Natalia Shkurenok - openDemocracy

Why aren’t more Russians protesting war in Ukraine? We asked an expert

Anti-war activist Sergei Davidis on why Russian society is reluctant to condemn the threat of war – despite largely disagreeing with it

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 24 Jan 2022

Why aren’t more Russians protesting war in Ukraine? We asked an expert

'New schemes of deception': what Russian election observers told us

Amid accusations of falsifications and violations, openDemocracy speaks to election observers who monitored this week's parliamentary election in St Petersburg

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 22 Sep 2021

'New schemes of deception': what Russian election observers told us

‘Who, if not us?’: Supporters of Russian political prisoner Yuri Dmitriev speak out

What makes people wait outside the closed doors of the courtroom, in hopes of seeing Dmitriev, a historian of the Gulag, for only a few seconds?

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 19 Aug 2021

‘Who, if not us?’: Supporters of Russian political prisoner Yuri Dmitriev speak out

‘We consider Alexey Navalny’s ideas destructive and dangerous for Russia’

Nikolay Rybakov, the leader of Russia’s Yabloko opposition party, talks to openDemocracy about imprisoned opposition leader Navalny, smart voting and corruption

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 8 Jul 2021

‘We consider Alexey Navalny’s ideas destructive and dangerous for Russia’

Navalny’s ‘smart voting’ offers the only path to change, says Petersburg official

Despite Russian politics’ lack of diversity, Maxim Reznik remains hopeful that the opposition-supporting youth can free Russia from Putin’s grip

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 17 May 2021

Navalny’s ‘smart voting’ offers the only path to change, says Petersburg official

"People’s solidarity brings you to tears": Russia’s protest volunteers, in their own words

Volunteers in Moscow and St Petersburg tell openDemocracy about their work supporting detainees arrested at political protests

By Natalia Shkurenok and Vera Gzhel

/ 23 Apr 2021

"People’s solidarity brings you to tears": Russia’s protest volunteers, in their own words

How this grassroots initiative in St Petersburg is making a World Cup for everyone

Major sporting events speak to people in the language of money, prestige and officialdom. But they can – and must – speak the language of culture, equality and solidarity. RU

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 14 Jun 2018

“I love you with all my heart”: Russian Gulag historian Yuri Dmitriyev's final word in court

Despite repeated forensic analysis to the contrary, this Russian historian has spent 13 months in pre-trial detention on child pornography charges.

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 28 Mar 2018

The historian who dug too deep

This year isn’t just the centenary of the October Revolution; it also marks 80 years since the start of the Great Terror. In northern Russia, one man is on trial for digging too deep into that Soviet past. RU

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 4 Sep 2017

After the bomb: crisis management in Petersburg

After last month's metro attack, residents of St Petersburg remain defiant, if unruly. Русский

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 10 May 2017

In St Petersburg, long-distance truck drivers are holding out for victory

Russia’s long-distance truck drivers have started a nationwide strike. But without support from political parties or other groups, how far can they go? RU

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 11 Apr 2017

St Petersburg: in search of solidarity

Recent months have seen Petersburg residents mobilise themselves to control what happens in their town. This week’s bomb attack reminds us that the city’s solidarity is hard-fought. Русский

By Natalia Shkurenok

/ 6 Apr 2017