Articles by Anastasia Bazenkova



What Does Brexit Mean for Russia?

52 percent of British people voted to leave the EU on Thursday and the result has already led to Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation and a free fall in global markets and currencies.

Putin Mulls Sale of Rosneft Stakes to Chinese, Indian Companies

Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering selling a 19.5 percent stake in the Rosneft oil giant to companies in India and China to cover Russia's budget deficit.

Russian Activists Plan Rally for Orlando Shooting Victims

Activists have appealed to Moscow City Hall for permission to hold a rally for the victims of the homophobic mass-shooting at an Orlando gay bar.

SPIEF Day One: Highlights

The first day of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum kicked off on Thursday, with 10,000 visitors joining political and business leaders at Russia's biggest economic event of the year.

Sports Minister Says Russian Football Fans Could Clash Again 'If Provoked'

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko says that he can't exclude further violence from Russian football fans in France due to the “numerous provocations” they face at the Euro 2016 tournament.

French Police Crack Down On Russian Football Fans After Marseille Violence

Russian football fans are facing police checks and a UEFA investigation after violent clashes with English supporters during the country's opening Euro 2016 match in Marseille on Saturday.

Putin Urges Global Authorities to Ensure Freedom Of Information

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged governments around the world to protect the freedom of the press, the TASS news agency reported Tuesday.

U.S., Ukraine and Turkey Named as Russia's Main Enemies – Poll

Russian citizens have named the United States, Ukraine and Turkey as the country's greatest enemies, according to a poll by the independent Levada Center, the Vedomosti newspaper reported Thursday.

Putin Recommends Chaika For Reappointment as Prosecutor General

Russian President Vladimir Putin has recommended that Yury Chaika serve another five-year term as Prosecutor General, the RIA news agency reported.

Russian Journalist Shlosberg to Receive First Nemtsov Prize

Russian journalist and politician Lev Shlosberg has been awarded the inaugural Boris Nemtsov Foundation prize for “defending the values of freedom and democracy in Russia.”

Rockstars, Politicians and Military Bands: Russia's Potential Candidates for the 2017 Eurovision

Russian politicians have never before expressed so much indignation about the result of the Eurovision song contest- or at least they haven’t since 2014, which ended in victory of Austria's bearded Conchita Wurst.

Crimea Sees Sharp Drop in Russian Tourists

Russians are losing interest in traveling to Crimea, as the demand for flights to Simferopol among tourists has declined by more than 25 percent this year, the Kommersant newspaper reported Monday, citing data from Svyaznoy-Travel ticket agency.

Russia Convenes Presidential Council to Boost Economy

Stuck in a second year of recession and facing a long period of economic stagnation, Russian officials are searching hard for ways to stimulate growth.

Panama Papers Link More Than 6,000 Russians to Offshore Companies

More than 6,000 Russian individuals and legal entities own or manage offshore companies, according to data published online by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Britain and Russia in Diplomatic Spat Over Palmyra Concert

A performance by a Russian orchestra in the ruins of Palmyra in Syria on Thursday resulted in an exchange of caustic remarks between Moscow and British diplomats.

Human Rights Event Attacked in Moscow

Guests at an event organized by Russia's leading human rights group Memorial have been attacked by nationalist activists,  the organization's executive director told the Moscow Times Thursday.

Interpol to Reconsider Its Position on Khodorkovsky – Russian Prosecutor General

Interpol is ready to reconsider its refusal to put former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky on the international wanted list on condition that Russia provides additional materials on the case.

Putin's National Guard May Gain Right to Shoot at Crowds

The newly created National Guard could be given the power to shoot into crowds of people under proposals from State Duma deputies.

Russia's Top Cop Wants Internet Censorship to Fight U.S. 'Info War'

The head of Russia's Investigative Committee has proposed a range of measures to give a “strong, appropriate and balanced response” to the information war that he claims the U.S.and its allies are waging against Russia.

Five Rapid Results from Putin's Call-in Marathon

For hapless officials across Russia, President Putin's annual call-in marathon is a wake-up call like no other.

Former Finance Minister in Line for Top Position at Putin’s Think Tank

Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin has been offered a senior position at Russia's main think tank on economic policy and may participate in the development of a new economic strategy for the Kremlin.

Navalny to Sue Media Holding VGTRK Over Browder-Link Accusations

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is set to file a lawsuit against state-owned television and radio company VGTRK in connection with the film that links him to a British-American investor William Browder.

'Look, There's Jackie Chan': Russian Media Responds to Panama Allegations

The release of leaked data from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca has been greeted with a varied, but largely muted response by Russian media.

U.S. Not Interested in Exchanging Savchenko for Russian Arms Dealer Bout

President Vladimir Putin might like to trade convicted Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko for Russian nationals imprisoned in the United States, but such an exchange is not being considered by the White House.

Putin and Kerry Discuss Syria, Ukraine, Savchenko at Moscow Meeting

Despite the fact that progress remains slow on some of the key conflicts between Russia and the U.S., talks between Putin and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry demonstrated a softening of the rhetoric used by both sides.

Kerry: 'Productive' Talks With Russian Foreign Minister in Moscow

Following negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Twitter that talks had been “productive.”

War of Words: Russia Responds to Terrorism in Brussels

On Tuesday morning, two explosions, carried out by a suicide bomber, occurred near the check-in desks for American Airlines at Zaventem Airport in Brussels.

Experts Say Weather, Not Glitch, Likely Cause of FlyDubai Crash

Officials have yet to identify the cause of FlyDubai Flight FZ981's crash at Rostov-on-Don airpor on Saturday, but preliminary reports indicate either pilot error or a technical failure were the likely culprits.

EU Calls Upon UN Countries to Impose Sanctions Against Russia

On the second anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, the EU has once again condemned Moscow's actions and called upon the countries of the UN to join in sanctions against Russia.

Critique of Chechnya Provokes Attack on Chief of Russian Anti-Torture NGO

Head of the Committee Against Torture NGO Igor Kalyapin could have avoided an attack in the Chechen capital of Grozny if he had come to the Russian republic with good intentions.


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