This was Russia today Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Howdy, folks. Today, I review a recent policy paper examining Europe’s options for engaging Russian opposition activists and journalists in exile as they navigate a “dual credibility gap.” Plus, news on Zelensky’s tentative offer to hold wartime presidential elections in Ukraine. Also, don’t miss Meduza’s new interview with journalist Simon Shuster. Yours, Kevin.

Can Russian exiles help Europe if earning Western legitimacy costs them credibility back home?

In a December 2025 briefing paper for the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, scholars Margarita Zavadskaya and Jussi Lassila tackle the Russian exiled opposition’s “dual credibility gap”: the tension between “remaining credible to Russians inside the country and maintaining legitimacy with the opposition’s European and Ukrainian partners.” In Europe’s “emerging ‘moral political economy,’” Russian exiles compete for attention and resources as a “substitute for genuine influence inside Russia.” This contest pressures exiled groups to adopt positions and platforms that only further marginalize them in the eyes of “undecided Russians” back home. Europe-driven definitions of the Russian opposition also risk erasing Russia-based activism from the “broader political community,” while elevating groups with views that are ultimately considered “toxic” or irrelevant in Russia. 

So what? Who needs genuine Russian exiles if they fail Europe’s “litmus test for legitimacy” (particularly from Ukrainian and Baltic perspectives)? Zavadskaya and Lassila argue that Russian political exiles can provide “essential expertise” to refine economic sanctions against Moscow and collect more evidence of the Putin regime’s crimes. Keeping a coterie of Russian exiles will also allow Europe to “anchor any gradual normalization to concrete political reforms” if the war in Ukraine ends and Moscow “seeks international recognition or reintegration.”

While they stress the trade-offs that Europe’s normative gatekeeping imposes on Russian exiles, Zavadskaya and Lassila argue that the community’s credibility gap is not insurmountable. At the same time, their proposed “baseline principles” for “grants, invitations, or partnerships” would tether Russian exiles’ legitimacy in Europe to their rejection of any “suggestion of territorial concessions” from Ukraine. In other words, exiles would need to embrace a position that is both politically toxic and explicitly illegal back home. 

To navigate this issue, Zavadskaya and Lassila suggest “separate funding streams” and “discreet assistance” for anti-corruption, justice, and independent media initiatives (“mitigating” the visibility of E.U. branding and support). To address host countries’ security concerns about Russian exiles, Zavadskaya and Lassila recommend “closer cooperation with vetted diaspora leaders who can help collect and relay information about potentially suspicious individuals within their communities.” 

The Archive Collection: Nothing can stop Meduza from releasing anniversary merch — even if we have to make it ourselves. Check out our latest drop now!

We have a new tradition here at Meduza: every year on our birthday, we update the merch in our online store, Magaz. In 2025, we turned 11 — and despite the considerable challenges we’ve faced this year, we’ve found a pretty original way to bring you a new collection. Here’s a look at the latest clothing and accessories you can buy to rep Meduza and support our work.

News you don’t want to miss today

🗳️ Zelensky signals readiness for wartime elections as U.S. pressure intensifies 🇺🇸

President Zelensky said he’s prepared to hold national elections despite ongoing fighting and publicly asked Washington to help ensure security. At the same time, Ukraine’s parliament would still need to pass the legislation required to hold a vote under martial law.

• American pressure: President Trump has urged Kyiv to move ahead with elections, questioning Ukraine’s democratic credentials and suggesting it’s “time” for a national ballot. Zelensky now says elections could take place within 60–90 days — but only if the security and legislative conditions are met.
• Diplomatic tension: The appeal comes amid strained ties between Kyiv and Washington, as Trump’s team presses for faster progress in peace talks while criticizing Zelensky’s leadership and negotiating approach. | NBC News

🕊️ Simon Shuster on Trump’s peace deal, Yermak’s ouster, and Zelensky’s postwar future | Journalist says Andriy Yermak’s resignation exposed deep strains inside Zelensky’s wartime administration and coincided with renewed U.S. pressure on Kyiv to engage in peace talks that remain stalled by Moscow’s maximalist demands. | Listen here 🎧

🕯️ Chechen woman found dead in Armenia had family ties to Kadyrov | Human rights activists say Aishat Baimuradova endured years of abuse, threats, and coercion before her escape to Yerevan, where she was allegedly lured by acquaintances tied to Kadyrov’s entourage and later found dead under suspicious circumstances, allegedly poisoned.

🥸 Duma speaker warns Putin about Europe’s ‘AI minister’ corruption scandal, unaware it was Croatian satire | Volodin’s remarks, likely sourced from a Russian Telegram channel that mistook a Croatian parody site for real news, highlight how satirical content seeps into Russia’s political discourse unchecked.

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