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by Meduza

January 27 2026
Cover image for Anna Rivina was the face of Russia’s fight against domestic violence. Former employees are accusing her of emotional abuse.

Anna Rivina was the face of Russia’s fight against domestic violence. Former employees are accusing her of emotional abuse.

Domestic violence was rampant in Russia even before Vladimir Putin signed a law decriminalizing it in 2017. Left unable to press criminal charges against their abusers, the aid group Nasiliu.net became a lifeline for thousands of victims. The organization’s founder, Anna Rivina, was regarded as a hero within Russia’s human rights community. But after Nasiliu.net announced its closure in October 2025, succumbing to years of government pressure, several former employees publicly accused Rivina of abusive behavior. Rivina denies the allegations, saying Nasiliu.net operated under “difficult and restrictive conditions” and claiming that it wasn’t always possible to maintain a “stable and comfortable working environment” for staff. To understand what unfolded inside Russia’s most prominent anti-domestic violence organization, Meduza spoke with 10 former Nasiliu.net employees — and Rivina herself.

by Meduza

January 27 2026
Cover image for Residents of world’s largest Arctic city left without heat as sub-zero temperatures persist in northern Russia

Residents of world’s largest Arctic city left without heat as sub-zero temperatures persist in northern Russia

In Russia’s Arctic, Murmansk and the surrounding region, including the city of Severomorsk, have been partially without power since January 23 following damage to power lines operated by the power company Rosseti. Five transmission towers collapsed due to icing, blizzards, and gale-force winds. The power failure brought boiler houses to a halt, leaving residents of the Murmansk region without heating or hot water. According to the estimates from the regional government, roughly 73,000 residents remain without electricity. Amid attempts to restore power by installing temporary transmission towers, regional officials have declared a state of emergency. Locals have disputed claims by Governor Andrey Chibis that power was restored to 80 percent of the homes in Murmansk and Severomorsk by the third day of the blackout. Meduza reviews what we know about the situation.

by Meduza

January 26 2026
Cover image for Meduza breaks down the debate over Europe’s new platform for dialogue with Russian anti-war, pro-democracy forces

Meduza breaks down the debate over Europe’s new platform for dialogue with Russian anti-war, pro-democracy forces

On January 26, the Council of Europe announced that it had approved the list of participants in its new Platform for Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces. European lawmakers describe the initiative, which was created to engage anti-war opposition figures, as a way to support democratic change in Russia and contribute to a just peace in Ukraine. But while supporters hope the platform could help defend the interests of anti-war Russians internationally, critics argue it will merely project an image of the Russian opposition convenient to the West without having any real impact. Meduza explains how the platform came about, who will be part of it, and what Russian opposition figures hope it can achieve.