Russian Federation
Beanpole (Dylda): Disturbing scenes of postwar Soviet life
By Clara Weiss, 17 July 2019
Russian director Kantemir Balagov’s film treats the damaged lives of two young women who have just returned to Leningrad (today St. Petersburg) from the front after the end of the Second World War.
Russian navy officer: Fire on Russian nuclear submarine could have led to “planetary catastrophe”
By Clara Weiss, 12 July 2019
A Russian newspaper reported that the cause of the fire on the Losharik was an electrical short-circuit that led to an explosion and spontaneous combustion of a lithium-ion battery that had been installed on the submarine.
Fourteen high-ranking Russian navy officers die in fire on nuclear-powered submarine
By Clara Weiss, 5 July 2019
The submarine disaster is a chilling reminder of the advanced state of the preparations for world war.
The Command (Kursk): A dramatization of the 2000 Russian nuclear submarine disaster
By Joanne Laurier, 4 July 2019
The Kursk’s sinking was bound up with both the decay of the Russian military and the catastrophic impact of Russian capitalism.
Russian-Georgian tensions escalate amid Iran war crisis
By Clara Weiss, 29 June 2019
The Western-backed anti-Russian protests in Tiflis are bound up with the escalating US war drive against Iran, which threatens to draw in the entire Caucasus region.
Destroyed 1923 pamphlet on Red Army, commissioned by Trotsky, reprinted in Russia
By Clara Weiss, 27 June 2019
The reprint makes available, after almost 100 years, an important historical document, the fate of which reflects the violent repression by Stalinism of genuine Marxist thought and politics, represented within the Soviet Union by Leon Trotsky and the Left Opposition.
Destroyed 1923 pamphlet on Red Army, commissioned by Trotsky, reprinted in Russia
By Clara Weiss, 26 June 2019
The reprint makes available, after almost 100 years, an important historical document whose fate reflects the violent repression by Stalinism of genuine Marxist thought and politics, represented within the Soviet Union by Leon Trotsky and the Left Opposition.
Four men charged with murder based on bogus MH-17 investigation
By Clara Weiss, 24 June 2019
Charges against pro-Moscow separatists were laid based on an “investigation” influenced by the Ukrainian regime, that produced no proof of Russian involvement in downing flight MH-17.
“Unfortunately, none of this happened”: Kirill Serebrennikov’s Leto (Summer), a take on the pre- perestroika period in the USSR
By Clara Weiss, 14 June 2019
Serebrennikov’s new film treats two of Russia’s most famous rock groups, Kino and Zoopark, in the early 1980s, while managing to avoid all the major questions of the time.
Russian journalist Ivan Golunov released after campaign against his arrest
By Clara Weiss, 12 June 2019
While supporting the US-led persecution of Julian Assange, Western media and politicians, as part of their campaign for regime change in Moscow, decried the arrest of Golunov.
US and Russian warships nearly collide in the Philippine Sea
By Kevin Reed, 8 June 2019
In an encounter coinciding with a visit to Russia by Chinese President Xi Jinping, a US warship nearly collided with a Russian destroyer on Friday in the Philippine Sea.
At least 116 injured in Russia factory explosions
By Clara Weiss, 4 June 2019
The blasts at the factory, which produces explosives for the Russian military, shattered windows in hundreds of buildings over a radius of at least 3 kilometers.
Russian health care workers protest over wages and staffing
By Andrea Peters, 31 May 2019
Part of a wave of ongoing protests against the deplorable state of public health services in Russia, workers in Penza oblast staged a “work-to-rule” strike in late May.
Russia: 98 arrested in opposition-led protests in Yekaterinburg
By Clara Weiss, 18 May 2019
The protests are led by right-wing nationalist forces aligned with Alexei Navalny’s US-backed liberal opposition.
The social crisis and the global eruption of US imperialism
By Bill Van Auken, 9 May 2019
Washington’s brazen and reckless military threats and provocations on a world scale are driven by deep-going social and political crises within the US itself.
Up to 400,000 jobs threatened as US sanctions deepen crisis of Russian auto industry
By Clara Weiss, 2 May 2019
In mid-April, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska declared that the Russian auto company GAZ might declare bankruptcy, wiping out hundreds of thousands of manufacturing and related jobs.
Defying US threats, Turkey vows to deploy Russian air-defence system
By Keith Jones, 12 April 2019
In a New York Times op-ed, senior Democratic and Republican leaders have signaled bipartisan Congressional support for the Trump administration’s threats to roil Turkey’s economy if it deploys the S-400.
“Independent” union in Russia facilitates closure of Ford factory
By Clara Weiss, 8 April 2019
The Inter-Regional Trade Union Workers’ Alliance (MPRA) has blocked opposition to the US-based auto giant’s plans to close three factories and exit the passenger car market.
The media and the Mueller report
By Barry Grey, 27 March 2019
The Mueller report is a political debacle for the Democratic Party, the New York Times and the bulk of the corporate media, which day after day pumped out unsubstantiated claims and outright lies.
Putin signs Russian internet censorship bills into law
By Clara Weiss, 22 March 2019
The two laws are part of an international campaign by the ruling class to crack down on the internet.
Russian Pabloites push for a “broad left” amid growing social discontent, advanced US preparations for regime change
By Clara Weiss, 20 March 2019
The ultimate aim of the Russian Socialist Movement’s proposed “broad left” is to divert the growing social and political opposition within the Russian working class into right-wing channels.
After ripping up of INF treaty
Pentagon escalating buildup on Russia’s borders
By Bill Van Auken, 9 March 2019
The top US commander in Europe told a Senate panel that the Pentagon needs more troops and more warships to counter alleged Russian “threats.”
One year since the Skripal poisoning
By Robert Stevens, 5 March 2019
Even now there is no concrete evidence linking the regime of President Vladimir Putin with the Skripal poisoning—or even proof that novichok was involved.
US missile treaty withdrawal sparks global nuclear arms race
By Andre Damon, 21 February 2019
A half-century after the Cuban Missile crisis brought humanity to within a hair’s breadth of destruction, Washington is fueling an even more dangerous global nuclear standoff.
Russia: University building collapses in St. Petersburg
By Clara Weiss, 19 February 2019
The building collapse in St. Petersburg is symptomatic of an epidemic of building collapses and fires, a direct result of the destruction of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the restoration of capitalism.
Prazdnik (Holiday): Film about social inequality in Russia attracts mass audience
By Clara Weiss, 18 February 2019
The film is a poignant indictment of social inequality and has been subject to a campaign of Russian government censorship.
US “Worldwide Threat Assessment” takes aim at China
By Andre Damon, 1 February 2019
The annual report reflects a bipartisan escalation of US efforts to block China’s economic, military and technological development.
Russian Duma plans internet crackdown as 12,000 truckers strike
By Clara Weiss, 30 January 2019
The legislation is part of a global assault on free speech on the internet and a censorship campaign against independent news outlets.
UK: More troubling questions emerge in the Skripal case
By Robert Stevens, 24 January 2019
Nothing has been heard from the Skripals since they were spirited out of hospital months ago in a military-type operation and taken to a secret location.
The US political crisis reaches fever pitch
By Patrick Martin, 18 January 2019
Both feuding factions of the US ruling elite are right-wing, anti-democratic and militaristic.
US, Turkey clash over Turkish plan to buy Russian S-400 missiles
By Baris Demir, 15 January 2019
The US team is expected to warn Ankara that Washington will not tolerate a Turkish purchase of Russian air defence systems.
US intelligence think tank conducted “false flag” operation impersonating Russian election interference
By Will Morrow, 31 December 2018
New Knowledge sought to influence the 2017 Alabama election and make it appear that Russia was intervening to back the Republican candidate.
Yet another murder that wasn’t: The Perepilichny case and the anti-Russia campaign
By Clara Weiss, 24 December 2018
The Perepilichny case is the latest stark example of the propagation of “fake news” in the anti-Russia campaign.
A closer look at American “democracy”
By Barry Grey, 20 December 2018
The population is given the opportunity every two or four years to go to the polls and vote for one or the other corporate-controlled party. This is what is called “democracy.”
Russian television’s Trotsky serial: A degraded spectacle of historical falsification and anti-Semitism
By Fred Williams and David North, 19 December 2018
The eight-part mini-series, now available on Netflix, is an exhibition of the political, intellectual and cultural depravity of all those involved in its production. This comment was originally posted in November 2017.
In Defense of Leon Trotsky presented at Moscow Book Fair
By our correspondents, 15 December 2018
The publication of the book is of particular importance in Russia and met with significant interest among attendees of the book fair.
Russian workers strike against social misery and austerity
By Clara Weiss, 13 December 2018
The crackdown on the strike in Kamchatka reflects the fear within the Russian oligarchy that the development of the class struggle internationally will sooner rather than later drive Russian workers into open struggle.
US-Russia tensions mount over warplanes in Venezuela
By Bill Van Auken, 12 December 2018
The flight of the Russian warplanes to Caracas follows the provocative US Air Force overflight of Ukraine the previous week.
Washington’s ultimatum on INF treaty heightens threat of nuclear war
By Bill Van Auken, 6 December 2018
While charging Moscow with violating the accord, US imperialism’s real aim is to build up its own forces for aggressive war against both Russia and China.
Merkel backs Ukrainian provocations against Russia
By Peter Schwarz, 1 December 2018
Chancellor Angela Merkel has sharply attacked Russia at the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum, declaring that Putin is fully responsible for the present conflict.
Trump cancels G20 meeting with Putin amid rising tensions
By Andre Damon, 30 November 2018
The United States is on a course for conflict not just with Russia, but with China and the European Union.
Ukraine’s provocation in the Azov Sea
By Clara Weiss and Andre Damon, 29 November 2018
The Ukrainian military, with the support of high-level figures within the US state, has instigated a major international crisis ahead of this week’s G20 summit.
Russia fires on and captures Ukrainian Navy ships
By Clara Weiss, 26 November 2018
A military escalation in the Azov Sea was prepared over months, with a series of provocations by the Ukrainian regime that enjoyed the support of the EU and US imperialism.
“Trident Juncture” manoeuvres begin: NATO rehearses for war against Russia
By Philipp Frisch, 25 October 2018
The month-long manoeuvres in Norway heighten the danger of war between NATO and Russia.
Thousands mourn victims of school shooting in Crimea
By Andrea Peters, 23 October 2018
Twenty-one people are now dead as a result of a mass shooting at a vocational college in the Russian territory of Crimea.
Trump says US will withdraw from Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty
By Alex Lantier, 22 October 2018
As it targets Russia, China and other major powers, Washington is scrapping the entire framework of nuclear arms control that emerged from the Cold War.
A color revolution in the making: Vladimir Kara-Murza and Keith Gessen at Columbia University
By Clara Weiss, 22 October 2018
The event at Columbia University’s Harriman Institute was a stark testimony to the advanced preparations for a US-backed color revolution in Russia.
Russia: Putin ally Kudrin pushes for rapprochement with the imperialist powers
By Clara Weiss, 13 October 2018
Underlying the push toward improving ties with imperialism are the growing class tensions in Russia itself.
Kremlin suffers defeats in regional elections
By Andrea Peters, 6 October 2018
The electoral upsets that took place in September come as evidence mounts of growing discontent with Russia’s ruling party.
US, UK and NATO allies ramp up anti-Russia offensive over “cyber spying” and Skripals
By Robert Stevens, 5 October 2018
To frame the demand for the seven arrests, the US utilised all the material gathered by its NATO allies against Russia over the Skripal/novichok affair.
Washington threatens preemptive strike against Russian missiles
By Bill Van Auken, 3 October 2018
The threat by the US envoy Kay Bailey Hutchison to “take out” Russian missiles raises the specter of a nuclear Third World War.
Russian Duma rams through pension reform amid mass opposition
By Clara Weiss, 29 September 2018
The passing of the reform, the most unpopular measure of the Russian government in decades, sets the stage for a sharp escalation of social and political conflicts in Russia.
Vadim Rogovin and the sociology of Stalinism
By Andrea Peters, 25 September 2018
September 18 marked the 20th anniversary of the death of Soviet Marxist historian and sociologist Vadim Rogovin, the author of a seven-volume series on Stalinism and the Marxist opposition to the Soviet bureaucracy.
“History never teaches anyone anything”
Russian neo-Stalinist defends Partido Obrero’s “refounding” of Fourth International
By Bill Van Auken, 24 September 2018
Said Gafurov, a former advisor to Vladimir Putin, defends the PO's policy on the basis that the struggle of Trotskyism against Stalinism has lost all political significance.
New documents on Yeltsin-Clinton conversations further expose US “meddling” in Russian politics
By Clara Weiss, 22 September 2018
The Clinton Foundation has released hundreds of pages of documents about conversations between US president Bill Clinton and Russian president Boris Yeltsin.
New York Times’ fraudulent “election plot” dossier escalates anti-Russia hysteria
By Bill Van Auken, 21 September 2018
The Times regurgitates unsubstantiated claims that Russia “hijacked” the 2016 election and carried out a “stealth cyberage Pearl Harbor” to further an agenda of criminalizing domestic dissent and censoring the internet.
Russia implicates pro-NATO Ukrainian regime in MH17 shoot-down
By Kumaran Ira, 20 September 2018
Using serial numbers provided by European investigators, Moscow gave evidence that the missile that shot down MH17 was held not by Russian, but Ukrainian forces.
Moscow blames downing of Russian plane near Syria on Israeli “provocation”
By Bill Van Auken, 19 September 2018
The killing of 15 Russian military personnel off the coast of Latakia has ratcheted up dangerous military tensions in Syria.
Japanese prime minister seeks improved relations with Russia
By Ben McGrath, 17 September 2018
Japan is coming under increased pressure as a result of Washington’s protectionist measures, which are compounding instability throughout the Asia Pacific region.
China and Russia strengthen ties to counter US threats
By Peter Symonds, 13 September 2018
After their meeting, neither Xi nor Putin named Trump but they left no doubt that their closer ties are a reaction to Washington’s punitive measures.
Russian government cracks down on protesters during regional elections
By Clara Weiss, 12 September 2018
The crackdown on supporters of Navalny is meant to intimidate the millions of Russian workers and youth who oppose Putin’s pension reform.
Putin backs widely hated Russian pension reform
By Clara Weiss, 5 September 2018
The pension reform, with or without Putin’s proposed changes, is an aggressive move by the oligarchy in its class warfare against Russian workers.
Amid NATO threats, Russia launches largest war games since World War II
By Alex Lantier, 1 September 2018
The exercises come amid an escalation of military conflicts and tensions across Eurasia imminently posing the danger of a direct clash between the main nuclear powers.
Manila moves toward major arms purchase from Russia
By Joseph Santolan, 25 August 2018
The Pentagon, which has been systematically escalating military tensions with Russia, has not taken kindly to Washington’s former colony improving relations with Moscow.
Russian Duma presses ahead with pension reform in face of overwhelming popular opposition
By Clara Weiss, 24 August 2018
While 90 percent of the population opposes the reform, the Duma debate was dominated by its proponents.
Russian Duma presses ahead with pension reform in face of overwhelming popular opposition
By Clara Weiss, 23 August 2018
While 90 percent of the population opposes the reform, the Duma debate was dominated by its proponents.
New round of US sanctions against Russia
By Clara Weiss, 10 August 2018
Russian commentators have warned of a full-scale economic war between Russia and the US.
US-German tensions rise as construction starts on Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline
By Richard Tyler, 10 August 2018
Although the construction of Nord Stream 2 has begun, it could yet fall afoul of US President’s Trump’s trade war policies.
Russian Stalinists, pseudo-left close ranks against opposition to pension cuts
By Clara Weiss, 28 July 2018
Putin has promised since 2005 not to cut pensions and is plummeting in the polls, amid growing social anger in the working class.
Washington Post columnist calls for intervention of the “deep state”
By Andre Damon, 21 July 2018
“With a supine Congress unwilling to play the role it is assigned by the Constitution, the deep state stands between us and the abyss,” declares Post columnist Eugene Robinson.
UK poisonings: New allegations expose more contradictions
By Steve James, 20 July 2018
Despite incessant media hysteria over “novichok,” no evidence has been presented to back the claim of a second round of poisonings in Salisbury, England.
After Helsinki, Democrats incite “deep state” action against Trump
By Bill Van Auken, 17 July 2018
Trump’s appearance alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki unleashed a wave of denunciations from Democrats and the media, with former top intelligence officials calling for his ouster.
Anti-Russia campaign revived in UK with alleged discovery of “novichok” in perfume bottle
By our reporter, 17 July 2018
The narrative being developed by the police is that a “container” of novichok was likely discarded by Russian state-sponsored agents who had attempted to assassinate double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4.
In run-up to Trump-Putin summit, Mueller charges 12 Russian officers with DNC email hack
By Bill Van Auken, 14 July 2018
The announcement of the criminal charges against the 12 Russians provoked a wave of hysteria from the US television news networks and Democratic Party officials.
More inconsistencies in account of second UK novichok poisoning
By Thomas Scripps, 11 July 2018
The theory advanced by the government is that “Russia has committed an attack on British soil which has seen the death of a British citizen.”
Soviet-Russian conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky dead at 87
By Clara Weiss, 11 July 2018
Rozhdestvensky had a formative influence on Soviet musical life throughout much of the postwar period.
“Nerve agent” death of Dawn Sturgess raises fresh questions over UK Skripal affair
By Thomas Scripps, 10 July 2018
In marked contrast to the hospitalisation of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, the fatality of Dawn Sturgess—apparently also through “novichok” poisoning—has met with a more muted response.
UK mounts fresh offensive against Russia following second alleged novichok poisoning
By Chris Marsden, 6 July 2018
The circumstances surrounding the latest accusations are as dubious and baseless as those initially made regarding the March 4 incident involving double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.
The Case of Sobchak: A film by, about and for the Russian oligarchy
By Clara Weiss, 6 July 2018
The documentary amounts to an appeal to the Kremlin, Washington and the liberal intelligentsia, to make peace and negotiate an orderly transition from the Putin presidency.
Outrage in Russia over pension reform
By Clara Weiss, 21 June 2018
Ninety-two percent of the population oppose the government’s plan to raise the retirement age.
Russian authorities ordered destruction of documents on Stalin’s terror
By Clara Weiss, 18 June 2018
Archival material about people who were kept in the Soviet forced labor camp system and subsequently released has been systematically destroyed, on the basis of a secret decree from February 2014.
Russian President Putin’s “direct line” discussion dominated by war danger and social crisis
By Vladimir Volkov and Clara Weiss, 14 June 2018
Putin’s positive evaluation of the situation in the country stands in stark contrast to the social crisis confronting the vast majority of the Russian population.
The Guardian mounts defence of British government lies over Skripals
By Jean Shaoul, 12 June 2018
The Guardian is acutely aware of the widespread and entirely healthy scepticism towards anything the government says on the Skripal case.
Lies and contradictions pile up on Ukraine’s faked murder of Babchenko
By Clara Weiss, 4 June 2018
Western governments and media outlets fear that the crudity of Ukraine’s state operation will discredit their anti-Russia campaign.
The New York Times and the murder that wasn’t
By Andre Damon, 1 June 2018
The response to the staged murder of the Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko stands as an exposure of the US media.
Japanese and Russian leaders meet to discuss economic and security concerns
By Gary Alvernia, 1 June 2018
The summit between Abe and Putin highlighted the cracks emerging between Tokyo and Washington.
War, propaganda and smears: An interview with Professor Piers Robinson
Part three
By Julie Hyland, 26 May 2018
The following is the third part of a three-part interview with Professor Piers Robinson, an academic at the University of Sheffield and a member of the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media.
War, propaganda and smears: An interview with Professor Piers Robinson
Part two
By Julie Hyland, 25 May 2018
The following is the second part of a three-part interview with Professor Piers Robinson, an academic at the University of Sheffield and a member of the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media. Part one was posted on May 24.
War, propaganda and smears: An interview with Professor Piers Robinson
Part one
By Julie Hyland, 24 May 2018
The following is the first part of a three-part interview with Professor Piers Robinson, an academic at the University of Sheffield and a member of the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media.
Sergei Skripal discharged from hospital
By Robert Stevens and Paul Bond, 21 May 2018
The entire narrative concocted by the British government has fallen apart, seam by seam.
Putin begins his fourth term as Russia’s president
By Clara Weiss, 9 May 2018
Putin’s fourth term as president will inevitably be characterized by increasing social struggles in Russia.
Capitalist restoration in Russia: A balance sheet
Part 4: The Kuzbass today
By Clara Weiss, 4 May 2018
This series reviews the lessons of the Soviet miners’ strike of 1989 and capitalist restoration in Russia.
Capitalist restoration in Russia: A balance sheet
Part 3
By Clara Weiss, 3 May 2018
This series reviews the lessons of the Soviet miners’ strike of 1989 and capitalist restoration in Russia.
UK media told to conceal connections between Sergei Skripal and MI6
By Thomas Scripps, 2 May 2018
A former UK ambassador has published evidence suggesting that a “D-notice” has been issued to the press—a request to stop the publication of potentially damaging news stories.
Capitalist restoration in Russia: A balance sheet
Part 2: What happened to the miners’ strike
By Clara Weiss, 2 May 2018
This series reviews the lessons of the Soviet miners’ strike of 1989 and capitalist restoration in Russia.
Capitalist restoration in Russia: A balance sheet
Part 1
By Clara Weiss, 1 May 2018
This series reviews the lessons of the Soviet miners’ strike of 1989 and capitalist restoration in Russia.
Skripal case developments further discredit British government lies
By Simon Whelan, 23 April 2018
As the UK government’s lies over the Skripal affair continue to unravel, Moscow has accused it of yet “another gross violation” of international rules.
As lies on Syrian gas attack unravel, US and UK shift to claims of Russian “cyber war”
By Will Morrow, 18 April 2018
An on-the-spot report from Douma by veteran journalist Robert Fisk further exposes the chemical gas pretext for the illegal US-UK-French bombing of Syria.
US lashes out at Russia, as OPCW inspectors prepare to enter Douma
By Peter Symonds, 17 April 2018
Western governments and media that propagated unsubstantiated claims of a chemical weapons attack to justify illegal missile strikes on Syria are seeking to cover their tracks.
Russian government blocks messaging app Telegram
By Clara Weiss, 17 April 2018
The attack on encrypted communication is part of the international drive by governments to censor the Internet and expand mass surveillance.
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