Man Accused of Organizing Attack on Navalny Ally Volkov Arrested in Poland

Updated with arrest confirmation. A Russian man accused of helping organize attacks on allies of the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was arrested in Poland, the Polish Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Friday. Last week, Navalny’s team published an investigation claiming that Leonid Nevzlin, an exiled billionaire and associate of Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, orchestrated the attack…

Putin Tours St. Petersburg Drone Manufacturing Plant

President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced visit Thursday to a drone manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg that produces reconnaissance aircraft for the Russian military to use in Ukraine. The Kremlin released a brief video showing Putin arriving at the Special Technological Center alongside Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Kremlin aide Alexei Dyumin and other senior officials.…

Russian Business Lobby Calls for Construction in Protected Forests to Boost Domestic Tourism

One of Russia’s largest business lobbying groups is urging the government to permit hotel construction in protected forests to address the increasing demand for domestic tourism, according to documents obtained by Forbes Russia. At least 260 tourism infrastructure projects, with a projected investment of 304.8 billion rubles ($3.28 billion), are currently in limbo due to…

Russia to Launch Undocumented Migrant Database Next Year

Russian authorities are developing a database of undocumented migrants who will face bans on driving, marrying and enrolling their children in school starting next year, as part of new laws aimed at tightening immigration control. The restrictions stem from legislation signed by President Vladimir Putin last month, which establishes a “deportation regime” allowing for the…

‘He Was Right All Along’: 5 Years Since Arrest, Support for Anti-Putin Shaman Is Stronger Than Ever

Thursday marks five years since Yakutian shaman Alexander Gabyshev was detained by Russian police during his arduous journey from the Far East republic of Sakha (Yakutia) to Moscow.  In March 2019, Gabyshev embarked on an 8,000-kilometer trek with the singular mission to “exorcize” President Vladimir Putin — whom he called the “embodiment of evil” —…