Let's look back to 2024
Events of the year according to the editors and readers of the media outlet "Govorit NeMoskva" (Not Moscow Speaking)
We'd really like to sum up the year in a different way. One in which the war with Ukraine is over, Alexei Navalny is alive, political prisoners are free, and freedom of speech is once again a value. Alas. In 2024, everything positive seems to have been entirely concentrated in the personal. There, in one's personal life, joys, discoveries, breakthroughs, and victories are still possible. But in what's happening in the country, there's no silver lining in sight. Victories over the darkness and gloom are few and far between. And yet, they do exist. We continue to document what's happening, never averting our eyes. And it gives us strength that you—tens of thousands of our readers—are doing this with us.
The past year will be remembered for the murder of Alexei Navalny in the Kharpa prison colony in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Boris Nadezhdin's failed bid for the presidential election, the ongoing campaign against undesirables—and for unbridled childbirth, the blocking of YouTube, Signal, Viber, and Discord, and, at the end of the year, the update of the nuclear doctrine lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. Russia sank deeper into isolation, despite trying to maintain a positive image by hosting the BRICS summit in Kazan and feigning friendship with North Korea.
The war with Ukraine has become routinized—and this is a bitter realization. Military operations, the deaths of soldiers, the shelling of settlements, explosions and fires at oil depots, the ever-increasing pay of contract soldiers, protests by the wives of those permanently mobilized, the atrocities of returning prisoners, the glorification of murderers, and the effects of PTSD among those returning from the war have become a constant backdrop to the news. "It's an interesting journey from 'Kyiv in three days' to 'Now North Korean soldiers will help us liberate the Kursk region,'" wrote journalist Dmitry Kolezev. Billions are being spent on the war and the restoration of the "new territories," while there is insufficient money to resolve domestic problems.
What was happening in the regions at the same time? We published the following over the course of two weeks: Telegram channel "NeMoskvy" Subjective selections of regional events, and you chose the most important ones. Based on this vote, we compiled a list of key regional stories that will shape 2024.
Turning point of the year: the Ukrainian Armed Forces' invasion of the Kursk region
On August 6, 2024, Ukrainian Armed Forces crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border and began military operations in the Kursk region. In the first hours, authorities reported that the breakout attempt had failed and called on residents "not to succumb to the actions of provocateurs." Meanwhile, Ukrainian Armed Forces troops advanced 10-15 kilometers into the country and captured 11 settlements.
Over nearly five months of ongoing fighting, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have occupied several dozen settlements and taken control of a 1000-square-kilometer swath of Kursk Oblast. Military experts have identified the operation's goals as distracting the Russian army from eastern Ukraine, capturing territory for exchange during future peace talks, and boosting the morale of Ukrainian troops.
Read on:
"We have been betrayed, we have been given over to be torn apart.". A report from Kursk shows a missile destroying part of a high-rise building, and thousands of border residents who fled their homes are queuing for pillows and kettles.
The year's turn: farewell to Alexei Navalny in Moscow
On March 1, Alexei Navalny was buried in Moscow. Despite the risk of arrest, tens of thousands of people came to bid farewell to the politician (rider traffic at nearby metro stations increased by 30). The line at the cemetery stretched over a kilometer. For many days after the funeral, people continued to lay flowers at the grave.
Moscow authorities decided not to disperse the crowds who came to bid farewell to the politician. However, regional authorities have suddenly developed a fear of color: they are cracking down on spontaneous memorials to Navalny, with over a hundred people detained in 21 cities over the past two days.
Read on: From Sakharov to Navalny. How the Russian opposition was buried. РAlexei Navalny's Russia. How Non-Moscow remembers politics.
Protest of the Year: Street Actions in Baymak, Bashkortostan
Mass street protests took place in Bashkortostan. Thousands of people came out in defense of activist Fail Alsynov and expressed dissatisfaction with local government policies. Fail, one of Bashkortostan's most prominent public leaders, was sentenced to four years in prison for allegedly inciting ethnic hatred.
The protests in the small town of Baimak became the largest Russian protest in recent memory. They were violently dispersed, with the use of batons, tear gas, and stun grenades. Arrests began almost immediately. At least 82 people have been implicated in the so-called Baimak case—the largest political trial in modern Russia.
Read on topic: Protest in Bashkortostan. How the small town of Baimak became famous throughout the world. Metamorphoses of Radiy Khabirov. How he wanted to help environmental activists, and then he became the head of Bashkortostan and started putting them in jail.
Trial of the Year: The Case of Moscow Pediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova
The case that, judging by the votes, resonated most with our readers was the criminal trial against Moscow pediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova. She allegedly called the late husband of the widow of a SVO member "a legitimate target of Ukraine." Buyanova's apartment was searched, and photos of the search were shared online, sparking a flurry of comments about the Russian doctor's poverty. In November, Buyanova was sentenced to 5,5 years for "fakes." Twelve courageous doctors came out in her support, calling the case "shameful," pointing out that no evidence of guilt was ever provided, and demanding Buyanova's release.
Other cases also provoked a sharp and painful reaction: Moscow resident Yuri Kokhovets, who was sentenced to five years in prison for making a negative statement about the SVO in a street poll; director Evgenia Berkovich and screenwriter Svetlana Petriychuk, who were sentenced to six years in prison for the play "Finist the Bright Falcon"; 77-year-old Novosibirsk scientist Anatoly Maslov, who was sentenced to 14 years in a maximum-security prison for allegedly passing classified information to China; and journalists accused of collaborating with Navalny's team—Antonina Favorskaya, Artem Kriger, Konstantin Gabov, and Sergey Karelin.
Read on topic:
Journalism under investigationPersecution of journalists and bloggers in Russia since the outbreak of the war with Ukraine. Updated "NeMoskva" database
The year's escalation: terrorist attacks in Moscow and Dagestan and ethnic conflicts in various regions of Russia
On March 22, a terrorist attack occurred at Crocus City Hall near Moscow. 145 people, including six children, were killed. The attack was one of the largest terrorist attacks in modern Russian history, second only to the Beslan terrorist attack in terms of casualties.
On June 23, a series of coordinated attacks on synagogues and churches occurred in Dagestan. Twenty-two people were killed. Two synagogues were burned, and two Orthodox churches were damaged. In one of them, the murdered Orthodox priest had his throat slit.
These two events have different origins and backgrounds, but they share something in common: an unprecedented rise in xenophobia and interethnic strife. One event fueled anti-immigrant sentiment, while the other became a striking example of the clash of two worlds. Ethnic conflicts flared throughout the year in various parts of the country (the anti-immigrant riot in Yakutia, the anti-Roma pogroms in the Chelyabinsk region, and others). Against this backdrop, the government tightened its policies toward migrants.
Read on topic: "Not our people". A NeMoskvy journalist visited the scene of the events in Dagestan and spoke with witnesses to the terrorist attacks. "Zhanna, this is a damn ghetto!". Life in Novosibirsk's most migrant-infested neighborhood, nestled between a market, a landfill, and a cemetery.
Disasters of the year: floods and wildfires across the country
The floods peaked in April, with 36 regions of Russia flooded, and over 16 homes were inundated. Most of the damage was caused by the floods, which were called
Residents of the Kurgan, Orenburg, and Tyumen regions suffered "unprecedented" floods. In all regions, people complained that they had to save themselves on their own and that government assistance was insufficient (even aerial religious processions were ineffective). After the waters receded, the ordeal began: compensation for lost or damaged housing had to be, and still is, fought for.
The floods were followed by droughts, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency in the Rostov Region. This was accompanied by wildfires, with a total area of 16 million hectares burned in 2024. The Far East, Buryatia, southern Russia (Rostov and Astrakhan Regions), and the areas bordering Ukraine were hit the hardest. The root cause of the problem is incompetent government policies and insufficient funding.
Read on topic: Planned emergencyThe Tyumen region has been drowning for the second week—villages and roads are under water. Tierra del FuegoWhy are forests and steppes in Russia actually burning? How many are actually burning? And can anything be done about it? A special project from "NotMoscow."
Solidarity of the Year: "Ingushetia Unity Day"
On September 18, a shootout occurred outside the Wildberries headquarters in Moscow. The 90s-style showdown stemmed from a "corporate dispute" between the Bakalchuk couple, which also involved Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Two security guards, Islam Elmurziev and Adam Almazov, both natives of Ingushetia, were killed during the shootout. Although they had not lived in the republic for a long time, their deaths caused an incredible stir. Hundreds of Ingush residents greeted the bodies at the airport, lined the road to mourn the victims, and then a massive convoy of cars drove to the victims' home villages. Thousands came to bid farewell to their fellow countrymen. The streets leading to the memorial site were jam-packed. Local social media groups dubbed September 21st "Ingushetia Unity Day."
Breakthroughs of the year: Pipes and dams burst across the country
This winter, the country was literally engulfed in a public utility disaster. Pipes burst and outdated boilers failed across the country. Streets and homes were flooded with boiling water. During the bitter cold, people were left without heat, and sometimes even without electricity. Experts say the deterioration of Soviet-era buildings and utilities will be one of Russia's main problems for decades to come.
In the spring, other breaks began along with the floods. The first occurred on April 5th—a municipal dam in Orsk, Orenburg, burst. The city was evacuated. The regional prosecutor's office stated that the cause was "untimely measures" to maintain the structure "in proper technical condition." Then breaks began in various parts of the country: in Tomsk and Kurgan, in the Omsk region and Primorye, in Chukotka and the Chelyabinsk region, in Buryatia and Karelia. Experts say a radical rethink is needed in the approach to constructing hydraulic structures; once again, the issue is one of money.
Disasters of the year: the crash of a plane flying to Chechnya and tankers in the Kerch Strait
Both disasters occurred in December. On December 15, two tankers capsized in the Kerch Strait. The resulting fuel oil spill began washing ashore. Twelve days after the incident, a federal state of emergency was declared. The aftermath is still being cleaned up, and it's unclear when it will be completed. Hundreds of people from across the country are working free of charge to clean the coastline from pollution. They're shoveling fuel oil and spending days catching and washing birds covered in the toxic sludge.
On December 25, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight from Baku to Grozny crashed. The plane was prevented from landing. It flew to Aktau and crashed near the Kazakh city. The crash was caused by an air defense missile fired at a drone in Grozny and exploding near the plane, damaging its skin. According to Euronews, the flight crew requested an emergency landing but were not allowed to land at any Russian airport. Putin, in two conversations with the Azerbaijani president, acknowledged Russia's responsibility for the disaster.
Read on topic:
The Black Sea. A report by a journalist who became a volunteer and saw the fight for a clean beach with his own eyes.
Spit of the year: the closure of a center for children with disabilities in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo
In Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo, the region's only center for children with disabilities is set to close. It not only provides treatment but also primary education for children. Students come from various districts: they live at the center Monday through Friday and go home on weekends. This option will be discontinued in 2025, meaning they will have to commute daily by public transportation from different districts, which is extremely inconvenient.
The Center's building, built in 1949, is still heated by coal, and hasn't been renovated in a long time. According to the Center's staff, the reason for its closure is the authorities' lack of funds for maintenance and repairs.
Resignations of the Year: Governor Falls in the Regions
On November 4 and 5, Rostov Oblast Governor Vasily Golubev, Tambov Oblast Governor Maxim Egorov, and the Komi Republic Governor and one of the most fervent Nazi salute-giving governors, Vladimir Uyba, announced their resignations.
Then Kursk Region Governor Alexei Smirnov resigned. The first three explained their resignations by transferring to another position—the president, they claimed, had entrusted them with a new line of work. The fourth allegedly resigned "of his own accord," but it's likely that those at the top were dissatisfied with the leadership of the border region.
Yevgeny Pervyshov, a participant in the "SVO" and the "Time of Heroes" program, has been appointed the new head of the Tambov Region for the first time. Rostislav Goldshtein, former head of the Jewish Autonomous Region, has been appointed the head of the Komi Republic, and Yuri Slyusar, CEO of the United Aircraft Corporation, has been appointed the head of the Rostov Region. Aleksandr Khinshtein, known as the head of the Information Policy Committee, who supported restrictions on those who left Russia and "foreign agents" and who initiated the first case of "LGBT propaganda," has been appointed the head of the border Kursk Region.
Read on topicWe follow the Rostov Region Governor To Vasily Golubev, to the governor of Komi To Vladimir Uyba and the Governor of the Tambov Region To Maxim Egorov.
Flashbacks of the year: the return of cards in Kaliningrad and the remains of a murdered journalist in St. Petersburg
Unexpected greetings from the past arrived in 2024. In December, the remains of a journalist killed 20 years earlier by a police officer were found near St. Petersburg. Fontanka reporter Maxim Maximov disappeared in June 2004. Colleagues immediately tracked down Mikhail Smirnov, then deputy head of the anti-corruption agency in the Northwestern Federal District. Maximov was preparing a story about how Smirnov had induced officials to accept bribes and then extorted them. However, they failed to bring him to justice; Smirnov rose to the rank of police colonel and then retired. This spring, he was arrested on an old case, and his involvement in the journalist's murder was simultaneously uncovered. He revealed the location where the body was hidden.
In Kaliningrad, they've announced the reintroduction of food stamps starting in 2025. The social card will be intended for "vulnerable categories of citizens," primarily pensioners whose income is below the subsistence level. Previously, certain categories of citizens in Kamchatka began receiving fish stamps.
Attempt of the Year: Installation and removal of pillars in memory of the repressed in Tomsk
In Tomsk, on Mount Kashtak—the site of a mass execution of repressed people—activists erected memorial pillars with the names of those executed. "This is the first attempt to make this place meaningful for visitors. So that it won't be a place of some unknown repressed people, but one with their own destiny, their own history," explained historian and local historian Vasily Khanevich. The mayor's office was not pleased and demanded the removal of the "illegibly erected objects." Descendants of the executed and concerned Tomsk residents did not remain silent—they sent letters to the mayor's office asking that the memorial pillars not be removed.
"The pillars don't offend anyone, either by their appearance or their content. People today have every right to know that thousands of people are buried here. Otherwise, we'll just bury them all again," explained one Tomsk resident. It didn't help, and the pillars were torn down.
The Clash of the Year: A Khabarovsk Teacher's Dismissal for Dancing in Heels—and the Protests in His Defense
In September, Andrei Nikonov, a well-known homophobe in Khabarovsk and head of the city's Council of Fathers, began harassing teacher Daniil Malyavin. He posted a video on his Telegram channel of the teacher dancing in heels, "Frame Up." He had previously performed similar routines at competitions, coached women and girls, and even taught models how to walk in heels.
The teacher was summoned to the education department and told to resign. Initially, under pressure, he actually resigned. But then both parents and students came to his defense. The latter held a flash mob, appealed to the mayor's office, and even threatened to boycott classes. After this, the teacher decided not to give in and promised to fight "for his children." He was able to withdraw his resignation from the school. However, School No. 68 will likely face legal action.
Read on:
"I've been screwed badly, and I don't want to just go away quietly.". A Khabarovsk teacher and leader of the local "Movement of the First" was forced to resign for dancing in heels. Students and parents stood up for him, and now he's determined to fight back.
Release of the Year: Political Prisoner Exchange and Moskalyev's Release
On August 1, a prisoner exchange took place in Ankara, Turkey—the largest since the Cold War. Russia returned eight of its intelligence officers (including spies, con artists, a smuggler, and a hired killer) and released 16 political prisoners, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Tatar-Bashkir Service journalist Alsa Kurmasheva; opposition politicians Ilya Yashin, Vladimir Kara-Mura, and Andrei Pivovarov; Navalny's regional campaign managers Lilia Chanysheva, Ksenia Fadeeva, and Vadim Ostanin; human rights activist Oleg Orlov; journalist Evan Gershkovich; artist Alexandra Skochilenko; and others.
Another release in 2024 also caused a stir: after a year and ten months, Alexei Moskalov, convicted of repeatedly "discrediting the Russian Armed Forces," was released from prison. The persecution of the Novomoskovsk resident began in late 2022, when his daughter drew an anti-war picture at school, and teachers reported her father to the police.
Read and watch on the topic:
«And don't forget to send a postcard."Ksenia Fadeeva's first interview as a free woman.
Music of the Year: Wagner performed by Kushnir
Pianist Pavel Kushnir is said to have performed Wagner brilliantly. He was also a brilliant pianist and a talented writer (in 2014, he wrote the anti-war novel "Russian Cutup"). He was accused of inciting terrorism due to a video on the "Foreign Agent Mulder" channel, which had five subscribers, and was placed in a pretrial detention center in Birobidzhan. There, he went on a hunger strike and died. Friends suspect he may have been tortured—a bruise on his left eye was visible even at his funeral. However, his family refused to conduct an independent examination.
The video that led to the pianist's arrest and death is only 50 seconds long. "The Bucha massacre is a disgrace to our homeland. Fascism is the death of our homeland. Putin is a fascist. The peoples of our country gave millions of their best lives so that fascism would never exist. And we will not accept, we will not worship, the beast. Down with the war in Ukraine. Down with Putin's fascist regime. Freedom for all political prisoners. Freedom for all prisoners. And freedom for everyone," he says in the recording.
Read on:
Truth Is Out TherePianist Pavel Kushnir, who died in pretrial detention, loved the X-Files. Like Agent Mulder, he saw evil that others overlooked.
Surprise of the year: the acquittal of a Buryat human rights activist
Buryat human rights activist Nadezhda Nizovkina was unexpectedly acquitted of charges of "discrediting the army." The court found that the FSB and Center E violated her rights. "This is a completely unexpected victory," Nizovkina commented. "Such an acquittal under the article on discrediting the army is a rarity not only for Buryatia, but for all of Russia. The authorities have never before admitted their mistakes. This time, the court has drawn attention to this for the first time. And this is a serious step forward."
The administrative case against Nizovkina was initiated due to a live broadcast she conducted on October 12 from a square in Ulan-Ude together with Alexey Popov, an Emergency Ministry employee from Buryatia. During the broadcast, they discussed political prisoners and the death of Ildar Dadin, a member of the "Freedom of Russia" Legion.
Trip of the Year: Siberians' Round-the-World Trip
We don't know why this particular piece of good news has resonated so strongly with our readers. But many have named the completion of the extreme circumnavigation of the globe, undertaken three and a half years ago by Siberian sailors Evgeny Kovalevsky of Tomsk and Stanislav Berezkin of Novosibirsk, as one of the most important events of 2024.
The explorers partially retraced the routes once followed by Ivan Kruzenshtern, Fyodor Litke, and Thaddeus Bellingshausen. They traveled through 32 countries, and in every foreign port, they told stories of the geographical discoveries of Russian navigators and Russia. In 2024, they returned to Russia. The crew's first port of call was Anapa.
We, too, conclude our journey to 2024 with a simple wish: may this kind of news be released more often in 2025. May this kind of "action" remain. And we don't need anything else—thank you, Grandpa!
Find all the selections of the main regional events of 2024 and the voting results in telegram channel "NotMoscow" by the hashtag #notmoscowresults.