It's the weekend and Bear Market Brief is back from its summer hiatus! Read about the current situation in Kursk, the Eastern Economic Forum, Russia's ongoing regional elections and more! Subscribe to have it in your inbox every week! bearmarketbrief.substack.com/p/crisis-in-ku…

Unfortunately, the supposition that a Ukrainian incursion — even a significant and protracted one — could set in motion powerful social forces in Russia ignores most of what we know about Russian society. That and other thoughts in this week’s TL;DRussia open.substack.com/pub/tldrussia/…

Competitive elections still exist in Russia, but year after year they are pushed back to ever lower levels. In this year's regional & local elex it seems that one rogue United Russia candidate handsomely defeated the incumbent United Russia mayor in the city of Bratsk.

Jokes aside, it will be really interesting to see which regions dare to report a vote share higher than Putin's March tally, for the incumbent governor. While ordinary voters rarely if ever care about these things, they are discussed in the corridors of power.

Americans, please if you see a ragweed this week, anywhere, uproot it, bag it, kill it. My respiratory tract will forever be grateful. Thank you.

According to a fresh survey by the pollster "Median", there are only 4 points between Fidesz and new challenger Tisza among decided voters in #Hungary. Other opposition parties (including the pseudo-opposition Our Homeland) have completely collapsed. hvg.hu/360/20240911_M…

I probably won't be in town, but if you are in Brooklyn on October 12 and are interested in Russian politics, go see Шульман! oceanatheater.com/?event=ekateri…

This is really great news!

The weekend is here and Bear Market Brief is out! Read about last week's "electoral events", the situation in Kursk and on the frontline in Ukraine, electricity needs in the Russian Far East and more! Subscribe to have it in your inbox every week! bearmarketbrief.substack.com/p/the-election…