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Articles by Howard Amos

Pushkin House Shortlists Elena Kostyuchenko's 'I Love Russia' for 2024 Book Prize

An investigative journalist explores the dark heartland of her country.
9 Min read

Tom Parfitt’s ‘High Caucasus’ is Shortlisted for Pushkin House Book Prize

A walk through a mountain range and history is revealing and healing.
10 Min read
Feature

As Russia Claims Win, Analysts Say Capture of Soledar Is ‘Pyrrhic Victory’

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its forces had won a significant victory on Friday with the capture of the eastern Ukrainian town of Soledar...
Feature

‘The Happiest Day’: Joy in Kherson as Ukrainian Troops Re-Enter City

Russian troops withdrew from the right bank of the Dnipro River on Friday in a major military defeat for the Kremlin that led to scenes of jubilation in...

Elizabeth Wilson Chronicles the Miraculous Life of Maria Yudina

"Playing With Fire" is one of 10 books shortlisted for the 2022 Pushkin House Book Prize.

The Hacker Hunters Chasing Russian Shadows

U.S. investigators are stepping up the fight against Russian cybercriminals. But are they going after the right guys?

Peak Obsession: How Russia's Love for Cult U.S. Drama Twin Peaks Defined the 90s

Debut of a new season of U.S. drama evokes memories of a Russian craze.

'I Had to Breathe Through My Clothes': Russian Police Pepper-Sprayed Protesters in a Cell

St. Petersburg protesters claim of abuse and use of pepper spray while in detention.

Russia's Most Unorthodox Priest Is 'Difficult to Have Around'

The 42-year old cleric has an unusual and, for the Church, controversial passions in the literary field.

Russia Is Becoming a Cryptocurrency Haven

The Rise of Bitcoin: Why Russia thinks its future is crypto

The Noble Survivors

Aristocratic families in Russia lost everything 100 years ago as Nicholas II, Russia’s last tsar, abdicated as Lenin’s Bolsheviks seized power.

Young Volunteers Are Putting Out Russia's Hidden Forest Fires

Young Russians are volunteering to put out the forest fires their firefighters can’t

The Man Who Maybe Sparked a Revolution

Mikhail Rodzianko is credited as the man who persuaded Nicholas II to abdicate. Four generations later, his descendants struggle with his legacy.

Izvestia at 100: A Russian Century Through the Lens of the Top Soviet Newspaper

Born in the midst of Russia’s March 1917 revolution, top Soviet newspaper Izvestia chalks a century today. Its history reflects the contours of Russia's...

Inside A Hacker’s Mind

Fifteen years ago, Sergei Pavlovich was a leading player in Russian-language cyber-crime. Today, he suggests electoral systems are ripe for abuse.

Kadyrov's Hollywood

Under the close watch of the republic’s strongman leader, Chechen movie pioneers are producing the world’s most unexpected cinema.

Undercover Millionaire: How a Cop Tasked With Fighting Corruption Ended Up With $125 Million in Cash

The bundles of pristine U.S. dollars were neatly packed in plastic bags and boxes. The money was stacked so high that it took law enforcement several days...

A Very German Coup: AEB Boardroom Squabble Over Russian Sanctions

The tussle for control of the AEB, the most influential foreign business association in Russia, is part of an ongoing debate within Europe over how to...

Wheat Kings: Russia Enjoys a Bumper Crop This Harvest

A mild winter and a warm, wet summer mean Russia looks set to see its largest wheat harvest ever and retain its crown as the world’s top wheat exporter...

Angry Farmers Stage Tractor March on Moscow

Authorities take to force to halt a "tractor march" making its way from southern Russia to the capital. Participants of the protest action say that they...

Narkomfin: Restoration in Sight for Russia's Crumbling Constructivist Gem?

Russian real estate developer Alexander Senatorov began buying apartments in Moscow’s Narkomfin building in 2006 as a gift for his fiancée, Alexandrina...

The Kremlin Opens to the World as Putin Orders Greater Access

For much of the Soviet period, Moscow’s Kremlin was heavily guarded and shrouded in mystery. Few people apart from high-ranking officials or foreign...

Corps Couture: The Rise of Russia's Patriotic Fashion Industry

For T-shirt manufacturer Alexander Konasov, 2014 and 2015 were particularly good years. It all started in February 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, and...

First Death in Russia's Arctic Anthrax Outbreak

A 12-year old was announced as the first victim of a rare outbreak of anthrax in northern Russia's Yamal-Nenets autonomous region Monday as the deadly...

The True Tale of Russia's German Dairy King

"It was Putin who wanted to meet me," says Stefan Durr, the German-born Russian farmer whose company EkoNiva became the largest producer of milk in Russia...

Evacuated Egypt Baggage Piles Up in Russian Airport

The baggage of Russian tourists evacuated from Egypt is piling up in the public spaces of Moscow's Domodedovo Airport as it awaits collection, according...

New Museum Stakes Claim to Russia's Gulag Legacy

Russia's largest museum devoted to the horrors of the Soviet gulag has opened, even as many Muscovites remain unwilling to talk about political repression...

Ukrainian 'Vikings' Go on Trial Accused of Fighting in Chechen War

Ukrainian history teacher Stanislav Klykh told his mother he could be released in a few days during a phone call after his arrest on a trip to Russia in...

Russia to Exhume Alexander III as Romanov Probe Widens

Russian investigators said Monday that they will exhume the remains of Russian Tsar Alexander III to confirm the identity of two of his grandchildren,...

Russia Says Fewer Air Strikes in Syria

Disarray among the Islamic State terrorist organization has prompted a decrease in the number of sorties being flown by Russian jets in Syria, the Defense...

Russia's 'War' Mentality Boosts Treason Case Count

The number of convictions for treason in Russia tripled in 2014 and experts say the figure looks set to rise again this year as Russia's intelligence...

Lukashenko Victory Set to Stoke EU Rapprochement, Moscow Unease

Autocratic Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko looked set to win a fifth term as president Sunday in a largely uncontested and protest-free election...

Russia-Turkey Ties Fray Over Syria

Growing Turkish anger over Russia's weeklong bombing campaign in Syria appeared Wednesday to be driving a wedge between the two Black Sea neighbors, who...

Ex-U.K. Ambassador a Lonely Friend of Russia

As the United Kingdom's ambassador to Russia from 2004 to 2008, Anthony Brenton was one of the first Western diplomats to be systematically hounded by...

Russia Pledges to Step Up Air Attacks in Syria

Defense officials in Moscow said over the weekend that Russia would broaden its air bombardment of Syria and claimed a five-day bombing campaign had...

Russian Jets Pound Assad's Enemies in Syria

Russian air strikes in Syria continued for a second day Thursday as evidence grew that the Kremlin was targeting more moderate opposition groups fighting...

Putin's UN Speech Fails to Surprise

A much-anticipated speech by President Putin to the UN General Assembly on Monday saw the Russian leader criticize Western policy in the Middle East...

Live Blog: Vladimir Putin Speaks at the UN General Assembly

With Russian President Vladimir Putin set to address the United Nations General Assembly on Monday evening, follow our live blog for minute-by-minute...

Putin Seeks Center Stage at UN Gathering

When President Putin takes the podium at the UN General Assembly on Monday, he is expected to put Syria and the fight against the Islamic State at the...

Middle East Leaders Line Up for Putin

Turkish President Recep Erdogan on Wednesday became the third Middle Eastern leader in as many days to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow...

Russian Radio Engineer Sentenced to 14 Years for Treason

A Moscow court sentenced Gennady Kravtsov, a former employee of Russia’s military intelligence services, to 14 years in prison Monday for sending a job...

Russian Radio Engineer Faces 15 Years for Applying for Job Abroad

In 2010, Gennady Kravtsov wrote a job application letter, translated it using an online program, and sent it to a Swedish defense firm.

Russia Apathetic Over Corbyn Labour Victory

The election of Jeremy Corbyn to lead Britain's Labour Party over the weekend barely caused a stir in Russia — despite mainstream media in Britain and...

Russia's Biggest Banking Crashes of the Last 2 Years

The license of mid-sized Russian lender Admiralteisky Bank was revoked by the Central Bank on Friday, a day after security service raids and scenes of...

Ukrainian Flag Stunt Climber Sentenced to 2 Years in Russia

A Moscow court sentenced 20-year-old Russian climber Vladimir Podrezov to two years and three months in jail Thursday for “assisting vandalism” by...

Apple to Store Users' Personal Data in Russia – Report

U.S. tech giant Apple will store the personal data of its Russian users at a data center inside Russia to comply with a new law, the Kommersant newspaper...

Putin Dubs European Migrant Crisis 'Predictable'

President Vladimir Putin said the influx of migrants into Europe is the result of U.S. policy and maintained nothing unusual was happening to the Russian...

Pamela Anderson Main Attraction at Russia's Far East Forum

The first day of a new economic forum in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok designed to showcase the region was dominated Thursday by Hollywood celebrity...

Putin Flies to China Amid Economic Gloom

President Vladimir Putin will be one of the most noteworthy guests at Chinese celebrations to mark the end of World War II when he arrives in Beijing...

British Man Arrested on Drug Charges in Samara

A British man in the Volga river city of Samara, who worked at one of the city's universities, has been arrested on drug charges while awaiting deportation...

Russian Court Sentences Ukrainian Director Sentsov to 20 Years

A Russian military court sentenced Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov to 20 years in a high-security prison on Tuesday after finding him guilty of masterminding...

Sentsov Case Highlights Plight of Ukrainian Prisoners in Russian Jails

Oleg Sentsov is expected to be sentenced to a long prison term Tuesday after a high-profile trial — but the case has focused attention on an entire...

Prosecutors Seek 23 Years for Ukrainian Director as Trial Wraps Up

Russian prosecutors requested a 23-year prison sentence Wednesday for Ukrainian activist and film director Oleg Sentsov, who is accused of carrying out...

Chechen Film Studio Unveils First Major Production

The first large-scale film produced by ChechenFilm went on general release Monday as Chechnya's strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov looks to boost the region's...

Russian Propaganda Feeds on Kiev's Culture War

A series of Ukrainian bans on Russian cultural works and prominent artists has been used to burnish already pervasive propaganda tropes of Ukraine as an...

Government Proposal to Limit Russians' Ownership of Livestock Elicits Outrage

A proposal by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to cap the quantity of poultry, sheep, pigs and cattle Russians can own without registering as farmers provoked...

Western Experts Cry Foul Over Russian Books Published in Their Names

Prominent Western experts and journalists accused a Russian publishing house Sunday of pirating their work and printing books using their names without...

Russia Pushes Ahead With Law to Confiscate Foreign Assets

The Russian government has introduced a bill to parliament that allows the confiscation of property belonging to foreign states.

Ruble Tumbles to February Lows on Weak Oil

The Russian currency sank to its lowest level since February on Thursday, extending a recent rout as the price of crude oil fell below $48 a barrel...

Russian Official Lauds Condom Restrictions

A senior Russian official has praised plans to restrict condom imports as part of a drive to reduce reliance on foreign-made goods, suggesting Wednesday...

Russian Officials Bicker as Child Killer Suspect Hospitalized

A man suspected of killing his six children, his pregnant wife and his mother was in the hospital Wednesday in the Vladimir region after being injured...

Staff Rebel Against Priest Appointed to Head Historic Site in Crimea

Employees working at the historic site of Chersonesus on the Crimean Peninsula have said they will not work under an Orthodox priest appointed director...

Russia Blames Stockholm for Tit-for-Tat Diplomat Expulsions

Sweden has expelled a Russian diplomat and Moscow has retaliated by throwing out a Swedish diplomat.

Exiled Ukraine Officials Announce 'Savior Committee' in Moscow

A group of exiled Ukrainian officials led by former Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov announced Monday the formation of a so-called Savior of Ukraine Committee...

Russian Women Accused of Posing as Jihadist Brides to Dupe Islamic State – Report

A group of women from the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya have been accused of posing as cash-strapped Jihadist brides in a bid to defraud Islamic...

Russian Journalist Arrested on Suspicion of Extremism

A journalist working for a prominent Russian news outlet has been placed in pretrial detention over his alleged affiliation with a political group banned...

Ruble Fall Stokes Russian Holidaymaker Woes

Alexandra Khomenok booked a European holiday earlier this month, but her plans hit a stumbling block this week as the ruble took an abrupt plunge,...

Odessa Club Cancels Concert by Patriotic Russian Rapper

A club in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa called off an upcoming performance by Russian rapper Timati after local governor and ex-Georgian President...

Karzai Hails Deepening Russian-Afghan Ties

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai praised "blossoming" relations between Kabul and Moscow on Thursday as the standoff between Russia and the West...

Russian Officials See 'Color Revolution' in Armenia

Russian lawmakers said Wednesday that rolling protests on the streets of the Armenian capital of Yerevan could be the first stage of a "color revolution...

Russia Tops 2014 World Asylum Claims

With hundreds of thousands of people having been displaced by fighting in eastern Ukraine, Russia recorded the world's highest number of asylum applications...

German Drugmaker Merck Flaunts Russian Expansion as Others Flee

The Russian head of pharmaceutical and chemical giant Merck dreams of one day supplying golden pigment to gild the onion domes of Orthodox churches...

Majority See FIFA Scandal as Attack on Russia

Most Russians think that corruption allegations against officials at FIFA leveled by U.S. investigators last month are an attempt to prevent Russia from...

20 Years On, Russia Remembers Budyonnovsk Attack

Russia marked Sunday the 20th anniversary of an attack on the southern town of Budyonnovsk that left more than 100 people dead and some 500 injured...

Men's Magazine Maxim Fined, Threatened With Closure in Russia


A Russian court ordered prominent men's magazine Maxim to pay a 25,000-ruble ($456) fine Thursday for printing bad language, the second such punishment...

Investigators Turn on Moscow's Domodedovo Airport

Privately owned Domodedovo Airport faced the latest in a series of legal battles Monday as Russian investigators opened several criminal cases against...

FIFA Scandal Casts Shadow on Russia's World Cup

Doubts were cast Wednesday over Russia's legitimacy as the host nation for next World Cup as Swiss authorities launched an investigation into criminal...

Q&A: Ruben Vardanyan, Russia's Armenian Financier Turned Philanthropist

On one side of Ruben Vardanyan's open-plan office hangs a wall-size photograph of an Armenian mountain panorama. If you look closer you can see —...

Chechen Leader Kadyrov Becomes Russia's Newest Film Star

Kadyrov has scored starring roles in two films: an epic action film featuring a camouflage-clad Kadyrov firing a machine gun into the sky, and a...

Driver in Deadly Siberian Crash Amnestied Without Serving Day in Prison

A driver who caused a high-profile fatal crash in the Siberian city of Irkutsk has been amnestied without serving a single day in prison, local news...

Court Rules Songs by Russian Metal Bands Are 'Extremist'

A court in Russia's Far East said Monday that it had found signs of "violence and intolerance" in songs by two Russian metal bands and that it has...

Crimean Lawmaker Refuses to Duel With Night Wolves' Chief Over Land Dispute

A top Crimean official declined a proposed duel over a land dispute with the head of Russia's nationalist Night Wolves biker group Monday, according to...

Russian Parliament Speaker Backs Early Elections

The speaker of the State Duma — Russia's lower house of parliament — Sergei Naryshkin said Thursday he supports an initiative to bring forward...

Foreign Anti-Torture Experts Expelled From Russia

A German expert who was taking part in a seminar organized by a Russian anti-torture NGO has been ordered to leave Russia for violating migration...

Russian Prosecutors Visit Zoo, Leave Trail of Death and Destruction

A group of prosecutors and veterinary service officials arrived at closing time at a Crimean zoo called Fairytale and quickly set about firing tranquilizer...

Prominent Economist to Leave Russia, Cites Politics

Prominent liberal economist and commentator Konstantin Sonin, who was reportedly squeezed out of a top job at a Russian public university earlier this...

Polonsky Deported Amid Warming Russia-Cambodian Ties

Colorful Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky was formally charged with fraud by Russian investigators Monday after being deported in flip-flops and shorts...

Russia Steps Up War on Nazi Imagery

On a Saturday evening in February, journalist Polina Petruseva was detained by police at her apartment in the western Russian city of Smolensk, accused...

Boris Nemtsov's Report Counts Hundreds of Russian Dead in Ukraine

Russian opposition leaders published Tuesday a report initiated by slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov that details alleged Kremlin military involvement...

Catholic Priest to Appeal Closure of Kirov Baby Box

A Catholic priest in the city of Kirov will file a court appeal against the closure of a baby box by prosecutors, local news website Devyatka reported...

Chinese Leader Tops Meager Victory Day Guest List

While Russia's Victory Day celebrations will be some of the most extravagant since the end of the Soviet Union, tensions over Ukraine have left the international...

Moscow Court Finds Glamorous Ex-Defense Ministry Official Guilty in Corruption Case

A Moscow court ruled Wednesday that former Defense Ministry official turned celebrity Evgeniya Vasilyeva was guilty of fraud as one of Russia's most...

Putin Raises 'Extremism' Fines for Russian Media Tenfold

President Putin signed legislation Saturday that will increase tenfold the maximum fine that can be levied on Russian news organizations accused of inciting...

Hate Seethes as Russia Marks One Year Since Deadly Odessa Inferno

When protestors gathered Saturday in Moscow to mark one year since 48 people were killed in Odessa during street battles between pro-Russia and pro-Ukraine...

Preservationists Warn Over New Status for Soviet Ensemble VDNKh

A Stalinist complex built in the 1930s on a swamp on the outskirts of Moscow to champion the achievements of communism will soon receive a new...

Russian Cabbage Prices Triple as Much-Loved Staple Falls Victim to Inflation

The cost of a cabbage in Russia has almost tripled in less than six months.

Russia Steps Back From Brink of Major Pensions Overhaul

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced Thursday that Russia would not scrap pension fund contributions, preserving a key pool of investment capital...

Putin Acts to Spur Russian Farming to Replace Banned Produce

President Putin appointed a regional governor from southern Russia to head the Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday in an apparent bid to galvanize...

Millions of Russians Edge Toward Poverty as Economic Pressure Mounts

Some experts predict that almost 10 million people — from a population of 143 million — could this year join the 16.1 million people already living...

Analysts Warn Ruble's Surge Could Snap at Any Moment

The Russian currency continued a recent run of strength Thursday, taking the ruble to fresh 2015 highs, as warnings multiplied that the gains were...

Ruble Hits New 2015 Highs in World's Best Currency Rebound

The Russian currency strengthened sharply Wednesday, bolstering a recent rally driven by greater confidence in the ruble, easing international tensions...

Will Putin Rescue Greece's Tsipras?

As Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras prepares for talks with President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow beginning on Wednesday.

Battle Over Pension Reform Flares as Russia Hunts for Investment


Top economic officials made an impassioned plea Thursday to preserve the payments employees make to privately managed pension funds as a government...

World Bank Predicts Sanctions Pain, Poverty Rise for Russia

The World Bank predicted Wednesday that Russia's economy will contract by 3.8 percent this year and continue to underperform in the years to come amid...

Britain's EasyJet Cuts Flights to Russia Amid Aviation Downturn


British budget airline EasyJet halved the number of flights it offers on its Moscow-London route Monday as international carriers scale back their...

Russian Tycoon and Activist Fetisov in Poor Health Before Trial

The health of billionaire and political activist Gleb Fetisov, the wealthiest man behind bars in Russia, is deteriorating as he enters his second...

Political Pressure Fears as Russia's Central Bank Set to Cut Rates

Fears of political interference with Russia's Central Bank are being stoked by an apparent change of approach as policymakers look set to cut interest...

Russian Tycoon Fridman Should Make U.K. Feel Nervous

A weeklong window for Soviet-born billionaire Mikhail Fridman to persuade the British government to sell him North Sea energy assets closes on Wednesday...

Russia Mulls Lifting European Food Import Ban for Greece

Officials in Moscow are considering exempting Greek fruits from a Russian food import ban imposed on European Union countries last year in retaliation...

Foreign Russia Investors Warn Over Nemtsov Killing

Businessmen and investors said Monday that the killing of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov by the walls of the Kremlin last week will further worsen...

Russia's Ruble Rebounds in Biggest Monthly Gain Since 1990s

The Russian ruble has recorded its biggest monthly gain since the early 1990s amid higher oil prices, an easing of the fighting in eastern Ukraine...

5 Russian Food Producers Winning From Economic Crisis and Import Ban

Recession, rising inflation and a currency collapse have combined with Western sanctions and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine to cast a pall of gloom...

Spy-Linked Bank Put Into Administration as Russia's Banking Crisis Spreads

Mid-sized Russian lender FundServisBank was put into administration Wednesday by the financial authorities as a crisis in Russia's banking sector grows...

Russia Dumps $22 Billion in U.S. Bonds to Slow Economy's Slide

Russia dumped $22 billion worth of U.S. treasury bonds in December as the Kremlin scrambled for cash to battle a plunging ruble and fund a crisis...

A Year After Being Freed, Khodorkovsky Associate Still Trapped in Russia

Platon Lebedev, the one-time business partner of former Yukos owner Khodorkovsky, said that more than a year since he was released from prison he still...

Russia Signals End to Crimea Property Grab, But Investors Unlikely to Bite

The head of the Crimea region has called time on much-criticized "nationalizations" across the peninsula even as analysts warn that the questionable...

Ex-Finance Minister Kudrin Steps Into Spotlight as Russia's Crisis Grows

Alexei Kudrin took part in an anti-crisis meeting on Friday in the latest sign that the Kremlin insider turned government critic is playing a more...

Would a Ukraine Peace Deal in Minsk Save the Russian Economy?

U.S. President Barack Obama has claimed the Kremlin's role in the Ukraine crisis brought the Russian economy to its knees. So, if a peace accord is...

Markets Alert as Russia's Rosneft Readies $7 Billion Debt Payment

Ruble traders are closely watching a $7 billion repayment by state-owned Rosneft due this week as the oil giant grapples with mountainous debt amid...

'Are You Mad?' Putin Orders Government to Restore Train Services

President Putin castigated the Russian government as he intervened in a struggle between state-owned Russian Railways and regional authorities by ordering...

Sanctions Send Russia's Gazprom East to Find Financing

Russia's Gazprom is boosting efforts to woo Asian investors as the state-owned gas giant remains restricted in European and U.S. capital markets because...

Top Executive Attacked for Ukraine Links Quits Moscow Exchange

A senior executive of Ukrainian origin at the Moscow Exchange resigned Friday after being accused of currency speculation and extremism by a senior...

Russian Central Bank Set to Keep Growth-Stifling 17% Rate

Anton Titov, head of mid-sized Russian footwear retailer Obuv Rossii, has halted his firm's 2015 investment program, frozen planned shop openings and is...

What Would Exclusion From Payment System SWIFT Mean For Russia?

Discussions among European leaders about new sanctions have again raised fears that the SWIFT payment system might be cut off, a move that experts warn...

Warnings of Russian Financial Crisis Spread as Banks Start Failing

"It's obvious that the banking crisis will be massive," the head of Russia's largest bank told an agenda-setting economc forum, as Western sanctions...

Russian Central Bank Reshuffle Sign of New Approach to Ruble Crisis

The appointment of a new deputy governor to the Central Bank has raised the prospect of shifts in Russian monetary policy as the country continues...

What a 'Junk' Rating Would Mean for Russia

Russian officials warned that an expected decision by Standard and Poor's to deprive Russia of its investment-grade credit rating could drain more...

Russian Currency Collapse Accelerates Despite Central Bank Rate Hike

The Russian currency crashed to 100 against the euro Tuesday, the latest milestone in a currency rout that has rapidly gained momentum despite a huge emergency...

Russian Media Downplay Extent of Ruble Crisis

While the ruble pinballed erratically between 58 and 80 per U.S. dollar on Tuesday, making headlines around the world, Russia's state-run media have...

Fears of Capital Controls Grow as Russia's Economy Goes Haywire

The possible implementation of capital controls in Russia came a step closer Tuesday as the authorities appeared to be running out of options to stem...

Russian State Media Downplays Extent of Ruble Crisis

While the ruble collapsed 10 percent on Monday, making headlines around the world, some Russians may have been unaware of the recent intensification...

Ruble Collapse Stokes Russian Mortgage Boom

One real estate developer and mortgage provider is eager to highlight the collapse of the Russian currency.

Russian Ruble Crashes to World's Worst-Performing Currency

The ruble collapsed by 10 percent against the U.S. dollar Monday earning the Russian currency the dubious laurels of the world's worst-performing currency...

Russia’s Ruble Speeds Past 58 to U.S. Dollar as Devaluation Accelerates

The ruble passed 58 against the U.S. dollar on Friday for the first time since the country’s 1998 crisis as global oil prices declined, extending this...

Central Bank Interest Rate Hike Sends Ruble Spinning to Fresh Lows

The Russian ruble plunged to fresh historic lows Thursday despite a Central Bank decision to raise interest rates in a bid to support the weakening currency...

Russian Ruble's 800-Year History Haunts Current Plunge

Sergei Sorokoumov has devoted the last quarter of a century to an attempt to raise Russian's pride in the ruble, the country's national currency...

New Central Bank Assertiveness Seen as Russia's Ruble Strengthens

The ruble strengthened sharply Friday amid what appeared to be multiple large interventions by the Central Bank a day after President Vladimir Putin called...

Russia's Ruble Falls as Hawkish Putin Dismays Investors

The Russian currency weakened sharply Thursday, reversing early gains as President Putin gave a hawkish speech, disappointing hopes that he might signal...

Why Is One Russian Stock Index Up and the Other Down?

Russia's two major stock indexes have diverged sharply in recent weeks, split further apart by a weak ruble and risk aversion among foreign investors...

Russian Central Bank Says Willing to Spend Unlimited Amounts on Ruble's Defense

The Central Bank said Thursday that it was prepared to spend an unlimited amount of money on defending the Russian currency as the struggling ruble...

Russian Ruble Rebounds; Traders Sense Central Bank Intervention

The Russian ruble strengthened sharply Wednesday, fueling speculation that the Central Bank had intervened on currency markets for a second time in three...

5 Forces Battering Russia's Economy as Putin Faces Nation

When President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation on Thursday, will he confront recession, oil price tumbles, runaway inflation and other problems bearing...

Former NATO Soldier Clive Fairclough Embraces Role as Moscow Priest

When Clive Fairclough is asked whether he had any connection with the Slavic world before he arrived in Moscow earlier this year as the most senior...

Ruble Crashes Past Historic 50 to U.S. Dollar as OPEC Lets Oil Price Fall

The ruble plunged on Friday, falling past 50 versus the U.S. dollar after OPEC's refusal to implement production cuts caused oil prices to nosedive.

Cheap Oil Threatens Russia With Recession, Deficits and Oil Output Falls

Experts say an extended period of low oil prices could lead to recession, government spending cuts, a ballooning budget deficit and faltering production...

Deep Historical Distrust Stymies Russia, OPEC Oil Price Diplomacy

Amid falling oil prices then-Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin caught the world's attention in September 2008 as he led an high-profile Russian delegation...

Luxury Market Slumps as Bleak Economic Outlook Hits Rich Russians' Courage

Mikhail Kusnirovich, the owner of Moscow's GUM shopping mall, was mingling with the fashion elite at a party thrown by Gucci this month to mark the opening...

McDonald's Flagship Moscow Restaurant Reopens

Russia's first McDonald's restaurant, shuttered over sanitary issues many interpreted as a sign of worsening tensions between Moscow and Washington...

Profile: Elvira Nabiullina, Woman at Center of Russia's Ruble Collapse

Reaching the climax of a personal attack on Russia's Central Bank Chairwoman, Communist deputy Vyacheslav Tetyokin did not hold back, branding Nabiullina...

Dollar Shortages Spread Amid Russian Ruble Collapse

Rising demand for foreign currency meant U.S. dollars and euros were unavailable at some Russian banks and exchange points late last week as the ruble...

Deputies Slam Russia's Central Bank Amid Official Hush on Ruble Woes

Kremlin and state television channels have remained reluctant to speak about the ruble's dramatic devaluation, despite fringe deputies calls for action...

Putin Ally Timchenko Figurehead for U.S. Ire

Five years ago Gennady Timchenko was a little-known Russian oil trader with a fortune of just $400,000, ranked a mere two slots from the bottom of Forbes...

Russia's Ruble Plummets on Central Bank Move Toward Free Float

The Russian currency tumbled Wednesday as the Central Bank announced a major step toward a free floating exchange rate.

Ruble Rout Intensifies as Russia's Central Bank Limits Interventions

The Russian ruble plunged when trading opened Wednesday as the Central Bank announced it would cap the amount of foreign reserves it spends to defend the...

U.S. Midterms Raise Fears of Decades-Long Russia Sanctions Law

Concerns are rising among U.S. businesses in Russia that Washington lawmakers could move to enshrine sanctions on Russia in new legislation, extending...

Russia's Ruble Swings Wildly as Traders Bet on Central Bank Action

The Russian ruble swung wildly on Thursday, plunging to historic lows before rising 5 percent in just over an hour, as traders abandoned their positions...

Ruble Rally Short-Lived as Historic Falls Resume

Modest gains for Russia's beleaguered currency were rapidly reversed Monday as the ruble dropped to new record lows.

Russian Shoppers Feel Pinch of Surging Inflation

Standing on tiptoe, Galina Abdullina strained to reach the back of the top shelf to get one of the last tubs of discounted smetana, the sour cream...

Specter of '98 Default Haunts Russians as Ruble Weakens

As the Russian ruble plunges to repeated record lows and the Central Bank ramps up market interventions to defend it, few want to mention Aug. 17, 1998...

Kudrin Slams Fixing Exchange Rate as Russia's Ruble Touches New Lows

The ruble weakened Friday to a fresh historic low as former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin warned against fixing the exchange rate.

Putin Loyalists Poised to Grab Newspaper as Foreign Owners Ousted

Influential business newspaper Vedomosti is facing escalating political pressure amid a new media law that targets its foreign owners and the imminent...

Russia Boosts Currency Defense Firepower as Ruble Hits Fresh Lows

The ruble sank to another historic low Wednesday, passing the 41 per U.S. dollar mark twice in morning trading.

Russia's Tumbling Ruble Zooms Past 41 to Dollar

The ruble fell Wednesday morning, sinking past the 41 to the U.S. dollar mark for the first time in recent history as the Central Bank stepped up...

Russia Eyes Shrinking Cash Reserves as Fight for Ruble Escalates

The ruble sank to record lows against both the euro and the dollar Tuesday amid growing concerns over the Central Bank's policy of drawing down its...

Benetton Defies Sanctions and Economic Woes With Big Russia Expansion

Italian clothing retailer United Colors of Benetton defied a falling ruble, slowing growth and the specter of sanctions as it formally re-opened its...

Will Western Sanctions Stop Russia's Arctic Oil Expansion?

Igor Sechin, the most influential figure in Russia's energy industry, announced last week that a new oil field discovered in the Arctic was to be...

Slumping Oil Prices Send Russia's Ruble Back Past 40 to Dollar

The ruble continued its recent tumble Wednesday, weakening below 40 to the dollar for the second time in a week as global oil prices fell to a 27-month...

Ruble Weakens Past 40 Per Dollar on Oil Price Falls and Ukraine Skirmishes

Russia's ruble continued to shed value on Monday, passing the psychologically important mark of 40 rubles to the U.S. dollar for the first time since the...

Navalny Associate Asks for Asylum in Britain, Cites 'Persecution' in Russia

Activist and fundraiser Vladimir Ashurkov, a close associate of Alexei Navalny, said that he had applied for political asylum in Britain because of a “campaign...

Market Intervention Looms as Russia's Ruble Drops to Historic Lows

Russia's ruble extended a months-long losing streak on Monday, falling to new historic lows and hovering just below the level at which the Central Bank...

Russia Returns to Bond Market as Ukraine Tensions Ease

Russia successfully sold 10 billion rubles ($260 million) of government bonds Wednesday, in a sign that easing tensions over Ukraine are restoring a semblance...

Vultures Circle Around Russia's Mechel as Share Price Nosedives

Shares in Russian miner Mechel tumbled almost 40 percent Tuesday as fears grow that it will be forced to declare bankruptcy in a final deal with creditors...

Kremlin Adviser Says Russia Should Return to Capital Controls

An adviser to President Vladimir Putin suggested to lawmakers on Monday that Russia impose a tax on money being moved abroad.

Russia's Banks Make 'Colossal' Efforts to Find Funding as Sanctions Bite

The head of Russia's biggest lender, Sberbank, said the bank was doing "colossal" work to re-orient itself toward domestic funding sources, as Western...

Arrested Russian Billionaire Yevtushenkov 'Freed' Amid Confusion

Russian billionaire Vladimir Yevtushenkov was freed from house arrest Friday, according to a statement from his oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Sistema quoted...

Bashneft: Tasty Oil Asset at Heart of Russian Power Struggle

As little as 10 weeks ago, mid-sized producer Bashneft was one of Russia's fastest-growing oil companies, much-loved by investors and with an impressive...

Private Equity Funds Predict Years of Hardship in Russia

Top fund managers at private equity outfits working in Russia said Wednesday that tensions between Moscow and the West have badly hit their ability...

Russia's Ruble Battered by Sanctions, Likely to Sink Further

The Russian ruble continued to set records Friday, dropping to another historic low against the dollar, as analysts said there was no immediate end in...

Ruble Plummets to Historic Low as EU Ends Sanctions Uncertainty

The Russian currency plunged to historic lows against the dollar Thursday as the EU appeared to end more than a week of vacillation by opting to impose...

New EU Sanctions to Inflict Long-Term Pain

The Russian business world is braced for the EU's unfurling of a fresh round of sanctions on Friday, with analysts predicting that Russia's $2 trillion...

Gazprom Sees Production Tumble as Ukraine Crisis Bites

Gazprom's natural gas production fell 19.6 percent last month compared with the same period last year, as the state-owned behemoth struggles in the...

Attacked Lawmaker Releases Purported Dialogues of Russian Soldiers in Ukraine

A lawmaker and activist in the western Russian city of Pskov who was brutally attacked last week following his inquiries into alleged deaths of Russian...

Ultranationalist Right Sector Opens Molotov Cocktail Cafe in Lviv

The marginal ultranationalist group so despised in Russia for its dalliance with anti-Semitism and violent role in toppling the legitimate government...

Corruption and Control Define Russia's Border Zones

On the face of it, there are few similarities between the city of Blagoveshchensk, located in the Far East, and the country's natural gas capital...

Q&A: Maria Yeliseyeva's Children Don't Feel Like Orphans

Maria Yeliseyeva has always been surrounded by children. In addition to the five she gave birth to, she has fostered another five from Russian orphanages...

Moscow Hits the Road to Sell Itself Abroad

It is the first time that Moscow attempts to reach out to investors in such a way and is part of a new public relations drive.

Business Travel in Russia Fraught With Bureaucratic Pitfalls

While most Russians wade through a bureaucratic quagmire to get a visa for the European Union or the United States, once they arrive they enjoy almost...

Kremlin Backs Cyprus Bailout Deal

A deal between Cyprus and European lenders was backed by the Kremlin on Monday even as top Russian officials unleashed a storm of angry rhetoric...

Berezovsky Dies Amid Growing Woes

As speculation swirled after Boris Berezovsky's sudden demise, friends and associates suggested that a series of personal and financial shocks suffered...

Cyprus Fails to Obtain Kremlin Aid

A desperate effort by Cypriot authorities to win financial aid from the Kremlin failed to yield any results Wednesday, as a deal eluded Cyprus' finance...

Morgan Stanley Reduces Russia's Growth Forecast

Morgan Stanley joined the ranks of those predicting a sluggish period for the Russian economy Monday as it cut its 2013 growth forecast to below 3...

Nabiullina Likely to Pursue Dovish Policy, Yield to Political Pressure

Asked to end speculation about the identity of the next chairman of Russia's Central Bank, President Vladimir Putin promised an "unexpected" candidate...

PricewaterhouseCoopers Eyes M&A Boom

Russian companies stand on the brink of a period of significant foreign mergers and acquisitions, PricewaterhouseCoopers said Wednesday.

Russian-Hong Kong Trade Booming

Hong Kong, which recently marked 15 years since its annexation with China, is seeing a boom in its economic relationship with Russia, officials said Tuesday...

Putin Allies Climb Up Forbes List

The personal fortunes of businessmen rumored to enjoy close relationships with President Vladimir Putin jumped sharply in a new Forbes ranking Monday...

Borodin's Extradition Sought Despite Asylum

The Interior Ministry is undaunted by Britain's decision to grant asylum to the former head of Bank of Moscow.

Navalny Fraudulently Obtained Lawyer Credentials, Investigators Say

The Investigative Committee said Wednesday that anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny fraudulently obtained his credentials as a lawyer.

World Bank Says Economy Losing Momentum

The World Bank cut its 2013 growth forecast for the Russian economy to 3.3 percent Tuesday, citing deteriorating global conditions and stubbornly high...

Depardieu 'Inspired' by Kadyrov's Leadership (Video)

French actor Gerard Depardieu said he was inspired by the leadership of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and accepted a five-room apartment from him during...

Moscow Exchange IPO Yields $500M

The Moscow Exchange began trading its own shares Friday, successfully concluding the largest initial public offering in Russia since the 2008 financial...