31.10.2008
Russian Society
Culture, Demographics, Politics
October, 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. Media
Putin for media compliance, against control Medvedev broadcasts first Kremlin podcast
The first presidential podcast of President Medvedev was an impressive performance. Medvedev's fondness for new technology is in stark contrast to his 56-year-old predecessor Vladimir Putin who rarely uses email. New Magazine Launches for Russian Snobs
And it's got a cool site! State Control New Prosecution Bid To Control Internet 'More Serious' Than Past Attempts
The General Prosecutor's Office has come forward with large-scale initiatives to introduce control over the Internet. Putin calls for state orders on TV
Putin said that the government could not command the media again, as it did in the Soviet times, though it could, and perhaps should, influence the media using a system of state grants. Putin against state control over media
Putin believes the government cannot command the media as it did in Soviet times, but it is necessary to inculcate into the public conscience the principle of patriotism through a system of state orders for TV, theaters and higher educational establishments. Silencing Moscow's Maverick 'Ekho'
Ekho Moskvy, seen as one of the last remaining sources of independent news and public debate in Russia, is coming under increasing pressure from the Kremlin. Echo in the Dark
A radio station strives to keep the airwaves free. In Wake of Georgian War, Russian Media Feel Heat
At the height of the crisis over Russia's invasion of Georgia last month, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin summoned the top executives of his nation's most influential newspapers and broadcasters to a private meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Politkovskaya Anniversary Two years after Politkovskaya's murder, three suspects will go to trial
The suspects to be tried for assassinating the journalist, are a former police officer and two brothers Ibragim and Dzhabrail Makhmudov. A fourth suspect, a former Federal Security Service (FSB) lieutenant colonel, has been charged with abuse of office and extortion. Politkovskaya murder case goes to court
The criminal case against the actual perpetrator of the murder, Rustam Makhmudov, and several others, was earlier separated from the above case and is still being investigated. Still Seeking The Truth
Friends, relatives, and supporters of slain Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya are marking the second anniversary of her death -- and asking why her killers have not been brought to justice. Dozens Mourn at Banned Meeting
More than one hundred people came to mourn Anna Politkovskaya, the political journalist murdered in Moscow two years ago, on the second anniversary of her death, even though a memorial meeting had been banned by the St. Petersburg authorities. Space and Science
US-Russia relations may affect space program In Russia, a Second Home for U.S. Astronauts
During the five-year gap after NASA shuts down the space shuttle program in 2010 and the next generation of spacecraft makes its debut by 2015, Russia will have the only ride for humans to the station. Sons of Russian and U.S. astronauts unite in orbit
Space tourist Garriott, U.S. astronaut Michael Fincke and Russian cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Kazakh steppe on Sunday. One Way Up: U.S. Space Plan Relies on Russia
Antagonism between the United States and Russia, over the conflict in Georgia and other issues, is clouding the future of a 15-year partnership in space Friday Photos: The Soyuz train
Pictures of Russian Soyuz rocket being transported and set for take-off. Russian Soyuz carrying US space tourist docks
A Russian spacecraft carrying an American computer game designer and two crewmates has docked with the international space station. Putin's dog get long-promised satellite tracking collar, wags tail
Russian Prime Minster Vladimir Putin's black Labrador, Connie, has been given a tracking collar linked to the Russian navigation satellite system Glonass (Global Navigation Satellite System), Russia's equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS). Russia, Georgia and the Space Station
Unless the Senate acts soon, the United States could lose its access to the International Space Station. Without a Congressional waiver, NASA will be barred from buying seats on Russia's space vehicles. Putin Promises Space Agency 200 Bill.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced the Roscosmos budget at a meeting in Zheleznogorsk on the implementation of priority cosmonautics. NASA Won't Buy Russian Cargo Vessels
NASA will not acquire more Russian Progress cargo spacecraft after 2011. NASA will use American commercial craft after that date. Steitz stated that the decision was motivated by the desire not to spend money abroad. The decision to buy Soyuz spacecraft remains in effect. U.S. Senate Recognized Soyuz as Inviolable
The United States is unable to reject Russia's Soyuz spaceships for making flights to the International Space Station (ISS). The respective statement was made concerning McCain's proposal to end space cooperation with Russia in the wake of the war for South Ossetia. Education
Changes to universities, history books Super League of Federal Universities
A shake-up of Russia's university system will see the establishment of a network of new, high-status 'federal' institutions under Education Ministry plans being considered by lawmakers. What Russia's New Government-Sanctioned Textbooks Tell Us About Putin's Horrifying Worldview
"You may ooze bile but you will teach the children by those books that you will be given and in the way that is needed by Russia." Remarks at a Meeting of the Council for Science, Technology and Education
We need to decide what is genuinely relevant for ensuring a high quality and new content of education in our schools. We also need to create the possibilities for independent and modern education. Study into training for oil and gas industry
Russia's ability to produce specialist graduates for the oil and gas industries will be put under the spotlight in a new European Union-funded comparative study. History
Because the past stil matters... U.S. Returns Rare Book to Russia
The United States has returned a valuable book from the collection of Emperor Alexander III to Russia, RIA Novosti information agency reports. A Royal Welcome for the Russian Navy
No delegation of Russian visitors, the Bolshoi dancers not excepted, ever has been welcomed to this country with anything like the enthusiasm that greeted the Czar's Atlantic fleet when it dropped anchor in New York Harbor in 1863. Reform came too late for USSR, Communist party
Reform of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party should have begun earlier, ex-Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev told Reuters. "We waited, we delayed too long to reform the party". Stalin Proves Resilient In Popularity Contest
Dictator Josef Stalin made the final cut Wednesday in a Kremlin-backed contest to identify Russia's most significant historical figure, though he was stripped of almost one million votes organizers called "illegal." Prince Nevsky leads 'most popular' poll
12 leaders have been chosen in the national internet poll Name of Russia which is to determine whom Russians see as the most important and influential people in their history. Russia's Medvedev Honors Victims Of Stalin Purges
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev laid flowers at a memorial to victims of the Soviet prison camps on Wednesday, a gesture campaigners said may mark a new readiness to confront Russia's past. Yeltsin Destroyed Parliamentary Democracy In Russia
When President Boris Yeltsin ordered tanks to fire on the parliament building, Ruslan Khasbulatov says he began the process that killed parliamentary democracy in Russia. Russia's last czar declared victim of repression
The Russian Supreme Court on Wednesday declared the last czar and his murdered family to be victims of political repression, accepting the appeals of Romanov descendants to "rehabilitate" them. Russian State Duma rejects minute's silence for 1993 coup dead
State Duma rejected a proposal of Communist deputy to hold a minute's silence in memory of those who died during a struggle for control of the country fifteen years ago. From Gorbachev to Putin
There is wide agreement, at least outside Russia, that the promise of democratic reform for that long-suffering country, raised by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s, got derailed somewhere along the line. Price of silence
The overwhelming majority of people have deleted the events of October 1993 bloody clashes between the parliament and president from their memory altogether. Russians, Germans Disagree over War
A conference entitled "Changing Russia: Perspectives for the Development of Russian-German Relations" took place last weekend in Moscow. Russia Again Demonstrates Its Past Is Unpredictable
Soviet dictator Josef Stalin once said that it doesn't matter who votes, but who counts the votes. This axiom of the "father of nations" would seem perfectly applicable to the "Name of Russia" project, which was created in order to determine the most outstanding personalities of Russian history. Religion
Patriarch condemns Nobel recipient, praises Castro brothers Russian MFA Press Dept Comments on US Report on International Religious Freedom
The report again in a mentor-like tone voices a hackneyed collection of claims regarding Russia, such as departure from the principles of democratic government. The report is yet another demonstration of the "double standards" in US human rights policy. Russian Patriarch Awards Castro Bros.
Fidel Castro and his brother Raul, head of the Cuban State Council, have been awarded by the Russian Orthodox Church for their role in the construction of an Orthodox cathedral in Havana and for ecumenical cooperation. Patriarch Condemns Nobel Prize Award
Patriarch Alexy II has criticized the recent Nobel Peace Prize, saying that the recipient had "enabled the seizure of Kosovo from Serbia." Russian Church Walks Out on Europe
The Russian Orthodox Church has withdrawn from the Conference of European Churches after the Estonian Orthodox Church, which is under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate was not given membership in the organization. Russian Orthodox Church Recognized Integrity of Georgian Orthodox Church
The Holy Synod of Russian Orthodox Church rejected yesterday to accept the Orthodox Churches of Ossetia and Abkhazia that are seeking to break free of Georgian Orthodox Church. Church Opposes Dzerzhinksy Statue
The Union of Orthodox Citizens has responded negatively to the proposal re-erect the monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky in front of the FSB headquarters, in downtown Moscow. Instead, it proposes to find the Russian special services a heavenly protector. Bells Return to Moscow Today
The official transfer of the famous bells of St. Daniel's Monastery to their original home in Moscow will take place today in the presence of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexiy II. There are only four complete sets of bells forged in czarist Russia remaining in the world. Politics
Of those in power and those not... Russian billionaire Abramovich wins regional election
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has been elected to the remote Chukotka region's legislature with 97 percent of the votes, official figures showed on Monday. Bribes make up third of Russian budget
Revenues of corrupt officials today, according to expert estimations, exceed a third of the national budget of the Russian Federation, adviser to the interior minister Anatoliy Kulikov, PhD in economics, has said. Poll Shows Elite Support the Rule of Law
A poll conducted earlier this year found that the country's professional classes are less than fully supportive of its current ruling political-economic system and want the system democratized and opened up. Three Years After Nalchik, Islamic Resistance Stronger
On October 13, 2005, some 150-200 young local Muslims launched multiple attacks on police and security facilities in Nalchik, capital of the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic. Yamadaev Killed After Important Meeting in Kremlin
Leader of one of the most powerful clans in Chechnya, ex-State Duma member from United Russia, Ruslan Yamadaev was killed straight after a Kremlin meeting. United Russia & Government Acts Medvedev Rides Video Into the Blogosphere
Now the president will be regularly addressing citizens in a new "video blog" section launched Tuesday on the Kremlin's web site. In the first two-minute clip Medvedev called for joint action on the global financial crisis and said he would push for support of a new European security treaty. In Corruption Fight, Kremlin Declares 'Total War' Against Its Shadow
The war in the Caucasus and its foreign-policy consequences have put into doubt many of the ambitious plans laid out in the early days of President Dmitry Medvedev's term of office. Prominent among these plans was his high-profile program to combat corruption. Pardons, Paroles Fall Sharply Under Putin
Forty-seven percent of Russians asked by the influential state-run polling agency VTsIOM in the first week of September said they would under no circumstances agree to Mikhail Khodorkovsky's plea for parole. Murder trial poses test for Medvedev
A lawyer for the defence (in the trial on the murder of Anna Politkovskaya) accused Russian authorities of mishandling the trial. "Eventually, as a result of these misdoings, we will have, I think, no killer and no one who ordered the killing." Medvedev or Putin: Who Holds Real Power in Russia?
Some observers say Mr. Putin's leadership role in the country's political and economic decision-making has not changed since the time he was president. Putin May Use Credit Squeeze to "Destroy" Oligarchs
The $50 billion that the prime minister and President Dmitry Medvedev have pledged to lend cash-strapped companies will extend state control over business leaders. Billionaires seeking bailouts will have to give authorities veto power over their companies' financing decisions. Mixed Reviews for Governor's First 5 Years
Matviyenko's allies are never short of praise for her. Yet to her critics, that achievement has come at the expense of free speech, political diversity, the city's architectural heritage, and the welfare of the poor. United Russia wants control in Nenets AO
The regional parliament argues that the amendments called upon by the Central Election Commission will not benefit the regional population, but rather be in the interests of the powerful United Russia party. Presidential Address in Crisis
Russian president Dmitry Medvedev's address to the Federal Assembly has been delayed indefinitely due to corrections concerning anti-crisis measures. It's over, and Putin won
Chechnya is being rebuilt with Russian oil cash and its leader obeys Moscow. Separatist ideas are on ice. Show of force: Putin the judo black belt on DVD
Vladimir Putin presented an instructional judo DVD "Let's Learn Judo with Vladimir Putin". The video depicted Putin talking about the history and philosophy of judo and demonstrating moves against a practice partner. No more streets in my name, Russia's Putin asks
The spokesman of Vladimir Putin said that Putin does not support re-naming streets in his honor, and disapproves various statues of him and his photographs on school textbooks. Kremlin Perfects 'Divide And Conquer'
Just as billionaire Aleksandr Lebedev and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev announced plans to create a new democratic party, the Kremlin employed its tactic of "razvodka" -- luring dissenters with promises of a thaw and throwing the opposition into confusion. SPS Chubais Reportedly Behind Kremlin Bid to Take Over SPS
Nikita Belykh, the leader of the Union of Right Forces (SPS) resigns in disagreement with Anatoly Chubais who is trying to turn the SPS into a "liberal" pro-Kremlin party. SPS Finds New Place Closer to Kremlin
Leaders from Union of Right Forces, or SPS, and the Kremlin-connected Democratic Party and Civil Force announced that they would form a new party. This is widely seen as a Kremlin move to round out the political spectrum with obedient parties. Opposition Party to Ally With Kremlin
Disbanding SPS and establishing a new party under the Kremlin's control is expected to further complicate efforts by Russia's fractured and beleaguered democratic opposition to organize a serious challenge to Putin. Communists Komsomol: Shaping true communists… and capitalists
There are many more - indeed it would be difficult to find any Russian over the age of 35 who was not a member. Some now work for modern youth groups that adhere to Komsomol values. Communists Ask for Money
The press service of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation released a statement by the presidium of its central committee signed by party leader Gennady Zyuganov appealing to the citizens of Russia to provide it with financial assistance. Other Parties Gorbachev to form political party in Russia
Mikhail Gorbachev will join forces with Russian tycoon Alexander Lebedev to launch a new political party independent of the Kremlin. The party will press for legal and economic reform and promote the growth of independent media. Liberals Must Come to Grips With New Russia
Russian liberals must free themselves from the burden of the Boris Yeltsin legacy -- its unabashed neoliberalism -- and confront the type of capitalism expressed by the present regime's "authoritarian capitalism." Jailed Yukos Founder Rejects Policy of Non-Cooperation
Jailed Yukos oil company founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky in an interview published in the October issue of the Russian edition of Esquire magazine put some distance between himself and the opposition. The Ecologically Pure Council
Rosprirodnadzor is considering a proposal to establish Russia's first political green movement capable of pushing western NGOs out of the country's environmental sector. Russia's 1½-Party Political System
Almost a third of Russians (32%) say the significance of parties is "not very substantial. Twenty-three percent say parties "have no significance." That figure is up from 9 percent two years ago. Civil Society
Rights workers, voting, public opinion Chechen Lawyer Tipped A Favorite For Peace Prize
Lydia Yusupova tirelessly collected information about torture, kidnappings, and executions in war-battered Chechnya and helped victims report crimes to law-enforcement agencies and take their cases to court. Russia's Voting Authority Promotes Online Voting
Russia's Central Election Commission announced yesterday that it would hold the Internet voting as a sort of an experiment for the Municipal Assembly of Novomoskovsk-town of the Tula region. The success will probably pave the way for the amendments to the legislation that will authorize the Internet voting. Russians Want to Find Path for Change
The vast majority of people in Russia think their country needs a transformation, according to a poll by Bashkirova & Partners. Russians Say Global Warming Happening
More people in Russia (51 percent) believe that climate change is a reality now, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. Programmer Wanted for Blocking PM
An employee of Network Technologies Laboratory in the city of Dubna, outside Moscow, is wanted federally on suspicion of sabotaging a live broadcast of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Plane Crash Victims Discover America
The U.S. firms Nolan Law Group and Ribbeck Law Chartered filed a petition against the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency yesterday on the behalf of Alexey Afanasyev, the father of one of the victims of the crash of the Boeing 737-500 that crashed in Perm. Russians Owed 3 Bill. in Back Wages
The total debt of Russian companies and government organizations for September wages increased 2.1 percent and has topped 3 billion rubles. The Nation Is in No Protesting Mood
Most Russians have noticed no welfare improvements recently. But the lack of improvement notwithstanding, the nation is yet in no protesting mood, signaled the recent poll of Levada Center. Russians Allowed to Use State Flag Unofficially
The lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, passed in the second reading the bill on informal use of the RF State Flag to amend the Constitutional Act on the State Flag of the RF. Demographics
Population and health Behind the Bluster, Russia Is Collapsing
Predictions that Russia will again become powerful, rich and influential ignore some simply devastating problems at home that block any march to power. Russia is facing a public health crisis that verges on the catastrophic. In a Fairy-Tale Village, Russian Orphans Thrive
In Kitezh, an experimental orphan community about 190 miles southwest of Moscow, 30 children live in private homes with their adoptive parents, who are also trained teachers, psychologists and medical personnel. Russia and its Death Penalty
Instead of moratorium on death penalty, Russia should move swiftly to complete abolition of the capital punishment. 64 Percent of Russian Pregnancies End in Abortion
The number of infertile women in Russia is growing by 200,000 to 250,000 each year, with the main cause being complications from abortions. In Russia, 2% Are Heavy Drinkers
The RF Health and Social Development Ministry has elaborated a draft concept for the state policy aimed at lowering alcoholism in Russia Govt to Count Nation
This year's effort will extend to three regions of Russia. The figures of last 2002 census require updating, as the bureaucrats need new data to come up with adequate solutions. Homeless and drunks banned in Moscow metro upgrade
Moscow's famous metro system has banned homeless people and drunks as part of sweeping reforms to modernise it. One of the world's largest public transport systems, it's also aiming to improve access for disabled people. Russia's Population Reduces By 0.09 Percent
Russia's permanent population went down by 125,100 persons (or 0.09 percent) in January-July 2008, the Prime Tass economic news agency said on Friday, quoting a regular report of the Russian Federal State Statistics Service. Biggest baby boom since Soviet times
The number of babies born last year jumped to about two million – up 8.3 per cent from the year before and a post-Soviet record. Nationalism
National Identity, Pride, and Xenophobia Race hate crimes sweep Russia
Human rights activist argues that for the hundreds of racially motivated crimes committed annually in Russia, there are very few convictions. Pigmentocracy
Extremist groups and law enforcements officials get away with a whole lot more in Russia, which fuels the perception that there's no law and order, that there are no checks and balances or accountability. This is the major difference between racism in the United States and Russia. Russian Patriotism Unleashed by Georgian War
The war in Georgia has provoked unprecedented levels of patriotism in Russia. Even the fiercest critics of the Kremlin have now become proud Russians. Impervious To War And Foreign Barbs, Russian Pride Grows
While Western criticism of Russia continues to mount in the wake of the Georgia conflict, recent polls suggest that such scolding from the outside world has little impact on public satisfaction within Russia. Measuring 'Russianness'
Some time ago, a popular Russian magazine published a test that allowed readers to 'measure your Russianness', to see "how Russian you are". Film and Sport Dopey Gymnasts Banned for Two Years
The Russian Athletics Association has disqualified seven gymnasts from competitions for two years. The gymnasts are suspected of falsifying the results of a drug test. Russia's Giant Valuev to Fight Holyfield
WBA heavyweight champ Nikolay Valuev of Russia will fight Evander Holyfield. Valuev's team proposed the bout, the ESPN reported. Victory of St. Petersburg Zenit Blamed on Tambov Gang
Referencing the Spanish police, two newspapers, El Pais and ABC, reported yesterday that Russian mobsters had fixed the UEFA Cup semifinal game of Zenit St. Petersburg and Bayern Munich. Russian Historic Film Dominates World Box Office
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Russian film Kolchak (The Admiral) dominated the international box office in Russia and Ukraine with a take of $12.8 million. The only other movie that came close was the DreamWorks/Paramount thriller Eagle Eye. New Look at an Admiral
A Russian blockbuster takes a revisionist look at Admiral Kolchuk. KinoKultura #22
The October issue of KinoKultura (#22) is now available online, including reviews on some of the most recent Russian releases. "Hitler Kaput" Squarer Soviet Spies, Irks Communists
The Communists of St. Petersburg and its surrounding area formally asked Russia's Ministry of Culture, without success, to prevent "Hitler Kaput!" from opening in theaters.
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