Calum MacKenzie
@calummackenzie.bsky.social
Korrespondent für Russland, Kaukasus, Zentralasien, Belarus bei Schweizer Radio SRF. Tbilissi/Moskau. Aberdeen FC
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
"Without support from energy markets, there is no apparent way for Russia to avoid recession. Stagflation can’t last forever when a country is burning through its working-age men, slashing productive investment, and unable to halt inflation"
@ruboyinthehood.bsky.social
ridl.io/russia-s-sta...
@ruboyinthehood.bsky.social
ridl.io/russia-s-sta...
Russia’s Stagflation Trap – Riddle Russia
Nicholas Trickett with the economic summary of the week (November 10−14)
ridl.io
November 13, 2025 at 12:44 PM
"Without support from energy markets, there is no apparent way for Russia to avoid recession. Stagflation can’t last forever when a country is burning through its working-age men, slashing productive investment, and unable to halt inflation"
@ruboyinthehood.bsky.social
ridl.io/russia-s-sta...
@ruboyinthehood.bsky.social
ridl.io/russia-s-sta...
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Hard to keep up with the absurd news coming out of Kyrgyzstan. Tashiev, the head of national security, just unilaterally banned cafes and restaurants from being open past 10pm. Anyone who doesn’t respect these quiet hours will have their electricity cut off
kaktus.media/doc/535201_p...
kaktus.media/doc/535201_p...
"После 22:00 отключить им свет". Ташиев запретил кафе и ресторанам работать в ночное время
Камчыбек Ташиев возмутился тем, что закон о тишине не работает, и запретил кафе и ресторанам работать. В противном случае им отключат свет.
kaktus.media
November 13, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Hard to keep up with the absurd news coming out of Kyrgyzstan. Tashiev, the head of national security, just unilaterally banned cafes and restaurants from being open past 10pm. Anyone who doesn’t respect these quiet hours will have their electricity cut off
kaktus.media/doc/535201_p...
kaktus.media/doc/535201_p...
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Levada Center Russia survey: "Would you be more likely to approve or disapprove if a member of your family or loved one signed a contract to participate in the special military operation?"
May 23: 52% approve, 41% disapprove
Apr 24: 47% app, 44% dis
Oct 24: 40% app, 42% dis
Oct 25: 30% app, 55% dis
May 23: 52% approve, 41% disapprove
Apr 24: 47% app, 44% dis
Oct 24: 40% app, 42% dis
Oct 25: 30% app, 55% dis
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Levada Center Russia survey: "Would you be more likely to approve or disapprove if a member of your family or loved one signed a contract to participate in the special military operation?"
May 23: 52% approve, 41% disapprove
Apr 24: 47% app, 44% dis
Oct 24: 40% app, 42% dis
Oct 25: 30% app, 55% dis
May 23: 52% approve, 41% disapprove
Apr 24: 47% app, 44% dis
Oct 24: 40% app, 42% dis
Oct 25: 30% app, 55% dis
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Kazakhstani lawmakers have passed legislation banning "the propaganda of pedophilia and non-traditional sexual orientation." Violators of the new "gay propaganda" ban would face up to 10 days in jail. The Senate and president still need to approve it. mazhilis.parlam.kz/ru/all-bill/...
November 12, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Kazakhstani lawmakers have passed legislation banning "the propaganda of pedophilia and non-traditional sexual orientation." Violators of the new "gay propaganda" ban would face up to 10 days in jail. The Senate and president still need to approve it. mazhilis.parlam.kz/ru/all-bill/...
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
According to regional budget data, Russia continues to recruit approximately 30,000 men per month. This may explain why Russia is willing to lose thousands of soldiers each month in its assault on Ukraine, essentially treating its soldiers as "living munitions."
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
According to regional budget data, Russia continues to recruit approximately 30,000 men per month. This may explain why Russia is willing to lose thousands of soldiers each month in its assault on Ukraine, essentially treating its soldiers as "living munitions."
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
It was a pleasure to talk Russian regional budgets this week with @calummackenzie.bsky.social for Swiss radio.
(Politologe has always been my favorite and most correct descriptor!)
www.srf.ch/audio/echo-d...
(Politologe has always been my favorite and most correct descriptor!)
www.srf.ch/audio/echo-d...
Russland rekrutiert neu permanent Soldaten
In Russland können junge Männer neu das ganze Jahr über zum Wehrdienst eingezogen werden, statt wie bisher nur innerhalb von zwei fixen Zeiträumen pro Jahr. Gleichzeitig senken mehrere Regionen aber d...
www.srf.ch
November 8, 2025 at 7:15 PM
It was a pleasure to talk Russian regional budgets this week with @calummackenzie.bsky.social for Swiss radio.
(Politologe has always been my favorite and most correct descriptor!)
www.srf.ch/audio/echo-d...
(Politologe has always been my favorite and most correct descriptor!)
www.srf.ch/audio/echo-d...
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Putin Says that ‘Without the Ethnic Russian People, Russia Cannot be Russia’ windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2025/11/putin-says-that-without-ethnic-russian.html
November 8, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Putin Says that ‘Without the Ethnic Russian People, Russia Cannot be Russia’ windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2025/11/putin-says-that-without-ethnic-russian.html
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Dijana Hrka lost her son in the tragedy in Novi Sad. She has been on hunger strike since Sunday until it becomes clear who is responsible. She is also calling for new elections.
November 4, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Dijana Hrka lost her son in the tragedy in Novi Sad. She has been on hunger strike since Sunday until it becomes clear who is responsible. She is also calling for new elections.
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Here's an article that goes in depth into the failure of Russian air defense to stop drone attacks on refineries. It turns out they are more focused on reporting how many bullets they spent than how much of the refinery was protected.
dailsmi.ru/15041-etogo-...
dailsmi.ru/15041-etogo-...
November 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Here's an article that goes in depth into the failure of Russian air defense to stop drone attacks on refineries. It turns out they are more focused on reporting how many bullets they spent than how much of the refinery was protected.
dailsmi.ru/15041-etogo-...
dailsmi.ru/15041-etogo-...
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Purer Zynismus schon aus dem Grund, dass Putin Minderheitensprachen in Russland unterdrücken lässt. Man denke nur an das Ende des verpflichtenden Unterrichts der lokalen Sprachen. In allen Regionen, wo es russische Pluralitäten gibt, geht es mit den lokalen Sprachen bergab.
Putin führt zwei neue Feiertage ein, zu Ehren der kleinen Völker Russlands und ihrer Sprachen. Die Ukrainer lässt er jeden Tag angreifen und töten, weil sie kein kleines Volk in Russland sind oder sein wollen. kommersant.ru/doc/8179600?fr…
Путин утвердил два новых праздника в России
Подробнее на сайте
https://kommersant.ru/doc/8179600?fr…
November 4, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Purer Zynismus schon aus dem Grund, dass Putin Minderheitensprachen in Russland unterdrücken lässt. Man denke nur an das Ende des verpflichtenden Unterrichts der lokalen Sprachen. In allen Regionen, wo es russische Pluralitäten gibt, geht es mit den lokalen Sprachen bergab.
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Anna Netrebko tritt am Opernhaus Zürich auf. Welchen Platz hat die russische Opernsängerin auf westlichen Bühnen?
https://www.srf.ch/kultur/musik/kontroverse-um-opernsaengerin-anna-netrebkos-auftritt-in-zuerich-sorgt-fuer-zuendstoff
https://www.srf.ch/kultur/musik/kontroverse-um-opernsaengerin-anna-netrebkos-auftritt-in-zuerich-sorgt-fuer-zuendstoff
Anna Netrebkos Auftritt am Opernhaus Zürich sorgt für Zündstoff
Anna Netrebko tritt am Opernhaus Zürich auf. Welchen Platz hat die russische Opernsängerin auf westlichen Bühnen?
www.srf.ch
November 2, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Anna Netrebko tritt am Opernhaus Zürich auf. Welchen Platz hat die russische Opernsängerin auf westlichen Bühnen?
https://www.srf.ch/kultur/musik/kontroverse-um-opernsaengerin-anna-netrebkos-auftritt-in-zuerich-sorgt-fuer-zuendstoff
https://www.srf.ch/kultur/musik/kontroverse-um-opernsaengerin-anna-netrebkos-auftritt-in-zuerich-sorgt-fuer-zuendstoff
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
listen we may have lost our family business, made our kids miserable, had to live in a barn with goats and lost $50,000 to a local Russian slumlord, but at least we dont have to see gay people in public
November 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
listen we may have lost our family business, made our kids miserable, had to live in a barn with goats and lost $50,000 to a local Russian slumlord, but at least we dont have to see gay people in public
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Streets of Novi Sad are already full of people for today‘s commemoration protest.
November 1, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Streets of Novi Sad are already full of people for today‘s commemoration protest.
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
This is my current go to example of what my job is
It appears that Russia is using a poor quality fake of the (fame wise) mid level UK comedian Geoff Norcott to try and destabilise Armenia.
Why? How? To be seen by whom? It is a never ending journey
It appears that Russia is using a poor quality fake of the (fame wise) mid level UK comedian Geoff Norcott to try and destabilise Armenia.
Why? How? To be seen by whom? It is a never ending journey
Also featured in the latest batch of Russian disinformation videos are comedian @geoffnorcott.bsky.social and children's author @philipardagh.bsky.social, again with their voices being deepfaked to attack Armenia.
November 1, 2025 at 10:09 AM
This is my current go to example of what my job is
It appears that Russia is using a poor quality fake of the (fame wise) mid level UK comedian Geoff Norcott to try and destabilise Armenia.
Why? How? To be seen by whom? It is a never ending journey
It appears that Russia is using a poor quality fake of the (fame wise) mid level UK comedian Geoff Norcott to try and destabilise Armenia.
Why? How? To be seen by whom? It is a never ending journey
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy. This tragedy claimed 16 lives and led to protests against the government for a whole year.
October 31, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy. This tragedy claimed 16 lives and led to protests against the government for a whole year.
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Oct. 30 is the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions, a holiday dedicated to victims of Soviet repressions.
Today, we share some of our coverage of Russia's present-day political prisoners:
Today, we share some of our coverage of Russia's present-day political prisoners:
A Letter to Those Who Can Save Political Prisoners in Russia - The Moscow Times
Opinion | Today, on the eve of the anniversary of our release on August 1, when I, along with other Russian political prisoners and foreign nationals, was freed from prison, I want to say THANK YOU!
www.themoscowtimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Oct. 30 is the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions, a holiday dedicated to victims of Soviet repressions.
Today, we share some of our coverage of Russia's present-day political prisoners:
Today, we share some of our coverage of Russia's present-day political prisoners:
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
In den Regionen werden die Bonuszahlungen für Soldaten stark gekürzt. Warum, erklärt Korrespondent Calum MacKenzie.
https://www.srf.ch/news/international/riesenboni-fuer-rekruten-russische-regionen-aechzen-unter-kriegsausgaben
https://www.srf.ch/news/international/riesenboni-fuer-rekruten-russische-regionen-aechzen-unter-kriegsausgaben
Krieg gegen die Ukraine: Russlands Regionen geht das Geld aus
In den Regionen werden die Bonuszahlungen für Soldaten stark gekürzt. Warum, erklärt Korrespondent Calum MacKenzie.
www.srf.ch
October 30, 2025 at 9:44 AM
In den Regionen werden die Bonuszahlungen für Soldaten stark gekürzt. Warum, erklärt Korrespondent Calum MacKenzie.
https://www.srf.ch/news/international/riesenboni-fuer-rekruten-russische-regionen-aechzen-unter-kriegsausgaben
https://www.srf.ch/news/international/riesenboni-fuer-rekruten-russische-regionen-aechzen-unter-kriegsausgaben
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
Read my paean to the architecture of Yerevan in the new issue of Apollo apollo-magazine.com/yerevan-arme...
The magisterial modernism of Yerevan
A century ago, the architect Alexander Tamanyan devised a startling layout for the city and his vision has endured against the odds, writes William Dunbar
apollo-magazine.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Read my paean to the architecture of Yerevan in the new issue of Apollo apollo-magazine.com/yerevan-arme...
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
A Bishkek court has just ruled that two of the countries most influential independent news sites Kloop and Temirov Live (both in exile abroad) are extremist organizations. This means that liking or reposting their content may be deemed a criminal act in Kyrgyzstan
kloop.kg/blog/2025/10...
kloop.kg/blog/2025/10...
Суд признал материалы «Клооп» и «Темиров лайв» экстремистскими
Суд признал материалы «Клооп» и «Темиров лайв» экстремистскими – в изданиях не знали об этом деле и намерены обжаловать приговор
kloop.kg
October 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
A Bishkek court has just ruled that two of the countries most influential independent news sites Kloop and Temirov Live (both in exile abroad) are extremist organizations. This means that liking or reposting their content may be deemed a criminal act in Kyrgyzstan
kloop.kg/blog/2025/10...
kloop.kg/blog/2025/10...
Etwas älterer, aber immer noch aktueller Artikel von @seva.bsky.social. Es ist kein Widerspruch, dass RU viele Probleme hat und gefährlich ist. "(P)ower is not just GDP but intangible things (...) like the capacity to deploy force, absorb pain and break rules".
hegemon.substack.com/p/russia-is-...
hegemon.substack.com/p/russia-is-...
Russia is both weak and strong - that's the problem.
It insists upon itself, Louis.
hegemon.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Etwas älterer, aber immer noch aktueller Artikel von @seva.bsky.social. Es ist kein Widerspruch, dass RU viele Probleme hat und gefährlich ist. "(P)ower is not just GDP but intangible things (...) like the capacity to deploy force, absorb pain and break rules".
hegemon.substack.com/p/russia-is-...
hegemon.substack.com/p/russia-is-...
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
"To the end! To the victory!" - Georgians march in protest on the anniversary of disputed parliamentary elections and day 333 of non-stop #GeorgiaProtests
🎥 Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.ge
🎥 Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.ge
October 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
"To the end! To the victory!" - Georgians march in protest on the anniversary of disputed parliamentary elections and day 333 of non-stop #GeorgiaProtests
🎥 Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.ge
🎥 Nini Gabritchidze/Civil.ge
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
#BBCNews - Spectacular downfall of Georgia's ex-PM accused of having $6.5m in his flat
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Irakli Garibashvili has appeared in court charged with large-scale money laundering - he is one of the most loyal allies of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Irakli Garibashvili has appeared in court charged with large-scale money laundering - he is one of the most loyal allies of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili
Georgia: Spectacular downfall of ex-PM accused of having $6.5m in his flat
Irakli Garibashvili, who was a loyal lieutenant of Georgia's de facto leader, is accused of corruption.
www.bbc.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:00 AM
#BBCNews - Spectacular downfall of Georgia's ex-PM accused of having $6.5m in his flat
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Irakli Garibashvili has appeared in court charged with large-scale money laundering - he is one of the most loyal allies of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Irakli Garibashvili has appeared in court charged with large-scale money laundering - he is one of the most loyal allies of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili
Reposted by Calum MacKenzie
“So why has Bidzina Ivanishvili turned against his former allies — and why now, at a time when the country is in the midst of a deep political crisis and anti-government protests have continued for nearly a year?”
“According to political analysts, the campaign is essentially a “cash grab.”
“According to political analysts, the campaign is essentially a “cash grab.”
October 24, 2025 at 7:09 AM
“So why has Bidzina Ivanishvili turned against his former allies — and why now, at a time when the country is in the midst of a deep political crisis and anti-government protests have continued for nearly a year?”
“According to political analysts, the campaign is essentially a “cash grab.”
“According to political analysts, the campaign is essentially a “cash grab.”