Stories about Russian from September, 2007
Kazakhstan: Big politics and human lives
While the usual discussions about political cobwebs and oil business intrigues kept the Kazakhstani bloggers busy, two dramatic incidents stood out: A rocket crash potentially threatening the health of thousands of people and the murder of a Russian blogger made the Kazakhstani blogosphere think about the value of a human life.
Ukraine: The Language Issue
Victor Yanukovych's Party of the Regions is pushing for a referendum on granting Russian official status as a national language, in addition to Ukrainian. Below is a selection of views on the "language issue" from the Ukrainian blogosphere.
Russia: “Putin's Plan”
A few days ago, LJ user drugoi photographed a political ad on Leninsky Prospekt in Moscow and posted the picture on his blog. The ad read: "Putin's Plan - Russia's Victory!" The blogger asked an obvious question: "What's the plan, does anyone know?" And received 150 comments from his readers, some of which are translated here. (Plus, a bonus translation: the story of Victor Pipiskin.)
Kazakhstan: Energy Twists and Media Tricks
Be it the crisis of the country's biggest oil project or the biases of the national media: Both big stories from Kazakhstan this week demonstrate that power is concentrated in very few hands, while social indicators point at huge income inequalities.
Russia: Violence in Ingushetia
Attacks on civilians in Ingushetia have increased in the past few months. The most recent victims of violence include the family of an ethnic Russian teacher from the town of Karabulak, two ethnic Koreans in Stanitsa Ordzhonikidzevskaya, and a 66-year-old ethnic Russian doctor at a blood transfusion center in Nazran. Attacks on law enforcement officials are also reported to be on the rise. To help local security forces manage the situation, some 2,500 interior ministry troops were sent to Ingushetia earlier this month. Russian bloggers discuss the situation.
Russia: Beslan Anniversary
Moscow City Day celebrations this year coincided with the third anniversary of the Beslan school siege. Some Russian bloggers discussed the regime's attempts to make people forget the unforgettable tragic event of September 1-3, 2004.
Russia: Putin's Party Campaign Ads
LJ user dizainer posts pictures (RUS) of campaign ads of the pro-Putin United Russia party in the Pskov region; its slogans are: “Putin's Plan – United Russia” and “United Russia – Putin's Party.”
