Lefortovo prison is a symbol of oppression and control in Russia.

The Washington Post reporters Mary Ilyushina, Francesca Ebel & Júlia Ledur shared a rare look inside the notorious jail holding The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich. washingtonpost.com/world/interact…

Evan Gershkovich’s life is a mixture of grey prison walls & appeals for release. He’s now spent a year in Russian jail on espionage charges. His friends and family want Russia to release him immediately. #FreeEvan Polina Ivanova Pjotr Sauer Francesca Ebel apnews.com/article/33b175…

In the Kremlin this week I asked Vladimir Putin’s celebrity supporters about the election. Responses ranged from “We see the happy Russia” to “We don’t like you.” Producer @LIzaShuvalova

Russians did indeed turn up in large numbers at noon at polling stations, heeding Navalny’s call to protest Putin. There was deathly quiet then “long lines appeared at exactly 12 p.m”By Francesca Ebel in Moscow with Robyn Dixon washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/…

'The “Noon Against Putin” protest was a striking - if futile - display of solidarity and dissent designed to counteract the Kremlin’s main message — that Putin is a legitimate president commanding massive support.' Francesca Ebel Robyn Dixon washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/…

Interesting & timely reporting by Francesca Ebel in Belgorod on what Russians there make of the war Putin launched on Ukraine... (spoiler: they're voting for him)

washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/…

Quite literally the best video I’ve ever seen

Population transfers, kidnappings, broken families, deportations and spending on new propaganda outlets. Lots of interviews, as well as info from some leaked Kremlin internal documents, in my story about life in occupied Zaporizhzhia region.

theguardian.com/world/2024/mar…

“It is even more difficult to live in Russia now without him... Nobody wants to talk about how bad the situation is & they are trying to maintain a fragile balance within themselves.”

Desperation, cruelty and glimmers of hope at Navalny's graveside:

washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/…

.Francesca Ebel 'Propaganda told us that the majority only care about basic needs. What we saw yesterday showed that so many people still have the kind of bravery that Alexei tried to teach us,” she said. “As it turns out, we are still alive inside.”washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/…

Incredible turnout for Alexey Navalny sparks flicker of hope for freedom. Great reporting from Francesca Ebel. Some 'said it was the first time in 2 years that they “could breathe'. “This is the first time in several years that I haven’t felt alone,” said one.' washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/…

Our story from Moscow today with dream team Robyn Dixon Mary Ilyushina Catherine Belton

'We weren't sure what to expect with this at all. There were warnings that there could be potential arrests...'

📻 @WashingtonPost's Francesca Ebel joined Here & Now from Moscow, where thousands gathered for the funeral of Alexei Navalny.

👂LISTEN: wbur.org/hereandnow/202…

Some voices from the thousands of mourners who turned up today in Moscow to bid farewell to Alexei Navalny:

washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/…

Kremlin-linked Russian cinema owners across the country screened Putin's address for free, but the people did not come running

it would be funny if it wasn't so desperately sad. A panel with Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine entitled 'Recognize the faces of heroes' with two of the three men on stage wearing face coverings.

Of the 5 activists Pjotr Sauer and I profiled in this article, 3 are now in prison, 1 has fled the country (disguised as a food delivery driver), and 1 was nearly imprisoned and has ceased speaking publicly about the war. theguardian.com/world/2022/mar…

Prominent Russian activist Oleg Orlov, a leader of the Memorial human rights organization that jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, was sentenced to 2½ years in prison today for denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

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“I made a decision a long time ago that I want to live and die in Russia, it’s my country,” Orlov told us in March 2022. “Even though it’s never been so bad.”
The authorities have just jailed one of Russia's most respected human rights campaigners
theguardian.com/world/2022/mar…

My article on the legacy of Dmitry Markov, the remarkable Russian photographer & friend, who died aged 41 earlier this month
theguardian.com/artanddesign/2…