Russian online newspaper Lenta.ru and digital media channel Mash have launched a major historical project examining the evolution of Russian political language. The joint venture, titled Po Ponyatiyam: Russian Political Dictionary, was created in partnership with political scientist Alexey Chesnakov and received backing from the Institute for Internet Development.
The project focuses on the history of 24 core concepts in the Russian political lexicon, ranging from power, state, and elections to court, war, and victory. Researchers trace how the definitions of these words originated, how their meanings shifted over different historical periods, and how they continue to function in contemporary Russia.
Evolution of political concepts
The central theme of the initiative is analyzing Russian history through the prism of political terminology. The authors examine not only major historic events and governing institutions, but also the specific vocabulary used to interpret them across different historical epochs. As the political lexicon evolved, underlying perceptions of society, governance, and the state transformed alongside it.
Longread articles published as part of the project trace each term from its earliest recorded usages to modern political discourse. According to the creators, this long-term perspective highlights key differences between political traditions, as identical words can carry distinct historical meanings across different societies and influence how political processes are understood.
The project authors also emphasize that Russian political tradition is not merely a collection of concepts borrowed from Western nations. Instead, they argue that it developed its own distinct meanings rooted in the country's philosophy, culture, religion, and historical experience.
Multi-platform content and releases
Po Ponyatiyam is designed as a multi-platform media campaign across several digital formats. The project features longread articles hosted on the Lenta.ru website, video podcasts and audio editions distributed across Mash channels, educational cards on Telegram and VK social networks, and short video clips on VK Clips. All materials covering the 24 terms will eventually be gathered on a dedicated website landing page.
The first longread article, which focuses on the concept of elections, has already been published on Lenta.ru. It explores the origins of voting in early Rus, examining historical practices such as vocal shouting at local veche assemblies, drawing lots, and traditional fistfights.
At the same time, the debut podcast episode has been released across Mash platforms. The multimedia format allows audiences to consume the content as long-form text, video, or audio streams depending on their platform preference.
Production team and podcast guests
The concept for the project was created by Alexey Chesnakov, director of the Center for Political Conjunction, who also serves as the lead expert. Media manager Alexander Nepogodin, who heads the international news desk at Lenta.ru, serves as project manager and general producer. Sergey Izotov, editorial director of Mash Room and host of the podcast Without Leaving the Room, acts as creative producer.
A team of staff writers contributed to the texts alongside Nepogodin, including Gleb Palekhov, Dmitry Popov, Maxim Gabrielyan, Dmitry Plotnikov, and Sergey Izotov. Podcast production was overseen by general producers Alina Timofeyeva and Anastasiya Romanova, with Alexander Bokovets serving as stage director. The podcast is co-hosted by Izotov and Nepogodin, while Anastasiya Lukasheva directed the art design, Darya Romanova managed project operations, Irina Serdyuchenko led video production, and Diana Yepifantseva managed social media promotion.
Throughout the series, invited philosophers, political analysts, and cultural figures examine how political terminology reflects and shapes public reality. Guest speakers discuss political concepts through the context of their own professions, personal biographies, and career experiences.
Featured guests appearing on the podcast include Olympic gymnast Svetlana Khorkina, figure skater Ilia Averbukh, actor Aristarkh Venes, writer Zakhar Prilepin, animal trainer Edgard Zapashny, and lawyer Anatoly Kucherena. Other contributors include philologist Nikolai Zharinov, VCIOM polling agency director general Valery Fedorov, State Duma deputy Anatoly Wasserman, and Okko streaming platform documentary producer Vladimir Todorov.
Background on participating organisations
Lenta.ru is one of Russia's largest online news publications and forms part of the Rambler&Co media holding, a prominent digital publishing group in the country. Partner outlet Mash operates as an online news publisher and major Telegram news channel known for breaking news coverage and multimedia video production.
The project received official backing from the Institute for Internet Development, a public organization that provides grants and support for Russian digital content creation and media projects. Academic oversight is provided by the Center for Political Conjunction, a Moscow-based political research institute.
