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Articles by Peter Hobson

Hunter Becomes Prey: The Fall of a Russian 'Attack-Dog' Investigator

Denis Nikandrov, the 37-year-old deputy head of the Moscow branch of the Investigative Committee, was arrested on July 19. His rise was meteoric; his fall...

Warning: This Is Not Cheese. In Russia, Watch What You Eat

If you live in Russia, you may already be worried about what you’re eating. If you’re not worried, maybe you should be.
Watchdogs say dairy producers...

After Euro 2016 Disaster, Can Russian Football Recover?

The ousted coach of Russia's national football team has admitted the team is "sh*t." Sports pundits discuss "Why Russian football is f*cked." And a new...

Reluctantly, Russia Starts Sell-Off of Major State Companies

Back in April, President Vladimir Putin was asked at a press conference why he planned to sell state companies just when the market was at bottom. Putin’s...

Will Russia Be First to Build Elon Musk's Hyperloop?

In mid June, Shervin Pishevar, co-founder of Hyperloop One, sat under the high, decorated ceiling of a palace in St. Petersburg. Men in suits lined the...

Is the Kremlin Really Forcing Mikhail Prokhorov to Sell His Russian Assets?

Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov once said he likes to completely overhaul his professional life every eight years. And so things have turned out. In the...

Erdogan Blinks First in Russian-Turkish Impasse

Seven months ago, the country watched on television as a Russian fighter jet fell to earth in a stream of flame. It had been shot down by a Turkish warplane...

Lipstick on a Bear: Russia Seeks to Impress at SPIEF

Russia has an image problem. Whether it's doping in sport, soldiers in Ukraine or corruption in the Kremlin, every new headline seems to bolster a negative...

Hanging in There: A Guide to Russia's Economy

In late May, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev inadvertently caught the mood of the nation.

Radical Russian Artist Pyotr Pavlensky Walks Free After Verdict

Russia’s most radical political performance artist, Pyotr Pavlensky, had languished in jail for seven months after setting fire to the headquarters of...

Is Russia's Flagship Superjet Airliner Finally Lifting Off?

On May 24, two shiny Russian Superjets stood nose to nose in an aircraft hangar in Venice, Italy, painted in the colors of CityJet, an Irish regional...

Was Russia's First Bond Sale in 3 Years a Success?

Bidding opened suddenly on the morning of May 23. After a three-year absence from international markets, and with very little warning, Russia announced...

RuNet Has A Field Day With Medvedev's 'No Money' Quote

When Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Crimea, he was prepared for handshakes, meetings and rainbows. A soundbite here, a photo-op there...

How Europe Became a Russian Gangster Playground

In early May, the moves came thick and fast.

How Russian Authorities Hijacked a WWII Remembrance Movement

Five years ago, a group of friends in Siberia founded a grassroots movement to remember the World War II generation. It proved so popular that the authorities...

Uber Faces Off Against Russian Technology Giant Yandex

The Californian taxi application is cutting prices in an aggressive expansion in Russia, but it is still a long way behind the market leaders.

Russia Launches Rocket From New Cosmodrome at Second Attempt

Russia launched the first rocket from the new Vostochny Cosmodrome on Thursday, a day after a first attempt was aborted due to a last minute technical...

Russia Wins $50Bln Yukos Battle, But War's Not Over

A Dutch court on Wednesday overturned an arbitration award of $50 billion to former Yukos shareholders, but the ruling won't end the litigation...

Dutch Court Strikes Down $50Bln Yukos Arbitration Award

A local Dutch court on Wednesday overturned an arbitration award of $50 billion to former owners of Yukos in a surprise ruling that throws doubt on efforts...

Warplane Diplomacy and Distrust Ahead Of Russia-NATO Council

The atmosphere has been poisonous in the run up to an April 20 meeting of the Russia-NATO ambassadors' council, the first to be held since relations...

The Offshore Plot: How the Kremlin is Spinning the Panama Papers

The Kremlin began spinning the Panama papers before they were even released.

Russia's $50 Billion Yukos Damages Headache Moves to India

Former owners of Yukos, the defunct Russian oil producer, have begun litigation in India as part of efforts to force Russia to pay $50 billion in damages...

Battle for Sevastopol: How a Crimean Romantic Fought the Kremlin's Bureaucrat

The 2-year conflict between Alexei Chaly and Sergei Menyailo illustrates how Sevastopol's revolutionary hopes for life inside Russia made way for the less...

Liftoff Off at Russia's New Vostochny Cosmodrome

On the evening of Tuesday, April 26, President Vladimir Putin set out from Moscow on a 6,000-kilometer journey to see a long-held ambition fulfilled...

Russian Government Draws Up Rescue Plan for VEB Development Bank

Russian officials are discussing sweeping measures to save the government's development bank after its bailout needs rose to about $20 billion.

Russia Tries New Tactic Ahead of Crucial $50 Billion Yukos Ruling

Ahead of a crucial ruling on $50 billion in damages awarded over Yukos, the dismembered oil company, Russian investigators allege that the company's former...

Battle in the Archives - Uncovering Russia's Secret Past

Sergei Mironenko became Russia's chief archivist when an explosion of openness swept away the Soviet Union. He leaves amid fears that uncomfortable truths...

Anti-Corruption Investigators Launch Election Campaign in Putin's Backyard

Anti-corruption campaigners have come to Barvikha, where Russia's richest officials and oligarchs have their country estates, to launch an audacious election...

The Mysterious Death of the Man Behind Putin's Media Machine

For a man who once shaped Russia's media sector, remarkably little is known about the last months of Mikhail Lesin's life.

Legitimized Elections: The Kremlin Plays a New Game

Vladimir Putin has appointed a widely respected rights advocate to oversee upcoming elections. But the Kremlin is taking measures to making sure that Russians...

How Putin's Bank Became Russia's $20 Billion Problem

With President Vladimir Putin driving its strategy, Vneshekonombank financed the Sochi Olympics and extended Russian financial influence in Ukraine. Now...

'Why Didn't You Run?' – The Inside Story on the Arrest of Russian Billionaire Dmitry Kamenshchik

On the morning of Feb. 18, Dmitry Kamenshchik, Russia's 27th-richest tycoon, packed a backpack with some spare clothes, a toothbrush, and shoes without...

Russia's Debt Collectors Bring Back Brutality of the 1990s

In the dead of a cold January night in Ulyanovsk, a Molotov cocktail smashed through a ground floor window of a wooden house. Within seconds, the room...

EU Ambassador to Russia Demands Reaction to Kadyrov's 'Murder Threats'

The European Union's ambassador to Russia has demanded a response from Russian authorities to a video by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov showing Russian...

The Upside of a Down Ruble

President Vladimir Putin chose an unfortunate time to trumpet the "additional opportunities" for Russian companies arising from a weaker ruble.

Germany Slams Russian Meddling in Alleged Rape Case

Germany has reacted angrily to Russian criticism of the handling of an alleged abduction and rape of a Russian-speaking girl by migrants in Berlin.

Facing Oil Price Plunge, Russia Considers Fire Sale of State Companies

Russian officials are touting a new wave of privatization to fill the hole in the government's finances caused by the slumping oil price.

Oil Rebound Pulls Ruble Back From Record Lows

A rebound in global oil prices on Friday helped lift the Russian ruble from record lows reached earlier in the week, easing fears of a downward spiral...

Russian Celebs Back Chechen Leader Who Called Opposition ‘Traitors’

Russian celebrities came out in support of Ramzan Kadyrov after the Chechen leader labeled opponents of President Vladimir Putin “jackals” and “enemies...

Kremlin Denies 'Collapse' as Ruble Plunges to New Record Lows

The ruble weakened to a new record low on Thursday as the latest falls in global oil prices threatened to worsen Russia's economic slump and the Kremlin...

Kremlin Reacts to Kadyrov's Attacks on 'Jackals' Opposed to Putin

The Kremlin on Wednesday commented for the first time on calls by Chechen strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov to crack down on “jackals” and “enemies...

China's Economic Turmoil Ruins Russia's New Year

New fears over China's economy and sharp falls in the price of oil have worsened the outlook for Russia as it tries to emerge from recession.

How Russia Ejected Foreigners and Took Back Control of Its Media

When the Soviet Union crumbled, foreign media companies and entrepreneurs swept into Russia, bringing with them a wave of modernization and expertise...

Why Expats Are Still Fleeing Russia

Every Western expat seems to know someone who has left Russia. An economic slump and increasing political and cultural isolation have transformed an expat...

8 Shades of Crisis - Russia's Year of Economic Nightmares

The Moscow Times looked at eight aspects of the economic crisis that, thanks to low oil prices and sanctions, is engulfing Russia and Russians.

Is Russia's Cheap Oil Nightmare Coming True?

Picture the scene. It is 2016, oil costs on average $35 per barrel, and Russia's recession rolls into its second year. The economy shrinks by 2-3...

Yury Chaika, How to Ignore a Corruption Scandal, Kremlin Style

When Alexei Navalny unveiled an investigation linking colleagues of Russian Prosecutor General Yury Chaika to the bloodiest bandits of recent years, he...

Russia to Rule on European Court of Human Rights Decisions

A new law will allow Russia to disregard rulings imposed on it by the European Court of Human Rights if they conflict with its constitution.

Putin to Turkey on Warplane: 'You'll Regret It'

Russian President Vladimir Putin used his state of the nation speech on Thursday to threaten further reprisals against Turkey, as the clash continued to...

Russia's Turkish Residents Targeted in Backlash Over Downed Warplane

The downing of the Su-24 bomber on the Turkish-Syrian border has made life difficult for Turkish expats.

Erdogan Warns Russia Against Using Missile Defense Systems in Syria

Turkish President Recep Erdogan has refused to apologize for the downing of a Russian warplane on the Turkish-Syrian border and implied that Turkey would...

Activists vs the Circus: Fighting Animal Cruelty in Putin's Russia

The Vita animal rights group has faced particular pushback in its fight against circuses, which have a prestigious place in Russian culture.

'Crimeans Don't Cry': Life Under the Blackout

In the hours after saboteurs cut the power lines from Ukraine, electricity came to the Crimean town of Yalta in bursts. Sometimes for an hour, sometimes...

Russia Restricts Use of Foreign Software in Battle for ‘Information Sovereignty’

Russian officials will be barred from using foreign software from next year if a Russian version exists.

Pearson and Dow Jones Sell Russia's Vedomosti Newspaper

Pearson and Dow Jones have agreed to sell their stakes in Russia's Vedomosti newspaper, transferring one of the country's most respected independent business...

Russia Hides Data on State Property in Foreign Countries

Details of property owned by the Russian government overseas have been made secret due to national security concerns and the “unfriendly” policies...

Local Brands Jump on AliExpress Bandwagon

China's gigantic online marketplace is preparing to open its platform to Russian retailers.

How Russia Nearly Banned Boeing 737 Airliners

For a few hours on Thursday, Russian aviation authorities appeared to have banned Boeing 737 short-haul airliners.

More Russians Attending Pro-Putin Rallies

The number of Russians attending pro-government rallies has increased tenfold since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, a study found, while...

Russia Confirms Soldier's Death in Syria, But Says It Was Suicide

Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that a 19-year-old soldier had died in Syria, Russia's first confirmed casualty in the conflict, but said he had...

New Russian Owner to Shrink Axel Springer Russia

A month after German media group Axel Springer announced the sale of Forbes Russia and a clutch of other Russian publications, their new owner said he...

Direct Flights Between Russia and Ukraine Ended By Sanctions

Russia and Ukraine will close their airspace to each other's airlines on Sunday, ending direct flights between the two countries.

Calculating the Cost of Russia's War in Syria

Russian air strikes in Syria are costing Moscow up to $4 million per day, data collated for The Moscow Times by a defense think tank showed.

Foreign Investors Complain About Russia's Unpredictable Laws

Unpredictable lawmaking is undermining Russia's ability to attract foreign investors, the Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC) told Prime Minister...

Standard & Poor's Lowers Russian Growth Forecast

Standard & Poor's has cut its growth forecast for Russia, predicting that lower and more volatile oil prices will make it harder for the country to emerge...

Putin Says Russian Economy Stabilizing

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday strove to deliver a positive message on the economy, even as output continues to shrink.

Tele2 to Unleash Price War Among Moscow's Mobile Operators

A fourth mobile operator will launch in Moscow this month in a bid to loosen the grip of Russia's "big three" telecoms companies — MTS, VimpelCom...

Most Russians Want Homosexuals 'Liquidated' or Ostracized – Poll

More than half of Russians think that gay people should be either "liquidated" or isolated from society, according to a poll published Friday that showed...

Russia Sees First Capital Inflow in 5 Years

Russia has recorded its first quarterly net capital inflow in five years, with $5.3 billion flowing into the country from July to September, according...

Foreign Fund Slams 'Intimidation Tactics' in Eurasia Drilling Buyout

Foreign minority shareholders in Eurasia Drilling, Russia's largest oil services company, are being forced to sell their shares at a cut-price rate to...

FSB Seeks to Classify Information About Russian Officials' Villas

Top Russian bureaucrats have repeatedly been forced to watch pictures of their luxury mansions paraded in the press in recent years.

Energy Sector Accounts for 98% of Russian Corporate Profits

Oil and gas companies earned 98 percent of all profits made by large Russian firms last year, a new ranking showed, making a mockery of attempts...

Russian Imports Plunge 39 Percent as Recession Takes Hold

The value of goods imported by Russia tumbled 39 percent in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period in 2014, as a deep recession...

Russia Searches for Post-G8 Footing at BRICS Summit

The leaders of the world's biggest emerging economies will meet in Russia on Thursday for a powwow that Moscow hopes will demonstrate the futility...

Russia's St. Petersburg Forum Opens to New Economic Reality

Last year, Russia's flagship economic forum in St. Petersburg, traditionally held in June, was moved forward to May to make room for a meeting of the G8...

Hopes Dashed, European Firms in Russia Settle In to New Normal

European businesses in Russia are reining in investment and growth expectations as they settle in for a "new normal" of economic sanctions and a...

Russia Embraces Yuan in Move Against U.S. Dollar Hegemony

Russian financial authorities, energy companies and state-controlled banks are stepping up their use of China's yuan currency as Western sanctions spur...

Q&A: 'Barriers Are Going Up' – Moscow Times Founder Derk Sauer on Russian Media

In the 1990s, Russia was "probably the freest place in the world" to be a foreign media entrepreneur, said Derk Sauer, the Dutchman who built a Russian...

Russian Owner Wants Modernized Moscow Times, Not Kremlin Stooge

The first Russian owner of The Moscow Times in its 23-year history said Monday he saw "huge potential" for developing the brand.

Russian Businessman Buys The Moscow Times

Finnish media group Sanoma said Thursday it would sell The Moscow Times to a Russian businessman, in a move that will end more than two decades of foreign...

'Russia Is the Motherland' – Crimean Schoolchildren on the Annexation

"Who do you think is responsible for the war in eastern Ukraine?" asked Masha, a 17-year old student at School No. 12 in Yalta, Crimea. I paused....

Crisis Turns Profit to Loss at Russia's No. 3 Bank Gazprombank

Gazprombank, Russia's third-largest lender, on Tuesday reported a net loss of 13.7 billion rubles ($260 million) in 2014 as the devaluation of the Russian...

Russian Trade With the World Falls 30% as Economic Crisis Deepens

Russia's trade turnover with the outside world plunged 30.1 percent year-on-year in the first two months of 2015 as oil price falls, currency devaluation...

Putin Won't Free Russia's Hard Currency Mortgage 'Slaves'

President Vladimir Putin has dashed hopes of a state bailout for tens of thousands of Russians struggling with the spiraling costs of their foreign...

Weak Russian Economic Data Blunt Putin's Optimism

The ruble slumped 4 percent and Moscow-listed stocks fell on Friday after official data showed that Russia's economy contracted sharply in the first...

Russian Inflation Surges to 13-Year High as Ruble Crisis Stings

Russian price inflation rose to 16.9 percent in March, its highest level since 2002, as the country adapts to a sharply weakened ruble and the impact...

Putin Unveils $1.7 Billion Boost for Russia's Biggest Aircraft Maker

Russia's largest aircraft manufacturer will receive a 100 billion ruble capital boost from the government to stimulate production of passenger airliners...

How Christie's Real Estate Helps Superrich Russian Teenagers Buy London Homes

Christie's International Real Estate helps the superrich buy superhomes. If you don't have the £40 million ($60 million) in liquid assets you need...
opinion Peter Hobson

No, Crimea Is Not 'Suffering Reign of Terror' Under Russian Rule

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland last week told an influential group of U.S. senators that due to Russian actions in Ukraine, "Crimea...

Botched Law Could Close Hundreds of Foreign Firms' Rep Offices in Russia

Representative and branch offices of foreign companies working in Russia are in a race against time to re-register with the authorities or lose their...

Russian Businessmen Tap Into Upswell of Patriotism

A Chechen tycoon has set up a patriotic business association aimed at curbing Russia's winner-take-all capitalism and encouraging responsible local...

Russia's Rosneft Publishes Executive Pay, But Hides Sechin's Salary

Russian state oil giant Rosneft on Monday published the income of its top managers, including company head and Kremlin heavyweight Igor Sechin.

Russians Warned Against Pyramid Schemes as 1990s Fraudster Remerges

The Central Bank on Tuesday warned people to steer clear of pyramid schemes as one of the country's most infamous fraudsters reemerged to prey on Russians...
opinion Peter Hobson

Arming Ukraine Is a Gift to Putin and a Betrayal of Europe

Over 10 months of fighting in eastern Ukraine, the West has slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin for supplying arms to the conflict zone.

Don't Expect Bread Lines From Russia's Crisis

Despite dire economic forecasts, Russia will escape high unemployment and social unrest this year thanks to an exodus of migrant workers, clever politics...

Putin Backs Creation of Giant Russian Space Corporation

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday backed the creation of a sector-spanning space corporation designed to revitalize the commercial rocket industry...

Russian Railways Chief Threatens to Quit Over Demands to Publish Salary

The head of Russia's vast state railway company on Thursday said he might quit if the government persisted in its "unreasonable" demands that he publish...

Rating Downgrade Set to Scare More Capital Out of Russia

Rating agency Fitch on Friday downgraded Russia's credit rating to one notch above junk status, warning that oil price falls and Western sanctions could...

Q&A: Could Sochi Become Russia's Ski Mecca?

Many observers saw the Sochi Olympic Games as a colossal white elephant and assumed that the city's vast new tourism and sport facilities would idle as...

10 Events That Shook Russia's Economy in 2014

A recap of Russia's economic year makes grim reading.