More Bad News for Russia

[JayH]

The irony here is that the more aggressively Putin & the Kremlin promotes their "Russian World" the more it is accelerating it's demise !

Russian language use in post-Soviet space declining precipitously

The Euromonitor group, using UN and national data sets, reports that the number of people using Russian in the post-Soviet states has declined by ten percent or more since 1994, a decline that reflects the re-orientation of these nations away from Moscow and puts paid to Vladimir Putin’s efforts to base his “Russian world” on the Russian language.

http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/04/15/russian-language-use-in-post-soviet-space-declining-precipitously-euromaidan-press/

In a commentary on the Apostrophe portal today, the director of Kyiv’s Institute of National Remembrance says that Ukrainian is the only state language in Ukraine and that “there are no people in Ukraine who do not understand [it].”

As for the use of English, he continues, “this is testimony to the openness of Ukraine to the world because it is one of the main world languages” and is a way to make Ukrainian closer to Europe and to those of its residents “who do not understand Ukrainian.”


And as for the dropping of Russian, this is part and parcel of the broader need Ukrainians feel for dispensing with “the Soviet-imperial heritage.” Some people thought that doing this or renaming streets, cities and villages in Ukraine could lead “almost to a civil war, but nothing of the kind happened.”
http://euromaidanpress.com/2016/10/13/ukrainian-becoming-de-facto-the-language-of-ukraine-viatrovych-says-euromaidan-press/

Related:
Ukrainian becoming de facto the language of Ukraine, Viatrovich says
Russian language knowledge declining precipitously in the world and even in Russia, Matviyenko says
Russia’s war against the Ukrainian language
A short guide to the linguicide of the Ukrainian language | Infographics
Russia ‘for first time in its history’ has lost its monopoly on the Russian language, Zhadan says
Russia’s actions in occupied Crimea show how Moscow plans to destroy non-Russian languages in Russia itself
Russian language not united or unifying even inside Russian Federation
Babchenko: Putin, not Poroshenko, has destroyed future of Russian language in Ukraine
Seven things Russians need to understand about their country and themselves now

[JayH]

They should close it permanently -- until Russia can learn to behave again.

Turkey closed the Bosporus for Russian fleet

Starting today, and for an indefinite period Bosphorus closed for the passage of Russian warships and civil ships carrying military cargo.

http://uc.od.ua/news/politic/1193047

[msmob]

Turkey closed the Bosporus for Russian fleet

'Strange' ...Nothing about this is mentioned on RU News, or Euronews, or the BBC ... heck - not even Turkish News ....

ANOTHER example of JayH shooting himself in the foot ? REALLY, JayH - if you want your 'news' to be read - do check it's veracity .....

HINT :  Closing the Bosphorus would be an act of war .... based on the Treaty  concerning it's usage ....

Perhaps, JayH is 'correct' - as I've never heard of the 'bosporos' - may be the Turks closed THAT

[jone]

Even the comments in the article point out that it is fake news. 

[jone]

A curious thing happened to me over the weekend.  I was talking global economics with my son.  We were talking about Russia and its suddenly liquid state.  I said that I thought that the government was playing with the numbers. (What government in power doesn't?)

My son, who speaks fluent mandarin, and regularly reads from the Chinese media corrected me.  He said that I should remember the Russian/Chinese oil deal (ongoing and most recently updated in 2016).  In the Chinese papers he said that there are reports that China is paying 40% of the Brent Crude Price.

Makes sense.  Russia needs liquidity.  China is always looking out for a good deal and has the funds.  Essentially, Russia is trading natural resources until the price of oil climbs back to a level whereby Russia is able to sell on the open market.  Is Russia losing money?  Probably.  But look at the effect such a trade off would have.  By virtue of China being the recipient of low cost oil, they would not be as belligerent a neighbor.   And Russia keeps workers working and infrastructure in place.

This would be a workable solution for a few years.  Reminds me of workers in California shipping their laundry to china back in the 1850s.

[JayH]

Actually--it will be good news  !
Vladimir Putin’s regime, which has always been authoritarian and kleptocratic, nonetheless has evolved over the course of the last 18 years through four stages and now is entering its fifth and final one, according to Moscow commentator Igor Yakovenko.

Putin regime now entering its fifth and final phase, Yakovenko says
In short, Putin’s Russia is in its fifth and final stage. When it will end is as yet unclear, but that it will end is certain because in so many ways, Putin’s regime recalls that of the Soviets in the 1970s and 1980s, a time when what propagandists said and what people saw diverged so much that the regime became unsupportable.

http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/05/10/putin-regime-now-entering-its-fifth-and-final-phase-yakovenko-says-euromaidan-press/

[AkMike]

The midget meglomaniac declares that the stae can take land and real estate thru the FSB.   


Next he'll declare himself Czar for life.   


http://uawire.org/news/putin-allowed-the-fsb-to-seize-the-land-for-state-needs#

[JayH]

Some interesting byproducts of the general incompetence that Trump is showing. The abdication from being the leader of the free world and turning America into a land of frightened little cowards as America under Trump seeks to ignore the obligations all types of treaties and agreements around the world -- and all for what-- some ridiculous empty comments made in an election campaign-- that he has no problem not honouring when it suits him !
Now you ask--how is that bad news for Russia -- apart  from the intensity of the investigation underway -- a piece of news that some lauded here back a few years ago.
The Chinese have backed out of the deal to buy Russian gas -- and the Russians have spent $billions to build a pipeline to carry that gas into China.Some of us here made the point that the Chinese would play the Russians -- and so-it has happened !!

Now you ask-- what has that got to do with Trump?
Ok--it goes like this  -- Trump's America is busy burning ALL it's traditional allies around the world  -- so what do the Chinese see? The answer --opportunity - a place for a bright prospering economy to fill the void as a cornerstone and leader.

Now you ask -- why is that bad news for Russia ?
The Chinese see the current regime in Russia as bad for business -- as well as a potential threat to Chines ambitions to expand China into the mineral rich eastern Russia -which China has some historical claims over. Russia's aggression in invading Ukraine was not looked on favourably by China-- and Russian attempts to unsettle Europe not good.

The last thing China would allow to happen to Europe just as it has had a gift of an opportunity presented to it is to allow Russia to spoil it !  So--very bad new news for Russia !!

Part of a plan the Chinese started back in 2005  was to make the Yuan the centrepiece of world currency -- and stability is a key point.That economic plan hatched back then had a 2025 target -- and until the recent correction in the Chinese economy they were well ahead of schedule on many key pointers.Now that the world is going to turn away from Trump's America --it is an incredible opportunity that the Chinese could never have dreamed of !
Chinese success -- will leave no room for America -even after Trump is gone -be that soon or in the longer term-- the damage is done. America has shown itself to be  unreliable -- and Americans will pay the price for Trump and his stupid ignorance.

And for Russia-- at a time when it can least afford it-- it has a multi $billion pipeline white elephant on it's hands,no income from selling that gas to prop up it's economy, and China about to start standing over it!

[ML]

I know very little about this, but will just throw this out for discussion purposes as I know others here have more facts.

I thought China helped pay for the pipeline, and I think China is buying the gas even if at discount prices.

[msmob]

The Chinese have backed out of the deal to buy Russian gas -- and the Russians have spent $billions to build a pipeline to carry that gas into China.Some of us here made the point that the Chinese would play the Russians -- and so-it has happened !!

Could you supply  some links(s) to this news ... I was thinking the Chinese lent Russia the money to build the pipe-line..

 Russia's aggression in invading Ukraine was not looked on favourably by China-- and Russian attempts to unsettle Europe not good.

Remind us how China showed it's 'displeasure' at the UN ? Hint http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly_Resolution_68/262

China abstained.... She DID NOT support Ukraine's motion ...

 

The last thing China would allow to happen to Europe just as it has had a gift of an opportunity presented to it is to allow Russia to spoil it !  So--very bad new news for Russia !! 

JayH

While you continue to present you 'case' in this lazy, ill-researched fashion, it's more 'egg on your face' rather than 'bad news' ... for the Kremlin.

And for Russia-- at a time when it can least afford it-- it has a multi $billion pipeline white elephant on it's hands,no income from selling that gas to prop up it's economy, and China about to start standing over it!

A 'white elephant' sponsored BY the Chinese who are able to by gas from other sources for less... e,g Turkmenistan

If you had spoke of the need for oil to be 80USD/ barrel to make this project profitable - you'd have been barking up the right tree.

[JayH]

You need to make up your mind on links -- you run off whining about links and now you want them !!

The bones of my post above will appear over time .

[msmob]

You need to make up your mind on links -- you run off whining about links and now you want them !!

BS .. you are being constantly warned re riposting substantial amount of copyright - with confusion as to what is your 'work' and were the copy and paste starts / stops - and WELL you know it ...

The bones of my post above will appear over time .

In your own time - lest any one might think you've been posting daft, again

[jone]

Just a quick thought on this topic - tailed off from other topics we have discussed:

The internal Chinese newspapers claim that the Russians are selling oil wholesale to the Chinese and this is the reason that Russia's foreign currency woes have receded.  The figures that are being reported in these papers are around 50% cash on the barrel head, so to speak.  What I am saying is that China is paying Russia approximately 50% of the Brent Crude Price for the oil it receives from Russia.

We talked, a couple of months ago, about how Russia is balancing its budget?  Well, this would be a good direction to investigate.

[AkMike]

If that's the case, the with Brent oil being $49.25 currently and Russian oil costing less than Brent by a few bucks, then Russia must figure that they're styling selling it at under $25 USD.   

[AkMike]

Hedge funds are dropping the ruble. Bad news.. 


http://uawire.org/news/media-hedge-funds-continue-to-dump-russian-rubles

[msmob]

Hedge funds are dropping the ruble. Bad news.. 


http://uawire.org/news/media-hedge-funds-continue-to-dump-russian-rubles

Hardly 'bad' news for Russians ..

Interest rates are forecast to drop - which has maintained a falsely high interest in the oil-price related currency

I - for one will be please if the Rouble weakens and interest rates are dropping

[jone]

Mike was pointing out something of interest.  The Ruble had already lost half its value in the last few years.  It was trading around 28 to the US Dollar, it is now trading around 56.  I note that there were periods of time where Russian liquidity was questioned when the Ruble hit 80 to the US Dollar.    But the Russians have used artificial means to prop it up, gaining time in Russia's fight to throw off limitations on banking and sanctions against the top Russian government officials and some export/import relationships. 

Those who remember will also point out that Russia sanctioned Western Goods - Remember that hill of cheese bulldozed?  Simply put, the Russians were hoping international relations would improve prior to the effects of these short term fixes eroding.  Perhaps we will see  the true economy, based on sanctions, once again demonstrate weakness.

[AkMike]

And more that the Russians seem to have not noticed. 3 million more living below the poverty line while others just manage to scrape by.

Russians do not connect crisis with occupation of Crimea
"Russians for some reason there is no correlation between the seizure of the Crimea and the deterioration of the standard of living. Most Russians do not see this connection, it's just the way propaganda works, that people do not understand this link," Nekrasov said."

http://qha.com.ua/en/economics/russians-do-not-connect-crisis-with-occupation-of-crimea/140925/

[AkMike]

More and more this is apparent to the world.. 

Kasparov Says Putin Waging 'War Against The Free World,' But Is Tasting Failure For First Time.

"But in recent weeks, it has also become clear that Western democracies have understood that such actions present a serious threat to the functioning of democratic institutions in the free world. Putin has begun to encounter organized resistance and failure for the first time."

http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-kasparov-putin-waging-war-free-world-failure/28533959.html

[AkMike]

Sorry about the text size. That WYSIWYG tick box on my setting keeps changing by itself. 

[msmob]

Russians do not connect crisis with occupation of Crimea

And why WOULD they ? - Even though it is suggested by their own govt owned/ mates of govt owned news channels..the this is a dirty western tactic'

FACT:  The western sanctions were not targeted at 'man in the street'

Jone, it must surely be clear that the 'counter sanctions' were a form of protectionism - to allow RU based producers to expand .... this was never a short-term plan.... I don't think the Kremlin cares about 'improved' relations with the west...  It just needs the people to be pleased Crimea is back and believe the economy issues are a combination of western sanctions and the weak oil prices  - rather than incompetence / complacency and not a little high end corruption.

The cheese being buried was Irish Cheddar  - apparently .... 

[msmob]

Sorry about the text size. That WYSIWYG tick box on my setting keeps changing by itself. 

Yes, WHY is that ?  Are you using Google Chrome ?

[jone]

And why WOULD they ? - Even though it is suggested by their own govt owned/ mates of govt owned news channels..the this is a dirty western tactic'

FACT:  The western sanctions were not targeted at 'man in the street'

Jone, it must surely be clear that the 'counter sanctions' were a form of protectionism - to allow RU based producers to expand .... this was never a short-term plan.... I don't think the Kremlin cares about 'improved' relations with the west...  It just needs the people to be pleased Crimea is back and believe the economy issues are a combination of western sanctions and the weak oil prices  - rather than incompetence / complacency and not a little high end corruption.

The cheese being buried was Irish Cheddar  - apparently ....

I have no doubt that the Counter Sanctions were put in place as you described.   But you are daft if you believe that Russia does not care if sanctions are lifted.  The sanctions against Russia do not share the same protectionist byplay.  Instead they are costing Russia real money in trade.  As for the cheese, Russia makes a very poor tasting cheese to replace that which was removed from shelves.  It is white and sickly looking.  And, for the most part, now the only cheese consumers can buy.

[AkMike]

Yes  Moby I'm using Chrome.


Here's a snippet blatantly swiped from elsewhere regarding conditions in Krym that you may find interesting.

"I'm told that in Sevastopol the mood is less buoyant than when I previously enquired. Unemployment is significant and small business remains hampered by difficult financial transacting. Infact it's alleged that a businessman had to fly to Germany with a suitcase of USD in order to buy necessary raw materials that would then have to be shipped by an indirect route back to Crimea resulting from western sanctions. This may be one reason why some product prices are said to be almost twice that of Russia and perhaps three or more times more expensive than in Ukraine.

I was told about an overheard street conversation between two male pensioners in Sevastopol discussing the rising cost of living there. The better dressed man who was believed to be a former Russian military officer asked the other "how much is your pension?" He replied "14000 Rubles per month". "How can you live on that?" the other man asked, and he replied "I only exist and furthermore I have received a demand that soon I will have to start paying 300 Rubles per month for the outside of my apartment block maintenance in addition to high gas, electricity and water charges".

I asked my contact if there were signs of infrastructure neglect there. I was told that the city centre was looking dirtier than I would remember it. Many buildings were starting to show signs of neglect. That the flower gardens that I would have remembered in my last pre annexation visit were less floral than before. I was told that there are many new arrivals of rich Russians into Sevastopol. They are not moving into the older buildings but into newly built "luxury" apartment blocks. These new apartments are alleged to be of economical structures with thinner walls than the older buildings. In consequence any altercations or intense intimate relations can be overheard by neighbours alongside, underneath, or above that apartment.

I asked if people were coming to the conclusion that life under Putin and his Kremlin was worse than under Yanukovych's Ukraine. It was said that people there must know that in fact life is now worse and not showing signs of improvement but that it was for many a difficult admission and in any case unwise to voice."

[msmob]

you are daft if you believe that Russia does not care if sanctions are lifted. 

Oh, for sure the Kremlin care - as do some of the crony Oligarchs benefiting by association - but money has a way of finding a way around sanctions ...Probably via Cyprus or similar..Cyprus banks have benefited

.  As for the cheese, Russia makes a very poor tasting cheese to replace that which was removed from shelves.  It is white and sickly looking.  And, for the most part, now the only cheese consumers can buy.

  You are preaching to the 'converted'

They also make really good Cheddar .. it is the right yellow colour - it LOOKS like Cheddar - but has all the taste of plastic

Feta, in Greek salad looks OK until you taste it and it is like cream cheese - soggy and tastes like cottage cheese

The locals in Sochi use Georgian cheeses which are tasty and powerful flavours and they claim Belarus cheese is good - it's probably European - as the border is open to BL