Those of you missing the interviews of Russia bloggers that I’ve done intermittently on Siberian Light over the years will be pleased to know that Anatoly Karlin of Sublime Oblivion has now taken up the torch.

Starting today, he’ll be interviewing Russia bloggers in a new series called Watching the Russia Watchers.

First up is an interview with A Good Treaty (not his real name), a foreign policy researcher currently working in Washington and blogging about Russian politics, US-Russia relations, and other stuff Russia.

Check out the A Good Treaty blog here.

I’ve got a pretty robust spam filter here on Siberian Light that usually keep the junk comments from making it onto the site.  Sometimes I steel myself and take a quick look through the spam comments to see if a real comment has accidentally been caught by the filter.

There’s a trend for spam comments to be written by humans, to try and get around the spam filters, but usually they’re still little more than semi-literate nonsense.  And then I received the following comment this morning:

HELP! I’m currently being held prisoner by the Russian mafia [SPAM LINK HERE]  and being forced to post spam comments on blogs and forum! If you don’t approve this they will kill me. [SPAM LINK HERE] They’re coming back now. [SPAM LINK HERE] Please send help! nitip [SPAM LINK HERE]

So, what do you think?  Is Nitip an inspired and slightly bored spammer?  Or is he really being held prisoner by the Russian Mafia?

2

Putin Harley Davidson Pictures

by Andy on July 26, 2010

Russian Prime Minister showed off his manliness to an adoring press yet again this weekend by roaring into Sevastapol, Ukraine on a Harley Davidson motorcycle.  Although, at least this time Putin kept his clothes on.

Putin was in Ukraine to meet with President Viktor Yanukovich, but took some time out to visit an international bikers convention.  There he defied type by telling his adoring crowd that he, like them, was a true democrat:

“Bike is the most democratic transport vehicle. Bike is the most daring, challenging as it gives its owner the tempting feeling of freedom, that is why one can say without any exaggeration, bike is a symbol of freedom

“You came here, because you are free people, and you can go wherever you want.”

And then displayed his understanding of modern machinery:

“There are such tricked out vehicles, such tricked out pieces of iron, like the one that I ride today,” Putin said.

RIA Novosti, the august Russian news agency, were so impressed that they briefly turned into drooling fashionistas:

The image of the premier was [like] totally matching the biker’s one. He was wearing black jeans, black shirt, sunglasses and biker gloves. [OMG!!]

OK – I may have tweaked that quote slightly.

Am I the only one who has noticed that, in order to prevent him from falling off, Putin was actually propped up on a tricycle?

Anyways.  That’s our boy Putin.  It’s just how he rolls.

4

Russia Blog Roundup – 15 June 2010

by Andy on June 15, 2010

Before I start this week’s roundup, thanks to everyone who suggested some new blogs that I should be reading (see the comments of last week’s roundup).  There were so many great blogs on the list that I’m going to write a separate post later this week to highlight them all.  In the meantime, if there are any more blogs out there that you think I’ve missed, please let me know in the comments.

This week’s been a quiet one for Russia blog posts – here are the best of them (according to me!).

Finally, moving out of country slightly, remember to check out Registan.net for the latest updates on events in Kyrgyzstan.

21

Russia Blog Roundup

by Andy on June 7, 2010

As I’m getting back into the swing of monitoring the Russia blogs for these weekly reviews it occurs to me that it’s actually been quite a while since I’ve updated my Google Reader subscription lists.  So, before you read through the great links below, I’d like to ask a quick favour – please tell me about any top Russia blogs out there that I really should be reading!

And now, back to this week’s links.

And, finally, if that’s not enough of a roundup for you, check out Poemless’ June spring cleaning edition of Odds and Ends.

And, finally, finally, just before you go, check out these amazing pictures of a toy soldier parade in Red Square.

1

Russia Blog Weekly Roundup

by Andy on May 30, 2010

Now that Eurovision mania is all over and done with (Russia’s Peter Nalitch didn’t win, but did markedly better than my own country’s dismal last place!), it’s time for another roundup of posts from the Russia blogs.

And finally, moving slightly outside of the Russia blogs, a great intro from Blogging Pro on How to Blog in a Hostile Country.

Russia Host Rugby Sevens World Cup 2013

May 18, 2010

Russia wins the right to host the 2013 Rugby Sevens World Cup

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Weekly Blog Roundup

May 14, 2010

Following a reminder from Anatoly Karlin of Sublime Oblivion, I thought it was about time I resurrected my once weekly series rounding up the best posts from around the Russia blogs. So, without any further preamble, here are my picks for best Russia blog posts of the past week (and a bit). Did the Russian [...]

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Top 10 Russia Blogs – Two Perspectives

May 5, 2010

La Russophobe and Anatoly Karlin post their top 10 Russia Blogs lists.

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Some good news for Russian Democracy… and some bad news

April 30, 2010

Changes making it easier to participate in elections are welcome. But extending the Russian Presidential term from four to six years is a bad idea.

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