Following the cancellation of the Trump-Putin summit in Budapest, Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin’s informal negotiator with the US, departed for Washington on another diplomatic mission. Russian experts believe he could be a relatable figure for the Americans, yet they doubt he has the authority to resolve fundamental issues of war and peace in Ukraine. In recent days, Russia has also tested its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile – an escalatory move whose goal could be to force the West and Ukraine into accepting Moscow’s peace terms.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has actively endorsed the war. Its stance has put dissenting priests under intense pressure, with some being prohibited to serve and even incarcerated.

In November 2023, Russian streaming services premiered the series Slovo Patsana. Krov’ na asphalte (The Boy’s Word: Blood on the Asphalt). Within just a month, it was breaking popularity records in Russia, surpassing the previous leader, the South Korean drama Squid Game.

On November 30, the Russian Supreme Court passed a law dealing a major blow to the LGBTQ+ community. Now, the non-existent "international LGBT social movement" is labeled as an extremist organization.

After major progress in the modernization of birth control in the post-Communist decades and a sharp decline in the number of abortions in recent years, Russia has steadily reversed course toward social conservatism.

Since early October, the Russian propaganda has had a new item on its agenda: the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Indeed, it has proven very important – and useful – for the Russian authorities.

Lawyers who defend political prisoners in Russia are facing rising risks of being imprisoned themselves, with standing up for rights in courts becoming almost as dangerous as being an opposition politician or a journalist.

A short summary of the most important political developments by Nikolai Petrov.

Nikolai Petrov looks at how Putin’s system of administration has functioned against the backdrop of the ruble’s sharp depreciation in August and its coverage in the media.