Ksenia Kochenko, 21, works as a financial reporter for the Russian publication RBK. The publication belongs to the RBC Group, of which it is the main owner Grigory Berezkin.
The EU calls Berezkin “Putin’s henchman”. The magazine writes about the war as a so-called Russian special operation.
According to Kochenko, many familiar products disappeared from stores after the “special operation” began.
What situation are you answering this call about, Ksenia Kochenko?
I’m sitting in a conference room in my office, and I’m away from work for a while. I am writing two articles today. The second is about how the exchange rate between the ruble and the dollar is expected to develop in February. The second deals with the release of freezes on Euroclear accounts of Russian investors in Europe.
How have the sanctions affected life in Moscow?
Greatly. Familiar goods have disappeared from stores. I would think that this is more noticeable in Moscow than in other cities in Russia. Moscow has always had more consumer goods than elsewhere. But now the situation also affects the prices of daily products. However, people live in peace when they have started to avoid the news.
What are people in Moscow most worried about?
The biggest concern is the situation in Ukraine. Muscovites fear that it will expand into a global conflict. Economic sanctions are also a cause for concern because they affect everyday consumption, wage levels and quality of life.
Do you share the same concern?
I am frustrated that Russia has lost a lot from an economic point of view since the start of the special operation. The situation the country has dragged itself into is unfair. I’m really concerned about the ethical side, because there are a lot of unwarranted victims in the situation. For example, we have now seen news about a possible new business proposal, which would be a problem for everyone. Let’s talk about how it would affect politics and the economy. If the situation gets more difficult, will the administration take a tighter grip on the economy as well?
What is being said about a possible new business proposal?
The Kremlin denies the introduction of a new motion, but several in the opposition say it is possible. I think it is necessary to carefully monitor whether the age of those invited is changed. Now there have also been rumors that the situation of invited fathers will be changed. In the past, three children were enough to avoid invitations, but soon one would have to be a father of four to avoid invitations. These claims have not been confirmed by the Kremlin, and there is no exact source for them, but I think many have already started planning to leave Russia in case of a new business launch.
Are there shortages of vital products?
There is no shortage of food, and the price of basic food has remained low. There has been a shortage of certain drugs, such as psychiatric drugs, for a long time. When the anti-depressant Zoloft disappeared, it was reflected in an increase in anxiety in Moscow.
It is a difficult situation in the car trade, because only cars imported from China do not cost so much. So now it is not possible to buy a good car. For example, Mercedes are completely out of reach for Russians.
The Europeans have had to adapt to more expensive energy, what about the Russians?
Inflation has only been strong for individual products. The problem is import restrictions. People avoid waste and buy only ordinary products. I think the situation is a bit like the last years of the Soviet Union.
Can the economic situation be criticized in Russia?
You can talk freely about the economy, unlike military operations. In my opinion, liberal perspectives from the market are also taken into account in the economic policy debate. Economic policy should be discussed at different levels of society.
How does it feel that some rich Russians still get to travel abroad, but a large part of the nation does not?
I believe that the responsibility that the Russians have to bear for the “special operation” in the material sense is unevenly distributed and treats the Russians unequally. Sanctions hit harder on those who have the least opportunities to influence the geopolitical situation. Unfortunately, in the everyday life of ordinary low- and middle-income Russians, restrictions and sanctions are felt more strongly. If, on the other hand, we are talking about confiscation of assets abroad, it can be seen as a kind of justification to take from the richest.
How long can Russia afford this situation?
I’m not a macroeconomist, but I understand that it’s difficult to finance such large-scale actions. Russia can’t get a loan, and the money has to be taken from budget savings. This can’t go on for long. The most likely reason for ending the “special operation” could be that it cannot be financed. I don’t think the current situation can continue for decades. It is unlikely that the situation will be prolonged. I really hope that the negotiations would start.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
I would also say that journalism in Russia is in a state of change. Unfortunately, these days you can get long sentences for writing a story that breaks the rules. The level of stories has decreased when journalists have left the industry and gone abroad. Nowadays, there is very little reportage on the ground, or even less on political agendas, for an understandable reason. Financial journalism, where I work, has pretty much escaped restrictions and foreign agents.
Would you go abroad?
I don’t think I could have a successful career as a journalist abroad. It’s hard to get into the field in the US or Europe, and journalism is too tied to language. On the other hand, I could read another degree, which would bring opportunities.
In this series of stories, we call Russians and look for answers to what is going on with Russian civil society, journalists and activists.
The previous part of the story series: Anastasia Burakova heads one of the most visible anti-Putin networks, and she has a dark message for Russia’s neighbors