. A reminder that such a cruel prison term does discourage dissent, especially when the civil society inside Russia has been suppressed the moment the state perceives a threat.
12th November, Kommersant
Jünger's book "The March of Nationalism" has been declared extremist in Russia.
The St. Petersburg City Court has declared German philosopher Friedrich Georg Jünger's book "The March of Nationalism"/Aufmarsch des Nationalismus extremist, reported Daria Lebedeva, head of the city's unified press service. The lawsuit was filed by the Pulkovo Customs Office. In April 2024, customs officers confiscated a copy of the book in Russian translation from a 17-year-old girl flying to Milan. According to the customs complaint, the book depicted "a man in military uniform" with a "skull in a helmet" instead of a head. The book, published by Russian Revolver in 2022, was sent for examination. Nationalism is scary for the state of Russia.
11th November, Kommersant
Russia’s SIM cards have begun to ‘cool down’.
According to the Ministry of Digital Development, the restrictions apply for 24 hours after returning to Russia from international roaming if the subscriber's home SIM card has been inactive for more than two days. This applies regardless of whether the subscriber was using roaming or had even disabled their SIM card. The block can be lifted independently. To do so, users must log in using a link in an incoming message from the operator. However, Yegor, who arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport, was unable to use this option: "There was no connection on the plane after landing, and there's no connection at the airport either. We do not know how we'll get home. I haven't received an SMS with a code yet." Previously, only foreign SIM cards were affected. The new measures are aimed at combating drone attacks. The idea is to disable SIM cards to prevent Ukrainian drones from flying into Russian territory.
11th November, RBC
Authorities explained the internet shutdown "until the end of the SMO."
Reports that mobile internet has been shut down in the Ulyanovsk region "until the end of the war" are misleading. The restrictions will only apply near critical facilities, the regional government's press service told RBC. Rupor73 reported that restrictions were previously imposed only during drone attack threats, but they have now become permanent. Citing regional Minister of Digital Development Oleg Yagfarov, who spoke at a special press conference on mobile internet shutdowns during drone attacks, the publication writes that the restrictions will remain in effect "until the end of the SMO, unless the federal government decides otherwise."
11th November, Vesti
A resident of the Kostroma region was sentenced to five years in prison for discrediting the Army.
The Kostroma Regional Court has increased the sentence of Soligalich bookstore owner Yan Kulikov in the military "fakes" case, giving him five years in a penal colony instead of a suspended sentence. The man himself was not present at the verdict. He was unable to attend the regional court because he was caring for his ailing mother. The criminal prosecution stemmed from the man's VKontakte posts on July 16 and 17, 2022. One post described Russian military strikes on residential areas of Nikopol using Grad missiles, while the other described the shelling of civilian infrastructure and civilians in Ukraine. Initially, Kulikov's actions were classified under Part 1 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code—that is, without regard to the motive of political hatred. On this charge, in December 2023, he was sentenced to six months of correctional labour. Later, the cassation court overturned the verdict and returned the case to the prosecutor's office, noting the need to reclassify the charges. Ultimately, the motive of hatred was added to Kulikov's case.
10th November, Proekt
Fathers and Grandfathers. A genealogical study of power in Russia.
The publication "Proekt" has released a major study on Russian officials and their relatives. Findings show that 76% of senior officials have family connections in government and state-affiliated businesses. Kadyrov maintains the largest dynasty with 96 relatives in those positions, and Putin is second with 27 relatives. Furthermore, 29% of senior officials are from security services, with an additional 20% having relatives with a security background. Finally, 58% of those officials trace their lineage to soviet elites, and less than 1% has relatives involved in current war in Ukraine. What else could the power in Russia be if not neo-feudalism?
10th November, Vedomosti
Operators will be required to stop providing communication services at the request of the FSB.
Mobile operators in Russia will be required to terminate communications services upon receipt of a request from the Federal Security Service (FSB), if this is necessary to protect citizens and the state from emerging security threats. The corresponding amendments, developed by the Ministry of Digital Development, are planned to be introduced into Articles 44 and 46 of the Federal Law "On Communications." The draft has been approved by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service, the Ministry of Economic Development, and Rospotrebnadzor. The document also received approval from the Ministry of Justice, the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Presidential State and Legal Directorate.
8th November, Runet
Roskomnadzor will be able to isolate Russian users from the global internet.
The Russian government has approved a resolution on new rules for the centralised management of the public communications network, which includes the Russian segment of the internet. According to the document, Roskomnadzor will receive expanded powers to monitor and manage internet traffic within the country starting March 1, 2026. The resolution will be in effect until March 1, 2032. According to the approved regulations, telecom operators and internet service providers will be obligated to comply with Roskomnadzor's orders to restrict access to resources, filter traffic, and change transmission routes. In the event of threats to the stability of the RuNet (Russian Internet), the agency will be able to directly intervene in network operations and assume control. Furthermore, Roskomnadzor will have the right to: reroute traffic through its own infrastructure; enable filters, blocking and monitoring systems at your own discretion; Together with the FSB and the Ministry of Digital Development, identify critical threats and, if necessary, completely isolate the Russian segment of the internet from the foreign segment.
6th November, Fontanka
A Russian dating service plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to conduct criminal background checks on its users.
Russian online dating service Twinby plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to check users for outstanding criminal records, according to co-founder Veronika Yakovleva in an interview with Kommersant. Speaking about future innovations on the platform, Yakovleva mentioned plans to integrate with the Ministry of Internal Affairs via the Application Programming Interface (APi)—a set of rules by which applications or program parts communicate with each other. Integration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, she said, will enable users to submit a potential partner's profile to the agency for verification. "This will ensure that the latter has no outstanding criminal record," she said.
5th November, Vedomosti
A Kremlin official outlined a list of challenges facing Russia.
Alexander Kharichev authored a new article about ideology titled "Who are we?" The official continues his series of articles outlining the principles of a new Russian ideology. Among the challenges Kharichev highlights are societal divisions, the loss of sovereignty and trust in governmental institutions, depopulation, and "dehumanisation." He views division as a precursor to civil war. The article justifies the current war as a measure to prevent the loss of sovereignty. Demographic decline is referred to as depopulation, emphasising the seriousness of the issue. The proposed solutions include stricter anti-LGBT and anti-childfree laws, along with promotion of large families. ‘Dehumanisation’ is attributed to consumerism. An ideal individual, according to Kharichev, must embrace values such as active patriotism, creative work and service, teamwork, national unity, family values, and traditional moral norms, as discussed in Kharichev's publication "Civilisation 'Russia'."
4th November, Meduza
The Kremlin regularly publishes "canned goods"—pre-recorded videos featuring Putin. Participants are asked to dress the same on the day the video is recorded and the day it is published. But not everyone succeeds.
The Kremlin and Russian state news agencies regularly publish pre-recorded videos of Vladimir Putin's meetings with officials, presenting them as current. Journalists refer to these publications as "canned material." They are released on days when the Russian president is not actually appearing in public. Journalists counted five such "canned goods" in April-May 2025, and five more were published since mid-August. The Kremlin's preparations were identified by the arrangement of books on the shelves in Putin's office and the position of writing utensils on his desk. In the other case, it was the clothing and accessories people were wearing. A reminder of how the Kremlin has been acting to create an illusion of always vigilant Putin.
4th November, Expert
Vladimir Putin established the Day of Indigenous Peoples and the Day of Languages of Russia.
According to the decrees, the holidays will be celebrated annually: the Day of Indigenous Peoples of Russia on April 30, and the Day of Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation on September 8. The first holiday date was established to preserve the traditional way of life, economic activities, crafts, and unique culture of the indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation, the document states. The establishment of the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Russia aims to preserve and support the country's linguistic diversity. The initiative to establish this holiday came from Vladimir Putin himself.
3rd November, RBC
Mazda has lost its right to buy out its stake in its joint venture with Sollers.
Japan's Mazda Motor will be unable to repurchase its 50% stake in a joint venture in Vladivostok. The company failed to exercise its buyback option within the prescribed three years. Mazda’s stake was sold to Sollers for €1 in October 2022. Having exited the Russian market in 2022, global automakers including Mazda, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, and Hyundai sold their assets to Russian companies for nominal sums, agreeing to repurchase them within a few years. With a demonstration of what can happen, what would the other foreign businesses do?
3rd November, Fontanka
A monument to Ivan the Terrible was erected in Vologda.
A monument to Tsar Ivan IV “the Terrible” now adorns Kremlin Square in Vologda. The nine-meter-tall statue was unveiled on November 2. Governor Georgy Filimonov was behind the installation plan. Previously, a monument to Joseph Stalin was also erected in Vologda, courtesy of the same governor. Notably, monuments to Ivan the Terrible began appearing only in 2016. It is as if these monuments appeal to tradition, reminding people that oppression is part of Russia’s past. It makes you wonder who wants to remember that period.
1st November, Mediazona
Revolut has begun freezing the accounts of Russians with EU humanitarian visas, citing the 19th sanctions package.
Revolut began closing accounts of Russian citizens living in the EU, citing the newly approved 19th EU sanctions package. Russians who had opened accounts using long-term D visas received a letter. First, asking for an updated residence permit, then announcing suspension. As of Nov 2, Revolut reportedly partially restored limited functions (card payments, selling crypto) for some users who proved they are in the process of getting a residence permit, but full access requires uploading the new permit by March 1. Is the point of sanctions to stop finances from leaving Russia? Who would the regular citizen see as more responsible for that?
1st November, MK.RU
A St. Petersburg resident received five years for comments under the posts of RVC.
The First Western District Military Court sentenced Alexei Bykov, a resident of St. Petersburg, for comments on the Internet under the posts of the Russian Volunteer Corps. The accused was sentenced to five and a half years in prison with serving the sentence in a general regime penal colony. Bykov's relatives say that under pressure from the security forces, he said on camera that he opposed the war and read out the text from a piece of paper. He also signed blank sheets.
31st October, MSK1
"A deaf-mute called me a chump." In the Moscow region, a migrant was given a one-year suspended sentence for the murder of a disabled person.
In Shchyolkovo near Moscow, a migrant killed a disabled man and received a year of probation. His accomplice was completely acquitted. Among the injuries of Elena's father are indicated: rib fractures, head injury, and skull fracture because of a fall. The examination indicated that a "direct causal relationship" was established between the infliction of grievous bodily harm and the death of Chernikov. "As we understand it, it is most likely the work of the diaspora," his daughter believes. "First, the article was changed, and the day before the verdict, the prosecutor called and warned that due to the change in the article, he could be given a year of probation and released. This was a little embarrassing, and it turned out that way at the trial. The judge came out, read out the verdict and immediately left." Migrant diaspora is not completely vulnerable and can affect the trials.
31st October, URA.ru
Russia's chief rabbi hopes Muslim leaders will distance themselves from the Chechen mufti's comments.
After the publication of an interview with Chechen Mufti Salakh Mezhiyev, Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar expressed the hope that the leaders of the Muslim community would dissociate themselves from anti-Semitic statements. In the conversation, the mufti, according to the rabbi, called the Jews "enemies of Allah" and accused them of spreading atheism. Currently, the apology attempt was dismissed by the Jewish community as lacking remorse and stating that it was a misunderstanding. A major event that has implications towards multicultural Russia.
31st October, Meduza
A 21-year-old Russovian received a summons to the army, fled the country by train and jumped out of it in Lithuania. He applied for asylum in Finland, but he was refused. Now he faces deportation to Russia.
The migration authorities of Finland denied asylum to 21-year-old citizen of Russia Daniil Mukhametov, who fled Russia in order not to serve in the army. Human rights activist Olga Karach said that in Finland and Lithuania, "a real campaign of harassment has broken out" against Daniil Mukhametov. The media began to declare him a "possible Russian saboteur" and accuse him of having links with Russia’s special services. "As soon as it comes to a man who says: 'I don't want to fight, and I don't want to go to the army, and I don't want to take up arms," immediately even the belligerents, the warring parties, unite. But no, this will not work." And they begin to drive this poor man into the army from all sides with kicks, threats, pressure, whatever. "No, you go to war," This is some kind of paradox," the human rights activist said.
30th October, Kod Durova
Exclusive: Registration of users in Telegram and WhatsApp has been restricted in Russia
Russian operators were required to stop transmitting SMS and calls to new users by Telegram and WhatsApp* contractors when trying to register them. Operators began to comply with the instruction - and this will also affect already registered users. Another ‘whip’ against non-MAX messengers. However, the moment an email signup option is available, the measure stops being effective.
30th October, Vedomosti
Lukoil to sell foreign assets to Gunvor.
Lukoil has received offers from the international company Gunvor to acquire its subsidiary LUKOIL International GmbH, which owns the foreign assets. This is stated in the company's statement. It is noted that the key terms of the deal were previously agreed upon by the parties. Lukoil accepted the offer, pledging not to negotiate with other potential buyers. The report notes that a few conditions must be met to conclude a deal. Among them are obtaining permission from the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and if necessary, additional licenses, permits, and approvals in other countries. A reminder that Gunvor was founded by Putin’s friend and oligarch Gennadiy Timchenko, bringing the control closer to the Kremlin than before.
30th October, Snob
Russia has caught up with Britain in terms of the number of dollar billionaires.
At the end of 2024, Russia equalled the UK in the number of dollar billionaires. With 128 people, the country ranked fourth in the world ranking, according to the Billionaire Census 2025 report by Altrata. Over the year, the number of Russian billionaires increased by 8.5%. Their total capital reached $457 billion. In the UK, the number of owners of fortunes over a billion dollars was also 128 people, but the growth was 4.9%, and the total amount of their assets was $323 billion. Sanctions were supposed to create a rift between the rich and the government in Russia. Instead, they brought them further together.
29th October, Meduza/RBC
RBC: The FSB has demanded that major banks install SORM, a system for tracking and storing user correspondence.
The FSB demanded that Russian banks install systems for storing correspondence and other content transmitted by users of their applications, RBC reports. Systems for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM) must be installed by all organisers of information dissemination, including social networks and instant messengers. The RBC interlocutor clarifies that banks also meet these criteria, as they facilitate the operation of websites and mobile applications where users exchange messages (this is a key feature of the organiser of the dissemination of information).
29th October, ECHO
Meduza founder Galina Timchenko was put on the international wanted list.
The journalist is accused of "publishing videos on the Internet in September 2024 and March 2025 to involve citizens in the activities of an organization in respect of which a decision was made to recognize it as undesirable on the territory of Russia, as well as to form protest sentiments." Russia state considers the Meduza publication founded by Timchenko to be an "undesirable organisation."
29th October, Current Time
Singer Naoko and guitarist Stoptime were given another 13 days of arrest. The drummer of the band Stoptime was detained at the exit from the special detention centre and is being held in the police department.
A court in St. Petersburg again arrested singer Naoko Diana Loginova for 13 days: the girl received her second arrest on October 29 under the article on violating public order during a street concert, writes Mediazona. The protocol says that she allegedly publicly sang songs, in the lyrics of which there is obscenity. Stoptime guitarist Alexander Orlov, who was detained with Loginova and has already served 13 days, was also re-arrested for the same 13 days, under an administrative protocol on organising a rally. The third member of the group, drummer Vladislav Leontiev, was detained by the police on the evening of October 28, immediately after leaving the special detention centre, where he was serving 13 days of administrative arrest. A return to the practice of ‘false releases’, practised by the NKVD. Cruelty to break the spirit.
28th October, Meduza
"Verstka" compiled a card index of "zeroers/nullifiers". These are the Russian military who kill their colleagues at the front.
Russian soldiers on the front line aren’t just dying in combat with Ukrainian troops — their own commanders kill them. In a new investigation, the outlet Verstka identified 101 servicemen accused of involvement in field executions, referred to within the Russian army as “zeroing out.” Their alleged crimes include cases where soldiers were tortured to death, shot, or sent on suicide missions as punishment for “disobedience” or refusal to fight. According to Verstka, the bodies of “zeroed-out” soldiers are usually buried in the forest or left on the battlefield, where a burst from an assault rifle is fired over them to make it look like they died in combat. On paper, these soldiers are usually listed as missing in action or as having deserted their unit — in the latter case, their families receive no compensation. An insight into why the army as an institution does not have the popular support, and financial compensation is why contracts are signed.
28th October, Current Time
The register of "terrorists" of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service included Z-blogger Tatyana Montyan, a Crimean woman who left Ukraine for Russia.
On October 26, lawyer and Z-blogger Tatyana Montyan was included in the register of "terrorists and extremists", which is maintained by the Russian Federal Financial Monitoring Service. A few hours later, the blogger wrote on her Telegram channel that a case had been opened against her in Russia for public calls for extremism. In 2021, the publicist moved to Russia. She was a columnist for RT and spoke on federal TV channels. In recent months, pro-government bloggers and propagandists have complained about Montyan's publications. Even RT columnists can be considered extremists in Russia.
27th October, GLAVNY.TV
The "Russian community" began to search for deserters in Russia
Activists of the "Russian Community" from Penza revealed the location of one of the combatants who left the unit without permission. Representatives of the movement regularly participate in duty at the facility together with law enforcement agencies. This time, they decided to skip the pretence of having nationalist actions.
25th October, ECHO
A Just Russia – For Truth party is changing its name and removing Prilepin from its leadership.
At the congress on October 25, it was decided to return the party to its former name - "A Just Russia". This was publicly stated by Chairman Sergei Mironov. At the same congress, the institution of co-chairmen was liquidated. Writer and founder of the party "For Truth", Zakhar Prilepin, as well as the chairman of the party "Patriots of Russia", Gennady Semigin, are losing their posts. Zakhar Prilepin has not been mentioned on the party's website since the beginning of July. A few days earlier, he announced that he had decided to suspend his literary activities and return to the front to fight in Ukraine. With Prilepin ending a 4-year involvement in a mainstream political party, it is a reminder that the system does not acknowledge former rebels.
23rd October, Snob
A registry of pregnant women will be established in Russia.
In Russia, from March 1, 2026, a unified federal register will be launched with data on pregnant women and the condition of newborns. This was announced at a Council for Demographic Policy meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova. According to Golikova, the system will consider information about pregnant women, pregnancy outcomes, and the health of babies. The database will become part of a wider register of persons with certain diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, oncology, and others. It was approved by the government back in May. The demographic situation is troubling the Kremlin.
22nd October, Agentsvo
The WhatsApp and Telegram block affected 34 regions, where the majority of Russia’s population lives.
Residents in 34 Russian regions reported problems accessing WhatsApp and Telegram, covering areas with a combined population of about 93 million people. The disruptions are described as partial, since some users managed to access them. Reports began on Tuesday, initially in southern regions, before the outages spread across Russia. On Wednesday, Russia’s telecom regulator Roskomnadzor acknowledged partial blocking of the messengers, framing it as a measure against criminal activity.
21st October, RTVI
Blogger Ilya Varlamov has been added to the terrorist list.
Rosfinmonitoring has added blogger Ilya Varlamov to its list of terrorists and extremists, according to an updated list posted on the agency's website. It was previously reported that the court sentenced Varlamov* in absentia in a criminal case for evading his duties as a foreign agent and disseminating false information about the Russian Armed Forces. The blogger was sentenced to eight years in a maximum-security penal colony and ordered to pay a fine of 99 million roubles. Varlamov is an example of an urbanist blogger who is not a major opposition figure, showing an obsession the Kremlin has with suppressing any sort of opposing view. Just an interesting point that the post-Navalny Anti-Corruption Foundation is currently only under consideration for terrorism, showing that they are losing the Kremlin’s priority, while the RVC has been on that list since 2023.
21st October, Lenta.ru
Russia issues first fine for Instagram advertising
For the first time, a Russian court imposed a fine for advertising on the social network Instagram (a social network banned in Russia; owned by Meta, recognised as an extremist organisation and banned in the Russian Federation). It is reported that the court fined blogger-lawyer Evgenia Tutushkina from Krasnodar. It is noted that the reason was the blogger's video, in which she talked about the advantages of the hotel in the Krasnodar Territory. It is specified that the video was published in July, that is, before the law banning advertising on the banned social network came into force. On April 7, Russian President Putin signed a law banning advertising on the websites of extremist organisations. It is specified that in case of its violation, both the advertiser and the distributor of advertising will be responsible. The new norms came into force on September 1. Does that mean that pro-Russia posts should be deleted since they are breaking the law? Or not everyone in Russia is affected by the law?
20th October, Vedomosti
The FSB will have the authority to register spy devices and programs.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia has developed a draft presidential decree that assigns to the department the authority to register and record all special technical means designed to secretly obtain information, including devices and software solutions developed or sold by private individuals. According to the draft decree, the FSB will establish the procedure for accounting, registration, and use of such means, as well as regulatory and technical documentation related to their production and use. Now the accounting of various devices is entrusted to several departments. Tracking devices, wiretapping, cameras-everything will be under the security services. Another stage in resurgent spy mania or a way for the security forces to strengthen their position?
20th October, BG.ru
The song by Noize MC was considered ‘discrediting the army’ because Ukrainians listen to it during drone attacks.
In the protocol, drawn up against ‘Stoptime’ street musicians and singer Naoko (real name Diana Loginova), the police explained that the defendants performed a song in the centre of St. Petersburg that discredits the army. The reason for the arrest of the musicians was the Noize MC song "Light Stripe". The protocol contains a comment from social networks: a fan of the artist wrote in it that he turned on the track "Light Stripe" in Kyiv during the drone attack and felt the support of the artist." Thus, Alekseev I.A.* (Noize MC’s legal name) through both the song "Bright Stripe" itself and the commentary on its release, a negative assessment of the Russian Federation's special military operation is formed in society," the protocol says. The reminder of how the legal system in Russia currently operates.
20th October, RBC
Russia has proposed lowering the age of responsibility for sabotage to 14.
Deputies of the State Duma proposed to toughen the punishment for sabotage and terrorist activities, lowering the age of responsibility for crimes to 14 years. The corresponding bill is posted in the Duma electronic database. Now, criminal liability begins from the age of 16 (Article 20 of the Criminal Code). However, there is an exception in the case of a harsher crime. These are, for example, murder, intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm, kidnapping, rape, terrorist attack, terrorism training, and so on. The bill's authors propose to expand this list and add to it sabotage, assistance to sabotage activities, training to carry out sabotage, organisation of a sabotage community and participation in it.
20th October, Kommersant
Aishat Baimuradova, who fled Chechnya, was found dead in Armenia.
The Armenian police reported the discovery of the body of a native of Chechnya, Aishat Baymuradova, who went missing after moving to Yerevan. The Telegram channel "Caution, News" writes, citing human rights activists, that before her disappearance, Aishat Baimuradova agreed to meet with a friend "who has people from Kadyrov's entourage as subscribers on the social network." Kadyrov and his personal army can spread their terror abroad, pursuing Chechens who flee.
18th October, The Insider
“Our people poisoned Navalny”: Former FSB officer on surveilling opposition figures and running black ops in Russia and Ukraine.
The Insider interviews Alexander Fedotov, a former officer in the FSB’s Second Service, who portrays it as a secret-police arm that surveys opposition figures and runs repressive operations that are coordinated with Putin. He says the Second Service keeps opposition figures “on the radar” through routine summons and searches, pre-emptive home visits, and warnings before protests, and by fabricating minor cases or short detentions to pressure people. At least in Moscow, every activist who ever went to a protest or wrote a support letter to prisoners is in their database, boosted by new facial recognition technology. With ordinary civic activity being considered a coup risk, modern Russia is following Andropov’s teaching, leaving the system overstretched and unprepared for new cases.
17th October, ECHO
Bolshoi Theatre staff were ordered to leave their lockers open due to RT's anniversary.
Employees of the Bolshoi Theatre were obliged to leave their personal lockers open during the celebration of the anniversary of the RT TV channel. According to the interlocutors, the theatre employees were told that if they refused to leave the lockers unlocked, they could be broken into. As Vladimir Putin was attending the celebration, this is an indication of increased security concern.
16th October, Current Time
Street musicians were arrested for the first time in Russia for performing an opposition song.
The Dzerzhinsky District Court of St. Petersburg arrested 18-year-old vocalist of the St. Petersburg band "Stoptime", Diana Loginova (Naoko), and drummer Vladislav Leontiev for 13 days, and guitarist Alexander Orlov was given 12 days. They were sentenced under the article on organising a mass stay of citizens who violated public order (Article 20.2.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences). This is the first case of the musician's arrest for public performance of an opposition composition, the Agency writes with reference to OVD-Info. The group "Stoptime" has become known for performing songs of "foreign agents" on the streets of St. Petersburg (in particular, Noize MC, Monetochka and Zemfira) and usually gathers a large audience - mainly young people. This arrest even caused a series of rallies in support of the band.
16th October, Interfax
Putin approved the Concept of State Migration Policy for 2026–2030.
The concept has 9 sections and 46 points. Particular attention is paid to the integration of compatriots and migrants returning to the Russian Federation, who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values and move to a permanent place of residence. Their number should increase. In addition, the document clarifies that the growth in the number of labour migrants will continue until 2030. This is due to the need for foreign workers. The document also says that the number of foreign children in the Russian Federation who do not attend school should decrease, and the share of foreign students in Russian higher educational institutions will increase. Migration is still encouraged as a method of addressing the population issue.
16th October, Fontanka
In St. Petersburg, they stopped paying volunteers 1.6 million roubles for participating in the SMO.
The authorities of St. Petersburg cancelled the governor's payment of 1,6 million roubles for participation in the special military operation for volunteers. Several servicemen who signed a contract for military service as part of the BARS volunteer formation in August spoke about the problems with receiving payments. They said that they were not entitled to money, since on August 26, 2025, a decree of the government of St. Petersburg was adopted, according to which 1.6 million roubles are not payable since August 1. The difference is that you can conclude a contract for 12 months with the volunteer formation, while a regular contract involving participation in the special military operation is indefinite. A reminder that volunteers are not encouraged by Russia.
15th October, Lenta.ru
Putin signed a law increasing penalties for foreign agents.
The law abolishes the condition that a foreign agent commits two administrative offences under the article "Violation of the procedure for the activities of a foreign agent" within one year for criminal liability. Accordingly, it is replaced by a single violation of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation. Becoming an extremist in Russia got easier.
14th October, Meduza
The FSB has declared the Anti-War Committee of Russia a "terrorist group."
The FSB opened a criminal case against members of the Anti-War Committee of Russia (AKP). It was created at the end of February 2022, a few days after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. All members of the Anti-War Committee became defendants in the criminal case, from Khodorkovsky to Guriev. A criminal case on terrorism could make the platform of the Russian opposition at PACE toxic, a lawyer, Yevgeny Smirnov, states. According to him, the members of the Anti-War Committee, who became defendants in the case, face arrest in absentia in Russia, being put on the international wanted list and requests for extradition. Another motivation for the PACE group to pursue action against extradition to Russia.
14th October, Izvestiya
In St. Petersburg, there is a call to recognise Jünger's book "The March of Nationalism" as extremist.
Friedrich Georg Jünger's book "The March of Nationalism," confiscated from a 17-year-old girl in April 2024, is being sought to be declared extremist. This was announced on October 14 by Daria Lebedeva, head of the joint press service of the courts of St. Petersburg. During customs inspection, a book was found in her luggage. Following an examination, according to Lebedeva, the book was found to contain signs of nationalist propaganda and information capable of harming the political and economic interests of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as their security, health, and morality of citizens. Pulkovo Customs filed a lawsuit with the St. Petersburg City Court requesting that the book be recognised as extremist material and included on the relevant list. A reminder that Nationalism is a scary word for the current regime in Russia.
14th October, Vedomosti
What is known about former Supreme Court judge Viktor Momotov?
On 14 October, the Ostankino Court in Moscow seized the property of Viktor Momotov, a former judge of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Russian Federation, and his companion, Andrey Marchenko, valued at approximately 9 billion roubles. According to investigations, Momotov used his influence to illegally obtain plots of land. Their value was artificially suppressed, allowing the plots to be acquired by Andrey Marchenko, a co-owner of the Marton hotel chain, and others. This exemplifies a Supreme Court judge in Russia and highlights their motivation to uphold the legal system.
12th October, Interfax
The Central Bank has cancelled the vote to select symbols for the 500-ruble banknote.
The Central Bank of the Russian Federation announced the cancellation of the vote to select symbols for the new 500-ruble banknote, citing attempts at manipulation. "We've encountered numerous attempts to use technical means to inflate the number of votes for certain objects. This will prevent us from drawing up objective voting results," the statement reads. The main election was concerning the back side, between Mount Elbrus (1.270 million votes) and Grozny City (1.075 million votes). It was one of the few ways for imperialist nationalists to express their views and oppose Kadyrov without a risk. What a sublimation for a political action, voting on banknote design.
11th October, RBC
A road passing through Russian territory has been closed in Estonia.
Estonian border guards have closed a road that partially passes through the Saatse Boot in the Pskov Region, Postimees reported. The decision to close the crossing was made by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) on October 10. According to Künter Pedoska, the operational head of the Lõuna Prefecture, border guards noticed "a larger than usual unit moving through Russian territory." It seems that Russia is escalating psychological warfare against the Baltic States, with Estonia being the main target.
10th October, Kaliningrad Today
Poland has returned a teenager who sought asylum in the EU to Russia.
A criminal case has been opened in the Kaliningrad region against a 16-year-old from St. Petersburg who attempted to cross the border into Poland. According to the court, the young man planned to seek political asylum in the European Union. The young man now faces criminal liability under the article on illegally crossing the Russian state border, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison. Human rights organisation acknowledges cases where border guards ignore pleas for asylum. Russian asylum seekers should be aware and try to contact human rights organisations before making any attempt, as other states see them as potential spies who need to be deported.
8th October, Pacifist Telegram channel
Personality cult: how Putin's birthday turned into a state ritual
October 7 in Russia is no longer just a date on the calendar — it is a day when schools and kindergartens across the country hold mass events dedicated to Vladimir Putin's birthday. What began as spontaneous initiatives by loyal teachers has turned into a mandatory part of the educational program, imposed from above. In kindergartens, toddlers are forced to sing altered songs — for example, in Omsk, preschoolers performed "Dad can do anything," replacing the word "dad" with "Putin." In schools, they draw portraits of the president and write him congratulations. The most alarming thing is that all this is being introduced into the educational system from early childhood. From nursery age, children are taught that respect for the state and its leader is the foundation of their civic identity. "The president's image forms a positive ideal to aspire to," — this is how teachers officially formulate the goal of such events. The birthday of one person has been turned into a state cult, and the education system into a tool for serving it.
https://t.me/pacifist_rus/8388
8th October, Vedomosti
The Muslim Spiritual Council: The fatwa on courier delivery is a clarification, not a law.
The Council of Ulema of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation is not a government body and cannot permit or prohibit anything. The fatwa on logistics and courier delivery clarifies what is in accordance with Islamic norms and is not a legal regulation. This was reported on the council's Telegram channel. Valery Fadeev, head of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights (HRC), said that banning couriers from delivering non-halal products is contrary to the Russian Constitution. The articles in question stipulate that Russia is a secular state and that the principle of a unified economic space applies within the country. Furthermore, according to Fadeyev, the fatwa violates the principle of guaranteeing freedom of labour for all citizens and is aimed at inciting religious hatred. During a meeting on September 24, the Council of Ulema of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims decided to ban Muslim couriers from delivering non-halal products. Exceptions are made when transporting them for recycling purposes.
8th October, BusinessFM
Foreign businesses in Russia are facing disruptions due to the blocking of foreign SIM cards.
On Monday, it was announced that Russian telecom operators have blocked data and SMS services from foreign SIM cards for 24 hours. The measure applies to foreigners in Russia using roaming. There are cases where the foreign companies cannot function due to some reported restrictions exceeding 24 hours. Previously, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media had only considered introducing a "cooling-off period" for foreign SIM cards—temporarily restricting access to mobile internet for the first five hours after their owners entered Russia. To restrict Ukrainian drone operators who are using roaming to pilot drones, an additional economic downturn is caused. For foreign citizens, getting a local SIM card in Russia is impossible for short-term visits. To obtain a SIM card, foreigners must go to a bank, submit biometric data, register on the Gosuslugi website, and get an SNILS (Individual insurance account number). This process can take up to several days.
3rd October, Fontanka
Espanola announced its demise
The volunteer 88th reconnaissance and sabotage brigade "Espanola" announced the termination of its existence in its previous form. It is based on hooligan fans of football clubs, mirroring Azov’s origin. It concludes an attempt to stand up to other military organisations such as Kadyrov’s Akhmat, which other brigades, as infamous as Rusich, did submit to. It serves as a reminder of Russia’s hierarchy of power that does not want mobilisation that occurs without the state's involvement. Would any of these imperial Russian nationalists realise the futility of working for the Kremlin?
3rd October, Tverigrad
President Vladimir Putin explained who can consider themselves Russian.
During the latest Valdai Club meeting, Putin said the following: "Everything is changing, except for one thing - this is the bravery, courage and heroism of the Russian soldier, whom we are all very proud of. When I say "Russians," I do not mean people who are purely ethnically Russian in their passports, and our guys picked it up, and people of different religions and different nationalities picked it up. Everyone proudly says: "I am a Russian soldier." And so, it is. Why? In this regard, I will remind Peter I. What did Peter I say? Who is a Russian? Those who know – well, those who do not know – I will tell you; I will remind you. Peter I said: "A Russian is one who loves Russia and serves it," the head of state said.” For Putin, there is no real difference between ethnicity and loyalty to the state, a feudal perception of nationalism.
3rd October, Vedomosti
What can Roskomnadzor do with Telegram channels via a bot with administrator rights?
Roskomnadzor (subordinate to the Ministry of Digital Development) has obliged Telegram bloggers to appoint a special bot as a channel administrator. The bot needs to be given the phone number to which the Telegram account is registered. The phone number must match the number provided when registering the channel on the State Services portal. Then the bot must be added to the administrators of the registered channel and granted rights to add channel members. The bot @trustchannelbot cannot be removed from the channel or have its necessary rights removed from it. If the channel has already been registered earlier, there is no need to reconfirm, since the Roskomnadzor's requirement does not have a retroactive effect, the lawyer believes. The agency applies the new procedure only to future registrations. But the full capabilities of the admin bot themselves are almost limitless, they include, among other things, posting messages, editing, and deleting posts, publishing "stories", modifying and deleting them, as well as managing broadcasts, messages to the channel and adding administrators. Several lawyers point out that this marks the end of the legalist approach, with the bot demands preceding the law. A ‘stick’ approach, since Max Messenger does not require this bot. Could it be because they can see everything already in Max?
3rd October, ECHO
The presentation of Prokhanov's new book dedicated to Prigozhin in Moscow was cancelled, and paperback copies disappeared from sale. In it, the Russian president keeps the bodies of his enemies in his office and feasts on the blood of virgins.
Alexander Prokhanov, a writer and an imperial ideologist, published the novel ‘Lemner’, in which the main character transparently refers to Yevgeny Prigozhin. The presentation of the book at the Moscow House of Books was cancelled at the last moment. As written in the annotation, Lemner is a hero reminiscent of "the creator of the Wagner PMC, the brightest character of our days." Prokhanov openly admires his prototype. caricature image of the Russian authorities appears in "Lemner" - and above all, Vladimir Putin, brought out under the name of Leonid Leonidovich Troevidov. "Once a month, Leonid Troevidov rejuvenated, completely changed his blood. A porcelain vase with pink leeches was sent to him from Beijing. These leeches were saturated with the blood of Chinese virgins. Leeches sucked on his body, drank his tired blood, pouring virgin freshness in return. The bites of the pink leeches were as gentle as kisses." Prokhanov began making excuse statements that deny any parallels, insisting that he supports Putin and that there are no parallels between book characters and reality. However, given the book quote that refers to the ‘Munich speech’, he might face further repercussions.
2nd October, Gazeta.ru or Meduza
The daughter of journalist Slavina, who committed suicide, was detained in Nizhny Novgorod
In Nizhny Novgorod, the daughter of journalist Irina Slavina, who committed suicide, was detained when she tried to lay flowers at the site of her parents' suicide. The incident took place on October 1 near the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where Slavina committed suicide five years ago. Margarita Murakhtaeva, the daughter of the journalist, was trying to leave flowers at the memorial bench when police officers approached her. They demanded documents, began to photograph the girl, and detained her, after which they took her to one of the city police departments. While she was eventually released, it is a reminder of what the state sees as suspicious behaviour.
2nd October, KonturExtern
Tax Reform 2026: VAT Changes
Due to the lack of funds in budget, Russia is raising taxes, with a key focus on Value Added Taxes (VAT). The basic VAT rate is increasing from 20% to 22%. VAT will be levied on the sale of software. Other proposals include introducing VAT on bank card operations and foreign goods.
2nd October, The Insider
PACE has created a platform for the Russian opposition. The Anti-Corruption Foundation criticises the selection criteria, and Gudkov suggests that they sign the "Khodorkovsky declaration"
On October 1, 2025, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided to create a platform for dialogue with "Russian democratic forces in exile." Maria Pevchikh studied the PACE documents and drew attention to the mechanism for forming the delegation. According to her, the list of candidates must be submitted by the "Russian democratic forces" themselves by a common decision, after which it will be approved by the PACE bureau, so in fact they choose themselves. She also noted that the Anti-Corruption Foundation and Navalny's team, although mentioned in the Kross report, do not fall under the definition of "Russian democratic forces" - the document indicates that they "attracted attention by actions that caused criticism and controversy within the Russian opposition." In addition, she noted the need to sign Khodorkovsky's "Berlin Declaration". ACF/FBK has lost a lot of influence following the death of Navalny and is unable to recover. Second point is that the PACE platform has a limited positive potential, which should be utilised in tackling the Kremlin’s legal influence in international organisations such as Interpol.
1st October, Verstka
Max began to block users who installed a third-party messenger client with personal data collection disabled
The Max messenger has started heavily blocking users who have downloaded a client called Komet - which disables tracking functions, stops personal data collection, and allows for anonymisation. The developer of Max messenger claims this is their way of ensuring security. Allegedly, using unofficial clients "threatens personal data and allows attackers to send malicious files." Therefore, Max’s Security Centre blocks access through such programs. Meanwhile, one user clarified that those who install modifications of the messenger, rather than individual clients, are not blocked because they "cannot be distinguished from a regular application." It seems Max is genuinely interested in collecting data.
30th September, IZ.RU
The Muslim football league UMMA LEAGUE was created in Moscow.
In Moscow, the UMMA LEAGUE Muslim football league was created to unite disparate Muslim tournaments in the religious centres of the capital. It is noted that representatives of other faiths can participate in the league, which is an example of Russia's multiethnicity and multi-confessionalism. "It is important that all participants comply with the rules of the league, for example, on compliance with the dress code, when it is forbidden to show ‘awrah [parts of the body that are forbidden to be shown to other people].” Kayumov is quoted as saying. A glimpse into Russia’s multiculturalism.
26th September, VK Press
MAX for civil servants: Russia transfers officials to the national messenger
The Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation has prepared a draft order instructing civil servants to use only the national messenger MAX for official communication. Communication in other messengers will be perceived as a violation of the code of civil servants and disloyalty. Such actions will become the basis for inspections and may affect the possibility of career growth of officials.
25th September, RBC
The body of the deputy of the district council was found in a forest belt in the Kuban
In the Krasnodar Territory, the body of the deputy of the district council, Vitaly Kapustin, was found in a forest belt near the village of Novorozhdestvenskaya. He was 43 years old. According to Kuban Inform, the man was found hanged near his own car with his hands tied behind his back. According to the investigators of KP-Kuban, the death of the deputy is not criminal in nature. While the victim was smaller in status than other elites, a death is as suspicious as it gets.
24th September, Garant
The State Duma adopted a bill on year-round conscription into the army
The military conscription offices will be expected to start working throughout the year, from January 1 to December 31. On September 24, the deputies approved the corresponding draft amendments to Russian legislation in the first reading. The direct dispatch of conscripts to the places of service is planned to be carried out in the usual terms, from April 1 to July 15 and from October 1 to December 31. Currently, conscription coincides with dispatch, and this change would reduce the chance of recruits being missed, especially in combination with the electronic register.
23rd September, RG.ru
A war veteran who won the elections to the Voronezh Duma surrendered his mandate and explained himself
A member of the special military operation, Vladimir Evsyukov, won the elections to the Voronezh Regional Duma, but refused the mandate, explaining his decision. "The special military operation continues, and I have decided to abandon the mandate. I believe that I will be most useful in the education of future officers," Vladimir is quoted as saying. The mandate was passed to the grandson of the former governor of the region, Ivan Shabanov - Vladislav Novomlinsky. So far, Putin has not transferred power to the ‘new elites,’ as promised.
22nd September, MoskvichMag
WhatsApp remained the most popular messenger in Russia, despite restricted calls
The monthly audience reach on WhatsApp (owned by Meta, recognised as an extremist organisation in Russia) surpassed 97 million users in August and remains the most popular service in the country, despite call restrictions. The average daily coverage rose to 82.1 million, while the monthly reach of the national messenger MAX, designed to serve foreign services in Russia, was 32 million in August, with an average of 7 million users daily. VK holds second place with a monthly reach of 93.5 million unique users. Telegram ranks third with 91 million users, although calls there are also limited. MAX, in fifth place, is far from replacing other messengers.
21st September, Meduza
Moscow hosted Intervision, a song contest with "traditional values" that the Kremlin attempted to replace Eurovision with.
After Russia’s Eurovision ban, the Kremlin revived the Soviet-era Intervision song contest. On 20 September 2025, Moscow held the first edition with 23 countries, including the USA, China, and Serbia. Vietnam won, but the next contest will be hosted by Saudi Arabia, signalling the project has support beyond Russia. Despite some heavy-handedness, such as Putin opening the contest and several artists failing to appear, Russia has established a platform beyond the West that will continue, making it a modest soft-power success.
19th September, Vedomosti
The Ministry of Justice has recognised war correspondent Roman Alekhin as a foreign agent.
The Russian Ministry of Justice has added war correspondent and former advisor to the former Kursk Region governor, Roman Alekhin, to its list of foreign agents. According to the Ministry of Justice, Alekhine participated in disseminating messages and materials from foreign agents. The military blogger also disseminated false information about Russian government decisions and fostered a "negative image of Russian military personnel." Alekhin blames unnamed forces that oppose the volunteer community. This is another reminder that the Kremlin does not want initiative, even if they are loyalists. In the long run, it still will be punished.
19th September, Gazeta.ru
“Great and marvellous are thy works” Russian blogger stripped of citizenship for threatening national security
The Migration Service has stripped blogger Samvel Karapetyan of his Russian citizenship. The agency emphasised that he posed a threat to national security. Karapetyan considers the decision illegal, as he acquired Russian citizenship by birth. "My parents never had another citizenship, and I didn't acquire it, but received it as the child of a Russian army serviceman, born in the USSR <…> Thus, I am a citizen of the Russian Federation by birthright," Karapetyan explained. However, police described it as acquired. The question from last week is answered; only people born in the Russian Federation are protected from denaturalisation under the current legal system in Russia.
18th September, Kremlin
Meeting with leaders of parliamentary factions
Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the leaders of political party factions in the State Duma. During the meeting, Putin made two key statements. The first one was calling war veterans “replacements” for Russia’s officials. Given the latest election, it sounds like a bluff to present himself as a moderate option. The second one was a proposal to utilise war veterans to tackle illegal migration. Now that is a proposal that has a better chance of happening. But what would happen to the ‘Russian community’ since they would be completely useless to the Kremlin?
15th September, Current Time
In Russia, a 19-year-old Ural resident was sentenced to 7 years in prison after his parents told the FSB that he was planning to join the RVC.
The Central District Military Court in Yekaterinburg sentenced 19-year-old Vadim Tomilov from Irbit, Sverdlovsk Oblast, to seven years in a maximum-security penal colony. He was accused of attempted treason and participation in a "terrorist organisation" for attempting to join the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), which includes Russians who oppose Putin and fight on the side of Ukraine. One of Vadim's relatives says that after his arrest, Tomilov was tortured by FSB officers. "FSB officers beat the boy in the stomach and threatened to electrocute him! Can you imagine a bunch of trained men doing that to a schoolboy?!" she recounted. "The FSB officers tied his hands with a belt and pulled his hat over his eyes. When Vadim tried to take it off or move it, they hit him on the head! When they saw that they would not do anything to him, they started threatening his parents, like, 10 of them would come and beat his mother and father! Of course, he signed anything. One of the bearded guys waved two pistols in his face." The court ordered an investigation into Tomilov's complaint about violence by security forces, but refused to open a case.
12th September, EJ Telegram channel
In Chelyabinsk, the FSB searched the home of an activist of the Russian Community. Far-right activist Dobroslav Bulaev, who was recently released from a pre-trial detention centre in the case of a fight in the educational centre No 5, reported new pressure from the security forces. On September 12, his house was searched, a certificate of its conduct was signed by an FSB officer. Kremlin is starting to target ‘Russian Community’, meaning they must have tested the patience of state and became a liability.
11th September, MR7.ru
A protocol on the demonstration of Nazi symbols is intended to be drawn up against St. Petersburg activist Savva Fedoseev
St. Petersburg activist, ex-candidate for municipal deputies (and a loyalist nationalist who has organised numerous fundraisings for the war effort) Savva Fedoseev was obliged to appear at the police department to draw up a protocol under an administrative article, Fedoseev himself said in his telegram channel on September 11. He is facing charges under the Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (propaganda or public demonstration of Nazi symbols), under which he can face up to 15 days of arrest. "I don't know what exactly caused the protocol to be drawn up. Whether it was some of my posts on social networks or a T-shirt with the imperial flag - I have no idea. I assume that this is a political denunciation from pro-Ukrainians or my other political opponents," Fedoseev said in his telegram channel. Another reminder that pro-loyalist imperial nationalists are not considered allies by the Kremlin and are treated as the rest when convenient.
Update: Savva has been arrested for 15 days and the Nazi symbolics turned out to be a photo of Alexey Navalny.
10th September, Novaya Gazeta
1,5% of candidates from the "SVO"/War
Putin promised a "new elite" of veterans of the invasion of Ukraine, but in the upcoming regional elections, there again there was less military than unemployed and state employees. Calculations, show that candidates associated with the "SVO"/War apply for 1455 different elective positions (there are slightly fewer candidates - 1375, because one person can run for several positions at once. The share of participants related to the war is only 1.47% of all candidates (0.9% of them are military and other employees of the Ministry of Defence, another 0.57% are employees of other war-related areas). Kremlin remains the same, closed off from the average population. Only way forward remains in submission to the hierarchy in hopes of being acknowledged.
https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2025/09/10/15-kandidatov-ot-svo
8th September, Mediazona
The Ministry of Internal Affairs declared Ilya Yashin a stateless person to be banned from entering the country
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia has included politician Ilya Yashin in the list of those who are banned from entering the country. This is stated in a certificate that the politician published in his telegram channel. It is written that Yashin is banned from entering on the basis of paragraph 1 of part 1 of article 27 of law 114, that is, "in order to ensure the defence or security of the state." But such a ban can only be imposed on a foreigner or a stateless person, since the same law says that a Russian citizen cannot be prohibited from returning to the country under any circumstances. Therefore, to comply with the formalities, the certificate for Yashin says "Citizenship: stateless person", that is, a stateless person. Has denaturalisation been truly authorised in violation of Article 6 of the Constitution of Russia? Or was it possible due to Yashin being technically granted Russian citizenship as a transfer from the Soviet one?
https://zona.media/news/2025/09/08/yashin
7th September, TASS
Patriarch Kirill: Moscow confirms status of Orthodox capital with a procession
The citywide procession of the cross taking place in Moscow rightly asserts its status as the Orthodox capital, and the Russian Orthodox Church returns the ancient custom of the capital's processions of the cross. This was stated by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in a sermon in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour before the start of the procession. It is the first official Orthodox procession on the day of the celebration of the Synaxis of Moscow Saints since 1918. This can be interpreted as a reminder to the Kremlin that Islamic holidays are not the only public celebrations, and the Orthodox church should not be dismissed. Furthermore, this demonstration was clearly marked as a non-replacement of nationalistic Russian Marches with a ban on Imperial flags and a focus on international participants, with the ‘Russian Community’ acting as volunteer guards with no slogans.
https://tass.ru/obschestvo/24987729
6th September, RBC
Bailiffs have begun to seize the property of the Australia-based Shtengelov family
Bailiffs began to arrest the property of businessmen Nikolai Shtengelov and his son, Denis and their KDV Group. The case is being considered under Article 173 - On the recognition of information materials as extremist (Article 13 of the Federal Law "On Countering Extremist Activity")(except for the Internet)."Earlier, the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia filed a lawsuit in the Tverskoy court demanding that it recognise both Shtengelovs as an extremist association and transfer 100% of the shares of the KDV group of companies to the state. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the reason is the withdrawal of more than 21 billion roubles (out of annual revenue of 756 billion) abroad from 2022, including to the United States and Australia, which supply weapons to Ukraine. These actions are regarded as causing economic damage to Russia and financing terrorism. No further proof was required.
https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/68bbc8239a7947dbe01ab9ac
5th September, CNews
‘Whitelist’ for RuNet. A list of sites available during mobile Internet shutdown has been compiled.
In Russia, there will be a way to legally and officially bypass mobile Internet blocking for essential sites. The technology of access to sites from the "white list" has been launched, which will be opened during restrictions on the Internet over cellular networks, representatives of the Ministry of Digital Transformation said. The list includes government and Russia-based websites (social networks, banks, phone operators, Yandex, marketplaces, and MAX messenger). A semblance of normality can still be maintained and minimise the economic downturn previously caused by prior Internet shutdowns.
https://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2025-09-05_v_runet_po_belym_spiskam
5th September, Novaya Gazeta
Russian activist detained during layover at Almaty airport
Russian activist Yulia Emelyanova, associated with the headquarters of Alexei Navalny, was detained at the Almaty airport during a transit transfer. She faces extradition to Russia in a case that lawyers call fabricated and politically motivated. The court sent Yemelyanova to the Almaty pre-trial detention centre for 40 days; she is threatened with extradition to Russia. The Anti-War Committee recalled: if a person is in Russia on the criminal, international or interstate wanted list for political reasons, under no circumstances can he fly through Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, even with a transfer. A reminder that Russia maintains extradition treaties, and opposition cannot use these countries as a refuge point.
https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2025/09/05/sama-ona-seichas-v-shoke
5th September, Medinskiy’s Telegram channel
Vladimir Medinsky and Sergey Naryshkin opened a monument to former KGB and USSR leader Yuri Andropov. The monument was proposed by the Russian Military Historical Society, which was established by Putin to combine state and society in promoting and protecting Russia’s military history. A reminder that current regime primarily focuses on the Soviet period.
https://t.me/vr_medinskiy/2760
2nd September, Mediazona
Five members of the "White Suit" were sentenced to up to 20 years for supporting far-right prisoners
The 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow sentenced five members of the White Suit community, which was engaged in supporting far-right prisoners. According to the case file, the publications of "White Suit" have been checked by the Centre "E" (Centre for Combating Extremism within the Ministry of Internal Affairs) since 2016, but a criminal case was opened only in 2022, precisely based on posts in which experts found signs of justification of terrorism. Although the security forces have known the members of the group for a long time and they were not hiding, the detentions took place only in 2023. The investigation regarded humanitarian support for convicts only to achieve a criminal goal, that is, "popularising the ideology of terrorism." "Let us remember that the laws are rubbery," human rights activist Daria Kostromina says. "It is quite possible to imagine that someone will throw money to transfer it to a prisoner, he will eat sausage, gain strength and write a letter justifying terrorism - this will be the financing of terrorist activities."
https://zona.media/article/2025/09/02/mast
30th August, Deita
Putin created a new department in the presidential administration and abolished two existing ones
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the reorganisation of the structure of the administration of the head of state. According to the document, a department for Strategic Partnership and Cooperation is being created as part of the Presidential Administration. At the same time, the Department for Interregional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and the Department for Cross-Border Cooperation were abolished. Previously, these units were supervised by the deputy head of the administration, Dmitry Kozak, who is considered among the candidates for the post of plenipotentiary in the Northwestern Federal District. Kozak is noted as the only person near Putin who was insisting on ending the war in 2022, and before that was openly against starting an open conflict in Ukraine. This move confirms that Kozak lost influence and is facing a demotion.
https://theins.ru/news/284481 or https://deita.ru/article/574124
28th August, Moskvich Mag
Moscow bookstores are selling off books by foreign agents until September 1
On September 1, a law prohibiting foreign agents from conducting educational activities came into force in Russia. There is no direct ban on selling their books in the document, but the Russian Book Union recently warned that stores that continue to sell such literature will be deprived of state support. Main bookstores have issued major sales of such books. What will happen to foreign agent publications after September 1 is still unclear. Theoretically, stores that do not depend on state support can continue to sell them, but the likelihood of this is low. A clear example of how financial co-optation allows for imposing further restrictions without the need for new legislation.
https://moskvichmag.ru/gorod/moskovskie-knizhnye-rasprodayut-knigi-inoagentov-do-1-sentyabrya/
26th August, Novaya Gazeta
Boosty service will prohibit "foreign agents" from publishing new posts. For many, this was one of the main ways to monetise content.
The Russian donation collection platform Boosty (analogue to Patreon) introduces new rules from September 1 this year. Authors recognised as "foreign agents" will not be able to publish new posts. After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the service became one of the key monetisation platforms for independent authors. This is a case of self-censorship on a company scale, since they were not required by law to do it.
26th August, Gazeta.ru
The State Duma explained why Russia is withdrawing from the Convention against Torture
According to Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security Andrei Lugovoy, the proposal of the Cabinet of Ministers to denounce the European Convention against Torture is largely "technical" in nature, because Russia withdrew from the Council of Europe after the start of the military operation in Ukraine. Lugovoy said that the convention allowed foreigners to assess the condition of people in custody. Now he believes this is impossible. The withdrawal is further explained as caused by a “double standard” that he believes allows Ukraine to commit torture unnoticed. Another reminder is that this is the same Lugovoy who is wanted by the British police on suspicion of Litvinenko’s assassination.
https://www.gazeta.ru/amp/social/news/2025/08/26/26578892.shtml
25th August, Meduza
Despite the war and repression, new civil initiatives continue to emerge in Russia. Everyone fears persecution – even pro-government movements
Despite war and repression, Russian civil society continues to adapt and survive. Activists use technology and horizontal structures to avoid detection, share resources, and build solidarity, even if this limits their overall impact. Growth is strongest in legal aid, environmental and labour rights, and especially animal rights, now the safest and fastest-expanding field. Despite the expectations, pro-regime groups continue to feel insecure, as the state does not see them as sufficiently loyal due to a lack of coordination with it and repression targets all forms of civic activity. Reflective solidarity arises (where justice matters more than ideas) across ideological lines, showing that civic activism in Russia remains fragile yet resilient.
25th August, RBC
Russia proposes to introduce voluntary restrictions on “dangerous content”
The Russian government plans to work out the possibility of introducing voluntary consent to restrict access to "potentially dangerous information," according to the plan approved by the government. The event's purpose in the document is "to submit proposals to provide citizens with the opportunity to voluntarily restrict their access to potentially dangerous information distributed through information and telecommunication networks, including the Internet." An attempt to instil self-censorship, given that the proposal is not talking about the content that is already deemed extremist in Russia.
https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/68abb3b09a794706f324fa42
23rd August, RBC or RIA Novosti
The government has decided to create additional jail places
In Russia, they plan to increase the number of places in pre-trial detention centres (СИЗО) due to exceeding filling limits in several regions over the past five years. This is stated in a government decree published on the portal of legal information. "It is necessary to carry out in the country as a whole the construction of 11 new pre-trial detention centres for 11.23 thousand places, 14 new regime buildings for 3.42 thousand places, the reconstruction of four regime buildings for 0.425 thousand places, the construction and reconstruction of 118 auxiliary facilities in pre-trial detention centres," the resolution says. Is it to reduce the issue of overcrowding or to expand repressive capacities?
https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/68a90d1d9a79471c26efd9ae
23rd August, Sport-Express
A 20-year-old football player of the "Russian community of Shchelkovo", Yeroshevich, has died. Recently, he was beaten near a nightclub.
On August 17 in Shchelkovo, near Moscow, footballer Arseny Yeroshevich was brutally attacked outside a nightclub after a dispute with two men escalated into a fight. He was beaten unconscious, suffering severe head and throat injuries. Despite emergency surgeries, he fell into a coma and died on August 23. Not all assailants have been detained, prompting criticism from the local ‘Russian Community’, which informally links itself to security services but without obligations for service.
22nd August, Kommestant
Saving on Children the Grown-Up Way
Demand for goods for children in January-June decreased by 4% year-on-year in physical terms and by 7% in monetary terms. The drop is explained by a decrease in the birth rate and the optimisation of spending: parents are ready to buy children's goods second-hand and look for better deals in online retail. According to T-Data and T-Zh, purchases of strollers decreased most noticeably in physical terms in January-June year-on-year, by 25% year-on-year, children's clothing and footwear by 21%, and diapers by 15%. In terms of money, the turnover of the children's goods market, according to Infoline, will grow by 10-11.6% this year, to 810-820 billion roubles. In 2024, the growth was estimated at 13%, in 2023, at 14%. With the official statistics on demography being restricted (6th July), other methods could be utilised, adjusted for resale and other factors.
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/7987930?tg
21st August, Interfax
From September 1, the Max messenger will become mandatory for pre-installation on devices.
The Russian government will include the Max messenger in the list of applications that must be pre-installed on electronic devices, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers reported. From September 1, RuStore will be pre-installed on iOS and HyperOS devices. Before this, the domestic app store was mandatory for pre-installation only for Android and HarmonyOS. As a messenger, Max resembles China's WeChat, designed to combine messaging, digital ID verification, payments, and government services into a single platform. There has already been a case of firing for indirect refusal to install Max.
https://www.interfax.ru/digital/1043261
21st August, Nezygar Telegram channel
“Service Instead of Consumption”: Why the Kremlin Came Up with a New Ideological Journal
The Kremlin has launched a new ideological journal called State, led by political strategist Andrey Polosin and based on Alexander Kharichev’s (16th April in weekly newsletter) “pentabasis” concept. It aims to instil a set of “correct values” for officials and elites: the state above the individual, collectivism over individualism, service instead of consumption, reliance on tradition and religion, unity, historical memory as a weapon, and technology strictly under state control. The journal promises progress while advocating isolation and offering no clear path for innovation without openness.
20th August, Verstka
The Ministry of Finance of Russia proposed to increase the income tax for "foreign agents" to 30%
The Ministry of Finance of Russia has prepared a bill that establishes an increased personal income tax (PIT) rate of 30% for individuals with the status of "foreign agents" for the entire calendar year in which a citizen was recognised as a foreign agent for at least one day. The bill also restricts tax benefits. In particular, "foreign agents" will not be able to take advantage of the tax exemption when selling real estate owned for more than three years. In addition, they will begin to pay taxes at the time of redemption of shares, bonds, and investment shares. A reminder that Russia’s ‘foreign agent’ law considers anyone who receives foreign support or is declared to be under foreign influence, without the need for the ‘foreign agent’ to commit any actions.
https://verstka.media/minfin-rossii-predlozhil-povysit-podohodnyj-nalog-dlya-inoagentov-do-30
20th August, RTVI
The leader of the Kaluga "Russian community" was detained in an extortion case.
In Obninsk (Kaluga Region), the leader of the local "Russian community", Ruslan Denisov, was detained. The man is suspected of extortion on an especially large scale - preliminarily, we are talking about an amount of more than 1 million roubles. A resident of the city of Kozelsk wrote a statement against Denisov. The 112-telegram channel, citing a source, writes that Denisov was detained when "he tried to help an acquaintance repay a debt." "A few months ago, one of the former members of the community crashed the car of their mutual friend. The damage came out to be almost one and a half million. The culprit wrote a promissory note, but was in no hurry to return the money. Today, Denisov, with this very acquaintance and another associate, went to Kozelsk to talk to the debtor and, apparently, did not do it very correctly. As a result, Denisov is in the temporary detention centre with charges of extortion". Another scandal that is encouraging security services to discard the ‘Russian community’.
https://rtvi.com/news/lidera-kaluzhskoj-russkoj-obshhiny-zaderzhali-po-delu-o-vymogatelstve/
16th August
In Central Russia, the number of migrant children in schools will be reduced by 10 times
In schools in Central Russia in the new academic year, there will be 10 times fewer migrant children, the Mash Telegram channel reported. This is due to the mandatory test in the Russian language, which future first-graders and high school students must take from April. In 2024, 250 children of migrants were admitted to schools in the Kaluga Region, but this summer, only 91 applied, and only 36 of them successfully passed the check. A similar situation is observed in the Voronezh region: out of 16 who took the exam, only half were enrolled, while a year ago, local schools accepted about 200 students from among the visitors. In Tula, out of 62 children of foreign citizens who took the exam, only 30 were enrolled in schools. It seems the alienation of migrant children has happened.
https://news.ru/regions/detej-migrantov-vyrezali-v-shkolah-centralnoj-rossii
14th August, MKPenza
The bust of Alexander I disappeared from Cathedral Square before the festival
On the eve of the IX All-Russian Military History Festival "Field of Mars", a bust of Emperor Alexander I was removed from the Cathedral Square of Penza, prepared for installation. However, on the opening day of the festival on August 9, neither the assembled nor dismantled monument was found on the square. Earlier, it was planned that the installation of the bust would become one of the central events of the event dedicated to the military-historical heritage of the region. When it comes to the historical memory, the Soviet period has an advantage over other ages.
14th August, RTVI
Shnurov justified the court ban on five songs of "Leningrad"
The founder of the Leningrad band, Sergei Shnurov, supported the decision of the Vasileostrovsky District Court of St. Petersburg, which satisfied the claim of the prosecutor's office to ban the distribution of five songs of the band. The court recognised the information contained in the songs «Кандидат», «НЕТХ…Е», «Ч.П.Х.», «ОСПА», and «РУССКИЕ», banned for distribution in Russia in October 2024, but the media paid attention to this decision only in August 2025. "These songs are not intended for teenagers under 18 years old! I absolutely support the court's decision! I consider restricting access to adult songs for minors to be correct and correct!" – said Shnurov. Nothing but love for the Big Brother.
https://rtvi.com/news/shnurov-opravdal-sudebnyj-zapret-pyati-pesen-leningrada/
13th August, Vedomosti
Roskomnadzor partially restricted calls to Telegram and WhatsApp
Roskomnadzor reported that Telegram and WhatsApp messengers (owned by Meta, the organisation is recognised as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation) have become the main services used for extortion and involvement of citizens in terrorist activities. Given this, the department is taking measures to partially restrict calls in these messengers. The Ministry of Digital Development positively assessed the decision of Roskomnadzor, TASS reports. At the same time, they admitted that access to calls will be restored after Telegram and WhatsApp comply with the requirements of Russian law. Now, without the use of a VPN, both audio and video calls encounter interference and slowdown. And most fraud occurs from regular phone calls. Use of the new messenger MAX is encouraged, and what better way to advertise than to slow down the competition?
https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/news/2025/08/13/1131330-ogranichil-zvonki
13th August, Nezavisimaya Gazeta
Prisoners will be tried right in the pre-trial detention centre
Courts and detention centres are preparing for the wider use of video conferencing (VC). The Judicial Department promised the Federal Penitentiary Service to transfer equipment for remote trials. The accused can be tried in a pre-trial detention centre. While the procedure will allow for speeding up trials, barring the need to transport inmates to courts, changes would complicate lawyers’ negotiations and personal conversations. Furthermore, the nature of choice remains unanswered. Is that digitalisation to modernise the state or a preparation for a new system of mass trials?
https://www.ng.ru/politics/2025-08-13/1_9315_publicity.html
13th August, OVD-info
The prosecutor's office will demand a tougher sentence for three of Navalny's lawyers
The Vladimir Regional Court began to consider an appeal against the verdict of Alexei Navalny's lawyers - Alexei Liptser, Vadim Kobzev and Igor Sergunin. The prosecution will ask for tougher punishment. During the debate, the prosecutor's office asked to cancel the mitigating circumstances in Sergunin's sentence, namely the admission of guilt and cooperation with the investigation. The prosecution claims that all the evidence of the lawyer's guilt was collected without his confession "in conditions of obviousness." The prosecutor's office also asked to exclude mitigating circumstances in the sentences of Vadim Kobzev and Alexei Liptser, which was formulated as "the difficult financial situation of the family." The prosecution believes that it has not been proven. The next meeting, at which the state prosecution will request new terms for lawyers, will be held on September 22. The legal system in Russia considers every interaction with an ‘extremist’ a reason to be treason, even if it is what lawyers have to do.
12th August, BusinessFM
Migrants will not be able to work in St. Petersburg not only as taxi drivers, but also as couriers
The authorities of St. Petersburg have restricted migrants from working in courier delivery. Governor Alexander Beglov signed the decree. We are talking only about those migrants who work based on a patent. That is, restrictions have been imposed on Uzbeks, Tajiks and representatives of other countries that are not members of the EAEU. With rising restrictions on various job types across Russia, and no change to the migration law, the measure is aimed at tackling domestic unemployment or encouraging more members in the Eurasian Economic Union.
https://www.bfm.ru/news/580993
11th August, Russian Volunteer Corps official channel
Justice Manifesto
On the third anniversary of their foundation, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) published a manifesto. In the manifesto, RVC declares itself as the heir of anti-Bolshevik fighters, declaring a struggle for “Russian justice” against the Kremlin, which they describe as an anti-national regime erasing Russian identity and waging imperial war in Ukraine. They declare themselves as both soldiers and the only true opposition, committed to building a Russian republic, rejecting both Soviet myths and modern Russian statehood as false and corrupt.
https://t.me/russvolcorps/1433
8th August, Infopro54.ru
"New People" will withdraw the lawsuit against Rostislav Antonov in the elections in Novosibirsk.
The party is withdrawing a lawsuit that would have kept Antonov out of the local election. This news is telling two points. First point is that the ‘New People’ is the youngest party in the Duma and maintains reforming ideas, not agreeing with the mainstream unless consent is required. The second point is a reminder that Russian nationalists, even as loyalists as Antonov, who support what the Kremlin does in Ukraine, are not invited into power. They are temporary allies at best, especially because they do not wait for directions from the higher-ups.
https://infopro54.ru/news/novye-lyudi-otzovut-isk-na-rostislava-antonova-na-vyborax-v-novosibirske/
7th August, Insider
The Russian Embassy in the United States refused to issue a passport to Vladimir Kara-Murza, as he is prohibited from leaving Russia.
The Russian Embassy in the United States refused to issue a passport to Vladimir Kara-Murza, citing a travel ban. Kara-Murza left Russia in August last year because of an exchange in which Russia extradited political prisoners to the West in exchange for spies and Krasikov's killer. “In my case, there were at least three violations: pardon (which I did not ask for), forced deportation abroad (directly prohibited by Article 61, Part 1 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation), and crossing the Russian border without a passport (expired while I was in prison).” A demonstration of legalism as a driving force in Russia’s legal system. While Kara-Murza has other passports, similar actions could affect other citizens of Russia.
7th August, Vedomosti
The Russian court fined a citizen for inciting hatred towards Ukrainians and using a slur.
The Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Ulan-Ude recognised the word "khokhly" as a manifestation of hostility on a national basis, fining resident Evgenia Zandanova 10,000 roubles for inciting hatred towards Ukrainians. The woman tried to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Buryatia, but it upheld the fine. Sometimes words matter more than actions (war).
https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/news/2025/08/07/1130150-rossiiskii-sud-schel
7th August, RBC
The Ministry of Digital Transformation unveiled the plan for Internet access during the blockades.
With restrictions on mobile Internet, access to the "white list of basic services" will be maintained, announced Minister Shadayev. It also includes provisions for the continued operation of ATMs. "That is, when blocking occurs, users will be able to access the white list of basic services at the same speed by captcha," the minister said and clarified that the white list will include "all the resources necessary for life," including taxi apps, marketplaces, and delivery services. In recent weeks, residents of different regions of Russia have complained about failures in the operation of the mobile Internet, and regional authorities have warned of communication restrictions due to drone attacks.
https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/07/08/2025/6894de579a7947aa708515c0
5th August, Center for the Defense of Media Rights
The Ministry of Justice has added the N-ost network of journalists and the East View company to the list of undesirable organisations
The Journalistic Network for Eastern European Reporting (N-ost) is a Berlin-based organisation. It consists of more than five hundred reporters from different countries. East View, a company based in the United States, was also added to the list. Through its Russian legal entity, IVIS, it provides access to databases of magazines, books, and newspaper archives. The resource has been around since 1989 and contains millions of articles. IVIS distributes products not only in electronic format, but also in printed format. Some Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) publications are presented in the company's database in an "exclusive manner". Is JSTOR next?
5th August, Echo
Activists of the "Russian Community", "Young Guard" and Cossacks tried to disrupt the event in memory of the murdered political prisoners at the Sandarmokh tract.
According to the correspondent of the publication, men in military uniforms and black masks hung several plaques in the middle of the memorial signs with the names of foreigners who fought for Ukraine, poured water on the participants of the remembrance action, and sang military songs. Sandarmokh is one of the largest burial sites for victims of Stalinist repressions. According to historians, more than 6000 people were shot at this training ground in the Karelian Forest. According to an eyewitness, ‘Russian Community’ was the one to set up plaques of foreign soldiers who died while fighting on Ukraine’s side. Another case of how the ‘Russian community’ is doing the work that police and security services want to keep low-profile.
4th August, Mediazona
"A federal program is underway." At least 76 cases have been opened for donations from the Anti-Corruption Foundation, and over the past six months, there have already been more of them in the courts than in the previous three
Everyone who made donations from Russian cards after the ACF/FBK was recognised as an "extremist organisation" is under threat, that is, from August 2021 to March 2022, when Visa and MasterCard left Russia, using merchant and sub-merchant IDs to identify the organisation. The number of those persecuted is constantly growing, and today, at least every third case of financing an "extremist organisation" is related to donations to Navalny's supporters. Most cases that resulted in arrests were issued in Moscow.
https://zona.media/article/2025/08/04/donations
1st August, Mediazona
Navalny's book "Patriot" was recognised as extremist for "hatred of the current government"
The Ministry of Justice introduced the book "Alexei Navalny. Patriot" to the extremist materials list. The examination concluded that Navalny's book "contains a set of linguistic and psychological signs of extremist meanings, namely, incitement to hatred and enmity towards the group "current government of the Russian Federation", based on social affiliation. Experts also found in the book "signs of information that may harm the political or economic interests of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, their state security, health and morals of citizens".
https://zona.media/news/2025/08/01/hate
30th July, Interfax
Roskomnadzor has blocked the Speedtest Internet speed measurement service in the Russian Federation
"Access to the Speedtest service is limited in accordance with the decree of the government of the Russian Federation No 127 of 02/12/2020 in connection with the identified threats to the security of the public communications network and the Russian segment of the Internet" is the justification. Previously, Ookla was brought to administrative responsibility in the Russian Federation in 2022 and in 2023 for refusing to localise the data of Russians in the Russian Federation. To ensure a sovereign Internet, Russia has to ensure that the main internet sites popular in Russia are local and comply with data laws.
https://www.interfax.ru/digital/1038766
30th July, SOTA
In Britain, Russian asylum seeker Alexander Frolov committed suicide
Russian refugee Alexander Frolov, who left the country to avoid mobilisation, committed suicide in London. A 26-year-old native of Yekaterinburg passed away on July 28, while awaiting an appeal against the refusal of asylum. Frolov arrived in the UK in 2021 on a seasonal worker visa. On December 6, 2022, he filed a petition for protection, justifying his refusal to participate in the war. In anticipation of a decision, he was actively involved in volunteer activities - he participated in anti-war protests, collaborated with the Russian Democratic Society, and helped distribute food to the poor in East London.
Today, European states have begun to tighten the procedure for issuing political asylum, and some have suspended accepting applications from Russians. The courts recognised Russia as a safe country whose citizens do not need asylum. Sadly, this is not the first case of a Russian asylum seeker's suicide.
https://zona.media/news/2025/07/30/frolov
30th July, Bumaga
For a post criticising Navalny, a Communist Party deputy, Apostolevsky, was arrested for seven days
The deputy was detained in the morning by the anti-extremist unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Antonovsky is charged with an administrative article on public demonstration of extremist symbols. The reason was a 2017 post mentioning Alexei Navalny, even though Navalny was mentioned negatively. It seems that Navalny is facing Damnatio memoriae, where any mention of his persona is condemned.
https://paperpaper.io/papernews/2025/7/30/za-post-s-kritikoj-navalnogo-na-sem-s/
30th July, Interfax
The Ministry of Digital Transformation denied the mandatory use of Max for signing electronic documents
The Ministry of Digital Development of Russia states that the national messenger Max will not become mandatory when signing documents using an electronic signature; the Gosklyuch app will continue to be used for this. "The law refers to the exclusive seamless interaction of Gosklyuch with the national messenger, which will simplify the sending and receipt of documents for signing, for example, contracts with telecom operators, by simply sending them to the chat. Currently, the new Russian state messenger is not being enforced to ensure the public is not scared; it must be a convenient system first.
https://www.interfax.ru/russia/1038802
29th July, Mediazona
"Freedom will be for everyone — and for me, I hope, too." Who is Olga Komleva, sentenced to 12 years in prison in the cases of the Anti-Corruption Foundation and military "fakes"
The Kirovsky District Court of Ufa sentenced 46-year-old RusNews journalist Olga Komleva to 12 years in prison for cases of cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Foundation and military "fakes". The case was considered behind closed doors, so it is still unknown how the prosecution proved Olga's guilt. The trial concludes a series of state repressions against her, beginning with lawsuits and pre-trial detention, where she had to rely on her family to provide her with diabetes medicine.
https://zona.media/article/2025/07/29/komleva
26th July, RBC
Perm activist deported from the United States sent to jail
A resident of Perm, activist Leonid Melekhin, who was deported from the United States to Russia, was sent to a pre-trial detention centre on suspicion of justifying terrorism, facing up to 7 years in prison. Melekhin previously tried to emigrate through Mexico to the United States. All this time, he was wanted by the Russian authorities for collaborating with the headquarters of Alexei Navalny (Navalny's headquarters are recognised as an extremist organisation and banned in Russia). A reminder that the asylum seekers from Russia are facing clear danger after deportation.
https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/6884b4ee9a7947815e4d7939
24th July, MK.ru
The problems of reproduction will be dealt with seriously: the government promised “demographic special forces" to citizens of Russia/Russovians
The head of the supreme chamber of the Russian parliament, the head of the Federation Council, explained how the "demographic special forces" in the country's leadership intend to stop the decline in demography. Matvienko made the main thesis of her speech a strategy based on "family-centricity". The "demographic winter" threatening Russia was declared by VTsIOM to be so close that ways to prevent the “frostiest” scenarios are necessary (16th May). ‘Special forces’ implies swift and effective decision, compared with already existing anti-abortion committees, and financial incentives. There are also challenges of housing that seem as the primary issue that discourages childbirth.
23rd July, RTVI
Editor-in-chief of the Baza telegram channel, Gleb Trifonov, was arrested for 2 months
On the morning of July 22, searches were carried out in the Moscow editorial office of Baza and in the apartment of the editor-in-chief. The security forces seized documents, work and personal equipment of journalists, detained five employees of the publication and Trifonov. The Investigative Committee considers the editor-in-chief and the producer of the Telegram channel to be involved in giving bribes to police officers for providing information about the emergency, which journalists received through Internet messengers. Eva Merkacheva, a member of the Presidential Human Rights Council (HRC), said that such criminal cases create unacceptable pressure on journalism that works with various sources of information and inevitably maintains "good connections among law enforcement agencies," including on a paid basis.
22nd July, State Duma of the Russian Federation
Films discrediting traditional values will not receive a distribution certificate
Deputies of the State Duma at the plenary session adopted in the second and third readings changes to the legislation in terms of clarifying the requirements for the issuance of a distribution certificate. The law expands the list of grounds for refusal to issue a distribution certificate for a film, providing that such a ground will be the presence in the film of materials that discredit traditional Russian spiritual and moral values and/or promote their denial.
In turn, the owners of audiovisual services and social networks will have to stop distributing a film or TV series within a day at the request of Roskomnadzor if the distribution certificate has been revoked. Additional measures to control the media content.
http://duma.gov.ru/news/61842/
21st July, Meduza
The "Russian community" complained about the district administration of the Chelyabinsk region, which demanded to identify employees associated with the movement
The telegram channel of the "Russian Community" published a document addressed to the heads of structural divisions of the administration of the Troitsky district. In it, the leaders were instructed to "establish the facts of the participation of employees of the units in the "Russian community". The organisation believes that it is a step towards recognising it as extremist and a subsequent ban. Chelyabinsk administration denies the rumours and insists that it is done to ensure transparency and prevent possible conflicts of interest between citizens. Even legal organisations realise their existence always depends on the state, and the state has the final say.
21st July, Vedomosti
The Supreme Court liquidated the Rossiyski All-People's Union party
At the request of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, the Supreme Court liquidated the Rossiyski/Russovian All-People's Union (ROS) party, which is chaired by ex-presidential candidate and former Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Sergei Baburin. The liquidation basis, as follows from the text of the lawsuit, is the party's non-participation in the elections for seven years. Baburin is confused by the lawsuit, insisting he has always been loyal. That is how it goes with Russian nationalists who agree to play by the Kremlin’s rules; they will be discarded eventually to ensure the status quo.
https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/news/2025/07/21/1125828-sud-likvidiroval-soyuz
18th July, Vedomosti
The State Duma has adopted amendments on fines for searching for extremist content
New amendments make intentional search for extremist content (which does include a slogan ‘Russia is for Russians’) an offence. Use of VPN would be considered an aggravating circumstance. VPN promotion is a punishable offence. “What else do I have to say?”
https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/articles/2025/07/18/1125175-gosduma-prinyala-popravki-o-shtrafah
18th July, Fontanka
"It's Time for WhatsApp to Prepare to Leave." State Duma Deputy Gorelkin on Future Blocking of Messengers
The service, owned by the corporation Meta, which is declared extremist in Russia, is "highly likely" to be included in the list of software from unfriendly states subject to blocking. This opinion was expressed on July 18 in his telegram channel by the deputy head of the IT Committee of the State Duma, Anton Gorelkin. He recalled that the day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to prepare proposals for additional restrictions on the use of software of unfriendly states in the country, including communication services, by September 1.
https://www.fontanka.ru/2025/07/18/75742283/
18th July, Meduza
A powerful leader for the God-bearing people
Sergei Karaganov, a political scientist and one of the founders of the influential Valdai Club, in which Putin regularly participates, proposed introducing state ideology in Russia. He proposes to introduce "Code of the Rossiyanin/Russovian (merging the concepts of an ethnicity and a civil nation)". The main element of that ideology, according to Karaganov, is service to the state and its leader. Classical electoral democracy, in his opinion, is harmful to Russia. The political scientist's reasoning echoes the proposals of officials of the internal political bloc of the Presidential Administration. For example, in a recent article by Alexander Kharichev "Civilization of Russia" there have already been arguments that spiritual values are more important for Russians than material goods, and they see "service" as "the highest form of self-realization." However, Karaganov is likely going too far with his calls for isolation of Russia from Europe, suggests to move some administration to Siberia, which given the financial flow within Russia, is not being considered.
https://meduza.io/feature/2025/07/18/moschnyy-lider-dlya-naroda-bogonostsa
17th July, Mediazona
In Moscow, for the first time, a person was arrested under a new criminal article on “assisting the enemy”
The Lefortovo District Court of Moscow sent to a pre-trial detention centre a defendant in a criminal case initiated under Article 276.1 of the Criminal Code - on "assisting the enemy in activities knowingly directed against the security" of Russia. This is the first known application of Article 276.1, introduced into the Criminal Code at the end of 2024. It assumes responsibility for foreigners and stateless persons for providing financial, consulting and other types of assistance to "a foreign state, international or foreign organisation directly opposing Russia in an armed conflict, hostilities or other actions with the use of weapons and military equipment." Punishment under the article involves 10 to 15 years in prison.
https://zona.media/news/2025/07/17/demidenko
15th July, TASS
The State Duma has adopted a law on the protection of religious symbols
New law forbids erasing symbols on images of religious buildings and other objects containing religious symbols, including also on official heraldic signs. This law is a reaction to a recent wave of cross erasure from the official logos. Exception is made in cases where the corresponding religious symbols were absent on the original during the specified period, or the reproduction of religious symbols entails their desecration. Thus, the old 500 roubles banknote showing Solovki monastery in its historical role as a part of GULAG can continue to circulate.
https://tass.ru/obschestvo/24518531
15th July, RBC
The State Duma has simplified the recognition of associations as extremist
The key innovation concerns the procedure for recognising associations as extremist. Now, a guilty verdict under Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code (for the creation, leadership or participation in an extremist community) against at least one member of the association is sufficient for recognising the organisation as extremist. According to one lawyer, in practice, any community are at risk of being hit - from volunteer to educational ones. The mechanism, in his opinion, violates the principle of individual criminal responsibility enshrined in Article 49 of the Constitution, and institutionalises the "presumption of collective guilt."
https://www.rbc.ru/politics/15/07/2025/687694409a79473b66ff42ac
14th July, Vedomosti
Ukrainians not allowed into Russia will be banned from entering the country for 20-50 years
The Border Guard Service decides to ban entry into Russia for 20 to 50 years for citizens of Ukraine who were denied entry during control at Sheremetyevo Airport. From October 2023, Ukrainians can enter Russia exclusively through Sheremetyevo Airport, where they undergo enhanced checks, including inspection of gadgets. Those who receive a refusal try to challenge it in the courts, referring to long-term residence in Russia, residence permit, marriage with citizens of the Russian Federation or the presence of real estate. However, the courts have not yet satisfied a single complaint. The goal is to enforce compliance and loyalty in new territories
https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/news/2025/07/14/1124080-tass-ne-dopuschennim
10th July, Expert.ru
The Ministry of Labour denied plans to bring 1 million migrants from India to Russia
The Ministry of Labour denied information about plans to bring 1 million migrants from India to Russia by the end of the year. That was a statement by the head of the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) , Andrey Besedin, a suggestion. For Indian citizens, such a quota, for example, in 2025, is almost 72 thousand people, the Ministry of Labour said. Currently, there is an experiment with non-Russophone migrants in Moscow Oblast, but it does not involve migrants from India.
https://expert.ru/news/mintrud-oproverg-plany-privezti-v-rossiyu-1-mln-migrantov-iz-indii/
9th July, Vedomosti
What does recognising Yale University as an undesirable organisation mean?
The Prosecutor General's Office has recognised Yale University as an undesirable organisation in Russia. According to the position of the Prosecutor General's Office, the university's activities are "aimed at violating the territorial integrity" of the country, "international blockade of the state and undermining its economic foundations, as well as destabilising the socio-economic and political situation in the country." Among the Russian graduates of the program are representatives of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (recognised in the Russian Federation as an extremist organisation), the decision says. Studying at Yale after recognition would probably exclude people from entering or working within Russia. Another step in further isolation.
8th July, Fontanka
The State Duma allows the FSB to create its own pre-trial detention centres/prison system
On Tuesday, July 8, the State Duma of the Russian Federation approved in the second and third readings a law allowing the Federal Security Service (FSB) to create and control its own pre-trial detention centres (SIZOs)/prison system. The explanatory note states that the special service will receive the authority to protect jails, escort suspects and accused, provide household services, as well as organise treatment, including psychiatric care. FSB servicemen will be able to use special means and weapons in the event of escape, attempted forcible release or threat to the life and health of others. As previously noted, this marks a clear breakaway from the prior system that attempted to integrate with the European legal framework.
https://www.fontanka.ru/2025/07/08/75696356/
8th July, RTVI
The State Duma decided to "get rid of pseudo-citizens": why they will be deprived of citizenship
The State Duma, in the first reading, unanimously adopted a bill to expand the list of grounds for depriving acquired Russian citizenship. New grounds include: public calls for terrorist activities, justification or propaganda of terrorism; cooperation with a foreign state or foreign organization against the security of Russia; assisting the enemy in activities knowingly directed against the security of Russia; assistance in the execution of decisions of international organizations in which Russia is not a party, or foreign authorities; public calls for activities directed against the security of the state; unlawful influence on the critical information infrastructure of Russia. Now, Ukrainian citizens who were given Russian citizenship can be stripped of it without trial, forcing them to express complete loyalty or face expulsion and nationalisation of property. Even supporting opposition that hasn’t been declared extremist is enough to remove Russian citizenship. This news is also a reminder that Russia does not consider Crimea and other Ukrainian territories a historical Russian land, given that native-born citizens of Russia cannot be forcibly stripped of citizenship.
7th July, Gazeta.ru
Unexpected resignation and suicide. What is known about Roman Starovoit, ex-minister and former governor
First case of suicide/non-natural death in the case of a major Russian official. No longer just the top managers of companies, but a minister of transportation who was dismissed the same day he was found dead. On the same day, another official in the same ministry died from a heart attack. Plausible cause for the dismissal and subsequent suicide could be traced to Starovoit's previous actions as a governor of Kursk oblast, which involved corruption regarding border fortifications that did not prevent a Ukrainian Kursk offensive. With a probable arrest for 20 years under corruption charges and inability to escape Russia in time, suicide could have been considered as the conclusion to a life already done. The fact that Putin did not offer his condolences implies that Starovoit was facing harsh arrest.
https://www.gazeta.ru/social/21336578/roman-starovojt-samoubijstvo-biografiya.shtml
6th July, KU66
"Demography has disappeared": Rosstat has stopped disclosing data on the country's population
The Federal State Statistics Service of Russia has stopped publishing the entire section "Demography” for the first time. There is no more information on fertility, mortality, population, migration, marriages, and divorces. Demography is not the only closed topic: since 2022, the Russian authorities have been gradually restricting access to key statistical data. Customs statistics, gold and currency reserves, oil and gas production, and after drone attacks, fuel production data fell under the stamp "secret".
2nd July, Vedomosti
Security forces detained the authors of the Telegram channel for calling for anti-war actions
Law enforcement officers detained the administrators of a radical Telegram channel on suspicion of extremism and planning anti-war actions throughout Russia. "The channel published calls for anti-war protests in almost 40 regions of the Russian Federation," the agency's interlocutor said. What is notable is that the news is completely silent about the name of the arrested and the name of the channel. A pattern that was done with early Navalny is being repeated with another person who is appealing to Russian nationalism and democracy. His name is Georgy Paramoshin, and the name of his channel is НАЦДЕМ, National Democrat.
https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/news/2025/07/02/1121663-siloviki-zaderzhali-avtorov
1st July, Interfax
A criminal case was opened against journalist Yuri Dud
Journalist Yuri Dud (included in the list of foreign agents in the Russian Federation) became a defendant in a criminal case on evasion of the duties of foreign agents, the Moscow Department (GSU) of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (TFR) reported. According to the investigation, no later than May 19, 2025, in violation of the procedure for the activities of a foreign agent provided for by the federal law "On Control over the Activities of Persons Under Foreign Influence," "he evaded the obligations provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation on foreign agents." As a reminder, Russia’s foreign agent law does not require lobbying. It faces harsher punishments, nowadays being used similarly to ‘Sluggish schizophrenia’, an indirect way to both suppress dissidents and create new dissidents.
https://www.interfax.ru/russia/1033932
1st July, Memorial
The FSB is creating its detention centre system
The State Duma is preparing to adopt two bills that will allow the FSB/security services to create and manage its own pre-trial detention centres (SIZOs) directly, not through the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN). This will mark a complete breakaway from the established global integration, which requires only federal ministries/departments of justice. Even after the end of the full-scale war, Putin is not looking to return to the prior agreements.
https://memorialcenter.org/ru/news/fsb-sozdaet-sobstvennuyu-sistemu-sizo
26th June, Sem na Sem (7x7)
The prosecutor's office demands to dismantle the Stalin monument in Vologda
On April 4, 2025, the Prosecutor's Office of the Vologda Region filed a lawsuit with the Arbitration Court of the region to invalidate the contract between the house-museum of Joseph Stalin "Vologda Exile" and entrepreneur Ekaterina Lozhenitsyna on the installation of a monument to Joseph Stalin, according to the case file. The first hearing in the case was held on June 24. If the court satisfies the claim, Ekaterina Lozhenitsyna will have to dismantle the sculpture and return 10.5 million roubles to the state museum. It seems not everyone is enthusiastic about Stalin.
24th June, OVD Info
‘Yabloko’ denied pickets against Stalin relief due to coronavirus
The prefecture of the Central Administrative District of Moscow refused to allow the regional branch of the Yabloko party to approve a series of one-person pickets against the high relief of Stalin at the Taganskaya metro station. The response of the prefecture says that the action was not approved "due to the current epidemiological situation" and the continuation of the high alert regime established by the decree of the mayor of Moscow of June 8, 2020. According to the document, public events in the capital are still prohibited. However, on the same day Communist Party and other organisations gathered and laid flowers at the same relief of Stalin.
21st June, RBC
Vorobyov spoke about the experiment with migrants without the Russian language
The Moscow Region is participating in an experiment to invite labour migrants from visa countries, such as China and Vietnam, including those who do not know Russian, Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said. “Companies will be able to invite labour resources without knowledge of the Russian language, because, in fact, they do not need it there. And this will very significantly solve the issue of labour shortages.” The shortage of qualified personnel in Russia is about 1.5 million people, and Russia is becoming less concerned with integration capacities, focusing on short-term economic stabilisation.
19th June, Moskvich Mag
Zakhar Prilepin will head the new theatre of modern patriotic drama in Moscow
Following Putin’s order to create a theatre that would address contemporary issues that including the current military conflict, a director position has been filled. Zakhar Prilepin, former National-Bolshevik and current co-chairman of the parliament party ‘Just Russia-For Truth’, has agreed to lead the new theatre. Having personally participated in a war in Ukraine, including before the full-scale invasion, Zakhar’s management is what the Kremlin wants the Russian theatre to be.
19th June, Realnoye Vremya
Zakhar Prilepin: Putin asked Medinsky to "sort out" the writers
Prilepin said that it was Vladimir Putin who instructed Vladimir Medinsky to sort out what is happening in Russia’s book industry, just as the state organised cinema and theatre before. Medinsky called the new appointment "not a privilege, but hard work and a burden." He also noted that after the collapse of the USSR, the state practically withdrew from the book industry. Now that Medinsky has headed the Union of Writers of Russia, the association will participate in the formation of the book market, "cleanse stores of low-quality reading material”, and promote state interests.
17th June, RIA Novosti
The State Duma adopted a law to toughen the punishment for inciting hatred
Article 282 of the Criminal Code of Russia has been strengthened, leaving less chance to those the Kremlin deems “extremists”. Previously, criminal liability for this crime occurred when it was committed within a year after being brought to administrative responsibility. The amended law introduces criminal liability for a single act aimed at inciting hatred or enmity, as well as humiliating human dignity, associated with the justification or approval of the use of violence or the threat of its use. It also adds a new qualifying crime sign - "commission of a crime by a group of persons or a group of persons by prior conspiracy." Now, every post on the Internet may result in a prison term if deemed offensive by the state.
https://ria.ru/20250617/gosduma-2023332090.html
14th June, Caucasian Knot
Orthodox activists make peace with Alaudinov
Following the emergence of a conflict between activists from the ‘Russian community’ and the head of the Chechen special forces, Alaudinov, another Russian Orthodox loyalist organisation, ‘Sorok Sorokov,’ met with Alaudinov, seemingly making peace. It is as if the Kremlin finally gave a hidden signal for the two groups to cease hostilities immediately. Then, sending a second Russian loyalist organisation seemed more plausible.
https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/412230
12th June, Interfax
Putin sees the meaning of Russia Day in the immortality of the Russian people
During the presidential address for the Russia Day, Vladimir Putin said the following: "I would like to end our meeting where I started, and with what we talked about with the writer Alexander Prokhanov. Indeed, today's meaning is the immortality of the Russian people, all the peoples of our multinational country and our state, our motherland - Russia. And the path to this immortality lies through the victories that you and your comrades-in-arms are laid," At the same time, Vladimir Putin noted that "the path to this immortality" lies through the victories of Russian servicemen. He invited those present at the meeting to shout a military "hurrah" in honour of those who are now on the line of contact. So that they could hear this greeting from the Kremlin itself, the head of state explained. Earlier that day, Vladimir Putin awarded the Heroes of Labour. Among them was the writer, Alexander Prokhanov. This award is a reminder that Prokanov’s recent TV documentary film was no accident. For Putin Russian nationalism means solely actions that serve the state, which he is the head of.
https://www.interfax.ru/russia/1030984
12th June, TASS
Putin admitted that he was surprised by the idea of the past that archaeology gives
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he learned from archaeologist, academic Valentin Yanin, about how deeply archaeological finds can penetrate the intricacies of the life of people of the past. Following those discoveries, the President said that Russia was originally formed as a multinational state, and the common interests of the country have always inspired its people. Putin never sees Russia as a nation-state, even at its historical beginnings.
https://tass.ru/obschestvo/24204551
8th June, Caucasian Knot
Demand to bring Apti Alaudinov to responsibility voiced before the religious procession in Moscow.
‘Russian community’ also managed to comment on Schema-Hegumen Gabriel’s firing and call to fire Alaudinov. The article suggests that Alaudinov made a statement that resulted in Garbiel’s dismissal after Chechen forces attempted to kidnap a person in Moscow.
https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/412048
7th June, Baza
Moscow police dispatched on alert to the Nekrasovka district
According to sources, the reason was a gathering of young people (reportedly members of the "Russian Community") who assembled to "patrol the area." At present, around 200 people have gathered in the district.
Update: According to preliminary information, the young people have dispersed. Police buses remain on standby at the scene.
The state has borders of cooperation with state-affiliated nationalists.
6th June, regional newspapers
Kurban Bayram/ Eid-al Adha in Oryol and Kaliningrad
Last week saw Russia saw a celebration of Kurban Bayram or Eid al-Adha. Those holidays have become a major visual indicator of the changing demography and the rise in migrant workers from Central Asia, in all major cities of Russia, not just Moscow and St. Petersburg. While the monthly newsletter focused on the area to the east, this newsletter is focusing on the western area, cities of Oryol and Kaliningrad.
https://newsorel.ru/fn_1676476.html
6th June, RBC
Monastery head removed from post after words about "wrong religion"
The Valaam Monastery removed Schema-Hegumen Gabriel from office after he said that Muslims were capable of "slaughtering Muscovites on the orders of the mullah." The priest's removal from his post was reported by the monastery press service on the Telegram channel. Attention was drawn to the sermon by the deputy head of the main military-political department of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov. He called the schema-hegumen "a representative of the troops of the Antichrist," and his words were "provocative stuffing." "I have a question: is it necessary for someone to go, break the law and do something to prevent such morons from saying such things? Why are they not subject to criminal measures? Why are no criminal cases initiated? Why <... > at least an official apology is not made?" asked Alaudinov.
https://www.rbc.ru/society/06/06/2025/684340e99a79470600c6358f
5th June, Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Statement of the Synod of Bishops on the Return of Twentieth-Century Ideological Approaches in Russia
The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) has released a statement that critiques both the Kremlin and the Russian Patriarchate for following a ‘dangerous path’ that ROCOR disagrees with. One of the conditions behind the re-unification of ROCOR with the Moscow Patriarchate was recognition of the martyrdom of those who suffered during Soviet rule. Now that the government of Russia is proceeding with quiet de-rehabilitation of many martyrs, re-installation of monuments to Stalin and Dzerzhinsky, who were responsible for the deaths of those martyrs. Furthermore, a member of the Patriarchal Council openly said that we wish to personally shoot the last emperor, Nicholas II. If the situation remains the same, ROCOR may attempt to secede.
https://synod.com/synod/2025/20250605_synodstatement.html
May 28th, Newsru
Members of the "Russian Community/Russkaya Obschina" threatened their colleague with rape.
In the city of Kovrov, Vladimir region, three members of the local branch of the Russian Community movement took their 18-year-old colleague with a bag on his head to the forest, beat him and threatened him with rape, the Potok Telegram channel reports. Victim was threatened with rape with a rubber truncheon and murder. After three hours of torture, the men retreated from the scene of the crime. He got home on his own, after which he went to the hospital with numerous injuries. The police are conducting a check. One of the aggressors was detained, others are being sought. Every day, the police are given more and more reasons to go after the organisation when it is deemed a liability. For now, they continue to cooperate in migrant raids.
https://news.ru/criminal/chleny-russkoj-obshiny-ugrozhali-soratniku-iznasilovaniem
May 27th, Moscow Times
"Brain drain" from Russia has set a 25-year record
According to a study by Andrey Lovakov from the German Center for Research in Higher Education and Science, between 2022 and 2024, Russia annually lost about 0.8% of active researchers in the Scopus database of scientists (in total, it had 856,853 profiles of authors with a Russian address). The number is comparable to 2000, following the turbulent 1990s. The greatest losses are observed in physics, astronomy, computer science and mathematics – areas that are traditionally strong in Russian science. "The unprecedented outflow of scientific personnel from Russia will have short-term and long-term consequences, both for the Russian academic system and the global scientific community," Lovakov's study says. The situation is significant given that the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences has to downplay the brain drain.
May 21st 2025, Kommersant
Minister of Justice: protection of moral values should be exempted from criminal charges
Russia’s Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko made a statement that aims to add morals as a legal justification for reduced or even excused actions, ultimately undermining the legal system in the long run in case that proposal would be accepted.
"And if he defended moral values? No one has any questions, for example, nationalists have just entered the Kursk region, many local residents defended their loved ones, their property and, of course, killed. No one has a question about how legitimate it is?" said Mr. Chuychenko at a session of the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.
As an example, he cited a case when a man received a real sentence for the murder of a person who tried to rape a child. "Morality must be embodied in law," the minister concluded.
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/7737339
May 17th 2025, Interfax
Citizens of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be able to obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified scheme
Citizens of Abkhazia and South Ossetia can apply for citizenship of the Russian Federation without complying with such requirements as permanent residence in the territory of the Russian Federation for five years, knowledge of the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the basics of the legislation of the Russian Federation (these requirements are provided for by paragraphs 1-3 of part 1 of Article 15 of the Federal Law "On Citizenship of the Russian Federation").
Russia is continuing to attract migrants without the need to check even their language knowledge. Everyone born in the territory of the former Soviet Union is eligible for a faster path to citizenship, even in partially recognised states, and the decree demonstrates that.
https://www.interfax.ru/russia/1026169
May 16th 2025, Vedomosti
VTsIOM/VCIOM has identified four demographic scenarios in Russia by 2036
The Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) has outlined 4 basic scenarios of demography in Russia for 2036, a year when Putin’s presidential term is currently expected to end. The current situation is classified as ‘autumn’ as fertility and migration are decreasing. ‘Winter’ is a continuation of existing trends with immigration ending. ‘Thaw’ involves a focus on demography and an increase in fertility because of maternity capital reform that encourages the birth of more than one child, as it does now. ‘Summer’ is a perfect case where fertility rises alongside a rise in migration. The final option is the robotisation option that allows for maintaining the current demography without adverse economic effects, with the question of how costly it will be to increase robotisation sevenfold. VCIOM believes that a balance between ‘autumn’ and ‘thaw’, depending on immigration and social services. Primarily focusing on just the fertility of the native population seems impossible for the sociologists.
May 13th 2025, RBK
81% of foreign schoolchildren were not allowed to test in Russian schools
While the government of Russia is attracting millions of new migrants, they are not bothering with the integration process, leaving families of migrants outside of society. Even applying to test Russian to be considered for school was denied to 81% of the applicants. Out of those allowed to apply, 61% passed the language test. Is the Russian government making a gamble that those children would learn Russian and integrate without the need for school, or will they do it all through private education? Wouldn’t they be alienated, and an organised crime syndicate would be the least harmful outcome for society?
https://amp.rbc.ru/rbcnews/society/13/05/2025/68233a9d9a79471e547aca32
May 6th 2025, Meduza
Homes of activists of the "Russian Community/Russkaya Obschina" were searched by police because of the raid they organised in Vsevolozhsk, during which a man died
Following a non-sanctioned anti-drug raid near St Petersburg that resulted in the death of a person activists considered a drug dealer, and a woman receiving injuries from having to jump from the apartment. So far, the police are not charging the organisation and are treating them as witnesses. When will a moment arise when the prior services assisting the police with raids cross a line, and they will be a new target?
April 30th 2025, TASS
Putin: nationalism is the first stage on the way to Nazism
The article is notable for the quotes on how Putin sees nationalism.
"Nationalism is the first stage to Nazism, this is the first step. Because nationalism is based not just on love for representatives of one's own ethnicity, but on hatred of others. This is the essence of nationalism. Patriotism is a completely different matter. Loving your homeland does not mean hating others," Putin said at a meeting with participants in the educational marathon.
He stressed that nationalism is fuelled by "hatred of other countries and other peoples." "Our task is to educate ourselves and the whole world around us in love for each other. It is in love for each other. This is the basis of the universe," the head of state added.
https://tass.ru/politika/23829959
April 16th 2025, Vedomosti
The head of the Kremlin department for Monitoring and Analysis of Social Processes, Alexander Kharichev, wrote an article “Civilisation “Russia” and what is “all-Russian civilisational code.”
In publication, Mr Kharichev describes how he wants to see the population of Russia. In his view, Russia is a ‘civilisation state’ built on diverse cultures, united by common themes of collectivism and shared respect of the state as the provider of everyone’s prosperity and development. As a result, the definition of freedom means the will to endure and make an appropriate choice that serves Russian Federation. In essence, the Kremlin publicly states its goals of nation-building that would make the state the only part that can make decisions, with the people having no real alternative but to serve it. The question of how this framework encompasses different nations and cultures to make it a durable form. The ‘Soviet nation’ experiment failed, aimed at common principles of humanity, making a new attempt extra challenging.