After the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a new "secrecy regime" (Harrison, 2023) began to take shape in Russia. Although many important statistical data had already been classified before, the war significantly amplified the scale of restrictions and provided new legitimation for closures. Overall, more than 800 datasets have been deleted from public access, including both direct and indirect indicators used to understand casualties, such as figures on military pensions, prison populations, and the number of disabled persons.
Despite this extensive rollback of transparency, a surprising volume of data remains publicly available in Russia. This persistence can be partly attributed to the inertia of earlier openness policies, the fragmented and technocratic nature of the Russian bureaucracy, and the continued operation of state agencies that rely on data circulation for internal efficiency. Moreover, the penetration of new digital has enabled researchers, journalists, and civil society actors to generate visibility from below.
Arnold Khachaturov is a sociologist and journalist, head of the data department at the independent Russian media in exile Novaya Gazeta Europe and founder of the Cedar (Center for Data and Research on Russia). He is also a PhD candidate at EHESS (Paris), studying how quantitative data shape knowledge about contemporary Russia.
His presentation will be discussed by Pr Kevin Limonier, associate-director of GEODE (Geopolitics of the Datasphere).
The seminar will take place on 3 December 2025, 4-6 PM (CET), room 3.03, Centre des colloques, Campus Condorcet, Paris-Aubervilliers and online
To participate, please fill in this form.
Despite this extensive rollback of transparency, a surprising volume of data remains publicly available in Russia. This persistence can be partly attributed to the inertia of earlier openness policies, the fragmented and technocratic nature of the Russian bureaucracy, and the continued operation of state agencies that rely on data circulation for internal efficiency. Moreover, the penetration of new digital has enabled researchers, journalists, and civil society actors to generate visibility from below.
Arnold Khachaturov is a sociologist and journalist, head of the data department at the independent Russian media in exile Novaya Gazeta Europe and founder of the Cedar (Center for Data and Research on Russia). He is also a PhD candidate at EHESS (Paris), studying how quantitative data shape knowledge about contemporary Russia.
His presentation will be discussed by Pr Kevin Limonier, associate-director of GEODE (Geopolitics of the Datasphere).
The seminar will take place on 3 December 2025, 4-6 PM (CET), room 3.03, Centre des colloques, Campus Condorcet, Paris-Aubervilliers and online
To participate, please fill in this form.
