We promise everything, but we deliver nothing. This is not only the slogan of the freak party Budapest. Photo: Jaap Arriens / Sipa USA / TASS The elections in Hungary, one of the poorest countries in the European Union, are a striking example of hope and hopelessness rolled into one. More precisely, bottles that can be returned at the nearest large supermarket. The current electoral process generates a lot of controversy, scandals and an endless amount of analysis.

The decision of the Supreme Court to recognize Memorial* as an extremist organization has not been published. Because it's secret or because it's empty? Photo: Ivan Vodopyanov / Kommersant The decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to recognize the “international public movement “Memorial”* as extremist and ban its activities on the territory of the Russian Federation,” which received enormous publicity, was not published - as it was taken behind closed doors.

Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer. Photo: Yuri Safronov / Novaya Gazeta French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will jointly hold a video conference in Paris on Friday, April 17, which will bring together “countries that are not involved in hostilities and are ready to contribute with us to a multilateral and purely defensive mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” a source told Novaya Gazeta at the Elysee Palace.

How Russia truly entered Europe for the first time On March 9, 1697, the Great Embassy of Peter I began - one of the most important journeys in Russian history. Formally, it was a diplomatic mission, but for Peter himself the trip became a personal exit to Europe: to ships, shipyards, artillery, medicine, science and a new way of life. Why did Peter set off on his journey? What did he want to get from Europe?

There are no prospects at the negotiations, and neither are the external contours. What remains is the inner contour, and we took it seriously Photo: Roman Yarovitsyn / Kommersant Last week was a busy one. However, lately all the weeks have been filled with something - just have time to dodge it.

On April 14, the Investigative Committee for the Leningrad Region opened a criminal case for insulting the feelings of believers against a 20-year-old resident of Murino named Tatyana - she published in her Telegram channel a photo of an Easter cake next to a sex toy and the inscription “Christ is risen!” The department said that the identity of the suspect has already been established, “measures are being taken to detain her, after which she will be charged and a preventive measure taken.”

Oleg Roldugin in court. Photo: Evgeny Kurakin On April 14, Novaya Gazeta journalist Oleg Roldugin was charged in the presence of a lawyer: he is charged with clause “c” of Part 3 of Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - illegal use and storage of personal data committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy. The same article appeared in the court hearing to select a preventive measure for Roldugin, which took place last Friday.

Spring Fair Non/fiction - impressions, doubts, nostalgia Visitors at the international fair of intellectual literature “Non/fiction№ spring” in Gostiny Dvor. Photo: Valery Sharifulin / TASS When I'm going to a book fair, I take a big, big backpack, and when I get there, I can barely squeeze through the crowded aisles with it. But no one is angry - everyone here is like that: with backpacks full of books.

Russian authorities may slow down tightening internet restrictions, including on Telegram, amid growing public discontent. Bloomberg reports this, citing sources familiar with the discussions. According to them, the FSB's initiative to strengthen control over the Internet has caused concern among some senior officials. They warn of political and economic risks, including the impact of restrictions on Vladimir Putin's popularity.

The Cherepovets news agency published a “repentance” video featuring two men who were previously detained for filming a drone strike: “Those who posted a video on the Internet with the consequences of UAV arrivals in the industrial zone of Cherepovets made an official apology to the townspeople. Their actions provoked a wave of anxiety among the population,” - says the agency's message. The men's names have not been released.

Anti-corruption lawsuits initiated by the Chairman of the Supreme Court cover an increasingly wide range of officials Photo: Anatoly Zhdanov / Kommersant As RBC reported, the Prosecutor General's Office filed a claim for the seizure of property worth 23 million rubles. from the Chairman of the Notary Chamber of the Krasnodar Territory Galina Chernova. This message is doubly interesting: Galina Chernova is the ex-wife of the chairman of the regional court, Alexander Chernov.

Alexander Vaskovsky. Photos from social networks In St. Petersburg, on April 13, Z-blogger and former deputy of the “Supreme Council of the DPR” Alexander Vaskovsky was detained - a post about this appeared on his Telegram channel. The blogger reported that an administrative protocol was drawn up against him for “discrediting” the Russian army for two publications in January 2024.

This conclusion follows from the “people’s vote” in Khakassia, sanctioned by the governor Valentin Konovalov. Photo VK The governor of Khakassia, communist Valentin Konovalov, reported in a telegram on April 13 that residents supported the idea of ​​​​installing a monument to Stalin in the Victory Park of the republican capital Abakan.

Primorye authorities reported on the work of Stukachat for the first three months of 2026 Photo: Sergey Elagin / Business Online / TASS The Primorye Anti-Terrorism Commission summed up the work of the “Oper Writes” chatbot for the first quarter of 2026. It works on Telegram, where you can complain about illegal migrants, illegal possession of weapons, and also about suspicious citizens or, for example, comments on the Internet.