Duma to relax rules on CSOs use of endowment capital

The Russian State Duma extends benefits for CSOs on the use of endowment capital   26.09.2025   Article published on the miloserdie.ru website   A bill to extend support measures for CSOs using endowment capital has been adopted at first reading.   This involves temporarily exempting CSOs from the obligation to use at least 25% …

A third of Russians believe that people with dementia “are not full members of society”

A third of Russians believe that people with dementia “are not full members of society”   22.09.2025   Article published on the asi.org.ru website   These are the findings of a study conducted by the National Agency for Financial Research’s (NAFI) Analytical Centre and the Dementia.net project.   The study was timed to coincide with …

Moscow Mayor suggests restricting benefits for unemployed Russians

Sergey Sobyanin proposes saving one trillion roubles in health insurance benefits for ten million unemployed Russians   18.09.2025   Article published on the moscowtimes.ru website   The Moscow Mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, has proposed major changes to the health insurance system for unemployed Russians.   At a meeting of the Moscow Financial Forum, he stated that …

Kazakh women criticise president for comments against women

Kazakh women criticise the country’s President for comments against women   13.09.2025   Article published on the rus.azattyq.org website   Kazakh women have criticised the President for his comments about women who allegedly cause public disorder. Women are openly expressing their anger and accusing the head of State of misogyny.   In his state of …

Russia: social security benefits to be available in cash or in kind

Beneficiaries have until 1 October to decide how they would like to receive their social security benefits   09.09.2025   Article published on the asi.org.ru website   The Russian Social Fund (RSF) has announced that citizens, who are entitled to federal benefits and social support, have until the end of September to choose how they’d …

More than 16,000 displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) have received Armenian citizenship

More than 16,000 displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) have received Armenian citizenship, says the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs   05.09.2025   Article published on the arka.am website   As of 2 September this year, more than 16,000 Armenian citizenship applications have been received from people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Armen Ghazaryan, Deputy Minister …

Russia: number of school starters down 25% in two years

In Russia, the number of school starters has gone down by 25% in the last two years 01.09.2025 Article published on the moscowtimes.ru website   In September, around 1.5 million new starters will take their seats in classrooms across Russia. In total, 18 million pupils will be starting/returning to school, according to a Russian Government …

More than 20 Russian regions to penalise “encouraging women to have abortions”  

More than 20 Russian regions are introducing penalties for “encouraging women to have abortions”   01.09.2025   Article published on the moscowtimes.ru website   On 1 September, laws to prohibit “encouraging women to have abortions” came into force in the Bryansk and Kirov regions. According to the RBK, similar regulations are already in force in …

More than half of Tajikistan’s population have no access to drinking water.

More than half of Tajikistan’s population have no access to drinking water.   A new water supply plan announced by Dushanbe has been greeted with scepticism   29.08.2025   Article published on the rus.azattyq.org website   The Tajikistan Government has announced a three billion somoni (approximately US$324 million) programme to provide 72% of the country’s …