Communist MP Sergei Obukhov confirmed that the party is going through a crisis.
Communists could become the main opposition force during the pandemic when they started to oppose state vaccination policies.
This narrative attracted a lot of people, mainly among the youth. As usual, communists couldn't capitalize and sold out.
Soon enough they were ordered to leave the anti-vaccination narrative. MP Rashkin disagreed and was instantly charged with illegal elk hunting.
Rashkin will pass his mandate to the wife of left-wing activist Sergei Udaltsov who was once arrested for organizing anti-Putin protest.
Good attempt, but we hope nobody will buy it. Russian communists under Zyuganov will always be sellouts.
Communists could become the main opposition force during the pandemic when they started to oppose state vaccination policies.
This narrative attracted a lot of people, mainly among the youth. As usual, communists couldn't capitalize and sold out.
Soon enough they were ordered to leave the anti-vaccination narrative. MP Rashkin disagreed and was instantly charged with illegal elk hunting.
Rashkin will pass his mandate to the wife of left-wing activist Sergei Udaltsov who was once arrested for organizing anti-Putin protest.
Good attempt, but we hope nobody will buy it. Russian communists under Zyuganov will always be sellouts.
On June 1 the Credit Derivatives Determinations Committees (CDDC) of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) ruled that said a “failure-to-pay” event occurred on Russian credit-default swaps.
This is the first default event on Russian sovereign debt since the one that followed the 1917 Revolution.
Russia hasn't paid the interest it owed. This ruling of CDDC can trigger massive credit swaps. The default has occured.
This is the first default event on Russian sovereign debt since the one that followed the 1917 Revolution.
Russia hasn't paid the interest it owed. This ruling of CDDC can trigger massive credit swaps. The default has occured.
The sixth package of European sanctions against Russia includes prohibition of SWIFT to Sberbank, Credit Bank of Moscow, and Russian Agricultural Bank.
Basically Russian banks will have to turn to Iranian model of surviving. By the way, according to Russian media Iran is ready to enter barter arrangements with Russia, offering car parts and gas turbines in exchange for steel.
Even in trade with Iran Russia is supposed to give away raw materials and import technologies.
Basically Russian banks will have to turn to Iranian model of surviving. By the way, according to Russian media Iran is ready to enter barter arrangements with Russia, offering car parts and gas turbines in exchange for steel.
Even in trade with Iran Russia is supposed to give away raw materials and import technologies.
Dmitry Konov, the former CEO of Sibur, is filing an appeal against the sanctions placed on him by the European Union.
Earlier the head of Alfa Bank and LetterOne Group Petr Aven announced that he would also appeal against his sanctions by the EU.
Konov is not a traditional Russian oligarch, he is more of a career executive who enjoyed a formidable reputation in Western petrochemical business.
He was sanctioned only because Sibur's main shareholders - Leonid Mikhelson and Gennady Timchenko - are Putin's cronies.
We do not know what the ruling will be, but it would be an interesting move on behalf of EU to exclude Konov from the sanctions list.
Earlier the head of Alfa Bank and LetterOne Group Petr Aven announced that he would also appeal against his sanctions by the EU.
Konov is not a traditional Russian oligarch, he is more of a career executive who enjoyed a formidable reputation in Western petrochemical business.
He was sanctioned only because Sibur's main shareholders - Leonid Mikhelson and Gennady Timchenko - are Putin's cronies.
We do not know what the ruling will be, but it would be an interesting move on behalf of EU to exclude Konov from the sanctions list.
One of the rarely talked strategic consequences of Russian operation in Ukraine will be a radical downshifting of Russian Orthodox Church.
Russian Church failed to be a Church and is going through perhaps the worst moral crisis in its history.
Ukranian branch of the Russian Church is cutting ties with Moscow and declaring full independence, and there is nothing Patriarch Kirill can do about it.
The spirit of division between Russians and Ukranians is already so deep that people mostly fail to understand its scale.
Russian Church failed to be a Church and is going through perhaps the worst moral crisis in its history.
Ukranian branch of the Russian Church is cutting ties with Moscow and declaring full independence, and there is nothing Patriarch Kirill can do about it.
The spirit of division between Russians and Ukranians is already so deep that people mostly fail to understand its scale.
Former Agriculture Minister of Russia Alexander Tkachev has bought a Crimean holding with more than 20000 hectares of land.
With Russia provoking a food crisis by trapping the Ukranian grain in the country, Tkachev's move of course makes some sense. He has been sanctioned long time ago, so can enter Crimea openly.
There is a good Russian saying about the war being a war for some and a merciful mother for others. It has surely been good for Tkachev.
With Russia provoking a food crisis by trapping the Ukranian grain in the country, Tkachev's move of course makes some sense. He has been sanctioned long time ago, so can enter Crimea openly.
There is a good Russian saying about the war being a war for some and a merciful mother for others. It has surely been good for Tkachev.
Sales of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia in May 2022 plummeted by 84% year on year. This follows a 79% drop in April.
Due to shortages of imported components, most Russian car manufacturing has stalled and the car market is anticipated to contract by at least 50% this year.
Overall, the import-heavy industry of Russia has been effectively brought to its knees.
Due to shortages of imported components, most Russian car manufacturing has stalled and the car market is anticipated to contract by at least 50% this year.
Overall, the import-heavy industry of Russia has been effectively brought to its knees.
As Russian public is getting more and more tired with Ukrainian narrative, Donbass and other regions are turning into a battlefield among various Kremlin and FSB groups.
It is a battle for political influence and huge amounts of money that are expected to pour into the region.
So far the most active group is represented by Andrei Turchak. But the dogfight is only getting started.
It is a battle for political influence and huge amounts of money that are expected to pour into the region.
So far the most active group is represented by Andrei Turchak. But the dogfight is only getting started.
Talked to a couple of officials in US agencies about the possible heirs of Putin and "the transit".
General opinion is "it doesn't matter that much anymore". Russia has put itself in a certain position which is voiced by the likes of Turchak or even Medvedev who is playing the role of Russian ultra conservative now.
Overall, our sources are not bothered much about Russia and its actions. Everything seems to be clear, the game is on, and Washington has a strong hand in it.
General opinion is "it doesn't matter that much anymore". Russia has put itself in a certain position which is voiced by the likes of Turchak or even Medvedev who is playing the role of Russian ultra conservative now.
Overall, our sources are not bothered much about Russia and its actions. Everything seems to be clear, the game is on, and Washington has a strong hand in it.
According to an ongoing study from the Kyiv School of Economics, Ukraine is suffering about $4.5bn worth of damage to civilian infrastructure every week.
The cost of Ukraine's reconstructure will be unbearable. Damage is mostly done in the East, so Russia will have to go for heavy spending.
It should be clear what Andrei Turchak, Ramzan Kadyrov and others are fighting for right now.
The cost of Ukraine's reconstructure will be unbearable. Damage is mostly done in the East, so Russia will have to go for heavy spending.
It should be clear what Andrei Turchak, Ramzan Kadyrov and others are fighting for right now.
Proceeding with Donbass narrative which is now mainstream in Russia - DPR will have a new government.
Group represented by Turchak making its moves.
Group represented by Turchak making its moves.
Chechens under Kadyrov will be another group with financial and political appetites in Donbass.
Recent speech of Kadyrov's crony Adam Delimkhanov in State Duma indicates that the role of Kadyrov will become more significant.
True Russian hero and just a great opportunist.
Recent speech of Kadyrov's crony Adam Delimkhanov in State Duma indicates that the role of Kadyrov will become more significant.
True Russian hero and just a great opportunist.
Some major Russian banks started charging fees for accounts in dollars and euros.
Volatility of ruble since January has been off the charts. Its current course is also a major problem for Russian budget.
Fees for forex accounts are nothing but a soft confiscation of currency.
Volatility of ruble since January has been off the charts. Its current course is also a major problem for Russian budget.
Fees for forex accounts are nothing but a soft confiscation of currency.
Kremlin wants to make the information about Russia's foreign currency reserves classified.
This makes sense in Putin's feudalism. Peasants do not need to know what their lords are worth.
Western governments know about every Russian penny in the West, so the move is intended to hide information from people of Russia.
This makes sense in Putin's feudalism. Peasants do not need to know what their lords are worth.
Western governments know about every Russian penny in the West, so the move is intended to hide information from people of Russia.
Natalia Poklonskaya is leaving Rossotrudnichestvo.
We are closely following the career of Poklonskaya who has been a vocal critic of the war. Let's see where she will end up this time.
We are closely following the career of Poklonskaya who has been a vocal critic of the war. Let's see where she will end up this time.
Sergei Kirienko gave a presidential speech about Donbass where he personally provided some long-term guarantees to the people of the region.
The speech was published by Izvestia outlet, but then disappeared. We have its screenshot though: were so astonished, that decided to fix Kirienko's words.
Could've been a false start, but any way it is perfectly clear, that Putin is slowly turning into a lame duck.
A year ago Kirienko's speech would've been impossible under living Putin.
The speech was published by Izvestia outlet, but then disappeared. We have its screenshot though: were so astonished, that decided to fix Kirienko's words.
Could've been a false start, but any way it is perfectly clear, that Putin is slowly turning into a lame duck.
A year ago Kirienko's speech would've been impossible under living Putin.
There is a general understanding in American agencies that, in spite of trillions promised by Kirienko, Russian-controlled territories of Donbass will stagnate.
Russia won't be able to effectively restore them and offer people some new narratives.
The majority of Russians live in poverty which is getting worse and worse, whatever Putin says. So will the people of Donbass.
Russian corruption will give them no chance.
Russia won't be able to effectively restore them and offer people some new narratives.
The majority of Russians live in poverty which is getting worse and worse, whatever Putin says. So will the people of Donbass.
Russian corruption will give them no chance.
Russia’s revenue from energy exports in the first 100 days of the war amounted to €93bn, according to a study by the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Energy.
The EU remains the largest buyer of Russian gas and oil, being thus the main sponsor of Russian military campaign.
France and Germany are not interested in a decisive Russian defeat. As we have frequently said, Russia isn't a sovereign actor in this conflict.
Moreover, we think that contrary to its propaganda, Russia will actually further lose its sovereignty as a result of Ukranian folly.
The EU remains the largest buyer of Russian gas and oil, being thus the main sponsor of Russian military campaign.
France and Germany are not interested in a decisive Russian defeat. As we have frequently said, Russia isn't a sovereign actor in this conflict.
Moreover, we think that contrary to its propaganda, Russia will actually further lose its sovereignty as a result of Ukranian folly.
Out of the total of €93bn ($97bn) Russia earned on fossil fuel exports, the EU accounted for €57bn, which is 61%.
Europe contributed 85% of Russia’s revenues from pipeline gas exports, 75% of its revenues from oil product sales, 75% from LNG, 50% from crude oil and 30% from coal.
We see that total embargo could mean a collapse for Russia, especially in gas sector.
We also see that continental Europe isn't interested in it yet.
Europe contributed 85% of Russia’s revenues from pipeline gas exports, 75% of its revenues from oil product sales, 75% from LNG, 50% from crude oil and 30% from coal.
We see that total embargo could mean a collapse for Russia, especially in gas sector.
We also see that continental Europe isn't interested in it yet.
Sanctioned oligarch Mikhail Fridman was forced to sell his share in Georgian mineral water company Borjomi to the Georgian state.
Fridman's Alfa owned 7.7% of the company. Since the oligarch has been heavily sanctioned, he has become a toxic figure almost everywhere.
Even in Georgia.
Fridman's Alfa owned 7.7% of the company. Since the oligarch has been heavily sanctioned, he has become a toxic figure almost everywhere.
Even in Georgia.
The European Union, Israel and Egypt have signed a tripartite natural gas export deal which will allow significant exports of Israeli gas to Europe for the first time.
Russia has created numerous opportunities for various actors of energy markets. Some, like India and China, are taking advantages of discounts on Russian oil and gas.
Others, like Israel, find new opportunities and markets in Europe.
Russia has created numerous opportunities for various actors of energy markets. Some, like India and China, are taking advantages of discounts on Russian oil and gas.
Others, like Israel, find new opportunities and markets in Europe.