Crooked Bough News Round-up

— OSCE Heads Pay First Visit to Moscow Since Ukraine Invasion

 

at 2/6/26 10:27am

"Without dialogue, there is no trust," the OSCE's acting head told reporters in Vienna in a briefing about their four hours of talks with Lavrov.

— What the Epstein Files Tell Us – And Don't Tell Us — About His Ties to Russia

 

at 2/6/26 9:49am

We look at what is known for certain about Russia and the Epstein files — and how Moscow has reacted to the news.

— Russia Reverses Decision to Issue Internal Passports in Abkhazia

 

at 2/6/26 9:13am

Moscow said the decision to suspend internal passport issuance in the breakaway territory was made out of “respect” for the local authorities.

— Spanish Man Wanted for Cyberterrorism Says He Was Granted Asylum in Russia

 

at 2/6/26 8:35am

Enrique Arias Gil is wanted in Spain for alleged acts of cyberterrorism and helping a pro-Russia hacking group called NoName057.

— Russia and U.S. Agree on Need for New Nuclear Arms Treaty, Kremlin Says

 

at 2/6/26 7:11am

The last remaining nuclear weapons reduction treaty between the two superpowers expired this week, sparking concerns about a global arms race.

— Russia Slaps Kazakh Comedian Nurlan Saburov With 50-Year Entry Ban

 

at 2/6/26 5:25am

Sources accused the stand-up comedian of violating migration and tax rules, as well as of criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

— Regions Calling: The Human Cost of the Coal Industry Crisis

 

at 2/6/26 5:11am

A series of unfortunate events in the Kuzbass highlights what analysts say is a deepening socio-economic crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

— Russia to Cut 47K Paid University Places, Targeting Law and Economics

 

at 2/6/26 3:46am

The reduction is part of a wider government effort to stymie the oversupply of degrees in several fields and push students into science and engineering.

— Russia Cuts 47K Paid University Places, Targeting Law and Economics

 

at 2/6/26 3:46am

The reduction is part of a wider government effort to stymie the oversupply of degrees in several fields and push students into science and engineering.

— Russian General Hospitalized After Attempted Assassination in Moscow

 

at 2/6/26 1:39am

Investigators said a gunman shot Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, who serves as a senior military intelligence official in the Defense Ministry.

— Russian General Hospitalized After Attempted Assassination in Moscow, Investigators Say

 

at 2/6/26 1:39am

Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev serves as a senior military intelligence official in Russia’s Defense Ministry.

— Pro-War Bloggers Report Starlink Outage on Ukrainian Front Line

 

at 2/5/26 8:55am

The reports come after Elon Musk said last week that efforts to stop Russian troops from using Starlink had been successful.

— St. Petersburg Customs Officers Block Attempt to Smuggle Rare Meteorite Fragment

 

at 2/5/26 8:26am

A forensic examination confirmed that the fragment, declared as a garden sculpture, came from the Aletai meteorite and has an estimated value of $4.2 million.

— As Everyday Prices Creep Upwards, Russians Feel the Pinch

 

at 2/5/26 8:23am

Russian shoppers have flooded social media with videos complaining about rising prices. What is driving the surge?

— Russia Expels German Diplomat in Tit-for-Tat Move

 

at 2/5/26 7:48am

The Foreign Ministry said it had issued a note declaring a staff member of the German Embassy in Moscow persona non grata, calling the decision a “symmetrical response.”

— Russian Government Allocates Nearly $17M for Displaced Kursk Residents Following Protests

 

at 2/5/26 6:27am

In December, displaced residents protested the Kursk regional government’s decision to end monthly compensation payments for those whose homes were badly damaged in fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

— Russian Companies Forced Out of Venezuela After U.S. Capture of Maduro, Lavrov Says

 

at 2/5/26 5:35am

“Right now, in the wake of the events in Venezuela, our companies are being quite openly forced out of the country,” Lavrov claimed.

— Macron Sent Top Diplomatic Adviser to Meet With Kremlin Officials in Moscow, Reports Say

 

at 2/5/26 4:02am

French media reported that a meeting between Emmanuel Bonne and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov came as Macron confirmed that “technical-level discussions” were underway to explore resuming dialogue with Moscow.

— Russia and Ukraine Exchange Prisoners After Second Round of Abu Dhabi Talks

 

at 2/5/26 4:00am

Besides agreeing to release soldiers and civilians held in captivity, it was unclear whether progress toward a peace deal was made.

— Police Raids Target Russian Communist Party Members in Altai Region

 

at 2/5/26 3:21am

Party officials denounced the arrests of at least two of its members as political pressure ahead of elections later this year.

— Italy Says It Thwarted Russian Cyberattacks Targeting Winter Olympics

 

at 2/5/26 2:31am

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the attacks hit Italian Foreign Ministry offices abroad, as well as Olympic-related sites.

— U.S. and Russia Shrug as Landmark Nuclear Treaty Expires

 

at 2/4/26 9:23am

New START's expiration is set to usher in an era of uncertainty over nuclear stockpiles not seen since the Cold War, experts say.

— Putin Touts Energy Ties With China After Trump Says India May Halt Russian Oil Imports

 

at 2/4/26 4:52am

The talks came two days after Trump announced he would lower tariffs on Indian goods in exchange for New Delhi halting purchases of Russian oil.

— Armenian Police Say 2 Russian Nationals Suspected in Murder of Chechen Woman Last Year

 

at 2/4/26 4:21am

Ayshat Baimuradova was found dead in October in a rented apartment in the Armenian capital of Yerevan.

— Russia’s Opposition Has Representation in PACE. Can They Achieve Anything?

 

at 2/3/26 10:13am

Some hail the group’s existence as a major milestone, while others remain skeptical of what Russia’s fractured opposition can accomplish.

As of 2/6/26 6:33pm. Last new 2/6/26 12:10pm.