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Novaya Gazeta and Meduza, was poisoned in Munich, and Irina Babloyan, who works for Ekho Moskvy, was poisoned in Tbilisi. In May 2023, Natalia Arno, the president of the Free Russian Foundation, showed symptoms of poisoning. While The Insider doesn’t usually publish materials about poisoning attacks until the perpetrators are identified, its journalists decided to make the information it has public, with the victims’ permission, in order to warn Russian activists who leave the country of the threat they might face abroad.
Russia carries out forced, systematic passportization in occupied territories. Russia systematically coerces residents of the occupied parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts to accept Russian passports, the U.S. research group Ukraine Conflict Observatory reported on Aug. 2.
Prigozhin-linked firms receive state contracts after Wagner rebellion. Companies associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin signed state contracts worth at least 2bn rubles (up to $21mn) within a month after his Wagner Group rebellion, the Russian independent outlet Agentstvo reported on Aug. 3.
The combined wealth of Russia’sbnaires increased by $32.341bn in January–July, according to the Bloombergbnaires Index (BBI) seen by PRIME on August 1. The index is calculated using capitalization and the financial reports of the companies owned by the businessmen. For some companies, a capitalization to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) ratio or a share price to earnings per share ratio are used. The rating comprises 500 wealthiest people of the world, including 25 Russians. Vladimir Potanin, one of the core owners of metals giant Norilsk Nickel, led the rating with a $29.8bn fortune that increased by $1.23bn. Independent gas producer Novatek’s co-owner Leonid Mikhelson ranked second with wealth increasing by $2.73bn to $27.4bn. Businessman Vladimir Lisin earned $4.98bn to $24.8bn, occupying the third place.
Russian-led Orthodox Church metropolitan released from custody. Moscow-backed Orthodox Metropolitan Pavlo (Petro Lebid) was released from custody on a Hr 33.3mn ($290,000) bail, Lebid's lawyer Mykyta Chekman said on Aug. 7.
Russian security hardliners want Shoigu and Gerasimov gone, new mobilization wave. Hardline members of Russia's security apparatus remain in favor of dismissing current Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Staff chief Valerii Gerasimov, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 20 citing undisclosed five people "with knowledge of the situation."
NABU uncovers $1.6mn embezzlement scheme involving top officials. The first deputy minister of agrarian policy and food and a former deputy economy minister were charged with power abuse in the case of embezzling Hr 62.5mn (around $1.6mn) of state funds, the National Anti-Corruption
RUSSIA Country Report September 2023 www.intellinews.com