Even 40 years after his death, #KGB chief Yuri Andropov's family history remains enigmatic.

In the major new biography of Andropov, Nikita Petrov left no archival stone unturned but documenting the identities of Andropov's father & the parents of his mother proved elusive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated a preoccupation with Russians who join the other side—and his open use and threat of assassination resembles Stalin’s approach to defectors, write Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan.
trib.al/Yglb5f7

Fueled by a century of paranoia —and volunteer units in Ukraine — Putin’s campaign against defectors seems likely to lead to further assassinations abroad and more crackdowns at home. Irina Borogan and me in Foreign Affairs on Putin’s Defector Obsession.
foreignaffairs.com/russian-federa…

'It is just a completely new level of escalation,' Andrei Soldatov discusses rising spying threats with ido vock. 'These people [allegedly] collected information to help organize sabotage operations against military facilities on German soil.' buff.ly/4aUcul7

More horrible news. A stringer for Reuters in Moscow has been arrested (for some alleged other/prior work) according to the court.

Konstantin Gabov, a journalist and video producer, will now face trial and jail in Russia. Local staff always at highest risk

“Now that deputy will be extensively interrogated, not only about himself, and is supposed to provide incriminating evidence…on big shots of the organization,” Andrei Soldatov explains to Jessie Gretener Darya Tarasova and Christian Edwards. buff.ly/3JBQr6x

'The internet wasn't invented to be filtered, to be dissected into sovereign parts,' Irina Borogan discusses Russian media censorship with Lucy Papachristou. buff.ly/4aPYTvb

“This is usually a form of control, not repression.' Andrei Soldatov discusses the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister with козлов 'this is how the Kremlin regime solves the task of maintaining manageability — as they understand it.” buff.ly/3QiZNIh

'A documentary from the #Navalny Foundation (...) has effectively destroyed the argument that the Russian political diaspora is irrelevant after more than two years of all-out war.' by Andrei Soldatov Irina Borogan cepa.org/article/russia…

.Index on Censorship Spring issue's main theme is 'How Authoritarian countries are silencing critics abroad', and the Russian part has my story about Kozlov's lawsuit in Germany against our book The Compatriots.
Living in Russia’s shadow. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…

Russia and the Damned 1990s | 'A documentary from the Navalny Foundation has caused anger and recrimination among the leading lights of the post-Soviet state.' Irina Borogan Andrei Soldatov buff.ly/4d3IHId

Russian forces are advancing in the east of #Ukraine . They have captured the village of #Ocheretyne , northwest of Avdiivka, and have gone past Ukrainian defences. Goal is to grab territory before western aid arrives. My latest from Kyiv with Dan Sabbagh theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

.Maria Pevchikh's film has caused anger and recrimination, but it has launched a long-delayed and badly needed discussion. It's the first time the opposition introduced a new national debate rather than simply responding to the Kremlin. By Irina Borogan and me. cepa.org/article/russia…

A fantastic book, a personal account by Laurie Bristow of the tragic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Highly recommended!

Germany arrests two for alleged plot to attack military bases on behalf of Russia theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

The Kremlin Decides to Buy a Population | 'Putin’s regime is now openly purchasing influence in neighboring countries.' Andrei Soldatov Irina Borogan buff.ly/4aTNIku

How Putin’s regime is openly purchasing influence in neighboring countries, using tactics inspired by the Soviet system of sovzagranbanki (Soviet foreign banks).
Irina Borogan and me for CEPA

cepa.org/article/the-kr…

NEWS: Thanks to action so far by G7 partners, Russian metals exports have been reduced by a quarter between 2022 & 2023.

Today we're going further by banning the trade of new Russian aluminium, copper and nickel on US and UK global metal exchanges.

Find out more 👇

How Putin’s regime is openly purchasing influence in neighboring countries, using tactics inspired by the Soviet system of sovzagranbanki (Soviet foreign banks).
Irina Borogan and me for CEPA

cepa.org/article/the-kr…

'Kara-Murza is maintaining a proud family tradition — raising his voice, much respected among Russian liberals — against oppression and warmongers,' Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan demonstrate. buff.ly/404jdTc