Russia Economy editorial policy

Russia Economy covers economic developments through evidence, attribution and clear explanation. Our editorial purpose is to help readers understand Russia's economy, not to advocate for a government, political party or financial product. Conclusions should follow the available evidence and remain proportionate to its strength.

Independence comes before commercial interests

Advertisers and sponsors do not control editorial topics, wording or conclusions. Commercial arrangements do not purchase favorable reporting, favorable data selection or the suppression of corrections. Any sponsored content is labeled Sponsored and kept separate from independent coverage.

We do not invent contributors, qualifications, interviews or reporting locations. Articles carry the publication's byline, Russia Economy. A description of a public document must not imply that we attended a meeting or spoke to its authors.

Sources and attribution

Research starts with original statistical releases, policy decisions, budget documents, legislation and other authoritative records. International institutions and credible reporting provide cross-checks and additional context. When an original document is unavailable, an article must attribute the accessible report rather than imply direct verification.

Material figures need a named source, a measurement period and enough explanation to identify the series. We distinguish nominal from inflation-adjusted amounts, forecasts from observations and annual averages from end-of-period readings. Revised estimates replace superseded figures when that improves the comparison; relevant revisions are explained.

Evidence labels

Official data means statistics published by the institution responsible for the series. Official claims are statements made by governments or other organizations that may require independent corroboration. Independent estimates use another researcher's methods and assumptions. Forecasts concern outcomes not yet observed. Analysis is the publication's interpretation of evidence, not an additional verified fact.

These distinctions appear in the writing itself. A sanctions authority's allegation is attributed to that authority. A company's announced project is not described as completed production. Correlation alone is not presented as proof of cause.

AI-assisted preparation

Articles may be prepared with AI tools for research assistance, organization, drafting or translation of source material. They are checked against cited sources before publication. AI output is not evidence, and a generated citation is not a substitute for an accessible original record or a clearly attributed credible report.

Images created with AI are identified as AI-generated illustrations. Illustrations must not be presented as photographs documenting a specific event. Charts and tables must use traceable data rather than decorative invented values.

Context without false certainty

Coverage explains important limitations alongside the affected findings. Restricted statistical series, changes in territorial coverage and unavailable underlying records are relevant information, not details to hide in a footnote. We do not infer motives, wrongdoing or institutional failure beyond the evidence.

Economic analysis is informational and does not provide investment, trading, tax or legal advice. Readers should use the relevant official source and appropriate professional guidance for decisions affecting their own circumstances.

Corrections and updates

Substantive factual errors are corrected with a dated Correction note at the end of the article. Later developments may justify an update without implying the earlier report was wrong. Our corrections policy explains the distinction. Send a documented concern to [email protected], including the page and the evidence supporting a change.