Russian Life and Media

[mendeleyev]

Bill you bring up excellent points as Russia has been very concerned as of late about issues in the East along her southern border.

However if you've been watching the fascinating maneuvering via former defense minister Alexi Kudrin who just came out and made public a point by point refutation of the Putin budget for next year (I'll have to take back what I said about him as a possible PM candidate), you can sort of see where Putin is headed.

His election is not so sure as he'd like so he has promised a raise for both public employees and pensioners. (Remind anyone of the recent Belarus election?) Kudrin is saying that at current oil prices, that just isn't possible without serious deficit spending.

Who typically comes in and invests in a country's deficit? China.

Putin also wants to diversify out of an economy tied almost exclusively to oil and gas. Kudrin has shot holes in this plan with his observation that whether it is gas, oil, or electricity...it is still energy and not much diversification going on.

Putin is a traditionalist. He loves the idea of putting together and expanding the "customs" union (emphasis on Union rather than customs), and the enjoys the comparisons of himself to Brezhnev or Stalin. If he serves 2 terms again then he'll have topped Brezhnev's 18 years and will have been the 2nd longest running Soviet leader only to Stalin.

I think that Putin sees Chinese investment as part of a two-fold strategy:

1 - It is the quickest way to bring in some long-term cash while building up infrastructure in areas where Russia lags behind. Putin sees the infrastructure improvements as part of a longer term border protection strategy.

2 - Hold your friends close but your enemies closer. China has been a traditional foe based on border and other issues. This is a nice way to neutralize a large and potentially dangerous foe by forming a business partnership.

In the last several years the two have expanded their joint military exercises as well. Both Russia and China see the USA as a threat. Putin also recognizes the USA in decline and he wants to position Russia as being on the right side in the future. In that context it is a brilliant strategy, especially if he can continue to push for destabilization of the dollar as the world's reserve currency.

You are spot on that China will hold 51% of most of these projects. But Putin is making sure that operational control remains with the Russian side. That of course begs the question of what would China's response be if someday in the future they felt those investments to be seriously threatened?

[BC]

China is a grand energy consumer.  When my tank gets under a quarter full I head to the nearest gas station.

I do see neighbors that seem willing to play the 'one hand washes the other' routine.  I can also see India getting into the mix down the road.

China is smart, so is Putin.  I would be surprised if they don't have more up their sleeve as it reagards long term goals.

The Atlantic is indeed getting wider.

[mendeleyev]

From the Moscow page on Red Square of the Mendeleyev Journal:

Some days Red Square isn't so pretty...

I'd be disappointed too if having flown from far away to see the majestic plaza that is neither red nor square, only then to learn that most of it to be barricaded while a temporary stage with stadium seating was being erected.

Still there is so much to see on "Beautiful Plaza" (the real name of what we call Red Square).




Not many visitors see "Red Square" from this vantage as its not a common entry or angle. The Cathedral of the Intercession (we mistakenly term as "Saint Basil's Cathedral) is unseen but to the left rear. Lenin's rotting corpse is to our unseen left and GUM (think 'zoom' when you say GUM) is to our right.

The red building straight ahead is the State Historical Museum and you should definitely visit it! It is quite the impressive exhibit inside.

To our left are 3 Kremlin towers--the smaller Senatskaya, then the larger Nikolskaya tower and at the corner is the Угловая Арсенальная башня (Corner Arsenal Tower).

The Nikolskaya, or Nicholas tower, was constructed in 1492. That was quite a year in history: The first concise grammar of a modern language, Spanish, was presented to Queen Isabella. It was also the year of the first printing of the "Pentateuch" (Jewish holy book--part of the Old Testament) and it was the year that King James IV of Scotland made an alliance with France against England. (Perhaps a mistake on his part, huh?)

Some of us may remember from school the rhyme "in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue" as Queen Isabella gave Columbus permission to go off in search of new trade routes which ended with the discovery of the "new world."

During the time of troubles and Polish intervention (1692), Duke Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin burst through the gates of the Nikolskaya tower with their army of volunteers to liberate the Kremlin from the enemy.

In 1812 Napoleon, ticked off that his arse was being booted out of Russia, attempted to destroy the tower and managed to damage a section including burning the roof. Despite his efforts, the tower stood firm.

Napoleon was a real bungling idiot, vastly overrated in my view, as he also tried to dynamite "Saint Basil's Cathedral" after being told by engineers that the intricately designed treasure could not be disassembled and taken back to France. Poor baby, he deserved his fate.

Oh, speaking of bungling idiots, his engineers prepared the Cathedral for being dynamited and once the fuses were lit, a sudden rainstorm swept across the area and his plan fizzled.



Here is a panoramic view, taken from inside "Saint Basil's" looking back at Beautiful Plaza/Red Square with GUM on the right. The green statue at our immediate front is of Pozharsky and Minin, the men who led the volunteer army against the Polish army. The statue for years stood near the centre of Red Square, in front of GUM, but was moved to this location to clear Beautiful Plaza/Red Square for Stalin's military parades.

The good news is that even given barricades along the bulk of Beautiful Plaza/Red Square, there is so much to see at this magnificent "centre" of Russia!


(photos: Mendeleyev) Click on photos to expand.

[Boethius]

Great photos, mendy
 

[mendeleyev]

Thank you, Boethius.   

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:

(Stavropol, Russia) Down on the farm is where the Russian president and prime minister spent their day. For our European and Asian readers, down on the farm is an American idiom. Ask about a farmer and whether he is working, you'll get that expression as an answer. It is also the title of a country music folksong by singer Tim McGraw but we sort of doubt that either Dmitry Medvedev or Vladimir Putin are all that much into American country music.


L-R: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

In August they went fishing and came home with a big announcement. Today the two men went down on the farm and so far while there have been no big announcements, it did seem that while in the Stavropol region the two managed to combine working meetings at a Rodina farm (Russian collective farm), met with local United Russia party officials, and took part in a fairly comprehensive tour of the very modern Stavropol Regional Vascular Medicine Centre.

L-R: Rodina farm director Viktor Orlov, Russian Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev.

Although smiling, Rodina farm director Viktor Orlov most certainly got in his workout today and will sleep very soundly tonight. The most important aspect of this trip was to see Medvedev and Putin working together. The two had experienced a fair amount of tension, particularly in the past 18 months leading up to the announcement of who would run for president in 2012.

President Medvedev inside the Stavropol Regional Vascular Centre.

Stavropol's Vascular Centre treats patients from around the country. While there President Medvedev saw a model of the future Clinical Perinatal Centre to be built next door and looked over operations for the Republican Children’s Hospital. The Perinatal Centre will be completed by the beginning of 2014.

President Medvedev harvesting corn in Stavropol.

While at the farm, President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin each got a turn at harvesting corn while learning about the farm’s operation.


Photos: Mendeleyev Journal/Presidential Press Service.

[JohnDearGreen]

...but we sort of doubt that either Dmitry Medvedev or Vladimir Putin are all that much into American country music.

Probably that western part of country western that he doesn't go for.
For now he is a rapper:

[mendeleyev]

JohnDearGreen, cool.   

Did you see any of the videos with him singing some of the old standards recently?

[JohnDearGreen]

JohnDearGreen, cool.   
Did you see any of the videos with him singing some of the old standards recently?

yeah, Blueberry Hill thrill.
Interesting that in the above pic and a couple others I've seen Medvedev looks to be a couple inches taller than Putin, and Medvedev is rumored to be only 5'4.

[mendeleyev]

John, officially Mr. Putin is 170cm (5-7) while Mr. Medvedev is 162cm (5-4) on a good day.

Photos of these men, like most world leaders, are a major production. No camera is snapped indiscriminately, each pose is usually coordinated and every photo either is approved or deleted.

In this next photo taken earlier this week in Stavropol look carefully at how Mr. Putin is leaning forward. Were he to straighten his back he'd be clearly taller...


 

 

This next one, taken on the same day, is a great example of what Natalya Timakova (Presidential press secretary) likes to achieve.


 

 

Notice how the men are walking in 2 rows. Farm director Orlov, Medvedev and Putin are in the first row. But notice that they're not equal in stride. Orlov is a stride ahead, then Medvedev and last is Putin. That, and the angle from where the photo was snapped (and Putin in a tire rut), maximizes the look that Medvedev is not being overpowered in height by men on either side. It even gives the feel that Medvedev is taller than Putin. You'll also notice that the two men in the second row are slightly a stride apart to compliment the effect created in the first row.

The shot could have also been managed by putting the president a step in front of Orlov with Putin a stride behind, but it turned out fine.
 
Below they look almost equal, but again look at the spacing and the position of others around the president.


 

 

Putin is starting to wear a little and doesn't stand as erect as he did when younger. He turned 59 on the 7th of this month. Medvedev meanwhile is 46.

In addition, Putin is less conscious about stuff like this. He is at the age in life when it doesn't matter. Timakova however is very protective of the president and understands that images often convey very important messages.

Take this video for example:



Had you seen the two men approaching the stage at the United Russia Party convention when the presidential announcement was made in September, they almost looked equal but take a look on this video at the 1:52 mark and you will see that Putin is taller.


 

[mendeleyev]

From today's Mendeleyev Journal:

(Oleg Yasinsky) In case you haven't noticed, Russia is steadily working on the future reality of Moscow as being a regional trade and financial centre for Europe and Asia. On Wednesday President Medvedev held a telephone conference with the leaders of Kazakhstan and Belarus as they plan for a trilateral summit in the second half of November in Moscow to further the integration process of the much anticipated Customs Union. The November meeting will focus on establishing governing bodies for the Customs Union and the Trade/Economic Zone.

On Thursday Mr. Medvedev hosted a meeting of the International Advisory Board for the creation of an International Financial Centre in Russia. This meeting took place at Sberbank’s central head office. Sberbank is one of Russia's largest banks and their online banking division recently hit the two million mark in registered users, quite a feat in a country where many customers remain shy about using online financial services.


(Russian International Financial Centre Advisory Board, Sberbank-Moscow)


The Kremlin's goal is to make Russia into a international financial centre, and this is starting with the Moscow International Financial Centre (IFC). As part of the plan Medvedev announced plans to merge Russia's two biggest trading floors – the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange [MICEX], and the Russian Trading System [RTS], and have finalized an essential draft law on a central depositary.

Speaking to participants President Medvedev described the project as a way to take the country’s economy to a new level, create new jobs, and open up new markets with the aim to attract investment from abroad.


(The Mendeleyev Journal thanks Oleg Yasinsky for filling in temporarily as Mendeleyev has been asked to cover the Herman Cain campaign in the USA this week.)

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:


He says that he is president by day, concerned motorist by night. Most Russians don't seem to believe it, however.

What about you? Do you believe that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev secretly gets behind the wheel of a car, by himself, to patrol the streets after a day spent running the country so he can better understand the trials and tribulations of Moscow motorists?

Perhaps he does but the Russian version of the Secret Service, the Federal Guard Service, isn't commenting. I'm guessing that the tight security surrounding the president 24 hours daily might preclude any late night driving stunts by the president of a major country.

Not to be detoured (sorry, couldn't resist), President Medvedev explained that he sometimes drives around Moscow, incognito mind you, because the only way to solve traffic problems is to understand them.

Russian motorists' rights groups aren't going along for that ride, pointing out all the problems Medvedev has experienced in the few public appearances that he has driven. In broad daylight he almost ran into a crowd in Kazan when he insisted on being allowed to drive towards a waiting crowd--only to get out of the car with it still in gear. Security agents shut the car down quickly and averted what could have been a serious incident.





Mr. Medvedev was caught on camera recently driving without a seatbelt and some Russians seem to think that he should learn to obey the law first before getting tangled up in Moscow traffic. Russian drivers would be handed out fines if caught in the same scenario.

[mendeleyev]

Update from the Mendeleyev Journal:

It has been a busy couple of days for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. On Tuesday he traveled to Barnaul area for a stop at Altai State University and to speak at Russia's annual National Student Forum for University students. He also took time to meet with the United Russia party regional leadership group and then Governor Aleksandr Karlin of the Altai Republic.

President Medvedev was greeted by students of Altai State University, Barnaul.

Russian Universities are primarily state funded and Mr. Medvedev told students that preparing for the future included financial support by the community and alumni groups. Mr. Medvedev said that, "it is very important for each university to create an endowment fund. Never mind that it will not be the same size as Harvard’s or Yale’s. You’ve got to start somewhere."

President Medvedev (L) at the National Student Forum with Education Minister Andrei Fursenko (R).

Speaking at the Forum, in particular the President seemed pleased to dress down a bit when telling the students at the 4th annual conference, "Thank you particularly for giving me a chance not to wear a tie: that’s a special pleasure for me but one that I cannot indulge in very often. On my way here together with the Minister, the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy and the Governor, I told them: “Go on, take off your ties.” And they said, “We take our ties off and next we lose our jobs.” But the idea is absolutely right because it is best to discuss the key aspects of our nation’s development in a relaxed atmosphere, and I think we’ve got it here now. That’s great."

Russian President Medvedev spoke at the National Student Forum in Barnaul.

Mr. Medvedev told students, "we must constantly improve our world, look at it through different eyes, make our country modern, efficient and strong, and this requires the modernisation of the economy, our manufacturing sector, our agriculture and science. Who can lead the way? Only the people who are not indifferent."


During his visit the President also visited the local steering committee of the United Russia party, telling them that "we must bear in mind that we don’t need leadership for its own sake; we need it to carry out reforms and to modernize our country, our economy and our society and in order to achieve success."

Mr. Medvedev in Barnaul with members of the local United Russia committee.

On this trip to the region President Medvedev traveled with Russian Minister of Education Andrei Fursenko, and Viktor Tolokonsky, the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian republics. As part of the trip Mr. Medvedev met with Governor Aleksandr Karlin who has served the Altai Republic since August 2007, named to the post by then-president Vladimir Putin after the death of Governor Mikhail Yevdokimov.

Russian President Medvedev (L) and Altai Governor Aleksandr Karlin (R).

Teenage drinking was on the agenda and Mr. Medvedev told the governor that the anti-alcohol fight in Russia should be at a regional level rather than at a federal one to make it effective. The president advocates stricter jail sentences for store clerks who sell alcohol to minors.

Russian governors serve by presidential appointment.

[mendeleyev]

From today's Mendeleyev Journal:

It is a good idea. The rotting body of a rotten revolutionary should be reburied and such is the idea of Russian political party “Right Cause” in a news conference this today.

Right Cause has proposed that a final reburial of Lenin’s body would be fitting to put an end to a terrible era and the Mausoleum should be converted to a memorial to victims of the Civil War and the citizens who died in Stalin’s oppressions.

Calling for “urgent de-bolshevization” of Russian society, the party also suggested legislation to prevent the very future possibility of any return to totalitarianism.

­“We are deeply convinced that there is a need for an unequivocal historic assessment of totalitarianism as a system of government, and for measures which would minimize the risk of its repetition in our history and in everyday life,” the statement reads.

Right Cause leaders say that totalitarian ideas remain a threat to today’s Russian society, as for the young who never experienced the Soviet era, totalitarianism seems a viable political alternative.
 Their statement also said, “Totalitarianism for us is not a relic of the past, but a possible alternative, and the young, those who have never lived in a totalitarian society, often meet this alternative with enthusiasm.”

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:


Thousands of protesters turned out in France ahead the G20 summit, held this year where the focus has been the possible default by Greece and the banking crisis in general across Europe. G20 leaders hope the 2-day summit will have produced reforms of the global monetary and financial systems and promote economic development.

Russian President Medvedev (L) was greeted by French President Sarkozy (R).

President Medvedev's first order of business after arriving in France for the G20 Summit was to attend the BRICS countries meeting, where BRICS leaders discussed the current difficulties in the eurozone and to attempt to develop a consolidated BRICS position on how to approach the debt issues posed by European countries.


The meeting was attended by President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff, Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintaoand President of South Africa Jacob Zuma.

(Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa met at the 2011 G20 Summit.)

Mr. Medvedev then held a meeting with the President of China, Hu Jintao, before the official start of the G20 Summit in Cannes, France. The leaders of China, Russia and the United States pressed their counterparts to move swiftly in solving the debt crisis.


The country at the forefront of the crisis, Greece, is not a member of G20 but Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou was in attendance.

(Meeting of Russian and Chinese representatives to the 2011 G20 Summit.)

The G20 endorsed a new IMF credit line to help countries facing economic shocks beyond their control. UK Prime Minister David Cameron challenged world leaders gathered at the G20 summit in France to show the "political will" needed to fix the global economic crisis.

[chivo]

What will Russia do to improve domestic airline safety in the wake of the Yaroslavl hockey team crash? http://russianreport.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/what-will-russia-do-to-improve-domestic-airline-safety/

They're grounding the Yak-42 at the end of December and have signed a deal with Boeing for the purchase of a number of new aircraft.
 
There is new evidence however that pilot error and drug use to be the main reasons for the crash as opposed to mechanical failure.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/errors-drugs-crashed-lokomotiv-jet/447099.html

[mendeleyev]

A few weeks back I was on a flight (Delta) on which the plane had ashtrays all over the place, more than normally seen and I fly almost every week. How many years has it been since smoking was banned on flights? (1988 or so?)

Glad to see Russia updating some planes.

The USA needs to do so as well.

[mendeleyev]

From today's Mendeleyev Journal:


National Unity Day commemorates the events of 1612, when Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky formed volunteer corps that went on to liberate Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian interventionist forces. Russia has celebrated the National Unity Day as an official holiday since 2005.

President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin laid flowers at the memorial to Minin & Pozharsky in Nizhny Novgorod.


Speaking at an official reception marking the National Unity Day in Nizhny Novgorod, President Medvedev said that patriotism, civic spirit, and love for the Fatherland are the fundamental values that have always cemented the multi-ethnic Russian state.

On National Unity Day President Medvedev spoke at an official reception in Nizhny Novgorod.

Remarks from President Medvedev on National Unity Day:

I wish you all my warmest congratulations on this holiday, the National Unity Day, and I welcome you all to this ancient town of Nizhny Novgorod, which played such a special part in strengthening Russia’s statehood, and in the events that took place here almost 400 years ago.

We remember that it was at that moment that Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky formed the volunteer corps that went on to free Moscow from the interventionist forces. We will celebrate the 400^th anniversary of this event next year, along with a number of other important anniversaries, including the 1150^th anniversary of Russia’s statehood and the 200^th anniversary of the end of the Patriotic War of 1812.

These dates commemorate not just important events in our country’s history but also remind us of the importance of national consolidation and of lessons that remain greatly significant for our lives today and for Russia’s future.

Patriotism, civic spirit, and love for the Fatherland are the fundamental values that have always cemented the multi-ethnic Russian state. Today too, they are our moral backbone and centuries-old heritage, and are at the same time a symbol of the young democratic Russia, a country that today is pursuing new goals and tasks, such as building a modern and innovative economy, technologically upgrading its industry, modernizing the way the country is run, and indeed, every sphere of public life.

We are strengthening our civil society and institutions of public representation, and are renewing and modernizing our legal system and law enforcement agencies. We are making our social policy more effective, working to make our education system, our schools and universities among the best, and are paying particular attention to educating a modern and creative young generation.

These goals are possible only in a country that lives a normal life based on civic peace, mutual understanding, solidarity between our people, and care and respect for our historical and cultural heritage and spiritual traditions.

Russia does indeed have a tremendous advantage – the inter-ethnic peace that our country forged and that our forebears have handed on down through the centuries. It is our duty to preserve and develop this heritage, which without exaggeration we can call one of our history’s greatest achievements. In many parts of our country there are now special groups working on harmonizing inter-ethnic and interfaith relations, and their members include people from political, public, and religious organizations.

I particularly want to note today the constructive efforts our traditional religions make, and I take this opportunity to thank the spiritual leaders here for their invaluable contribution to strengthening tolerance in our country.
It also gives me great pleasure to welcome today the members of the World Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots and the delegates to the fifth Russian World Foundation Assembly, which traditionally takes place in the run-up to the National Unity Day. We support all the significant work you do to preserve the Russian world as a common information and cultural space. We also greatly value the efforts you make to popularise the Russian language.

Starting this year, June 6, Alexander Pushkin’s birthday, is being marked as Russian Language Day. This year, we established the Foundation for the Support and Defence of Compatriots’ Rights. One of its main tasks is to protect our compatriots’ right to their native language. Starting next year, the new federal programme for work with compatriots abroad will start work over a three-year period. I am sure that these decisions will help to preserve unity among the many millions of people who together make up the Russian World.

Friends, ladies and gentlemen, you all live in different countries, but you keep strong attachments to Russia, and this is reflected in the growing interest in our history and in our country’s modern life. The Russian World’s heart is here in Russia of course. We have great need of each other – our people here, and our compatriots abroad, and also our foreign friends who help to spread and preserve our great culture.

Once again, I congratulate you on the National Unity Day, and in keeping with what has become the tradition over these last years, I want to present state decorations and propose now that we begin the award ceremony.

The President then presented state decorations to foreign citizens for their contribution to strengthening friendship, cooperation and developing cultural ties with Russia. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also attended the ceremony.


Later that afternoon Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Minister Putin visited the Gorky Automotive Plant in Nizhny Novgorod.

President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin visited the Gorky Automotive Plant on National Unity Day.

The visit to the Gorky Automotive Plant was capped off by a concert for employees where the President greeted everyone and congratulated employees and their families on the holiday.

 
Mr. Medvedev told the crowd that, "Patriotism, civic spirit, and love for the Fatherland are the fundamental values that have always cemented the multi-ethnic Russian state. Today too, they are our moral backbone and centuries-old heritage, and are at the same time a symbol of the young democratic Russia, a country that today is pursuing new goals and tasks, such as building a modern and innovative economy, technologically upgrading its industry, modernising the way the country is run, and indeed, modernising every sphere of public life."

Prime Minister Putin also congratulated employees at the Gorky Automotive Plant.


The reason for the National Unity Day holiday essentially originated from this area, the birthplace of the volunteer corps, which ultimately saved Russia from foreign rule.

Next year will mark the 400^th anniversary of this event, along with a number of other important anniversaries, including the 1150^th anniversary of Russia’s statehood and the 200^th anniversary of the end of the Patriotic War of 1812 against the invasion of Napoleon's French army.

[mendeleyev]

From today's Mendeleyev Journal:

Just after announcing that Ukraine would follow Russia's lead on developing close ties to China, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has continued a former Soviet trademark, the title of "Mother Hero." The title (Мать-героиня) was a fixture of Soviet life, an honour bestowed on all mothers bearing and raising 10 or more children.

The practice began in 1944 in the midst of the Great Patriotic War and was accompanied by the bestowal of the Mother Hero Order and a certificate conferred by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. It was awarded upon the first birthday of the last child, provided that nine other children (natural or adopted) remained alive. The award was revived in 2005 by former president Yushchenko.

Children who had perished under heroic, military or other circumstances, including diseases were also counted. The award was created simultaneously with the Order of Maternal Glory (Орден "Материнская слава) and the Maternity Medal (Медаль материнства), given to women with five to nine children.

Mother Heroes were entitled to wear a badge, which was a gold star with silver straight rays between the arms; and were also entitled to a number of privileges for retirement pension, the payment of public utility charges, and the supply of food and other goods.

Just in case you're wondering, there was one man during the Soviet period who received the award, Veniamin Petrovich Makarov (Вениамин Петрович Макаров) from the city of Orenburg. Makarov raised 12 adopted boys by himself.

Yanukovich wasted no time in this week naming a whopping 3189 Ukrainian mothers to be "Hero Mothers" of Ukraine. In contrast, the more well-known "Hero of Ukraine" award has been given to 265 persons as of this past 25 August.

[JohnDearGreen]

Has anyone took the Metro-2 tour?  Does it really exist?
Ad says "and show where possible."  Probably not possible.
http://www.toursbylocals.com/Metro

[mendeleyev]

You're right about how much of it you'll see. It apparently exists but the myth is far greater than the reality.

As far as "ghost" stations, those are stations that have been closed down over the years as the Metro has changed--no "secrets" behind those.

Read more in Russian about Metro 2 here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Metro_2

http://metro.ru/metro2/

[JohnDearGreen]

You're right about how much of it you'll see. It apparently exists but the myth is far greater than the reality.

If someone actually dug into Metro-2 accidentally, I'm sure Putin's KGB heavies would be quickly there ordering someone to patch the hole.

And they were:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nuclear-weapons/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501061&objectid=10379699

mendeleyev: Keep quiet about this or the FSB will be on your doorstep:
"The authorities have not responded to his claim; indeed, the FSB has been known to call in Russian journalists for questioning, merely for speculating about what might be hidden beneath the streets of Moscow."

The US had a similar facility at Greenbrier in WV:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greenbrier

[mendeleyev]

I am very familiar with Greenbriar and think the Metro 2 is far more extensive.

Here is also some info you might enjoy reading on the subject: http://www.moscow-russia-insiders-guide.com/moscow-metro-2.html

[mendeleyev]

The heads of the Customs Union member states will meet in Moscow this Friday 18 November to discuss current issues of integration in the Eurasian region in preparation for full integration of the Common Economic Space between the nations in January of 2012. The meeting will include Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The meeting agenda includes operation of the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, forming a common customs territory as of 1 July 2011. Cooperation within the Customs Union has already begun and state control has been moved to the external borders of the Customs Union countries with uniform customs rules and regulations in place.

The next phase of integration includes the Eurasian Economic Union.

[SANDRO43]

Tonight I saw on our TV an old documentary on the Russian famine of 1921 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_famine_of_1921), with lots of black-and-white Soviet footage of the period.

At that time, the American Relief Administration contributed substantially:

When the Russian famine of 1921 broke out, the ARA's director in Europe, Walter Lyman Brown, began negotiating with Soviet deputy People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Maxim Litvinov, in Riga, Latvia. An agreement was reached on August 21, 1921 and an additional implementation agreement was signed by Brown and People's Commisar for Foreign Trade Leonid Krasin on December 30, 1921. The U.S. Congress appropriated $20,000,000 for relief under the Russian Famine Relief Act of late 1921.

At its peak, the ARA employed 300 Americans, more than 120,000 Russians and fed 10.5 million people daily. Its Russian operations were headed by Col. William N. Haskell. The Medical Division of the ARA functioned from November 1921 to June 1923 and helped overcome the typhus epidemic then ravaging Russia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Relief_Administration

Now I know who's (partially) to blame for the survival - and subsequent expansion - of the USSR .