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☆ One of Putin's guards who denounced the war and fled Russia says he's being pursued even in South America
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He's one of the extremely rare FSO officers to do so — and says he's still being pursued for it. AdvertisementAdvertisementA former member of President Vladimir Putin's Federal Protective Service said that he has been pursued since he fled Russia and denounced the invasion of Ukraine. They appear to be the brutal consequences of his decision to publicly reject Putin's politics and the war in Ukraine. But much of his family was there, and an FSO job would be the peak of his career, offering a comfortable 68,000 rubles ($700) a month. Speaking outEven in Ecuador, Brizhaty doesn't feel safe from the Kremlin.

Persons: Vitaly Brizaty, Putin, he's, —, Vladimir Putin's, Vitaly Brizhaty, Brizhaty, Alexei Navalny, Navalny, didn't, nodded, — Putin, Thibault Spirlet Organizations: FSO, Service, Vladimir Putin's Federal Protective Service, Protection Service, Russian Locations: Russian, Russia, Ecuador, Ukraine, Crimea, Olivye, Ukrainian, Kremlin

In short, Russia’s children are being prepared for war. Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said recently that there are now about 10,000 so-called “military-patriotic” clubs in Russian schools and colleges, and a quarter-of-a-million people take part in their work. There are mandatory classes on military-patriotic values; updated history books accentuate Russian military triumphs. President Putin has personally led the campaign to inject patriotism into Russia’s schools. That message - hammered home by the president and state media - is now being taken into Russia’s schools.

Persons: Sergei Kravtsov, Vladimir Putin, ’, ”, ” Putin, Ukraine “, Putin, “, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Uliana Shumelova, schooler, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Daria, Vladimir, Ukraine –, Buryatia, She’d, It’s Organizations: CNN, Education, Security, Defense, Education Ministry, Novosti, RIA Novosti, Russia, Kremlin, Educational, Ministry of Defense, Air Defense, United, ”, Northern Military District, Military Sports Games, Defense Ministry, Armed Forces Russian Federation Locations: Pacific, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Russia, Crimea, Ukrainian, stoke, Belgorod, Krasnodar, Vologda, Sakhalin, Russia’s Far, Yeysk, Azov, Astrakhan, United Russia, Vladivostok, Voronezh, Ussuriysk, Buryatia, Chita trumpeted, Orenburg, Polish, Perm, State

☆ Russia sent troops into battle armed with little more than shovels against Ukraine's cluster munitions, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian soldier claimed that his regiment was being sent into hopeless fights, per independent media. His account suggests a desperate fight in the village of Andriivka, which Ukraine recently retook. AdvertisementAdvertisementLast Thursday, video appeared to show Ukrainian troops retaking Andriivka, which Russia quickly denied. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen troops are sent in, there is barely any supporting fire from artillery because they have hardly any rounds, Ivanov told Svoboda. Vera, the wife, suggested that Russian troops had been ordered to fire on their compatriots if they retreated.

Persons: Bakhmut, Denis Ivanov, Svoboda, —, Vera —, Andriivka, Ivanov, Vera Organizations: Service, Andriivka, for, Associated Press Locations: Russian, Andriivka, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Bakhmut, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ Apple informs journalists Russia is targeting them with Pegasus spyware
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia appears to be targeting journalists with spyware known as Pegasus. Pegasus is a "zero-click" software, hacking phones by sending texts that don't need to be opened. Tech and privacy experts later revealed that Timchenko, leader of independent media outlet Meduza, had been targeted by the "zero-click" spyware Pegasus, The New York Times reported. Several other journalists affiliated with independent Russian media outlets reported receiving similar warnings from Apple on Thursday, according to the Times. Later that same year, a report revealed several US State Department employees living in or focusing on Uganda had also been hacked by the software, Insider reported.

Persons: Galina Timchenko, Timchenko, — Yevegny Erlich —, Pegasus — Organizations: Service, Apple, Tech, New York Times, Pegasus, Times, Amnesty International, NSO, US State Department Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Uganda

REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - A leading Russian journalist has had her phone compromised using Israeli spyware, researchers said Wednesday, the latest sign that phone hacking tools are being used to spy on media workers and opposition figures worldwide. A joint investigation by Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab and digital rights group Access Now found that the phone of Galina Timchenko had been infected using spyware built by the Israeli company NSO Group. Timchenko - the co-founder and publisher of independent Russian news outlet Meduza - was in Berlin at the time of the hack, the researchers said. Media defense groups condemned the alleged surveillance, with the Committee to Protect Journalists saying "journalists and their sources are not free and safe if they are spied on." Researchers, lawmakers and journalists have repeatedly accused NSO of helping governments spy on political opponents and undermine independent reporting.

Persons: Galina Timchenko, Tatyana Makeyeva, Timchenko, Meduza, Raphael Satter, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Canadian, Lab, NSO Group, Media, Protect Journalists, U.S, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Russian, Berlin, Latvia, Ukraine

CNN —A Russian military blogger who has written critically of Russia’s conduct in Ukraine was arrested in Moscow Thursday, according to state news agency RIA Novosti. The blogger, Andrey Kurshin, runs the Moscow Calling Telegram channel, which has some 87,000 subscribers. “A criminal case was opened against the administrator of the Moscow Calling telegram channel Andrey Kurshin for fake news about the Russian army,” RIA Novosti said Thursday. In April, Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky was killed in an explosion at a cafe in the center of St. Petersbug, where he was appearing as a guest of a pro-war group. Russia’s pro-invasion military bloggers have filled some of the information vacuum left behind by the closure of independent media outlets in Russia.

Persons: Andrey Kurshin, RIA Novosti, “, Kurshin, ” ISW, Igor Girkin, Girkin, Vladimir Putin, Vladlen Tatarsky, Daria Trepova, Trepova, Russia’s, Wagner Organizations: CNN, RIA Novosti, RIA, The, Investigators Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, St, Petersbug, Russia

☆ Elon Musk's X is hit with 2,200 arbitration claims from former Twitter employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

X is facing more than 2,200 arbitration cases involving ex-employees, a new court filing said. Since Elon Musk's Twitter takeover, the company also has been hit with lawsuits from former staff. X could be on the hook for at least $3.5 million in fees for the arbitration cases, CNBC reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementElon Musk's social media company formerly known as Twitter has been hit with more than 2,200 arbitration cases from former employees, according to a recent court filing. X, formerly known as Twitter, was hit with lawsuits from former employees after Musk cut the company's workforce in half.

Persons: Elon, It's, Elon Musk, Twitter, Shannon Liss, Riordan, Chris Woodfield, X, Tesla Organizations: Twitter, CNBC, Morning, X Locations: —, Delaware

☆ After 38 Years, Cambodian Leader Hands Power to His Son
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | More About Sui-Lee Wee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But the transition of power has significant implications for Cambodia’s future, Southeast Asia and for the United States and China, which are jockeying for influence in the region. When Mr. Hun Sen became prime minister 38 years ago, the country was emerging from the destruction of the Khmer Rouge movement. He ushered in an era of strongman rule that has included the eradication of opposition parties and independent media. claimed it had clinched a “landslide victory” in elections that international observers said were stage-managed and unfair. As leader, Mr. Hun Sen embraced China, which he described as Cambodia’s “most trustworthy friend.” Beijing, Cambodia’s largest trading partner, supplied loans to finance airports, roads and other infrastructure projects.

Persons: Hun Manet, Hun Sen, Mr, ” Organizations: West Locations: Southeast Asia, United States, China, England, Khmer, ” Beijing

[1/5] Belarus' exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya gives an opening speech during the New Belarus conference in Warsaw, Poland, August 6, 2023. REUTERS/Kuba StezyckiWARSAW, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Exiled opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko met in Poland on Sunday, on the eve of the third anniversary of their unsuccessful post-election protests, to display unity and plan strategy including the issuance of "New Belarus" passports. Set up in August 2022 by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the self-declared government-in exile has opened more than 20 alternative embassies and information centres abroad. Speaking at a hotel in Warsaw to several hundred activists, including independent media and civic groups, Tsikhanouskaya urged opposition forces abroad to unite and support the creation of a "New Belarus" movement. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron first since 1994, using security forces to intimidate, beat and jail his foes or force them to flee abroad.

Persons: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Tsikhanouskaya, Syarhei Tsikhanouski, Agnieszka Pikulicka, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: New, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Belarus, New Belarus, Warsaw, Poland, WARSAW, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarusian

CNN —Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny is facing an even longer stint in jail after being sentenced to 19 years in prison on extremism charges, Russian media report, a fresh blow to a fierce critic of Russia’s President Putin that comes amid an intensifying crackdown on dissent. Navalny was accused of creating an extremist community, financing extremist activities and a number of other crimes. Navalny is already serving sentences totaling 11-and-a-half years in a maximum security facility on fraud and other charges that he says were trumped up. Putin himself said in December 2020 that if Russian security services had wanted to kill Navalny, they “would have finished” the job. Peaceful protests were quickly shut down and thousands arrested after Moscow’s invasion.

Persons: Alexey Navalny, Russia’s, Putin, Navalny, Mr Navalny, ” Navalny, Novichok, ” Organizations: CNN, IK, European Union, Reuters, Russian Security Service, Facebook Locations: Russian, Melekhovo, Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Soviet, Berlin, Siberian, Omsk, Navalny, Siberia

[1/2] Hun Manet, son of Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen is seen at a polling station on the day of Cambodia's general election, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 23, 2023. "We hope to host (Hun Manet). Osius said the U.S. approach to Cambodia had been "punitive" and Washington should look for opportunities for dialogue. "Better for (Hun Manet) if there if he's got some strategic options, and that could mean improving ties with us," he said. Cambodia's Washington embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Hun Manet, Cambodia's, Hun Sen, Cindy Liu, Ted Osius, he’s, he's, Osius, Hun, Simon Lewis, David Brunnstrom, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Southeast Asia, Reuters, Cambodian People's Party, U.S ., ASEAN Business, General Assembly, Beijing, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Washington, New York, Southeast, U.S, Vietnam, United States, China, Ream, UNGA

What’s the difference between Russia’s internet before and after the invasion of Ukraine? That was the finding of a report published on Wednesday by Citizen Lab, a group from the University of Toronto that studies online censorship in authoritarian countries. The new report was one of the first attempts to quantify the extent of Russian internet censorship since the war began in February 2022. Before the war, Russia’s government issued internet takedown orders to Vkontakte, known as VK, once every 50 days on average. The government also used keyword blocking to censor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer terms on the site, the report said.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: Citizen Lab, University of Toronto, Lab, Vkontakte, VK Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Vkontakte

☆ US pauses some aid, imposes visa bans after 'neither free nor fair' Cambodia election
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) - The United States said it was pausing some foreign assistance programs in Cambodia and imposing visa bans on individuals it says undermined democracy after the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) declared a landslide victory in elections on Sunday. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that Washington was "troubled" that the elections, in which Prime Minister Hun Sen's CPP faced no viable opponent were "neither free nor fair." "Ahead of the elections, Cambodian authorities engaged in a pattern of threats and harassment against the political opposition, media, and civil society that undermined the spirit of the country’s constitution and Cambodia’s international obligations," Miller said. "In response, the United States has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermined democracy and implemented a pause of certain foreign assistance programs," he added. Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Matthew Miller, Washington, Hun Sen's, Miller, Hun Sen, Hun Manet, Simon Lewis, Michael Perry Organizations: United, Cambodian People's Party, Sunday . State Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Cambodia

☆ Like strongman, like son? Cambodia's Hun Manet makes political debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Clare Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] General Hun Manet, son of Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen holds a party flag as he attends a kickoff of an election campaign rally for the upcoming national election in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 1, 2023. The political debut of Hun Manet, 45, marks one of the final steps in a decades-long grooming process that is expected to end with him succeeding his father as prime minister. For some, Hun Manet represents a young, fresh face who will further develop Cambodia. He recently hosted Hun Manet as an AmCham guest of honour. In 2019 and 2020, Hun Manet met three foreign leaders, the Lowy Institute think tank said.

Persons: Hun Manet, Cambodia's, Hun Sen, Cindy Liu, Hun, Anthony Galliano, Hun Manet's, liberalize, spokespeople, Hun Sen's, Sam Rainsy, feudalistic, Manet, Lee Morgenbesser, he's, Morgenbesser, I've, –, Clare Baldwin, Kay Johnson, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Cambodian, Cambodia People's Party, National Assembly, Cambodia, ASEAN Parliamentarians, Human Rights, Reuters, U.S, New York University, University of Bristol, ABC, Griffith University, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Lowy Institute, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thai, West, Southeast Asia, Western

☆ Russia has launched its own version of Wikipedia, called Ruwiki, which is notably more sympathetic to Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Kremlin-compliant version of Wikipedia, Ruwiki, has launched in Russia. Its founder, a former longtime editor at Russian Wikipedia, says it will follow strict Russian media laws. Russia has launched its own version of Wikipedia that is markedly more friendly towards President Vladimir Putin and his government. Insider compared Ruwiki with Russian Wikipedia using Google Translate as of July 13 to get a sense of their key differences. Russian Wikipedia has a dedicated article on the episode, during which Wagner forces marched on Moscow and came within 125 miles of the Russian capital before turning back.

Persons: It's, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Wikipedia's, Vladimir Medeyko, Medeyko, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, Ruwiki Organizations: The Telegraph, Bloomberg, Google, Russia's Ministry of Defense, Wired Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Moscow

☆ Russia is handing out leaflets trying to recruit more women to join its army: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Leaflets in Russia's Siberia are calling on women to join the army, per independent media. Women would potentially serve in occupied Ukraine "in the same ranks as men," The Moscow Times reported. 39,000 women currently serve in Russia's army, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. That same month, Russia's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, said that 39,000 women were currently serving in Russia's armed forces, including 5,000 officers.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu Organizations: Moscow Times, Service, Russian Defense Ministry, Omsk Civil Association Locations: Siberia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Omsk, Russian, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson

☆ Nonprofit Buys 22 Newspapers in Maine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Katie Robertson | More About Katie Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A nonprofit that aims to maintain local ownership for newspapers will buy 22 papers in Maine, including The Portland Press Herald and The Sun Journal of Lewiston. The National Trust for Local News, a nonprofit that was started in 2021, will buy the papers from Masthead Maine, a private company that owns most of the independent media outlets in the state, including five of its six daily papers. Masthead Maine’s owner, Reade Brower, had signaled this year that he was exploring a sale. The deal includes the five daily papers and 17 weekly papers, Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, the chief executive of the National Trust for Local News, said on Tuesday. Ms. Hansen Shapiro said Maine residents had told her organization that there was an opportunity for nonprofit ownership after Bill Nemitz, a longtime Portland Press Herald columnist, asked readers in April to donate to help a nonprofit organization preserve local journalism in the state.

Persons: Reade Brower, Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, Ms, Hansen Shapiro, Bill Nemitz Organizations: The Portland Press Herald, Sun, National Trust for Local News, Portland Press Herald Locations: Maine, Lewiston

☆ Prigozhin tried to call Putin when he realized his rebellion had 'gone too far' but the Russian president ignored him: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Yevgeny Prigozhin tried calling Vladimir Putin during the Wagner Group rebellion, a report says. According to sources near the Kremlin, Prigozhin then "tried to call Putin, but the president didn't want to speak with him." Meduza's sources told the outlet that Prigozhin likely realized that "he'd gone too far" and "prospects for his column to continue to advance were dim." His boasts that members of the Russian military were prepared to join his rebellion had not materialized. The Kremlin said Wagner fighters would be offered a chance to enrol in the Russian military, and charges against Prigozhin and Wagner rebels would not be pursued.

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Wagner, —, Prigozhin's, Don Saturday, Putin, Prigozhin, didn't, he'd, Meduza, Viktor Lukashenko's Organizations: Wagner, Kremlin, Service, Wagner Group, Federal Security Service, West Locations: Russian, Rostov, Moscow, Ukraine, Africa

☆ Ahead of Modi visit, journalists' group urges US to press India on media crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday called on the U.S. government to urge India to end a media crackdown and release six detained journalists. A statement from CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg ahead of a state visit to Washington next week by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there had been an increasing crackdown on India’s media since he came to power in 2014. "Journalists critical of the government and the BJP party have been jailed, harassed, and surveilled in retaliation for their work," Ginsberg said. It highlighted harassment of domestic and foreign media, including through raids and retaliatory income tax investigations launched into critical news outlets. The CPJ also cited a media crackdown in Kashmir, including the use of preventative detention, terrorism and criminal cases, travel bans and raids.

Persons: Jodie Ginsberg, Narendra Modi, Ginsberg, – Aasif Sultan, Gautam Navlakha, Sajad Gul, Fahad Shah, Rupesh Kumar Singh, Irfan Mehraj –, Modi, CPJ, David Brunnstrom, Alistair Bell Organizations: Protect Journalists, Indian, BJP, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: India, Washington, United States, Delhi, Mumbai, Indian, Jammu, Kashmir

☆ Putin admits the Russian military needs more modern weapons to win the war in Ukraine — a rare admission of fault
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin conceded that Russia needed more modern weapons. He said that this was due to the "the right command of the troops and the high effectiveness of Russian weapons, especially modern weapons." He then conceded that Russia needed to increase its supply of modern weapons, a significant remark in the light of reports that Russian troops on the front line were using outdated, Soviet-era equipment. We are intensively building up production of modern weapons," Putin said. Putin's concession is a sharp departure from his previous remarks on Russia's military arsenal, with the Russian president last August boasting that they were "years, perhaps even decades" ahead of rivals.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, He'd, —, Putin Organizations: Service, Western, NATO, Associated Press Locations: Russia, Ukraine

☆ PMA says US West Coast port workers shut down Port of Seattle; workers' union denies claim
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"On the first shift today, the ILWU refused to dispatch any longshore workers to container terminals, the PMA said, resulting in the shutdown of the port. The ILWU, however, said that the West Coast ports are open and accused the PMA of "leveraging one-sided information to influence the process." “Despite what you are hearing from PMA, West Coast ports are open as we continue to work under our expired collective bargaining agreement,” said ILWU International President Willie Adams. West Coast ports stretching from California to Washington state are critical to the U.S. supply chains and the economy. The largest U.S. business group on Friday urged President Joe Biden to intervene immediately and appoint an independent mediator to address a protracted West Coast ports labor dispute.

Persons: ”, Willie Adams, Joe Biden, Suzanne Clark, Biden, Gokul, Diane Craft, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Pacific Maritime Association, International, Warehouse Union, Port, ILWU, Unions, . Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Port of Seattle, West, West Coast, California, Washington, U.S, Port, Seattle, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Carlos BarriaJune 9 (Reuters) - The largest U.S. business group on Friday urged President Joe Biden him to intervene immediately and appoint an independent mediator to address a protracted West Coast ports labor dispute. West Coast ports stretching from California to Washington state are critical to U.S. supply chains and the nation's economy. U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark in a letter to Biden cited "continued and potentially expanded service disruptions at these ports heading into peak shipping season." Workers reported for duty on Thursday and Friday at the Port of Los Angeles, officials said. "Operations going into the weekend seem to be the most normal they've been" since labor disruptions started late last week, Los Angeles port spokesman Phillip Sanfield said, adding that the port has limited weekend hours.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Joe Biden, Suzanne Clark, Biden, Phillip Sanfield, David Shepardson, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Potter Organizations: Shipping, Port, REUTERS, . Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Maritime Association, Warehouse Union, Workers, Retailers, Thomson Locations: Oakland, Oakland , California, U.S, West Coast, California, Washington, Seattle, Tacoma, Los Angeles, Long, Port of Los Angeles, San Francisco, East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Asia, Panama

☆ China and Xi are making a backup plan in case Putin dies or gets deposed, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Xi Jinping may be "contingency planning" in case Putin is deposed, an analyst told Insider. According to one analyst, Xi is likely already seeking to form closer relations with potential successors to the Russian president. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin meets with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 24, 2023. ALEXANDER ASTAFYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty ImagesAnders Åslund, an economist and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said Xi appears to be cultivating closer ties to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. At the April summit where the Chinese president visited Putin in Moscow, Xi held a rare one-on-one meeting with Mistushin, noted Åslund.

Persons: Xi, Putin, —, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Mishustin, ALEXANDER ASTAFYEV, Anders Åslund, Mistushin, Li Qiang, Mishustin, Ali Wyne, it's Organizations: Service, Russian, SPUTNIK, Getty, Atlantic Council, China's, of, Russian Security, Eurasia Group Locations: Russia, Russian, Beijing, Moscow, China, Ukraine, Siberia, Washington ,, United States

☆ Putin's family owns lavish mansions in Moscow and France and has spent millions refurbishing them, leaks say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Proekt said the properties are located near Putin's Moscow mansion. The Russian president has long sought to keep secret the vast wealth he and his family own. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ex-wife Lyudmila enter a Moscow polling station, 02 December 2007, to cast their votes in Russia's parliamentary elections. Katerina Tikhonova, deputy director of the Institute for Mathematical Research of Complex Systems at Moscow State University and daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and his rumored girlfriend and retired rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabaeva (right).

Persons: Proekt, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin's, Kiril Shamanov, Putin, Lyudmila Shkrebneva, Maria Vorontsova, Katerina Tikhonova, Tikhonova, Shamalov, Lyudmila, DMITRY ASTAKHOV, Vorontsova's, Alina Kabaeva, Sasha Mordovets, Juliana Kaplan Organizations: Service, Russian, Getty, Institute for Mathematical Research, Systems, Moscow State University, REUTERS, Shkrebneva, Tikhonova, Putin Locations: Russian, Putin's Moscow, Ogaryovo, Moscow, AFP, Biarritz, France, Sibur, Ukraine

☆ Failures in Ukraine haven't left 'cracks' in Putin's hold on power, German spy chief says, warning Russia has what it needs to wage a long war
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Germany's spy chief, Bruno Kahl, said there are no "cracks" in Putin's system despite Russia's failures in Ukraine. The Kremlin has gone to extraordinary lengths to stifle opposition to the war in Ukraine. Kahl warned that "Russia is still capable of waging a long-range war" in Ukraine. In this kind of environment, it's difficult to get an accurate read on public sentiment toward the war in Russia. Russia was expected to easily defeat Ukraine, and its failures in the war have raised questions as to whether Putin's firm grip on power in Russia might slip.

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