Stories about Russia from March, 2009
Russia: Igor Sechin in WSJ
Streetwise Professor and Robert Amsterdam's Blog comment on a WSJ piece based on an interview with Russia's deputy prime minister Igor Sechin.
Russia: The Durnovo Memorandum
A Fistful of Euros writes about a document known as the Durnovo Memorandum: “What’s striking about the memo is how, six months before World War One started, [Pyotr Durnovo] absolutely nails it. Nature, conduct, likely outcomes — he’s eerily, astonishingly correct about all of them.
Ukraine: Relations With Russia and Romania
Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop writes: “While Russian strategists declare Ukraine “a failed state” on the verge of losing its sovereignty, some Romanian officials and media are suggesting that only part of Ukraine, with its capital in Lviv, can ever come under the alliance’s euroatlantic umbrella.”
Russia: The Oligarchs’ “Debt-Go-Round”
Copydude writes that Russia's “debt-go-round has become so huge and interwoven that it seems to be taking all the oligarchs down together”: “For the most part though, it’s looking like the end of era – and a very short list of Russians on Forbes next year.”
Germany: Berlin Wall Murals Destroyed
IZO writes about “an act of extraordinary cultural vandalism”: “a section of the Berlin Wall that had been preserved with its post-fall graffiti, including the iconic painting by Dmitri Vrubel depicting a kiss between communist leaders Leonid Brezhnev and Eric Honecker, has been “restored”, meaning the complete destruction of the...
Russia, Italy: Putin's Namesake Arrested For Shoplifting
Vilhelm Konnander writes about a namesake of Vladimir Putin who was arrested for shoplifting in Italy.
U.S., Russia: “Peregruzka Meets Perestroika”
In a post titled “Peregruzka Meets Perestroika,” Eternal Remont writes about Barack Obama's unscheduled meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev.
UAE: Russian Photoblogs From Burj al-Arab
LJ user sergeydolya posts pictures and shares impressions (RUS) of his stay at Dubai's Burj al-Arab, one of the world's most expensive hotels.
Russia: “Cut-and-Paste” Journalism
Eagle and the Bear writes about “cut-and-paste” TV journalism in Russia: “Over the course of dinner tonight, no less than two stories on the Vesti television news came directly from a separate print source. Meaning they literally filmed the two print articles — one a Rossiiskaya Gazeta article about handling...
Russia: Obama Ice Cream Ads
Sean's Russia Blog writes about Russian ads featuring Barack Obama.
Russia: Lake Baikal Blog
Siberian Light links to a blog about Lake Baikal – Baikalogy.
Russia: Caucasus Situation; Spring Draft
Window on Eurasia writes about the situation in the North Caucasus – here and here – and about the spring draft into the Russian armed forces.
Global Recession Survey: Survival Tips and Business Opportunities
Everybody is trying hard to cope with the global economic crisis. Bloggers are offering survival tips to their readers. Businesses around the world are adjusting. Some are even profiting from the crisis. In this post, I will feature individuals and companies exerting their very best to overcome the recession.
Russia: Sochi's Mayoral Race
Updates on the Sochi election – FP's Passport: “The world's most entertaining mayor's race.” RFE/RL's The Power Vertical: “The opposition sees opportunity. The Kremlin sees danger. And the pundits have something new to talk about.” Sean's Russia Blog: “The election circus in Sochi has some new developments. The alleged polonium...
Russia: Financial Leasing Company's Default
CrisisCrunch writes about “the default by Financial Leasing Company (FLC), the first default of a Russian state-owned company since the 1998 financial crisis.”
Ukraine, EU, Russia: Gas Pipelines Deal
Robert Amsterdam's Blog and Streetwise Professor write about Russia's reaction to the deal signed between Ukraine and the EU to upgrade Ukraine's gas pipelines.
Russia: Dealing with demographic decline
Eternal Remont reports on how Russia tries to lure back emigrants to avert the country's seemingly unavoidable demographic decline.
Russia: Opposition waking up to realities?
The Ivanov Report departs from its principle of not commenting on Russia's democratic opposition, which he feels refuses the realities of Russian politics for futile protest. As Boris Nemtsov and other opposition leaders are now seeking public office, a change in the opposition's attitude to politics might be discerned.
Russia: Attacks on Journalists
Sean's Russia Blog writes on two most recent attacks on journalists in Russia.
Russia: Photos of Moscow
LJ user victorprofessor (RUS) posts a series of breathtaking photos of Moscow that were taken from the roof of a not-yet-completed high-rise on Mosfilmovskaya Street.
Russia: Demographics and Abortion
Russian Policy Daily translates from an interview on Russia's demographics, quoting and citing Svetlana Rudneva, head of the “Family and Childhood” foundation.
