Stories about Russia from March, 2009
Ukraine, U.S.: NATO or “Our Own Reset Button”
A discussion of the current U.S. stance on Ukraine's NATO membership – at Ukrainiana.
Russia: Xenophobia Updates
Moscow Through Brown Eyes, Window on Eurasia, and Eternal Remont write about xenophobic attitudes in Russia.
Global: Bubbles, Bailouts and Stimulus Plans
Identifying the economic woes of the United States is crucial. But we should also understand that other countries are also grappling with bankrupt companies and shrinking economies. Many countries are also implementing their own stimulus plans. What are some of the examples used by bloggers around the world when they discuss the bubble economies, bailout of banks and stimulus plans of their countries?
Russia: Upcoming Election in Sochi
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical writes about the upcoming mayoral election in Sochi.
Russia, U.S.: Red Star Comic
Copydude writes about Red Star, “a comic produced intermittently from the 50s to the 90s” in the United States.
Ukraine, Russia: Social Networking vs Work
Svetlana Gladkova writes on Profy about how social networking often interferes with work being done in Ukraine and Russia: “In fact, as many as 69% of Russian companies already block access to social networks from office computers which seems to be the only option to make employees stop wasting time...
Czech Republic, Russia: Klaus, Putin and the Environment
CzechFolks.com writes about Vaclav Klaus’ views on global warming and other issues. The Reference Frame thinks that Vladimir Putin has become “the ultimate green messiah.”
Russia: Drug Abuse; Pancakes Recipe
Windows to Russia writes about drug abuse in Moscow. On a positive note, here's a link to a Russian pancakes recipe.
Russia: New Minister of Agriculture
At CrisisCrunch, Adrian Erlinger writes about Yelena Skrynnik, Russia's new minister of agriculture.
Russia: Putin and Ukraine
Eternal Remont writes about Putin's conflicting public statements on Ukraine.
Russia: Oborona Leader's Arrest and Escape
Oleg Kozlovsky got arrested on the eve of the Dissenters’ March – but escaped.
Russia: State vs Individual
Streetwise Professor writes about “the worship of state power” in Russia.
Global recession and its discontents
Today the world seems flat. From Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas, the people of the world are experiencing the traumatic effects of a global economic recession. This post is an attempt to describe the social impact of the great financial crisis as seen and felt by ordinary citizens around the world.
Russia, U.S.: Peregruzka Perezagruzka
On March 6, in Geneva, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov a small box containing a red "reset" button with the Russian word peregruzka printed on it, which was meant as a symbol of better relations between the United States and Russia. But the Russian word for 'reset' is perezagruzka, while peregruzka means 'overcharged' - and Lavrov didn't hesitate to point out the language error. Below is a selection of bloggers' thoughts on language and politics.
Russia: “Diary of an Uzbek Gastarbeiter”
At Sean's Russia Blog, a discussion of “Diary of an Uzbek Gastarbeiter” – “a harrowing story of an Uzbek migrant named Shukhrat Berdyev, 48, experience as a migrant laborer in Russia over a ten year period,” posted on Opendemocracy.net.
Russia: Bloggers and Dissidents
Window on Eurasia writes: “Russian bloggers, many Moscow commentators have suggested, are today’s version of the dissidents of Brezhnev’s time. But on the occasion of Internet Free Speech Day, one Moscow analyst is arguing that blogs already play a larger role than the dissidents ever did and that they could...
Russia: Prosecution's Bias in Politkovskaya Murder Trial
Window on Eurasia writes about a blog item (RUS) on the Politkovskaya murder trial posted by journalist Vadim Rechkalov (LJ user voinodel) on his blog at Moskovsky Komsomolets, a Russian daily: “Vadim Rechkalov says that a close examination of the record, including a slide show the government offered suggests that...
Russia, Ukraine, the Balkans: Eurovision News
The controversy caused by Georgia's Eurovision Song Contest entry seems to be over (or, depending on one's perspective, has reached its climax), now that Georgia has decided not to take part in this year's event in Moscow, following the European Broadcasting Union's demand that the lyrics of the 'We Don't Wanna Put In' song are either changed or a different song entered. Russia's own entry is causing controversy now as well, however.
Ukraine: Tymoshenko's Geopolitical Views
Ukrainiana compares Yulia Tymoshenko's geopolitical views now and some two years ago and concludes that she is “arguing with herself.”
Russia: “Unsent Letter” on Health Care
Below is a partial translation of a post on health care in Russia - a caustic "unsent letter" to the Russian president, written by LJ user sobe-panek on Feb. 22. The post has made it into the Top 30 at Yandex Blogs portal and was picked up by some Russian media.
Ukraine, Georgia, Russia: Relations With NATO
Eternal Remont posts a cartoon on NATO's complex relationship with Russia – and with Ukraine and Georgia.
