Russia

According to anthropologist Arkhipova, passivity in the face of a dictatorial regime is not linked to any particular ‘slavery genes’ but to a human mechanism of cognitive dissonance, which justifies every action taken by the authorities in order to safeguard one’s own peace of mind. To the extent of doubting whether the drone strikes are actually coming from Ukraine.

Just as the Duma elections were taking place, hundreds of thousands of worshippers queued for hours outside the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to venerate the relic of the hand of Saint Spyridon, the miracle-working bishop who, according to tradition, denounced the heresy of Arius at the Council of Nicaea.

Whilst Russia is electing the Duma – knowing full well that only Putin is allowed to win, and with the opposition torn between a boycott and a ‘tactical vote’ – journalist Aleksandr Podrabinek is attempting to shake things up by calling for a computerised system that would allow everyone to trace their vote.

Around 40 volunteer militias are currently on duty in St Petersburg, and many more are active in Moscow and numerous other cities across Russia. Drawing on the experience of the Soviet-era squads tasked with crime control and the ‘strengthening of public morality’.

Maria Čadina, the wife of a soldier at the front, with flawless make-up and a velvety voice, alternates between posts about love and stories in which she claims that there is no repression in Russia and that Ukraine does not enjoy state sovereignty. A far cry from the aggressive tone of Vladimir Solov’ev or Olga Skabeeva, she now has almost 400,000 followers.

The water level of the Caspian Sea has been falling since the mid-1990s and reached a historic low in 2025, dropping by 29 meters. The problem is having a negative impact on navigation, necessitating repairs to canals and piers in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, new islands are emerging off the coast of Kazakhstan.

With the "discovery" of his relics, the 14th-century military leader, who defeated the Tatars on the banks of the Don, has become a new example of how Moscow transforms a real historical figure into a symbolic asset for ideological ends, using him to justify the prolonged aggression against Ukraine.

When Russian nationalism emerged as a political force at the end of the Soviet era, Orthodoxy was seen more as part of the nation’s cultural heritage than as a source of ideas. The role of the then abbot of the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, who later became Metropolitan Tikhon in Crimea.

Moscow is particularly important for Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports, whilst Armenia remains its main trading partner and a major tourist destination. Supplies of wheat and fuel are essential for the Georgian market.

Just as in the ‘glorious’ days of Covid, a document on exit visas has suddenly appeared in Russia in recent days – likely inspired by the FSB – imposing new rules on travel to ‘hostile countries’. Travellers will only be permitted to go in tourist groups of at least 10 people, accompanied by an approved itinerary

In a new book based on an extensive series of interviews, Dmitry Travin traces the uncertain and contradictory evolution of those who came of age in Russia in the 1970s, living at the crossroads between the Soviet era and the period of opening up to the Western world.

Relations between Moscow’s eastern neighbours remain largely in limbo, as they seek to reduce their dependence without severing ties with Russia for good. Meanwhile, in Bishkek, Xi Jinping has, yet again, rejected Putin’s call to unblock the ‘Power of Siberia 2’ gas pipeline project.