Data from the latest monitoring of repressions by OVD-Info indicate a stabilization in the scale of persecution, but this picture is most likely deceptive. The trend towards stabilization of prosecutions under traditional “anti-war” articles began in July: about 30 criminal cases are initiated per month and about 20 sentences are passed, and the number of new administrative cases continues to decline.

The latest data from repression monitoring by OVD-Info suggests that the scale of repression has stabilised, but this picture is likely to be deceptive. The tendency towards the stabilisation of prosecutions brought under traditional 'anti-war' charges began to emerge back in July, with approximately 30 criminal cases opened and about 20 verdicts issued each month, while there continues to be a decline in the number of new administrative cases.

The recent expansion of BRICS into BRICS-11 was a landmark event, one that may not directly impact the course of events over the next season but rather reflects the outcomes of the previous one. As a result of this expansion, BRICS has finally shed the image of a mere informal club and transformed into a tangible organisation aspiring to assert political and economic representation for the Global South.

The broad-based economic recovery that economic statistics reported in the first half of 2023 appears to have hit a wall. After three months of production growth at 1.3% in June and July, the momentum has come to a halt. Analysts differ in their assessments, debating whether this is merely a slowdown or a complete stoppage of growth.

The broad front of recovery growth that economic statistics recorded in the first half of 2023 seems to have hit a wall. After three months of output growth of 1.3% in June and July, the dynamics turned out to be zero. Analysts disagree on whether this is a pause or a halt in growth. August market surveys indicate an increase in the number of new orders, but structural restrictions do not allow responding to the demand fueled by budget injections, growth in credit and wages.

The expansion of the BRICS to the BRICS-11 format was a significant event, but, however, not so much will affect the course of the new season as it records the results of the previous season. As a result of the expansion, Brix finally acquires the features of not a random club, but a real organization that claims to be the political and economic representative office of the global south.