22.05.2008
How Russians Live
May, 2008The following resource is meant to quickly introduce the reader to everyday life in Russia: how Russians live, earn, spend, study, relax, and worship. This news review is part of SRAS's monthly "obzor" publications. For more reviews, see the newsletter for this corresponding month. To receive the free monthly newsletter and obzori by email, simply sign up. Sport
Russians are soccer, hokey champions Russia renaissance has Olympic gold as next target
After ending a 15-year gold medal drought at the ice hockey world championship at the weekend, the next target on Russia's radar is the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Russia wins 2008 Ice Hockey World Championship in Canada
Russia's national ice hockey team beat Canada 5-4 in overtime in the final of the 2008 IIHF World Championship in Canada to become world champions. Medvedev congratulates Zenit on UEFA triumph
Zenit beat Glasgow Rangers 2-0 in Manchester on Wednesday evening to become only the second Russia side, after CSKA in 2005, to win the trophy. Education and Science
New standardized test; new space shuttle Demographic time bomb empties colleges
Russian universities and colleges are expecting a 30% slump in applications for next year. Hello, Russia! Can you hear us?
Thanks to a cellphone connection, two American boys are briefly transported across the world. From a new drug to the "father of all bombs"
Russian science in 2007 - some of the highlights. Russia and Europe may team up for moon flights
Russia and Europe are teaming up to build a spaceship which will fly astronauts to the moon, Russia said on Wednesday, although the European Space Agency struck a more cautious note. Russian Students Take Standardized Test
Graduates of Russian schools will take the first Unified State Exam today. The 11th-year students will show their knowledge of a foreign language and information sciences. Global Energy Awards Winners Named
Russian physicists Oleg Favorsky and Eduard Volkov and Canadian Clement Bowman will share the 30-million ruble prize for their discoveries in the filed of alternative energy. Featured:
Coming crises in Russia? Russia readies for high grain price, food security
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday the budget would allot new funds to buy millions of tonnes of grain for interventions, while his cabinet was discussing the nation's food safety. Govt Failed to Timely Stabilize Prices
The government hasn't elaborated definite actions to timely respond to the global economic state of the market and to stabilize prices on domestic market of foodstuffs, Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov announced when opening the last sitting of the cabinet. Half of Russians Lack Money for Food
The portion of Russians who spend their entire income on food has dropped significantly in the last 15 years, Levada Center pollsters found. Global Food Crisis Catches Up With Russia
Food prices will be the biggest single problem facing newly minted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Russians show little concern about global crisis
They are more worried about rising inflation and the falling dollar. Religion
Church-State ties grow stronger State To Continue Developing Special Relations With Church
At the end of the 20th century Russia stepped on a new path. The state, supported by the Russian Orthodox Church and all sound forces, got together and began to develop." Alexy II Endorsed New ROCOR Hierarch
The Holy Synod of Russian Orthodox Church endorsed Wednesday the election of Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand Putin, Medvedev celebrate Russian Orthodox Easter together
Orthodox Easter ceremonies took on deeply political undertones as President Vladimir Putin and his chosen successor celebrated the dominant Russian church's most important holiday together. New York Times Article and Response from Russians At Expense of All Others, Putin Picks a Church
It was not long after a Methodist church put down roots here that the troubles began. Russian Readers Comment On Article About Religion
The entry was among the top 10 most read in the Russian blogosphere, according to livejournal.com, and generated nearly 1,000 comments. Journalism
Sex scandal turns news scandal Chronicling A Samizdat Legend
Natalya Gorbanevskaya was the dissident behind "The Chronicle Of Current Events," a samizdat publication that first appeared 40 years ago this week in the Soviet Union. No laughing matter: Cartoons and the Kremlin
Political cartoons permitted by Gorbachev and Yeltsin are dangerous under Putin. Democracy Setbacks, Energy Gains, Take Toll On Press Freedom
In its annual press-freedom survey, the U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House noted a decline in media environments around the globe. Hacks v beaks
Rich people and bad laws mean tough times for free speech. Media Industry & Outlets Publishing Industry Dynamic Despite Fears
More than 70,000 visitors, including traders, bibliophiles and book market professionals, visited the Third St. Petersburg International Book Fair. Chronicling rise of Russia's affluent
A magazine called Snob, where being called one is considered a compliment. Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: Russia's TV Bonanza
Russian TV is where America was 40 years ago, as the explosive growth of advertising is propelling the expansion of television programming and viewership. National Mediagroup to Clinch $1 Bllion Deal with Cable TV
National Mediagroup, where Rossia Bank of Yuri Kovalchuk is the principal holder, is buying out from Suleiman Kerimov the majority stake in Russia’s biggest operator of cable TV, National Telecommunications. A Voice of Mother Russia, in English
The television channel Russia Today is available to 120 million television viewers worldwide. That includes 20 million in the United States. Alternative Journalism
Interview with Peter Lavelle, the host of Russia Today's commentary program IMHO. Politkovskaya Russian investigators identify main suspect in murder of Politkovskaya
The Investigative Committee, which probes such crimes, said Rustam Makhmudov was "the immediate executor of the murder," adding in a statement that he remained at large. Canadian journalist harassed in Chechnya
Officers returned Armstrong's passport and visa but said they would send her accreditation card back to Moscow—a move that would have halted her reporting trip. Death of a Journalist
A new documentary, "Letter to Anna," charts the life and death of the journalist Anna Politkovskaya. It is unlikely to be released in Russia. Court releases suspect in Politkovskaya murder case
"Dimelkhanov was released on the condition that he remain in Russia, as he did not take an active part in the murder," a prosecutor said. Medvedev and the press The Country Doesn't Read Less Nowadays
Asked about the current condition of Russia's media, Medvedev said it was the booming market. An Open Letter From Journalists to Medvedev
I therefore call on Your Excellency not only to renew your predecessor's pledge to protect journalists in Russia, but to actually put words into action. Russia's Medvedev: 'boring' media not a problem
President-elect Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday it was natural Russia's media had become "a bit boring" as they matured. Putin's Puppet Press
Tight control of the mass media has been one of the Russian leadership's key political resources. It will be equally indispensable to Medvedev. Sex scandal and fall out Don't shoot the journalist
What should we interpret as freedom of the press - a possibility of openly expressing an opinion, or crude interference in other people's life? To Stay or Not to Stay?
It is in France not in Russia that the President can leave his wife and marry a photo model in front of the whole nation. Russian Public Chamber against media law amendments
The Russian Public Chamber is against amendments to the law on the mass media which will toughen responsibility for unreliable information. Duma Will Not Pass Media Bill
The State Duma will not pass a bill that had raised alarm about media freedom by toughening the penalties for libel. Demographics and Health
Poverty; Increased birthrates 20 Million Live in Poverty in Russia
In spite of its gradual reduction, the poverty level in Russia remains extremely high. Russians happier with their lives
The percentage of Russians who are unhappy with their lives has dropped from 41 to 19 percent over the past three years, the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) reported. Young Russians Weigh in on their Future
"Everything here depends on the individual…" Russia Goes Through Demographic Boom
Russia experiences a real demographic boom, Health Minister Tatiana Golikova said. Experts Doubt That Russia's Population Decline Can Be Halted
The Health Ministry has set a goal of halting Russia’s population decline by 2011, stabilizing the number at 143 million people. This, however, will be no easy task, even with the rebound in birthrates. Number Of Families With More Than Two Children In Russia Increases
"The percentage of families with two or more children has increased by more than 10% in 2008 compared to 2007." Minorities, Xenophobia
Women, Homosexuals, and Racial Minorities Hate Crimes in Russia
A three part series from Komsomolskaya Pravda on crimes against citizens of former Soviet republics. Extremist Group Steps Up Pressure on Immigrants
Members of the nationalist Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI) launched a verbal attack on the pro-Kremlin United Russia party last weekend for introducing a series of reforms to the process of obtaining Russian citizenship. Rage or romance?
"If a woman can tell her children that their father kidnapped her, it's a great love story" said Mariyat Muskeeva, a cultural liaison officer with the Chechen local government. Mail-Order Husband
Not only are international marriages not raising eyebrows anymore, demand for Russian mail order brides shows no sign of abating. Despite anti-Semitism, Russia lures back Jews
Jews are returning to Russia. For as long as anyone alive can remember, the flow was mostly in the other direction. Gay parade organizers sue Moscow authorities for banning picket
"The decision concerning this action is currently being discussed. It is possible that it will be conducted in the form of one-man pickets which do not need authorisation according to the current Russian legislation" Nation's Enemies Went to Prosecutors
The list of so-called "Enemies of the Russian People" is available on the Internet. It gives home addresses, phone number, and passport data. Gay Pride Banned Again
The Moscow organizers of a gay-pride parade have appealed to President Dmitry Medvedev to help circumvent a city ban on their event by granting them permission to hold it on federal land within the city. Peace, Love, Gay
The arrangers of gay parades in Moscow vowed yesterday to review the tactics of holding the parades in May, as such events were inevitably banned by authorities and dispersed in the past two years. Crime Stats Questioned By Rights Campaigners
Activists have condemned official statistics depicting a drastic fall in the number of hate crimes committed in St. Petersburg. Art, Theater, and Film
Women, Homosexuals, and Racial Minorities Malevich Descendants Regain Canvasses
It was announced yesterday at a press conference at the new building of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam that city authorities would return five works by Kazimir Malevich that the museum had held since 1958 to descendants of the artist. Russia's Catherine the Great returns, as a musical
Sex, power and fabulous wealth are images of modern Russia and also the theme for an ambitious new musical evoking one of Russia's most famous rulers. Filmmaker Alexander Sokurov on Victory Day
To begin with [I'm worried by] the very low cultural level of the population—social culture, personal culture. A very low level…The politicization of life, which at times leaves me at a loss. Gallery curator faces incitement charges for 'forbidden' art show
It is the latest twist in an ongoing battle between Yury Samodurov, the director of the Sakharov Museum in Moscow, and Orthodox groups and conservative politicians. Russia's Studio System
Gorky Studio, the country's oldest film studio complex, is slated for privatization by the end of this year, raising fears that a potential buyer could acquire it for the land, which could be used as a site for a shopping center or residential complex. Hollywood studios bullish on Russian bear
Co-productions bloom as territory’s output expands. History
Stalin, Yeltsin, Nicholas II The Boris Yeltsin Russians Remember
We posted a Russian translation of the article last week on the Russian-language blog run by the Moscow bureau of The Times on LiveJournal.com, and asked a simple question: What is Mr. Yeltsin's legacy? Why is Stalin still popular?
A competition has been launched to find the "Name of Russia" – one Russian from history who should go down as a national symbol and the nation's biggest hero. Putin stays eternally grateful to Boris Yeltsin
"President Yeltsin… showed that it was important to follow the strategic course bravely and decisively, and at the same time to remain open and receptive to everything new and useful for the country." Bones of Last Russian Czar's Children Identified, 90 Years On
For nine decades after Bolshevik executioners gunned down Czar Nicholas II and his family, there were no traces of the remains of Crown Prince Alexei, the hemophiliac heir to Russia's throne. Mikhail Gorbachev: 'My family paid too high a price for glasnost'
Mikhail Gorbachev may have ended the Cold War but, in a rare interview, he tells Mary Riddell about the personal tragedy that accompanied his public success. New Moscow state cemetery stirs up historical wounds
Ahuman rights group says some former leaders, whose remains are likely to be transferred there, don't deserve to be honoured. War, revolution – and an academic search
80 years after his father fled Bolshevik terror, Hollywood legend Yul Brynner's son Rock – a history and politics professor at Connecticut State University – is a regular visitor to the Russian city of Vladivostok, birthplace of his actor father famed the world over for his title role in The King and I.
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