Matthew Hedges: Foreign Office apology to UAE torture academic bbc.in/45C3deC

I wrote in Foreign Policy about the new Russian “history” textbook (it’s less about actual history and more about pandering to the private grievances and insecurities of one man) foreignpolicy.com/2023/09/03/rus… But here’s a little vignette which is a story of its own: (mini-🧵)

Well it’s official - tho this has been in the works for weeks. Comes shortly after Ben Wallace left UK MoD. Quite a general defence reshuffle in the broader alliance.

My account in UniCredit Bank Austria AG was terminated without any notice. I learnt about it by accident. I still can’t get my money. They say it was a business decision.

Renowned journalist, author and expert on Russian intelligence service, ⁦Andrei Soldatov⁩, is a vocal critic of politics in Putins Russia. His Austrian bank accounct has been suspended without any further explanation. diepresse.com/14432622

Since Rt. Hon Ben Wallace MP is stepping down today, it is time to re-up this article he wrote a month before Russia attacked Ukraine. I remember reading it then and texting friends in the U.K. how impressed I was with it. He was ahead of his time and he was right.
gov.uk/government/new…

“The general elite aversion to pursuing total victory in Ukraine…” I’m sorry, the what? theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

An old interview with deposed Gabon president Ali Bongo, from when fighting the illegal wildlife trade was the height of political fashion telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/1…

Poignant diary from kate de pury from the Moscow I wouldn't recognise:
newlinesmag.com/first-person/r…
'Russians don’t like to talk about the war in enclosed spaces, and even outdoors you won’t get past a neutral 'I wish it would just end.''

Vladimir Putin confirms Yevgeny Prigozhin died when the Wagner founder's plane crashed yesterday.

' I knew Prigozhin for a long time, from the early 1990s. He had a difficult path and made serious mistakes in his life. But he got results – for himself, and when I asked him.'

🇺🇦 David Knowles is joined by Roland Oliphant and Francis Dearnley to discuss the extraordinary news of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death on Wednesday evening.

Plus, we hear from our Svitlana Morenets, who discusses her devastating piece on Ukraine’s faltering First Aid for soldiers.…

Sergei Markov on the radio blaming Ukraine for killing Prigozhin. So Kremlin going with “Ukrainian diversionary group” alibi. A classic.

Seems increasingly certain that Yevgenny Prigozhin is dead based on official statement from Rosaviatsia etc. And yet…I wonder if we will see a body. Or if those recovered are conveniently burnt to a crisp. I just wonder telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…

🔴 Ever since Yevgeny Prigozhin marched an army of disgruntled mercenaries on Moscow in June, Kremlin watchers have been wondering why Putin allowed his former caterer to remain alive.

Read Roland Oliphant's take on Prigozhin's death

telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…

❔ Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin❔

Read the full profile by our correspondent Roland Oliphant - written in June at the time of Wagner’s coup against Vladimir Putin's government

telegraph.co.uk/world-news/202…

Another night, another strike on Moscow, another temporary shutdown of the Russian capital’s airports. It’s become the new normal.