Russia

Don’t ban Russians from tourist visas

A Washington Post interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which he said Russians should have the borders to Europe closed for them, “because they are taking away someone else’s land”, has triggered demands for Russians to be banned from Schengen tourist visas. Zelenskyy’s call was echoed most forcefully by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who tweeted that “visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right”. Such a ban on Schengen visas has far more worrying consequences, as sociologist Jeremy Morris has detailed quite usefully in a blog post . For a start, the asylum application process in...

Russia expands imperialist aims in Ukraine

Putin’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, declared to state media outlet RIA Novosti on 20 July, that Russia’s war aims now go beyond the seizure of the east of Ukraine. On 23 July, in Cairo, he went further: Russia’s aim is to remove Ukraine’s government. Attempting to blame the West, Lavrov said Russia would have to push Ukraine’s forces further back as the US had supplied Ukraine with highly accurate, longer-range weapons. The US believes Russia intends to stage sham referendums in southern Ukraine, perhaps as early as September, and then declare the annexation of areas round Kherson and...

Putin signs a hundred new laws

Feminist activist Yuliya Tsvetkova has been acquitted of all charges after three years awaiting trial. She was originally charged for “spreading pornography” after she uploaded body-positive cartoons to social media, in one of the earliest examples of repression in Russia taking a dark turn, and her release is a cause for celebration. The prosecution has appealed the verdict. On 14 July, Putin signed over 100 new bills into law, many of them aimed at reducing the rights of Russian citizens in various ways. These include expanding the definition of a “foreign agent” to anyone who receives...

"The right to resist": global feminist manifesto in support of Ukraine

Hundreds of left-wing feminist activists and over fifty organisations in fifty five countries around the world (so far) have signed this appeal launched by organisations in Ukraine. You can read the original, with information on who has signed, here . You can add your or your organisation's name at that link or here . This article on the LeftEast website explains the problems with the other manifesto this one criticises at the start. And this one by UK organisation Feminist Fightback gives some useful background and links to Ukrainian feminist organisations. We, feminists from Ukraine, call on...

Putin’s new laws crush rights in Russia

On 6 July a new law passed the Russian parliament, in theory allowing employers near-complete control over working hours. Employers can now: • Force workers to work overtime without their consent, with the previous limits on maximum overtime per month removed • Force workers to work two or more consecutive shifts, and change shift schedules with no prior notice • Deny workers holiday or weekends for indefinite periods, and recall workers from holiday at will • Pay workers less than the current legal minimum for overtime In the words of independent trade union Uchitel’ (“Teacher”): “In practice...

Political ripples from the war

On 17 June Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed world politics with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Tokayev repeated his refusal to recognise the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine, formally recognised by Russia two days before the invasion on Ukraine on 24 February. In January Russian troops had helped Tokayev snuff out a crisis in Kazakhstan. But Kazakhstan has a long border with Russia and a large ethnic Russian minority in its northern areas. Russian MPs then threatened Kazakhstan. Konstantin Zatulin said,...

Trade unionist’s pre-trial arrest extended

Kirill Ukraintsev, leader of the “Courier” trade union, has had his pre-trial arrest extended until 25 July. Ukraintsev was arrested as his trade union announced a couriers’ strike, and his arrest (supposedly over a social media post) is a naked attempt to stem the tide of labour disputes that the economic and political impacts of the war have bolstered. “Courier” trade union, and other independent trade unions and left-wing groups, have renewed calls for Ukraintsev’s release. The union’s dispute with food company Delivery Club is ongoing, as is the solidarity boycott from the wider public...

London’s Russians Against War

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a group has been slowly gaining attention in London for protesting weekly near the Russian embassy in Notting Hill. The group initially called itself Russians Against War, but has since rebranded as the Russian Democratic Society (RDS). RDS began in January 2021, alongside protests in Russia over the arrest of opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Much like the movement inside Russia, it didn’t gain much attention until more recently. Since the beginning of the invasion, RDS has staged weekly protests, mostly opposite the Russian embassy, with placards and an...

Putin to expand anti-gay laws

On 8 June, the Russian State Duma (parliament) announced a new prospective bill to expand the scope of the country’s now-infamous “Gay Propaganda” law. The original law, which passed in 2013 with 388 votes in favour, one against, and one abstention, introduced fines for “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among underaged individuals”. It was the first homophobic law in Russia since the ban on “sodomy” was lifted in 1993. Although few people have actually been sentenced since the law’s passing, it is an attempt to remove any discussion or education around LGBTQ+ people and...

The pitfalls of sanctions

“The [Russian] economy will be under sanctions as long as Putin is in power”, wrote John Sawers in the Financial Times . Sawers, accustomed to backroom calculations (he is a former chief of MI6), takes that continuation as fact even though he is more optimistic about Ukraine’s military chances than we dare to be. The sanctions didn’t stop Russia invading Ukraine; they’re not stopping its war; and they will probably continue after the war unless it drags on for many years. Russian’s import revenues were up 65% in the three months March-May compared to the similar months in 2021, according to...

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.