Vladimir Rozanskij

The new African Exarchate of the Russian Patriarchate established, divided into the two dioceses of North and South Africa. The Russian-African clergy will be subject to the bishop of Yerevan (Armenia) Leonid. "The Waltz of Chairs" in patriarchal sees.

Authorities of the separatist enclave in Azerbaijani territory criticize the negotiating position of Armenian Premier Nikol Pašinyan. Artsakh wants independence from Azerbaijan and invokes Russia's help.

NATO responds to Russia’s military escalation on the border with Ukraine. Kyiv would like a permanent NATO fleet in the area. Expert warns that the Kremlin’s negative reaction is inevitable; meanwhile, the risk of clashes in the sea, even accidental, increases.

The leaders of Aleksej Naval'nyj's movement are trying to revive political opposition activities in Russia by attempting to exploit the discontent of increasingly popular "anti-vax" groups, proof of the government's failed anti-Covid campaign. The "competition" with the KPRF communists ahead of the 2022 regional elections.

In Russia, the official figure calculated on the basis of income places 44.2% of the population on the poverty line. But the rise in prices, which has now reached double figures, reveals the failure of the data to reflect capture reality. Experts: without an adequate system, real risk of further growth in inequality.

Maniža now lives in a women's shelter in St. Petersburg. Once she arrived in Russia, her father prevented her from studying. A victim of archaic family and cultural traditions of her people. She escaped thanks to the help of friends and a fundraising campaign on the web.

Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev, president of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Relations, is in the Vatican today. "The meeting with Kirill will take place when all the conditions have matured." The patriarch wants to see the pontiff again. The problem of Orthodox religious schools, with religion has regaining a pivotal role in the life of Russian society.

The Ukrainian autocephalous Church would like to switch to the Gregorian calendar, used throughout the world and a reference for Catholics. The Metropolitan of Kiev calls for celebration on 25 December and no longer on 7 January. The staggered dates, however, favour ecclesiastical exchanges between the two communities.

Residents of the region remember "Uncle Valerius," the artist who traced drawings and greetings on ice and snowy expanses. He died last year of Covid. Beloved throughout Russia, his works also photographed by the International Space Station.

The Russian Parliament abolishes the terms 'president' and 'governor' for the leaders of federal bodies. Putin wants a "unitary" and centralised state. The fears of ethnic groups such as the Tatars in the face of Great Russian nationalism. The Caucasus sees hike in "hate of Russians".

They wanted to reach Spain to escape poverty, but are stuck in Belarus. Having entered Poland, the local police sent them back across the border. The Belarusian guards then locked them up in a prison, torturing them. Now they are wandering around the capital Minsk.

In 2022 the conversion of the ancient Volga Bulgarians population will be remembered. The most important initiative is the construction of a mosque-cathedral in Kazan. Russian Islam has always lived in harmony with Orthodox Christianity.