Stories from Moscow · Russia

Dmitry Medvedev stated that the United States, identified as a primary geopolitical rival, has strategic nuclear warheads aimed at NATO. This claim follows negotiations between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

Tobacco industry expert Vadim Zhilnin stated that collecting taxes from the diverse range of vape liquid producers will be problematic. While cigarette taxes are easily collected from a small number of companies, the vaping market involves many more manufacturers.

Russia's Ministry of Education is investigating reports of invasive searches during exams. The discussion noted the importance of utilizing resources within the Russian Federation given the country's current complexities. Specialized agencies in Russia are considering a complete ban on the production, import, and circulation of electronic cigarettes. State Duma deputies are expected to review an amendment in May that would grant regional authorities the power to implement local sales bans on vaping products. The source noted that controlling the market remains difficult. The Ministry stated that the principle of voluntary service is fundamental and that coercion to sign contracts is excluded. A hotline has been opened for citizens to report any violations of their rights regarding this matter.

Russian entrepreneurs are reporting ongoing pressure from patent trolls, including lawsuits seeking 35,000 rubles for photos valued at less than three dollars. The entrepreneur has entered litigation following repeated settlement demands. Russian entrepreneurs are facing widespread lawsuits from patent trolls, according to reports from Business FM Russia. The company issuing the claims states that over 11,000 organizations have agreed to settle out of court. Online patent company CEO Alina Akinshina stated that patent claims do not violate the law. One entrepreneur, Oleg, reportedly paid multiple settlements ranging from 25,000 to 35,000 rubles to avoid litigation. Another entrepreneur, Svetlana, faced claims regarding a photo posted in 2016 despite having purchased the image from a specialized site.

A criminology expert from Kutafin Moscow State University Law University reported a growing trend of crimes involving teenagers and bank cards. The expert noted that fraudsters are increasingly targeting adolescents to extract money from parents. The discussion highlighted the rising nature of these specific types of fraudulent activities. The source noted that many involved are from economically disadvantaged families seeking easy money. Inbound tourism to Russia is currently recovering but remains below 2019 levels. China is the top source of tourists to Russia, followed by travelers from the Middle East. The announcement was made regarding the upcoming changes to travel regulations between the two nations. The mutual visa cancellation is scheduled to take effect on May 11, following the May holidays. Last year, trips from Saudi Arabia to Russia increased by 32 percent.

Russian Hockey Federation President Vladislav Tretyak stated that Continental Hockey League judges must strictly punish any physical contact with an opponent's goalkeeper.

Russian economic growth slowed to 5.62 percent in the first quarter, according to economist Andrey Milashenko of Renaissance Capital. President Vladimir Putin disagreed with the calendar explanation, stating that the decline in industry and construction was due to other factors. This figure reflects an economy under severe pressure. The current situation may lead to challenges in social and economic structures if the trend continues. Immediate strategic decisions are required to address these challenges. Moscow released quarterly GDP figures on Thursday showing economic indicators are receding for the first time in three years. The report indicates that the overheating caused by a war economy is receding. Rising wages and consumer prices were also noted in the economic data. Russia experienced its first quarterly GDP contraction in three years, reaching a total decline of 0.3 percent.

Russian authorities are discussing reducing the non-punishable speeding threshold from the current 20 kilometers per hour to between 2 and 3 kilometers per hour. The VDVM had advocated for increasing maximum permitted speeds on federal highways. Kizlyk stated in an interview with AutoNews that this reduction could decrease traffic accident mortality in Moscow. Expert company head Oleg Salyushin and auto expert Evgeny Ladushkin provided commentary on the proposal. Russian officials and the MMDS have stated they do not support reducing the non-fined speeding threshold from 20 km/h to 10 km/h. Vyacheslav Volodin previously indicated in autumn 2024 that the State Duma would not support such a reduction. The proposal aims to tighten enforcement of speed limits.

The Higher School of Economics has radically reduced tuition discounts for students, according to Business FM Russia. Experts explain that while engineering programs have few paid spots, the cuts primarily affect economics, management, and republican disciplines. These fields constitute a portion of the university's admissions. Consequently, tuition prices are higher this year alongside the reduction in discounts. Tuition for applied mathematics, informatics, or economics programs has reached 1 million rubles per year. The source noted that prices have increased this year. Rosobrnadzor has also prohibited the inspection of students during Unified State Exam (EGE) administration. According to methodological recommendations, organizers and security staff may not touch exam participants or their belongings, but may request voluntary surrender of prohibited items.

Cloudflare has flagged the state-owned Max messenger as a spying application. Max reportedly undergoes regular security audits and maintains its own cybersecurity center. Cybersecurity expert Alex Gorelkin stated that the app's behavior involves requests to various IP addresses and domains. Gorelkin noted that the spyware designation may be temporary and is unlikely to impact the app's core functionality. The American hosting provider Cloudflare flagged the domain Damianmax.ru as spyware on Thursday. An American company has flagged the website Damianmax.ru as spyware, according to Alexei Gorelkin, the general director of Fishman. The report was discussed on Business FM Russia. Max Messenger already faces connectivity issues outside of Russia, often requiring a VPN to function.