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Articles by Natalia Antonova

opinion Natalia Antonova

Trump, Putin and the Moral High Ground

In a political reality where morals are mostly an illusory concept, the most moral act is to plan ahead for the troubles to come.
opinion Natalia Antonova

What's the Deal With Russophobia Anyway

As social media is busy discussing Russophobia, it is important to remember that Russian authoritarianism is actually a deeply Russophobic phenomenon.
opinion Natalia Antonova

Don't Romanticize Russia's 'Wild' Years (Op-ed)

No one has accused Matt Taibbi or Mark Ames of sexual harassment. But their writing left a loathsome mark on some Moscow expats
opinion Natalia Antonova

Why Russian Women Don't Want to Talk About Harvey Weinstein (Op-ed)

Harassment is also widespread in Russia. But Russians would rather not frame it that way
opinion Natalia Antonova

Russia's Brand New Masculinity

In spite of pop culture stereotypes and a particular image cultivated by prominent Russian officials, Russian men are a stunningly diverse species...
opinion Natalia Antonova

No Way Back for Russian Women

For women's rights in Russia, the situation is not cut-and-dried. Conservative — one might even say backward — ideas about "a woman's place" certainly...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Egypt Crash Must Be Catalyst for Change

It's odd, how grief can unite people better than joy, at times. Since the horrifying A321 disaster over Egypt's Sinai peninsula, it's been heartening...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Kashin’s Putin Letter Shows the Power of Words

Journalist Oleg Kashin — victim of a violent 2010 attack that nearly killed him — has made waves in Russia by penning a scathing open letter to President...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Russia Should Help Solve the Refugee Crisis

When I was a child, I was once caught up in a brief but terrifying flare-up of unrest by the German border.
opinion Natalia Antonova

Kremlin Is Wasting Food and PR Opportunity

Those of us who grew up with grandparents who were around during the tough times of the Soviet Union know that food isn't a subject to take lightly...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Russians Should Show Mercy to Kobzon

With his famous toupee, fabulous eyebrow pencil and thundering voice, Russian singer Iosif Kobzon is an unlikely poster child for the debate on justice...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Russia Must Focus Less on Ukraine, More on IS (Op-Ed)

Russia is so focused on Ukraine that it is ignoring the far greater threat posed by the Islamic State, writes columnist Natalia Antonova.
opinion Natalia Antonova

Russia's Patriarchy Problem

"Look at the size of her breasts — she's obviously a woman, not a girl." "She's from a village, who's to say she didn't luck out by marrying a powerful...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Russia's New War on the Arts

The good news is, Russians still believe that 150-year-old Wagner operas and low-budget cinema can have sway over society.
opinion Natalia Antonova

Boris Nemtsov's Murder Is Not a Game Changer for Russia

As tragic and horrifying as the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov is, it will not be a game changer — not in the short term, anyway...
opinion Natalia Antonova

'Leviathan' Controversy Reveals Bruised Egos

It is a powerful fable of stupefying injustice that people everywhere can relate to.
opinion Natalia Antonova

True Art Isn't Pro-Kremlin

The fact that Russia's Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky has declared that the government will no longer finance so-called "Russia-smearing" films was...

Pro-EU Parties Lead Exit Polls in Ukraine Election

The preliminary results of a snap parliamentary election Sunday showed Ukrainians voting firmly for pro-European parties, with Poroshenko's political...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Russia Is Right About Syria

The notion of the Russian president being right about anything is a tough one to swallow these days — let alone say out loud.
opinion Natalia Antonova

Russia's State Media Has an Image Problem


When Russia's gay-bashing propagandist-in-chief Dmitry Kiselyov took over Russian news agency RIA Novosti, some compared the people who left, including...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Why Russia Fears Ukraine

The colors of the Ukrainian flag have become terribly "offensive" in Russia — wearing them, painting them, or even tweeting them practically turns...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Kiev Must Show Compassion to Eastern Ukraine

It's a cliche to point out that objectivity and common sense are among the first casualties of armed conflict — but it's important to note that...
opinion Natalia Antonova

Russia's Obscenity Law Will Crush Independent Film

New legislation is being so quickly adopted in Russia today that anyone tracking it is bound to be suffering from a case of whiplash. Hundreds of new...