Stories about Russia from September, 2006
Russia: Svetlana Bakhmina's Appeal
David McDuff of A Step At A Time writes about Svetlana Bakhmina's appeal “to have her sentence deferred for nine years, until her youngest child reaches the age of 14.” Bakhmina used to be a YUKOS lawyer and was sentenced to six and a half years of imprisonment in a...
Eastern Europe: Video documents homophobia on the rise
The latest twist in the long-running saga of anti-gay violence and state oppression took place yesterday in Moscow, as an appeals court upheld the earlier lower court ruling to ban Moscow's Gay Pride March in May 2006. The gay rights activists who brought the case will now attempt to challenge...
Russia: VP of Central Bank Killed
Russia Blog reports on the recent killing of Andrei Kozlov, vice president of Central Bank: “The equivalent crime in America would be killing the Vice Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank in Washington, D.C.”
Russia: Another Deportation Anniversary
J. Otto Pohl covers another tragic date in the history of the Russian-Germans: the 65th anniversary of the forced deportation of those living in Rostov Region.
Russia: “Elitny Dress Code”
Copydude writes about “Elitny Dress Code” in Russia.
Russia: Buran
English Russia writes about Buran, the unlucky Soviet-built space shuttle: “It could be a very successful project of Russian Space Exploration era in general, if the Soviet union lasted a little bit longer or if the modern Russian could find a way to fund it.”
Russia: Kondopoga
Russia Blog sums up the events in Kondopoga, Karelia.
Russia: “Kadyrov is a Human, Too”
On October 5, Chechen prime minister Ramzan Kadyrov turns 30, the age at which it would be legal for him to become the republic's president. Although he denies striving for this highest post, some people believe he would get there soon. Timur Aliev (LJ user timur_aliev), editor-in-chief of the print/online...
Ukraine, Russia: Foreign Service Trainee
Wu Wei cites a comment from a foreign service trainee preparing himself for Ukraine: “…In order to better to absorb the Russian language and culture (although I’m actually going to Ukraine), I plan on renting every Cold War action flick of the ’80s to get in the vibe. I already...
Russia: Madonna Visits Orphanage
English Russia re-posts pictures of Madonna visiting an orphanage in Moscow.
Russia: Mushroom Season
The Accidental Russophile posts pictures of his friend's family picking mushrooms in the Komi Republic.
Russia: Guerrillas in Ingushetia
David McDuff of A Step At A Time translates an article on the recent activization of guerrillas in Ingushetia.
Russia: Tear of Grief; Intro to Orthodox Culture
In Moscow, Zurab Tsereteli‘s works seem ubiquitous – and disliked by many. In New Jersey, his first one was dedicated on Sept. 11 in Bayonne: a gift from the Russian government, the 100-foot, 175-ton bronze monument “To the Struggle Against World Terrorism” – aka the Tear of Grief. High-profile guests...
Russia: “Putin's Presidential Pseudo-News”
Vilhelm Konnander writes on how the media treat Vladimir Putin's repeated assurances that he is not considering staying for the third presidential term: “Still, international media continues to report that Putin will leave power in 2008, in the anticipation that somewhere along the line he will change his mind.”
Russia: World Toilet Organization
Snowsquare.com writes about a bizarre event held in Moscow last week: the World Toilet Summit & Expo 2006.
Russia: “Solzhenitsyn vs. Khatami”
Russia Blog compares two Harvard speakers: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in 1978 and Mohammed Khatami this year.
Russia: Sakhalin Oil and Gas
Russia Blog writes about oil and gas development on Sakhalin.
Russia: Murder Over Foreign-Made Car
Russia Blog writes about the tragic death of an Omsk journalist and his family: “Ruslan noticed a nice Mitsubishi car parked by a tent, with no potential witnesses around. Driving a foreign-made vehicle was his childhood dream. So he went to the tent and shot Aleksandr Petrov in the face...
Russia: Sprats, Scam, Ripping
Copydude writes about “a giant can of Baltic Sprats” sculpture soon to appear in a town near Kaliningrad; about German ads – possibly, a scam – offering “assisted resettlement package to Kaliningrad, including subsidised bills, free train travel, free phone installation, a chance to collect Russian and German pensions and...
Romania, Russia: Movies
Owlspotting writes about translating movie titles into Romanian. The Accidental Russophile gives advice on finding and watching Russian DVDs in the United States.
Belarus: Ban List
TOL's Belarus Blog reports that soon foreign journalists, politicians and others banned from entering Belarus may also be automatically banned from entering Russia.
