The Biden-Putin Talks: What Russian Media Are Saying

Russia's pro-government TV is depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin as the undisputed winner of the December 7, 2021 video call with U.S. President Joe Biden over the Russian military buildup along Ukraine's borders.

'The West Turned These People's Life Into Hell': How Belarus And Russia Covered The Migration Crisis

Belarus and Russia’s state-run TV crafted a single narrative in November 2021 to cover the illegal migration crisis on the European Union’s borders: The West is to blame, and Belarus is blameless.

The Two Faces Of RT’s COVID Narratives

The Current Time analysis of content produced by Russian television network RT indicates the existence of two “parallel universes”: one for the Russian and a completely different for international audiences -- the latter full of falsehoods and conspiracy theories.

From Sympathy To Conspiracy Theories: How Mainstream Russian TV Covered 9/11

Mainstream Russian TV outlets initially commiserated with the U.S. after news broke about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But, as media came more under the Kremlin's control, conspiracy theories began to replace the facts.

How Ransomware Hackers Operate

Russia routinely ranks among the top 10 sources for cyberattacks, but what role, if any, does Russia allegedly play in ransomware operations?

Explainer: Why Media ‘Foreign Agents’ In Russia And The U.S. Are Not The Same Thing

In a May 13, 2021 briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russian requirements for “foreign agents” are a response to similar such regulations in the United States. We examined Zakharova’s remarks to pinpoint where the differences actually lie.

How Much Does It Cost To Cut Off A Country From The Internet?

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan have all opted for Internet shutdowns, but at what cost to their economies? Current Time Digital’s Anna Shamanska explains both the cost-calculations for these shutdowns and their potential long-term damage.

How Much Money Does Central Asia Owe China?

China is one of the main creditors for all of Central Asia's countries. How much do these countries owe to China and are they completely equal partners?

Kazakhstan's Sino-Skeptics: A Potential Snag In China’s Silk Road?

How Many Votes Did Lukashenka Actually Win?

Anna Shamanska takes a look at what election analysts consider to be the weak spots in the official vote count for Belarus' August 9 presidential election and whether, in reality, a second round of voting could have been expected.

Why Belarus' Alyaksandr Lukashenka Is Called 'Europe’s Last Dictator'

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka sometimes seems to find his unofficial title as a "dictator" amusing, telling media that he is, in reality, a freedom-loving man. Ahead of Belarus' August 9 presidential election, Current Time took a look at why this sobriquet is no joking matter.

Why COVID-19 Statistics Don't Always Add Up

Data may help track the scope of the coronavirus pandemic, but only up to a point. Behind each country's confirmed COVID-19 cases lies a set of variables that mean these numbers need to be taken in context.

How The 2005 Tulip Revolution Changed Kyrgyzstan

Fifteen years ago, protesters in Kyrgyzstan launched a chain of events that many observers thought would bring lasting democratic change to this strategic Central Asian country. But what long-term impact has the 2005 Tulip Revolution actually had?

How The Big Mac Came To Moscow 30 Years Ago

Thirty years ago, on January 27, 1990, the first McDonald's opened in Moscow. It had taken 14 years of negotiations, vodka shots, and handouts of Ronald McDonald wristwatches to get this icon of Western capitalism into the Soviet Union.

The Moon Landing At 50: What's True, What's Fake?

2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the day U.S. astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Mike Collins became the first people to land on the moon. Anna Shamanska explains why the real story of July 20, 1969 is much more interesting than any conspiracy theory.

When You Think About Crimea, Think Crimean Tatars. Here's Why.

On May 18, 1944, the Soviet government deported the entire population of Crimean Tatars from their homeland as a form of collective punishment for alleged collaboration with the Nazis.

Turmoil In The Orthodox World: What's Going On?

Ukraine changed the Orthodox world forever on January 5, 2019, when its Orthodox Church became independent from the Russian Orthodox Church. But Moscow doesn't want to let it go.

5 Cents Per Kilo: Why Uzbekistan Still Forces People To Pick Cotton

Can you imagine living in a place where every year the government forces you to pick 50 kilos of cotton, every day, for 12 straight days, for just 5 cents a kilo? That's the reality in Uzbekistan.

Thoroughbreds Or Posers? Russia’s New-Age Cossacks

Members of a Russian socio-military group who call themselves Cossacks have been using their nagaikas to whip up a storm of controversy lately. The origins -- and the intentions -- of these neo-Cossacks are being hotly debated.