Guus Hiddink Won’t Predict Russia’s World Cup Matches Now
“Nothing about their play said: ‘Hey, this team is growing towards becoming a competitive tournament team.’”
The Seven Worlds of Vladimir Vysotsky
A Jewish Museum multimedia exhibit explores the life of the Soviet poet.
From Russia With a World Cup Theme Song
Meet the composer of the World Cup theme song for U.S. television network Fox Sports.
Become a Pinball Wizard
Have some fun playing pinball machines at the latest Moscow Times Clubs event this Saturday.
Kadyrov Couldn’t Win Over Mo Salah, or Egypt (Op-ed)
The Pharaohs are used to strongmen seeking to profit from their glory.
Moscow’s Best Irish and British Pubs
Whether you feel like a shot of whiskey or a bite of shepherd’s pie, head to one of these 10 Irish and British pubs.
Why It Is Our Duty to Free Oyub Titiev (Op-ed)
Oyub Titiev has helped people again and again asking for nothing in return, and it is our duty to get him out of prison.
See a Painting Become Dance
This Friday see a spectacular new ballet at the ZIL Cultural Center.
Russian Americana
While America-Russia relations remain in the ditch, the Russian and American affinity may be stronger than it seems.
Some Righteous Places for American Grub
Need a fry fix? Craving a cupcake? We’ve got eight creative Moscow joints to transport you straight to America – gastronomically speaking.
Other Fashions, Other Times
An exhibition about student and subculture fashion trends during perestroika at the Museum of Moscow.
Don’t Blame Journalists for Bad News About Russia (Op-ed)
Lurid reports of hooligan violence are not the only reason Russia has an image problem.
How to Eat a Russian Feast
Learn how to eat and drink the Russian way (hint: without getting totally drunk) at the Russian Pub this Wednesday.
Gatchina: St. Petersburg’s Unknown Palace
The most private and mysterious of St. Petersburg’s former imperial residences, the playful and unusual estate now hosts a series of summer festivals.
Who Can Protest Russia’s Pension Reforms the Loudest? (Op-ed)
Opposition forces are competing for the spotlight.
Russia’s ‘Weld Queen’ Wows
Meet a Russian artist who goes to work dressed up – in a fire-retardant robe, helmet and visor.
Is Russia Still a Haven for Old Pariahs? (Op-ed)
Populists, nationalists and separatists used to receive a warm welcome in Moscow.
Sobchak on Sobchak: A New Film about Russia in the 1990s
A new documentary about Anatoly Sobchak shines light on the past and the present that might have been.
Where Have Moscow’s Homeless People Gone?
You can still see them if you look closely, but officials have tried to hide them from view.
Russia’s Summer Folk Head Out to the Dacha
It’s a summer Saturday afternoon in Moscow – and the city is empty. Where did everyone go? Where you should be – at the dacha!
Come Dance with the Skeletons
Head over to Gostiny Dvor for some real Mexican fun.
Come Dance with the Skeletons on Red Square
Head over to Red Square right now for some real Mexican fun.
Moscow’s Hottest Bars and Clubs
12 bars and clubs to check out while you’re in Moscow.
What’s On in Moscow on the Weekend
Old faves, new waves, a dress rehearsal for a new museum and much, much more in Russian, English and the language of art on the last weekend of June in Moscow.
Confessions of a World Cup Jailbird
“I was hustled into a detention center underneath the stadium.”
Celebrating the First World Cup
What was the very first World Cup championship like? Find out at the Multi-Media Museum.
Russians Don’t Need Your Sex Advice, Thanks (Op-ed)
Tamara Pletnyova’s comments highlight Russia’s systematic problem with sexism.
Garage Museum at 10: A Contemporary Art Refuge
Once an abandoned Soviet building transformed, Garage celebrates its tenth anniversary this year as the hub of Russia’s contemporary art scene.
Jewish Moscow: Eat Pray Learn
Explore Russia’s Jewish legacy in Moscow.
‘Russians Don’t Love Football, They Love Victories’ (Op-ed)
The country’s national team, like its Politics, is proving to be unpredictable.
A New Chapter in the Saudi-Russian Oil Alliance (Op-ed)
Geopolitics takes a backseat as Russia and Saudi Arabia push to increase oil production.
Trump’s Rants Won’t Unite the EU and Russia (Op-ed)
Russia gains from a United States weakened by Trump’s disruptive rhetoric.
A Thirsty Journalist Takes on the World Cup’s Beer Ban
On match days, host cities are restricting sales of alcohol.
The Cranky Tourist’s Russian Phrasebook
Do not believe Russian phrasebooks. They lie. Believe me instead.
For Putin, Sport Is a State Affair (Op-ed)
It is victory at any cost, because victory has political significance.
Russia’s World Cup Will Pay Off. Just Not Today (Op-ed)
A ruble for every kopeck?
The Dacha Diaries: At the Grill
What do Russians do at the dacha all weekend? They make a feast. Here’s a primer on shashlyk, aka kabobs, Russian style.
Crossing Russia on the Trans-Peruvian
Thousands of foreign football fans are making long-distance journeys across Russia this month.
‘New Flight to Solaris’ Lands in Italy
The first major exhibition of Soviet non-conformist art in Europe opened in Florence, Italy.
Graffiti Turns Streets Into Galleries
Over the past decade, Muscovites’ perceptions of graffiti have changed
Unusual Tours and New Perspectives
Travel guides offer imaginative packages and fresh ways to see Russia
Moscow’s World Cup Face-Lift Is Only Skin Deep (Op-ed)
Russia is determined to use the World Cup to polish its tarnished international image.
Glitz and Gossip at the Bakhrushin Theater Museum
The Moscow Times Club toured the Bakhrushin Theater Museum, where everyone was awed by the exhibits and the extraordinary building that houses them.
Street Artist Banksy Finally Comes to Moscow
Works by the enigmatic street artist Bansky are on display at the Central House of Artists.
The Dangerous Legacy of Keeping Russia’s World Cup Safe (Op-ed)
Russia has ramped up security measures for the World Cup, but the costs involved may be unsustainable.
Even Putin Has a World Cup Plan B
The tournament’s host almost certainly will be eliminated
Pushkin House Celebrates Russia on the Page
This year the Pushkin House Prize was awarded to books that are witnesses to Russian history, past and present.
A Butterfly on the Football Field
Butterflies, roses, mouse-traps… say what? In honor of the World Cup, I unlock some of the mysteries of Russian football fan slang.
What Lies Beneath Russia’s World Cup Glam and Glitter? (Op-ed)
Russia today is at its most repressive since the Soviet era.
Fear Not the Honeypot (Op-ed)
Why Russia is safe for World Cup fans — and why the West thinks it isn’t.
“Summer” Brings 1980s Russian Rock ‘n’ Roll to Life
Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Summer” (“Leto”) is more than a biopic about Victor Tsoi and the Leningrad rock scene.
While Mo Salah Sleeps in Grozny (Op-ed)
The World Cup is another chance for Putin to shore up ties with regimes in the Middle East at the West’s expense.
Russia’s Forgotten Football Dreams (Op-ed)
A lot has changed for Russia since it bid to host the World Cup.
Russian Grammar? Really?
Do you mutter and slur and cough to hide uncertain grammatical forms? There’s no shame in that. Admit it. The Grammar Doctor will see you now.
On North Korea, Trump Has Putin Playing Second Fiddle (Op-ed)
Moscow is pulling out all the stops to get a seat at the table.
Run in Color For Summer
Free on Sunday? How about taking part in Moscow’s most fun running event?
Seven Summer Russian Arts Festivals
Get out your calendars and start planning. It’s an arty summer outside the Russian capital.
Film Director Kira Muratova Dies at 83
The award-winning screenwriter and film director passed away at her home on Wednesday evening.
Russia Extends Austria Gas Deal to 2040 After Putin’s Visit
Russia’s gas giant Gazprom and Austria’s OMV energy company signed a new deal to extend Russian gas supplies to Austria through to 2040. The deal was signed on the day of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Vienna, in what was his first trip to the West since visiting Finland in mid-2017 and being re-elected…
Russia Extends Austria Gas Deal to 2040 After Putin’s Visit
The previous gas deal with Austria was set to expire by 2028.