Anton Barbashin
@abarbashin.bsky.social
Russia foreign and domestic politics. Editorial Director at ridl.io
Pinned
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle – Riddle Russia
Ivan U. Klyszcz on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
ridl.io
Here are our team’s top 10 picks for the most relevant and compelling Riddle Russia articles published in 2025:
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
Here are our team’s top 10 picks for the most relevant and compelling Riddle Russia articles published in 2025:
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle – Riddle Russia
Ivan U. Klyszcz on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
ridl.io
December 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Here are our team’s top 10 picks for the most relevant and compelling Riddle Russia articles published in 2025:
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
Sanction and reliance on China killed Russia auto industry throwing in back decades and erasing all the impressive progress on cooperation with EU companies.
This story is indicative of where Russia is heading
ridl.io/steeringless...
This story is indicative of where Russia is heading
ridl.io/steeringless...
Steeringless Auto Industry: How Sanctions Have Thrown the Sector Back Decades – Riddle Russia
Vakhtang Partsvania on the sanctions-induced exhaustion of Russia’s automotive industry and how the sector mirrors deeper structural problems in the economy
ridl.io
January 6, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Sanction and reliance on China killed Russia auto industry throwing in back decades and erasing all the impressive progress on cooperation with EU companies.
This story is indicative of where Russia is heading
ridl.io/steeringless...
This story is indicative of where Russia is heading
ridl.io/steeringless...
In late December we at Riddle Russia published an article about the state of political repressions in Russia. A few folks here on X were surprised that some alleged arsonists are now consider political prisoners in Russia.
Clarification: if the arsonists
1/5
Clarification: if the arsonists
1/5
January 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM
In late December we at Riddle Russia published an article about the state of political repressions in Russia. A few folks here on X were surprised that some alleged arsonists are now consider political prisoners in Russia.
Clarification: if the arsonists
1/5
Clarification: if the arsonists
1/5
"Overall, the loss of #Venezuela would be a net negative for Russia, especially in terms of regional clout, but hardly a dramatic setback for Moscow’s global foreign policy"
@ivanklyszcz.com
ridl.io/russia-has-n...
@ivanklyszcz.com
ridl.io/russia-has-n...
Russia Has No Allies – Riddle Russia
Ivan U. Klyszcz on the Impact of Maduro
ridl.io
January 5, 2026 at 11:37 AM
"Overall, the loss of #Venezuela would be a net negative for Russia, especially in terms of regional clout, but hardly a dramatic setback for Moscow’s global foreign policy"
@ivanklyszcz.com
ridl.io/russia-has-n...
@ivanklyszcz.com
ridl.io/russia-has-n...
Aside from the fact that Russia kind of supports Venezuela and has had a lot of $$$$ invested, it should be okay with “Donroe Doctrine” as long as Trump supports Russian sphere of influence in post Soviet space. Multipolarity in action
January 4, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Aside from the fact that Russia kind of supports Venezuela and has had a lot of $$$$ invested, it should be okay with “Donroe Doctrine” as long as Trump supports Russian sphere of influence in post Soviet space. Multipolarity in action
Here are our team’s top 10 picks for the most relevant and compelling Riddle Russia articles published in 2025:
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle – Riddle Russia
Ivan U. Klyszcz on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
ridl.io
December 30, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Here are our team’s top 10 picks for the most relevant and compelling Riddle Russia articles published in 2025:
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
The Russia-Mali-Algeria Security Triangle
@ivanklyszcz.com on Russia’s strategic maneuvers in Algeria and Mali’s security dynamics
1/10
ridl.io/the-russia-m...
Pertsev gives a summary of the most important Russian domestic political trends of 2025.
Among them are, of course, the war in Ukraine and changes it brings, increased arrests and property confiscation within the elites and expansion of Kiriyenko Empire
ridl.io/the-power-ve...
Among them are, of course, the war in Ukraine and changes it brings, increased arrests and property confiscation within the elites and expansion of Kiriyenko Empire
ridl.io/the-power-ve...
The Power Vertical Under Siege: Repressions, Nationalizations, and the Erosion of Loyalty Guarantees – Riddle Russia
Andrey Pertsev on the Key Political Developments of 2025
ridl.io
December 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Pertsev gives a summary of the most important Russian domestic political trends of 2025.
Among them are, of course, the war in Ukraine and changes it brings, increased arrests and property confiscation within the elites and expansion of Kiriyenko Empire
ridl.io/the-power-ve...
Among them are, of course, the war in Ukraine and changes it brings, increased arrests and property confiscation within the elites and expansion of Kiriyenko Empire
ridl.io/the-power-ve...
Here is a detailed piece on the dynamics of political repressions in Russia. The lowest number of political prisoners now stand at 4800. This year saw a spike in very harsh sentences 10+ years.
Some examples:
ridl.io/from-discred...
1/5
Some examples:
ridl.io/from-discred...
1/5
December 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Here is a detailed piece on the dynamics of political repressions in Russia. The lowest number of political prisoners now stand at 4800. This year saw a spike in very harsh sentences 10+ years.
Some examples:
ridl.io/from-discred...
1/5
Some examples:
ridl.io/from-discred...
1/5
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
In 2025 Moscow proved unable to impose its rules on Azerbaijan, now the undisputed master of the situation. Armenia, in its dialogue with Baku, prefers other «advocates» over Moscow.
ridl.io/the-end-of-r...
ridl.io/the-end-of-r...
The End of Russian Hegemony: How Azerbaijan Rewrote the Rules in the Caucasus – Riddle Russia
Roman Chernikov on the transformation of the South Caucasus in 2025
ridl.io
December 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
In 2025 Moscow proved unable to impose its rules on Azerbaijan, now the undisputed master of the situation. Armenia, in its dialogue with Baku, prefers other «advocates» over Moscow.
ridl.io/the-end-of-r...
ridl.io/the-end-of-r...
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
Recently we've seen another wave of publications about Dmitry Kozak, the alleged anti-war senior official now with a reform plan for Putin's Russia.
Pertsev here argues these publications aren't good news for Kozak
@RiddleRussia
ridl.io/kozak-s-retu...
Pertsev here argues these publications aren't good news for Kozak
@RiddleRussia
ridl.io/kozak-s-retu...
Kozak’s Return? – Riddle Russia
Andrey Pertsev sums up the political week (December 22−26)
ridl.io
December 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Recently we've seen another wave of publications about Dmitry Kozak, the alleged anti-war senior official now with a reform plan for Putin's Russia.
Pertsev here argues these publications aren't good news for Kozak
@RiddleRussia
ridl.io/kozak-s-retu...
Pertsev here argues these publications aren't good news for Kozak
@RiddleRussia
ridl.io/kozak-s-retu...
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
Russian state is caught in a self-reinforcing paradox: every effort to formalize economic life through wider VAT, digital tracking, and stricter enforcement simply incubates more sophisticated evasion techniques while adding bureaucratic bloat and reporting burdens.
ridl.io/informal-eco...
ridl.io/informal-eco...
Informal Economy and the Fiscal-Military State: Unstoppable Force Meets Immovable Object – Riddle Russia
Jem Morrow on why Russia’s fiscal-military state keeps crashing into the immovable object of mass economic informality — and why the war only sharpened the paradox
ridl.io
December 26, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Russian state is caught in a self-reinforcing paradox: every effort to formalize economic life through wider VAT, digital tracking, and stricter enforcement simply incubates more sophisticated evasion techniques while adding bureaucratic bloat and reporting burdens.
ridl.io/informal-eco...
ridl.io/informal-eco...
Recently we've seen another wave of publications about Dmitry Kozak, the alleged anti-war senior official now with a reform plan for Putin's Russia.
Pertsev here argues these publications aren't good news for Kozak
@RiddleRussia
ridl.io/kozak-s-retu...
Pertsev here argues these publications aren't good news for Kozak
@RiddleRussia
ridl.io/kozak-s-retu...
Kozak’s Return? – Riddle Russia
Andrey Pertsev sums up the political week (December 22−26)
ridl.io
December 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Recently we've seen another wave of publications about Dmitry Kozak, the alleged anti-war senior official now with a reform plan for Putin's Russia.
Pertsev here argues these publications aren't good news for Kozak
@RiddleRussia
ridl.io/kozak-s-retu...
Pertsev here argues these publications aren't good news for Kozak
@RiddleRussia
ridl.io/kozak-s-retu...
What is the "Chaos Theory" in Russian foreign policy? How does it help explain the logic of Russia's actions on the international stage? How does the Russian leadership envision the future world order?
Russia Talk @aivengo96.bsky.social with @abarbashin.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-zy...
Russia Talk @aivengo96.bsky.social with @abarbashin.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-zy...
Теория Хаоса российской внешней политики - Russia Talk S02E06 (Антон Барбашин)
YouTube video by Russia Talk
www.youtube.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
What is the "Chaos Theory" in Russian foreign policy? How does it help explain the logic of Russia's actions on the international stage? How does the Russian leadership envision the future world order?
Russia Talk @aivengo96.bsky.social with @abarbashin.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-zy...
Russia Talk @aivengo96.bsky.social with @abarbashin.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-zy...
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
My 2025 Russia-Africa in review for Riddle Russia: ridl.io/russia-afric...
Russia-Africa Ties Catch Global Tailwinds in 2025 – Riddle Russia
Ivan U. Klyszcz on Russia — Africa dynamics in 2025
ridl.io
December 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM
My 2025 Russia-Africa in review for Riddle Russia: ridl.io/russia-afric...
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
2. My latest piece for Riddle on the fiscal problems the Irkutsk and Kemerovo Regions are facing as their dominant industries are struggling.
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
Irkutsk and Kemerovo: warning signs for regions at war – Riddle Russia
Andras Toth-Czifra on how declining extractive rents, stagnant wages, and unsustainable social obligations signal rising fiscal fragility in Russia’s industrial periphery
ridl.io
December 23, 2025 at 6:31 PM
2. My latest piece for Riddle on the fiscal problems the Irkutsk and Kemerovo Regions are facing as their dominant industries are struggling.
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
Russian state is caught in a self-reinforcing paradox: every effort to formalize economic life through wider VAT, digital tracking, and stricter enforcement simply incubates more sophisticated evasion techniques while adding bureaucratic bloat and reporting burdens.
ridl.io/informal-eco...
ridl.io/informal-eco...
Informal Economy and the Fiscal-Military State: Unstoppable Force Meets Immovable Object – Riddle Russia
Jem Morrow on why Russia’s fiscal-military state keeps crashing into the immovable object of mass economic informality — and why the war only sharpened the paradox
ridl.io
December 26, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Russian state is caught in a self-reinforcing paradox: every effort to formalize economic life through wider VAT, digital tracking, and stricter enforcement simply incubates more sophisticated evasion techniques while adding bureaucratic bloat and reporting burdens.
ridl.io/informal-eco...
ridl.io/informal-eco...
In 2025 Moscow proved unable to impose its rules on Azerbaijan, now the undisputed master of the situation. Armenia, in its dialogue with Baku, prefers other «advocates» over Moscow.
ridl.io/the-end-of-r...
ridl.io/the-end-of-r...
The End of Russian Hegemony: How Azerbaijan Rewrote the Rules in the Caucasus – Riddle Russia
Roman Chernikov on the transformation of the South Caucasus in 2025
ridl.io
December 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
In 2025 Moscow proved unable to impose its rules on Azerbaijan, now the undisputed master of the situation. Armenia, in its dialogue with Baku, prefers other «advocates» over Moscow.
ridl.io/the-end-of-r...
ridl.io/the-end-of-r...
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
While Putin talks up a “multipolar world,” pro-Kremlin pundits are pushing another concept to justify Russia’s war against Ukraine. Political analyst @abarbashin.bsky.social breaks down “Chaos Theory” for Meduza. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Architects of Chaos Theory How pro-Kremlin pundits use geopolitical turmoil to explain away Russia’s war against Ukraine — Meduza
Vladimir Putin’s vision of a “multipolar world” has been a keystone of Russia’s foreign policy ever since he delivered his infamous Munich speech in 2007. Asserting that U.S. dominance is in decline…
meduza.io
December 23, 2025 at 9:51 PM
While Putin talks up a “multipolar world,” pro-Kremlin pundits are pushing another concept to justify Russia’s war against Ukraine. Political analyst @abarbashin.bsky.social breaks down “Chaos Theory” for Meduza. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
The "Direct Line" has ceased to yield tangible benefits and is beginning to cause direct harm. Putin now appears as «Mr. Later» postponing problem-solving indefinitely for the sake of his priorities while visibly avoiding uncomfortable discussions.
ridl.io/mr-later/
ridl.io/mr-later/
Mr. «Later» – Riddle Russia
Andrey Pertsev sums up the political week (December 15−19)
ridl.io
December 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The "Direct Line" has ceased to yield tangible benefits and is beginning to cause direct harm. Putin now appears as «Mr. Later» postponing problem-solving indefinitely for the sake of his priorities while visibly avoiding uncomfortable discussions.
ridl.io/mr-later/
ridl.io/mr-later/
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
"The economic and fiscal problems of the Irkutsk and the Kemerovo Region serve as early warning of what may soon come to other Russian regions that rely on vulnerable industries"
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
Irkutsk and Kemerovo: warning signs for regions at war – Riddle Russia
Andras Toth-Czifra on how declining extractive rents, stagnant wages, and unsustainable social obligations signal rising fiscal fragility in Russia’s industrial periphery
ridl.io
December 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
"The economic and fiscal problems of the Irkutsk and the Kemerovo Region serve as early warning of what may soon come to other Russian regions that rely on vulnerable industries"
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
What have we learned about the state of Russian society in 2025? How has the attitude toward the war and peace negotiations changed? How has the position of the Russian anti-war emigration changed? Does it still maintain connections with Russia?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLfp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLfp...
Итоги 2025: Российское общество и эмиграция - Russia TalkS02E03(Маргарита Завадская)
YouTube video by Russia Talk
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
What have we learned about the state of Russian society in 2025? How has the attitude toward the war and peace negotiations changed? How has the position of the Russian anti-war emigration changed? Does it still maintain connections with Russia?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLfp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLfp...
In what state is the Russian economy entering 2025? What are the main problematic points in it? How might this affect Russia's ability to continue the war in Ukraine?
Russia Talk with Inozemtsev
youtube.com/watch?v=UbQioNH1TRs&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY
Russia Talk with Inozemtsev
youtube.com/watch?v=UbQioNH1TRs&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY
Итоги 2025: Российская экономика - Russia TalkS02E04(Владислав Иноземцев)
YouTube video by Russia Talk
youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
In what state is the Russian economy entering 2025? What are the main problematic points in it? How might this affect Russia's ability to continue the war in Ukraine?
Russia Talk with Inozemtsev
youtube.com/watch?v=UbQioNH1TRs&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY
Russia Talk with Inozemtsev
youtube.com/watch?v=UbQioNH1TRs&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY
Reposted by Anton Barbashin
My newest (and I promise, the last one for this year) on the developing fiscal problems in Irkutsk and Kemerovo, for Riddle.
"The economic and fiscal problems of the Irkutsk and the Kemerovo Region serve as early warning of what may soon come to other Russian regions that rely on vulnerable industries"
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
Irkutsk and Kemerovo: warning signs for regions at war – Riddle Russia
Andras Toth-Czifra on how declining extractive rents, stagnant wages, and unsustainable social obligations signal rising fiscal fragility in Russia’s industrial periphery
ridl.io
December 22, 2025 at 6:17 PM
My newest (and I promise, the last one for this year) on the developing fiscal problems in Irkutsk and Kemerovo, for Riddle.
"The economic and fiscal problems of the Irkutsk and the Kemerovo Region serve as early warning of what may soon come to other Russian regions that rely on vulnerable industries"
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
Irkutsk and Kemerovo: warning signs for regions at war – Riddle Russia
Andras Toth-Czifra on how declining extractive rents, stagnant wages, and unsustainable social obligations signal rising fiscal fragility in Russia’s industrial periphery
ridl.io
December 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
"The economic and fiscal problems of the Irkutsk and the Kemerovo Region serve as early warning of what may soon come to other Russian regions that rely on vulnerable industries"
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
@minczifra.bsky.social
ridl.io/irkutsk-and-...
The "Direct Line" has ceased to yield tangible benefits and is beginning to cause direct harm. Putin now appears as «Mr. Later» postponing problem-solving indefinitely for the sake of his priorities while visibly avoiding uncomfortable discussions.
ridl.io/mr-later/
ridl.io/mr-later/
Mr. «Later» – Riddle Russia
Andrey Pertsev sums up the political week (December 15−19)
ridl.io
December 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The "Direct Line" has ceased to yield tangible benefits and is beginning to cause direct harm. Putin now appears as «Mr. Later» postponing problem-solving indefinitely for the sake of his priorities while visibly avoiding uncomfortable discussions.
ridl.io/mr-later/
ridl.io/mr-later/