Thirty years after the catastrophe at Chernobyl, the government of neighbouring Belarus still refuses to release information about real radiation levels in the surrounding area. It’s even planning to build a new nuclear power plant. 
In Bashkortostan, the hills are alive with the sound of limestone quarrying. Now local civil society is taking on one of Russia’s largest chemical consortia. 
As Russian dreams of becoming a ‘great ecological power’ fade, Gazprom, it seems, has been driving climate policy all along.
Like it or not, global warming will affect Russia, and ignoring it only stores up problems for later.
Climate change is still of little interest to Russians. But why? 
Russia’s seizure in international waters of the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, the arrests, refusal of bail and charges of piracy for activists and crew alike has provoked worldwide outrage. But what are the reasons for Moscow’s heavy-handedness; and why has the official western response been so muted? 
We work with activists, journalists and researchers to publicise issues left behind by the mainstream press. Find out more about how you can join the debate here.
Our columnists
An open letter from an inmate of the Southern Gas Corridor
By
International investment in fossil fuel extraction is making me and other Azerbaijani political prisoners hostages to the Aliyev regime.
Ukraine’s corrupt counter-revolution
In Ukraine, revolution and reform has given way to reaction, with vested interests entrenching themselves even further.
The murder in Ankara is vultures coming home to roost
By
Russia’s “wins” have been destructive and destabilising. The assassination of its ambassador to Turkey shows consequences are never far behind.
An open letter from an inmate of the Southern Gas Corridor
By
International investment in fossil fuel extraction is making me and other Azerbaijani political prisoners hostages to the Aliyev regime.Ukraine’s corrupt counter-revolution
In Ukraine, revolution and reform has given way to reaction, with vested interests entrenching themselves even further.The murder in Ankara is vultures coming home to roost
By
Russia’s “wins” have been destructive and destabilising. The assassination of its ambassador to Turkey shows consequences are never far behind.
This August, we begin a special series devoted to the 25th anniversary of August 1991. Join us to discuss the fate of reforms, progress and the pluralist world we envisaged — and lost. Get in touch to discuss your ideas.