Russia’s New ‘Foreign Agent’ Law, Explained

Russia has passed legislation that will allow individual journalists and bloggers to be labeled “foreign agents,” a move that critics say will tighten curbs on the media and free speech. At least nine news organizations funded by the U.S. government have been designated “foreign agents” under the original version of the law since it was…

Russia Bans Sale of Smartphones Without Russian Apps

Russia will force tech companies to pre-install Russian-made government-approved applications and software onto new smartphones from next year. The measures — dubbed the “law against Apple” due to the U.S. iPhone maker’s refusal to sell products loaded with third-party apps — sailed through the Russian parliament and was rubber-stamped by President Vladimir Putin Monday. It…

HIV Cases in Russia Surpass 1 Million – State Watchdog

The number of people living with HIV in Russia has surpassed 1 million as government officials have largely remained silent, Interfax reported, citing consumer protection watchdog data. More than 340,000 people with HIV have died in Russia since the first case was registered three decades ago, two-thirds of them since 2012, Iskander Yasaveyev, a sociologist…

Tajik Remittances From Russia Could Stop – Kommersant

Tajikistan’s move toward a money-transfer monopoly risks complicating or cutting off remittances from Russia as early as Tuesday, the Kommersant business daily reported. Ex-Soviet Tajikistan relies heavily on millions of its migrant workers in Russia sending money back home. The World Bank puts the Central Asian republic near the top of its list of the…

Everyday Life in the Moscow Metro

A lot has changed since the first stations of the Moscow metro were opened in 1935. Over the decades, World War II, perestroika and the collapse of the U.S.S.R. have all radically changed life for Muscovites. One thing has remained constant, however: The importance of the metro in residents’ lives. It’s more than just a…

Russians Embrace Black Friday Sales

Russian shoppers spent 30% more in Black Friday online sales this year than they did in 2018, the head of Russia’s internet retail association said Monday. Despite not celebrating Thanksgiving, Russian retailers and consumers still embraced the shopping bonanza that kicks off the day after the U.S. holiday. In total, Russians spent 22.3 billion rubles…

Gazprom commences pipeline supplies of Russian gas to China

Release December 2, 2019, 13:05 Power of Siberia gas pipeline has come onstream. Gas production center has been set up in Yakutia. Conditions for further gas grid expansion have been created in eastern Russia. A ceremonial event marking the start of first-ever pipeline supplies of Russian gas to China via the eastern route – the Power of Siberia gas trunkline – took place today. Taking part in the event…

Gazprom completes construction of gas pipeline branch to town of Tsiolkovsky

Release December 2, 2019, 09:40 Power of Siberia is facilitating gas grid expansion in Amur Region. About 3,000 permanent jobs will be created at Amur GPP. A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Vasily Orlov, Governor of the Amur Region, took place today in Blagoveshchensk. The parties discussed issues related to enhancing their strategic cooperation in light of the start-up of the Power of Siberia gas…