Mediazona reports that officials in the Moscow region are shutting down local newspapers and laying off journalists in an effort to reduce spending. While employees of the newspapers warn that the quality of local news reporting will suffer from the closures, independent journalists argue that the papers have long produced pro-government propaganda.

Gulnaz Sibgatullina warns against assumptions that regions like Tatarstan univocally support the idea of complete independence from Russia as a means of protecting their minority rights. Profound decolonization for Tatars implies a long-term process of relearning their own history and agency.

Forest fires have been burning across Russia since spring, but a recent outbreak in Ryazan Region has brought smoke into the capital, sending government officials scrambling to respond.

As climate change heats the planet, countries all over the world are facing increased risks from wildfires. With more forested land than any other country, this is especially true for Russia. This explainer gives an overview of the context and consequences of the wildfires in Russia today.

Independent news outlet 7x7 looks at why some Russian governors have kept silent about the war in Ukraine.

A group of autoworkers in Izhevsk, the capital of Udmurtia, published an open letter to President Vladimir Putin asking him to help prevent their production plant from being relocated to another region.

St Petersburg news outlet Fontanka compiled a list of concerts that have been cancelled across since the start of the war in Ukraine. The cancellations affect artists that have publicly spoken out against the war and called for peace. Several groups, such as the bands Aquarium, Mumiy Troll, and Tequilajazzz, decided to suspend their public performances altogether for as long as the war continues.

Infographics are based on Rosstat data

The amendments to Kazakhstan’s constitution proposed by President Tokayev may look like a move toward democratization, but Kirill Rogov warns not to be fooled – constitutional guarantees can be revised.

Farida Kurbangaleeva spoke with representatives of the local academic community in Kazan and the independent student media project Storm about government pressure, silent protest, and how the university administration is cooperating with law enforcement.

The famous Russian journalist Alexey Pivovarov and his Redaktsiya team traveled to Kaliningrad and Novosibirsk to see how the war and sanctions are being felt in Russia’s provinces.

Adam Lenton on how Russification continues to erode the rich linguistic landscape of the North Caucasus, while private citizens are stepping in with innovative solutions such as Avzag, a multi-language dictionary of Caucasian languages.

According to Nadezhda Zamyatina, a leading researcher at the Department of Socio-Economic Geography of Foreign Countries of the Moscow State University Geography Faculty, Nenets Autonomous Okrug is among Russia’s most ready regions “for experiments and the introduction of modern best practices for economic and innovative development.”

Sarah Lindemann-Komarova on how the “special military operation” and sanctions are seen in the Russian provinces and how Siberians continue to live their lives and demonstrate resilience.

Gulnaz Sibgatullina on how the cultural scene of ethnic minorities has confronted the ethnocentrism of Russianess long before the war and how it has attempted to contribute to a decentering of what it means to be Russian.

Victor Shnirelman explains the popularity of the civilizational discourse among the Russian military, security and clergy as a response to globalization, which threatens their political sovereignty.

Abbas Gallyamov writes that the war in Ukraine is starting to disappear from the front pages and soon the economy, living standards and social problems will again be in the spotlight. This represents an opportunity to criticize Putin.

Marlene Laruelle and Kelian Sanz Pascual on the cinematic universe of the PMC Wagner and how pop culture frames are used to promote and celebrate a mercenary realm favorable to Russia.