Kadyrov Urges Killing Relatives of Gunmen Behind Dagestan Attacks

Сhechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has called on law enforcement and security officials to kill the family members of suspected Islamic militants following deadly attacks on religious sites in the neighboring republic of Dagestan over the weekend, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) affiliate Kavkaz.Realii reported Wednesday. “If [the suspected shooter] is connected with Shaitans, then…

Russian Oil and Gas Revenues Surge in June – Reuters

Russia’s revenue from oil and gas sales this month is expected to reach 812 billion rubles ($9.4 billion), Reuters reported Tuesday, a reflection of how Moscow has managed to weather the storm of Western sanctions imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The projection, based on Reuters’ own calculations, would mark a more than 50%…

Reflections on the Russian Controversy at the Cannes Film Festival

This year the Palme D’Or — the highest award of the 77th International Cannes Film Festival — went to director Sean Baker’s “Anora,” an American-made, largely Russian-speaking film.  This was a surprise on many counts, including the fact the main “Russian presence” at the festival was not “Limonov: The Ballad” by Russian filmmaker Kirill Serebrennikov.…

EU Toughens Sanctions on Belarus to Tackle Evasion

EU countries on Wednesday agreed to new sanctions against Belarus over the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine so that they align more closely with measures targeting Russia and close holes that have allowed Moscow to circumvent restrictions, officials said. “EU Ambassadors agreed in principle on a new package of sanctions targeting Belarus,” Belgium, which holds the…

Russia Moves to Raise Pensions for Working Retirees

Russia’s lower-house of parliament on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow for annual increases to the amount working retirees receive from their state pensions as part of President Vladimir Putin’s promise to boost social spending during his fifth term in the Kremlin. In 2016, Putin suspended the yearly indexation of pensions for working retirees —…

2 Arrested After Deadly Office Fire Near Moscow

Two people have been arrested in connection with the deadly fire at a former electronics research institute outside Moscow, Russian investigators said Wednesday. At least six people were killed when the top floors of the former Platan Research Institute building — which was rented out to dozens of other companies — caught fire in the…

Russian POWs Arrive in Moscow After Latest Prisoner Swap

Dozens of Russian soldiers who were released as part of a recent prisoner exchange with Ukraine arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. Russian and Ukrainian officials announced late Tuesday an exchange of 90 prisoners of war each, the biggest swap between the two warring sides in almost five months. The United Arab…

Belousov Discusses Ukraine War With U.S. Defense Secretary

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin spoke by phone on Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine. Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that Belousov and Austin had “exchanged views on the situation around Ukraine,” noting the conversation took place “at the initiative of the American side.” “Andrei Belousov…