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Decoding the Reshuffles in Ramzan Kadyrov's Regime

Analyst Harold Chambers joins us to explain what the latest flurry of changes in Chechnya's leadership means.

Helping Russian Deserters Flee the Front Lines

Grigory Sverdlin, the founder of Idite Lesom (Get Lost), speaks to The Moscow Times about how the NGO helps conscientious objectors evade military service...

What Russia's New Defense Minister Means for the Ukraine War

Ruben Enikolopov, a political economist and professor at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, explains what to expect from Andrei Belousov.

Is Russia Behind Georgia’s Political Crisis?

This week, we spoke with Georgian experts about why the ruling party is trying to pass the "foreign influence” bill, the protests against it, and what...

Are Feminists the Kremlin’s Next Target?

Feminist activist Zalina Marshenkulova joins us to discuss the Kremlin’s increasing pressure on women’s rights campaigners, the feminist movement’s...

Chernobyl’s Legacy in Modern Russia

April 26 marks 38 years since Chernobyl, the world's worst nuclear disaster. In this episode, we discuss the legacy of this tragedy on modern-day Russia...

Russia's Difficult Balancing Act Between Israel and Iran

We discuss Russia's place in the region with Rajan Menon, director of the Grand Strategy Program at the U.S. think tank Defense Priorities, and Israeli...

A Dispatch from Russia's Flood-Hit Orenburg Region

The city and its surrounding regions have made headlines as historic flooding from the Ural River has forced thousands of people to be evacuated.

Has the Moscow Attack Made Russia More Xenophobic?

Alexander Verkhovsky of the Sova Center and Vika Maladaeva of the Indigenous of Russia Foundation discuss Russia’s problems with xenophobia.

Moscow Concert Hall Attack: What We Know and Why It Happened

Ruslan Suleymanov, an expert on Central Asia, tells us how the attack was possible in Moscow, despite the city’s heightened security measures.

Fighting to Free Evan Gershkovich From Russia, One Year On

Evan’s close friend, The Guardian's Russia correspondent Pjotr Sauer joins us to discuss the first anniversary of his arrest in Russia and the efforts...

How the Kremlin Is Manipulating the 2024 Election

Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the independent election watchdog Golos, joins us to discuss electoral fraud in Russia and whether anything can be done...

Women’s Rights in Wartime Russia

Sasha Talaver joins us to discuss the evolution of women's rights in Russia and the role of women in Russia's anti-war resistance.

Has Modern Russia Become as Repressive as Stalinism?

About 116,000 people have suffered direct political repression in Russia over the past six years — the highest number since under Stalin's rule.

Special Episode: Navalny’s Life, His Death and His Legacy

This episode of Russia on the Record is dedicated to remembering Navalny's life, his impact on Russian politics and the legacy he leaves behind.

How Russia Weaponizes History for the Ukraine War

Researcher Jade McGlynn joins us to discuss and deconstruct the mechanics and motives behind Russia's weaponization of history.

Russian Comedians Look for Laughter in Exile

Comedians Ilya Ovechkin and Denis Chuzhoy join us to discuss how they've adapted to life in exile, both personally and in their comedy.

How Russia Pressures Exiled Journalists and Activists

Investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov joins us to discuss the work of Russian intelligence services outside Russia.

How Long-Simmering Discontent Fueled Protests in Bashkortostan

Abbas Galyamov, a political scientist from Bashkortostan now in exile, and Moscow Times journalist Leyla Latypova join us to discuss.

Russia's Winter of Discontent, From Mass Heating Failures to 'Nearly Naked' Party Scandal

Researcher Andras Toth-Czifra and music critic Artemy Troitsky join us to analyze these events and how they will impact the wider social mood across the...

Belgorod: The Russian City Paying the Price for Moscow's War on Ukraine

Belgorod residents discuss life following the deadly Dec. 30 attack, their feelings toward Russian authorities and their views of the ongoing war in Ukraine...

Putin’s 2024 Election Campaign: His Platform and Challenges

We discuss the political platform Putin is likely planning for his new campaign and whether he could face any challenges to his re-election before the...

How Have Putin’s Campaigns and Opinions Changed During His Quarter-Century Rule?

We ask historian Nina Khrushcheva about Putin’s presidential campaigns since 2000 and how his attitude toward the West has changed throughout his rule...

Has Russia Made it Illegal To Be LGBT?

LGBT people and rights activists in Russia join us to discuss the Supreme Court's ban of the "international LGBT movement."

Political Persecutions in Russia: Portraits of Prisoners

More than 1,000 people are in jail or prison in Russia for political reasons. But these numbers don’t give the full picture of what happens to dissenters...

How Stable Are Russia's Ties With Central Asia?

Central Asian countries have long been some of Russia’s most loyal allies — but ties appear increasingly complicated.

Is Russia Heading Toward an Abortion Ban?

In recent months, several Russian regions have pursued anti-abortion policies. Could a nationwide ban be in the works?

Contemporary Russian Art: Immigration or Compromise?

Russia's artists are increasingly left with two choices: to emigrate abroad or to silence their views on the war.

Women in Russia's North Caucasus and the Weight of Patriarchal Traditions

In this episode, we examine women’s rights in the North Caucasus, featuring the story of one woman who fled from familial abuse in the republic of Ingushetia...

Are Russians Really Living Like There’s No War?

We speak with Russians in Moscow and St. Petersburg and a leading sociologist to find out.

Why Is Climate Change Not on the Agenda in Russia?

Russia, one of the world's top greenhouse gas emitters, is already feeling the impacts of climate change. So why is it largely missing from public discourse...

How War in Israel and Gaza Impacts Russia

Russian emigres in Israel recount their experiences since the attacks by Hamas militants, while expert Ivan U. Klyszcz discusses what the hostilities mean...

How the Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis Is Testing Russia's Role in the South Caucasus

For decades, Russia has been an important political player in the South Caucasus. How has Azerbaijan's takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh changed this power...

Western Journalists Expelled From Russia Reflect on Departure

Dutch journalist Eva Hartog and Finnish journalist Anna-Lena Lauren were forced to leave Russia this year after their visas and accreditations were not...

Russia’s Wartime Economy

How have the Russian authorities managed to weather the economic storm caused by sanctions, and how sustainable are these measures in the long run?

Russia’s Regional Elections Kick Off Putin’s Re-Election Campaign

We discuss Russia’s regional and local elections — and how they have unofficially kicked off the campaign for the 2024 presidential vote.