Maria Butina, convicted of serving as an unregistered foreign agent before and after the 2016 election, insists she “wasn’t a spy” and that her Duma seat is “not a reward.” Her critics call her a Kremlin “trophy.”
Author: Valerie Hopkins
Russia Introduces Weeklong Office Shutdown After Covid Deaths Rise
The measure, meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus, is short of a full lockdown and only affects nonessential workers.
Russia’s Low Vaccination Rates Leads to Record-Breaking Toll
The country hit 1,000 deaths in a 24-hour period for the first time since the pandemic began, reflecting the risks of having a low vaccination rate.
E.U. Envoy Blames Russia for Delay in Sputnik Vaccine Approval
Moscow has criticized the bloc for not yet approving the Russia-made vaccine, but the E.U. ambassador said the timing was not political.
Nobel Prize Splits Russia’s Opposition, With Navalny Allies Frustrated
While many Russians cheered the support for independent journalism, allies of the opposition leader Aleksei Navalny expressed disappointment at what they considered a “compromise” choice.
After 100 Years, a Royal Wedding in Russia Evokes Days of the Czars
For the groom, a Romanov and descendant of the imperial throne, and his Italian bride, the wedding represents the pinnacle of their attempts to re-establish a monarchic presence in Russia’s public life.
Activists in Russia Push to Make Domestic Violence a Voting Issue
Middle-aged women are part of the core base of Russia’s ruling party. Can its refusal to help domestic violence victims harm its support in this weekend’s elections?
Senior Russian Minister Dies After Diving Off Cliff to Save Film Director
The government said Yevgeny Zinichev, a longtime Putin aide responsible for emergency situations, dived off a cliff to save a film director who fell into the water.
Senior Russian Minister Dies During Drill
The government said Yevgeny Zinichev, a longtime Putin aide responsible for emergency situations, dived off a cliff to save a film director who fell into the water.