There have been a few attempts to provide a statistical ranking of the top Russia blogs. But, for some reason, everyone except the blogger who tops the list complains that they aren’t accurate.
So, I thought I’d have a go at putting together a list of the Top 5 Russia blogs and, mindful of this problem, decided to base my list purely on my own subjective opinion. Not a statistic in sight.
Here, in no particular order, is my selection of the Top 5 Russia Blogs – the most influential, the most interesting and sometimes the most controversial Russia blogs out there. Feel free to disagree in the comments…
Sean’s Russia Blog
If you’re looking for serious, but readable commentary on Russia, Sean’s Russia Blog is the place to go.
The only academic in my Top 5 and (if you count La Russophobe as a group blog) the only solo blogger as well, Sean’s Russia Blog combines academic rigour with an accessible, easy to read style. Sean’s Russia Blog is also the longest running blog in my list, having been publishing on and off since October 2004 – that’s almost as long as Siberian Light.
Oh, and if you’e looking for information about Youth Politics in Russia (or punks, for that matter), Sean knows all there is to know…
La Russophobe
For almost two years now, the burning question on everyone’s lips has been… is La Russophobe a CIA agent pushing anti-Russian propaganda, or is she just a deranged lunatic with a grudge against Russian tennis players and way too much time on her hands?
Nobody knows, but everyone seems to have an opinion.
La Russophobe burst onto the scene almost two years ago and has been spewing out a frankly stunning quantity of anti-Russian rhetoric ever since. Nothing and no-one Russian escapes her biting criticism – Russia itself, Putin, Sharapova, and any blogger unfortunate enough to get in her way. Pretty much everyone associated with Russia and in the public eye (including me) has, at one time or another, been on the end of a La Russophobe spanking.
La Russophobe could not be a more combative blogger if she tried.
But, love her or hate her, La Russophobe has become easily one of the most influential, not to mention prolific, bloggers about Russia. Day in, day out (except Thanksgiving), the vitriolic anti-Russian posts keep flowing. Offensive they may be, but they often contain enough of a kernel of truth to force Russophiles to sit back and consider just how accurate their cherished beliefs are.
Russia Blog
Russia Blog is perhaps the most pro-Kremlin of the blogs in this list, but it is also the blog that brings the widest range of voices to our attention, with commentary from experts and other bloggers, as well as its own in house editorial team of Yuri Mamchur and Charles Ganske.
One of two group blogs in my list backed by either a business or a policy organisation, Russia Blog often takes some flak for being run by an organisation associated with pro-Creationist views. But I can’t say I’ve ever really Russia Blog covering the creationist debate in Russia. A missed opportunity, perhaps?
Robert Amsterdam
I’ll bet you never knew that Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s lawyer was a blogger? And a prolific one, at that.
As you’d expect from a law firm representing Vladimir Putin’s imprisoned oligarchic opponent, Robert Amsterdam and his team generally take an anti-Kremlin line. But, in contrast to La Russophobe, he also tends to give credit where it is due and the Russian government does something right. It’s just a shame that the opportunity doesn’t crop up all that often…
Like Russia Blog, Robert Amsterdam also showcases other writers, notably investigative journalist Grigory Pasko, and produces some excellent translations of non-English language articles.
English Russia
Russia’s a big country but, if something cool happens on the 1/6th of the world’s surface that is Russia, English Russia will be there to cover it.
Mostly filled with photographs and videos, English Russia showcases Russia in its glory, in its shame, and in its epic scale.
And, sometimes we just want to read the funny stuff. Not every blog about Russia has to cover politics…
You want more?
Of course, in a list of just 5 blogs about Russia, I couldn’t cover every blog that I love reading, or give a comprehensive introduction to wide variety of Russia Blogs out there. So, if you’re looking for more reading, or if you just can’t stand the five blogs I’ve picked out, there’s a big list of Russia blogs on the sidebar. Take a look around…
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Mike,
I made no misrepresentations of you. Your views on Chechnya and other areas you allegedly claim expertise on are out there. I simply believe your views to be reprehensible, ill-informed and those of a Great Russian Nationalist. Please correct me if I’m wrong. I havent called you a troll, which is what many people in the blogsphere refer to you as. The reason I take umbrage with you is that, as Lyndon has noted, you misrepresent in practically everything you write and I dont believe you should be allowed get away with it(sadly I havent an ounce of Lyndon’s class though)
As for being Sean Guillory promoted, Sean got tired of you taking over his blog I daresay. Get over it. Your record busting comment numbers have crank written all over them.
Media critique is something that occupies one page at the back of the sunday papers. It is a lazy, dull, boring field. Also, what you do is not critique – you campaign. And have been doing so for years. You seem to have no interest in recognising the very obvious fact that 99.99% of people do not care how Russia is portrayed in the mass media. Would you not think you’d be better employed writing fresh articles that contain facts, and not long, whining, personal rants? And again, why dont you confront Peter Lavelle at his blog? Good grief, you never stop attacking him behind his back.
You’re a troll.
Tim Newman supports the second Iraq war. How many thousands dead as a result of it? Yet, you don’t critique him at all on that.
Trolling typically involves such hypocritical manner.
How about the fire bombing of Dreseden and the A bomb droppings over Horoshima and Nagasaki?
Are you familiar with Studs Terkel’s book “The Good War”?
While not glorying in slaugher, there was a sound basis for military action as per the first Chechen war.
Having said this, I’ve acknowledged the flawed planning and timing as contributing factors to the casualty figures there.
Why doesn’t Lavelle come here? I like this venue better. It appears censorship free.
Your attitude on media criticism is indicative of someone not well versed in the issues I raise.
Troll all you want. You’re making a fool of yourself.
That’s Dresden and Hiroshima.
Mike,
I’ve actually had several on-line disagreements with Tim about Iraq 2. But unlike discussions with you, we can agree to disagree and have done so.
There was no sound military basis for the invasion of Chechnya and this has been borne out by what happened afterwards. Country ruined, thousands dead and the Russian army themselves defeated utterly. What should have happened were negotiations with Dudayev and Maskhadov and the pouring of federal money into the area. Funny enough the Russians did just that years later with Kadyrov. They neednt have levelled the country first. Not to mention rape and murder. And comparisons with elsewhere do not excuse it. We are talking about Chechnya, not anywhere else. The simple fact is, as has been proven elsewhere, you havent a clue about the Caucuses and should stick to shilling for Igor Smirnov.
Peter Lavelle has a full-time job presenting a tv show. You’re the one with the Lavelle problem, seems to me he doesnt have an Averko problem. SHouldnt you be taking your arguments to him, rather than bad-mouthing him in emails in such a cowardly fashion?
Second attempt. First didn’t seem to go thru. Apologize if duplicate.
****
You’re the one with the troll problem.
You once again misrepresent what I’ve said about Chechnya.
You propped Lavelle’s blog at this venue. I didn’t.
When it comes to a top rated blog, having a respectful attitude towards different views, Siberian Light is number one.
Besides, I’m more RTTV guest material.
I most certainly did not misrepresent anything you said – that is very clear. I said you are wrong to justify Russia’s invasion, and I am certain I made a good argument as to why i believe you are wrong. God Forbid anybody naive out there actually believes your spin and heartlessness.
”You propped Lavelle’s blog at this venue. I didn’t.”
No, I didnt. I said he had a blog and asked why you dont direct your criticisms to him there directly rather than backstabbing him in such a cowardly manner. Your anti-Lavelle crusade is jealousy wrapped in a cloak of concern for media freedom.
”Besides, I’m more RTTV guest material”
An amazing boast, considering you’ve never been published in any newspapers or magazines, bar letters to the editor(except, of course, the TTT print edition). Baby steps Mike.
BTW, cowards troll in a pack like manner.
I’m not the one doing that.
The troll once gain mislabels “critique” with “bad mouthing”.
Note the irony in the way he has carried on.
The troll lies again.
He brought up Lavelle’s blog and hasn’t said anything against Chris Doss’ blatantly troll antics here.
In the past year, I appeared on the BBC and had one of my articles picked up by Reuters. I did this without compromising my views, which tend to get the shaft over some others. Previous to that, I appeared as a guest on several Jay Diamond shows. This past summer, I drafted an original in thinking settlement plan for Kosovo. I’ve provided in depth analysis on why Russia’s position on the disputed former Communist bloc territories is more reasonable than America’s. In addition, I’ve written in depth articles on subjects dealing with historical and sports issues.
That’s far more than what a number of others have done on such matter. Include Lavelle and Berdy, since the troll brought them up as comparisons.
Throw in why Pridnestrovie (Trans-Dniester) has an arguably better case for independence than Kosovo.
Standing up to troll antics isn’t “cowardly” unlike engaging in such manner. The former exhibits a positive attitude which should ideally (IMO) be welcomed by responsible professionals.
One BBC appearance and one Reuters article. I congratulate you on both, but you’re hardly Hunter S Thompson yet. Or Peter Lavelle for that matter. MAB writes brilliant, much-loved articles on the Russian language and Lavelle, as stated earlier, has a full-time job presenting a tv show. 99% of your work has been on blogs. Again I cant understand why you dont drop the critique stuff, which has only made you enemies.
On “jealousy”, perhaps the troll is jealous in a twisted way that explains his trolling. His Hunter Thompson reference can apply to his propped Lavelle and Berdy.
So what if Lavelle has a “full time job”. Does that somehow make him exempt?
Some active media people get fired, with some others moving up. That point shouldn’t get distorted. It addresses another disrespectful and feeble minded point raised by the troll; in his ongoing efforts at trying to discredit me.
Jealous of what? Are you taking the piss?
99% of my work hasn’t appeared at blogs.
As for my blog work, I’m understandably quite proud of some of it.
This includes my SL review of Mark MacKinnon’s book, which made The Russia Journal and News Now wires. Another author has recently approached me on writing a review of his book.
Perhaps you’re jealous of me fool (though you’ll never admit it). You keep coming at me in a somewhat wacky manner.
BTW, someone who isn’t a fan of Lavelle asked me to anonymously post his thoughts about him in my email list.
I declined by saying that I’m into constructive criticism and not personal crusades. I found his piece to be a bit on the personal side.
So, **** you, you troll like beastly S.O.B.
) Mike, you’re just ranting now)). Calm down. I’m not jealous of you, dont flatter yourself. I’m not pretending to be a journalist like you. I just dont like your opinions, and will continue to question you on them.
”So, **** you, you troll like beastly S.O.B.”
Talk about cranky!)
My comments about Lavelle don’t compare to the troll like barbs directed against me at this and another venue.
At least this venue has a fair game attitude unlike the other one.
I can earnestly say that my performance here against the asshole behavior is a further sign of the great ability I possess in a high profile media/public relations position. I’ve the satisfaction of knowing that some intelligent others feel the same way.
Reading these comments is sort of like watching a tragic multi-car pileup or train wreck unfold in super-slow motion. You know what’s going to happen and that it will be terrible, because you’ve seen grainy disaster videos like this before, but you keep watching out of morbid fascination. As in many chaotic situations, though, recourse to hard numbers and quantifiable things can help shed light on the crux of the matter.
This is now the second-most-commented-on post in the history of Siberian Light. The 117 comments would make it a bit of a piker over at Sean’s Russia Blog, where this kind of thing seems to happen all the time, but still – over a hundred comments is nothing to sneeze at. Perhaps we could conclude, since the original post is about blogs, that the large number of comments is just further proof (as if any were needed) that bloggers like to talk about themselves.
Further examination, however, reveals that blogger navel-gazing cannot account fully for the high number of comments. Here are the relevant stats: of the 117 comments on this thread so far, 58 (by my count) were posted by the most prolific commenter among us, who also has managed to make three unanswered comments in a row on five separate occasions; four unanswered comments in a row twice; and at one point posted five unanswered comments in a row!
Although they do not always tell the whole story, simple numbers can be very revealing. In this case, they seem to reveal that the “performance” in the comments above is indeed “a further sign” of said commenter’s “great ability” in matters such as clicking on the “Submit Comment” button.
And yes, I am aware that a comment analyzing blog comment statistics is “off-topic” almost by definition and could be seen as about as consequential as counting the number of dust motes in one’s belly-button lint. I prefer to think of it as deliciously meta.
Do carry on, gentlemen, the all-time SL record for comments on one post is within reach!
Lyndon Allin has a habit of not backing up what he confidently says. in his sense, he’s quite predictable. Let’s take this excerpt as a case in point:
“Here are the relevant stats: of the 117 comments on this thread so far, 58 (by my count) were posted by the most prolific commenter among us, who also has managed to make three unanswered comments in a row on five separate occasions; four unanswered comments in a row twice; and at one point posted five unanswered comments in a row!
Although they do not always tell the whole story, simple numbers can be very revealing. In this case, they seem to reveal that the ‘performance’ in the comments above is indeed “a further sign” of said commenter’s “great ability” in matters such as clicking on the ‘Submit Comment’ button.
And yes, I am aware that a comment analyzing blog comment statistics is ‘off-topic’ almost by definition and could be seen as about as consequential as counting the number of dust motes in one’s belly-button lint. I prefer to think of it as deliciously meta.”
****
No substantiation whatsoever in much the same manner as the German speaking troll blogger in the trackback below.
I understand that Lyndon Allin is involved with selecting Global Voices blog material from eastern and central Europe. The selection process typifies his biased and factually challenged opinions on a number of topics. Plenty of one sided convoluted invective from Greater Surbiton and the Srebrenica Genocide Blog, but nothing of late from blogs like Gray Falcon and the Byzantine Sacred Art Blog. Deciphering Transnistria has yet to get posted at GV, unlike the faulty produced material from Fistful of Euros. Wonder why? I factually replied to some of the faulty Fistful of Euros material at GV. Of late, the GV posted comments section hasn’t been picking up posted comments.
It’s quite clear who does and doesn’t believe and observe the idea of intelligent discussion in as non-biased a situation as possible.
Seeing how Lyndon decidecd to drop by, the first paragraph of this correspondence relates to some of his questionable (put mildly) views:
Re: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/50364
In the spirit of offering different views, The Tiraspol Times (a far more objective source than what some often unchallenged and biased sources say to the contrary) carries Muhammad Megalommatis’ views ( http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/search/node/Muhammad+Megalommatis ) which I (put mildly) disagree with.
In Megalommatis’ American Chronicle piece, there’s no substantiation of his claim that “Kosova” has as much a right to independence as the former Yugo republics. Kosovo was in fact part of the Serb republic in Yugoslavia and never a republic itself. In 1989, Kosovo’s autonomy status within Serbia was changed because of the increased Albanian nationalist mayhem during the years of the dictator Tito’s enforced autonomy (1974-89). If one checks back to 1988, there was a consensus among the former Yugo republics that the situation in Kosovo worsened because of the autonomy granted to it. Autonomy or not, it was never a republic separate from Serbia.
Awhile back, I noted how in some instances greater autonomy can prove counterproductive to fostering greater human rights ( http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/8375-25.cfm ) .
Megalommatis’ claim about how Russia will lose the Muslim world has been proven wrong. Despite Russia’s support for Serbia and a war involving predominately Muslim Chechnya, Russia is on arguably better terms with the Muslim world when compared to the leading Western nations. Unlike other European heads of state, Putin attended a major Organization of Islamic States conference; where he expressed interest in his nation becoming a member of that organization.
Some analysts have suggested that the historical and cultural ties between Russia and Serbia are overrated. The more overrated belief is the idea that going against the Serbs puts the West on good terms with the Muslim world (reference comments made on this point by Bill Kristol and Paddy Ashdown, among others).
When belittling Russia and Serbia, note how Megalommatis selectively chastises the use of the way “democrats” is (in his view) wrongly used. Present day Kosovo is less democratic than Serbia minus Kosovo. On that point and others, the Serbs have proven their case over the Albanian nationalists.
*****
I posted ther rest of it because it relates in part to Russia and GV having a seemingly (at least of late) anti-Serb bias.
This is constructive criticism as opposed to the mischievously wanton attacks launched by some at this thread. My way of formal criticism isn’t at the level of what’s found elsewhere.
What does Peter Lavelle think?
Or does he prefer having his friend Chris Doss crank away against independently sound pro-Russian views for reasons other than seeing quality exchanges.
A perfectly valid question since Chris calls him a friend and PL is involved with RTTV.
plavelle@rttv.ru
His email is a matter of record.
Some think it insane to advocate a better product.
So be it!
Lyndon Allin had nothing to say of Chris Doss’ manner here. Wonder why?
The Romanianphile/Moldovanphile Lyndon has righteously spoken against “Russian anti-Semitism”, while being compararively mute on the Romanian/Moldovan variant which is noticeable.
Lyndon is prone to expressing views like how Molodva’s Gagauz aren’t really being persecuted, while expressing concern for Romanian language Latin alphabet rights in Pridnestrovie (Trans-Dniester). Of the two, there’re those who would consider the former to be the greater issue.
Lyndon has also tryed to emphasize Stalin’s popularity in Russia, while not saying much about the pro-Antonescu sentiment evident among a good number of Romanians and Moldovans.
The recently mentioned Deciphering Transnistria:
http://www.transdniestria.co.uk/
Lyndon is right. It is like a car crash and its all been seen before. This is what happens, time and again, when Mike Averko’s views are questioned.
A great pity, as he considers himself something of an expert on FSU issues.
Seems he cant handle questions or critique himself. And by the way why are you repeatedly showing Peter Lavelle’s email address?
The hacking imbecile strikes again. He’s doing a rotten job as a useful, make that useless idiot.
I already explained the address posting. He must have a learning disability.
Lyndon haasn’t been “right” for the expressed reasons, which the troll from Ireland doesn’t address.
LOL, Lyndon!
As you wrote, it’s morbidly fascinating to observe the degeneration of this thread. I stopped reading most of the comments but out of amusement watched this thread’s growth into meaninglessness. Averko has a pathetically funny compulsive addiction. You are correct, at one point he posted five times in a row! But that was not enough for him. As I’m writing this, there are seven comments under your last comment, Lyndon. Guess what? Six of them are from Averko. And once again he repeated his sad feat of sending five in a row.
As another troll comes on board. Nothing to back up his way to go Lyndon bullshit. Quite a pathetic lot.
The troll patrol at this thread reveals a very sorry aspect of the society at large.
That he finds it so funny is a reflection of a most warped sense of humor.
Yes, its time to pull out. As usual, asking questions of Averko ends in his trolling and multiple comment addiction and utter failure to address any thing asked of him. A total troll.
An admission of the chump losing big time. Another moderator/host from a different venue isn’t here to come in and demagogically take the side of that creep. At this thread, every post of Chris Doss’ was pure crank and the troll from Ireland never protested.
Ditto the hypocritically blowhard antics of Kolya, with his pious denouncing of LR. He lost credibility given his own manner.
I’ve been proven right.
Mike,
I lost nothing here. You couldnt account for Russia’s mistake in invading Chechnya and your’re just an apologist for Kremlin fuck-ups, and an unpaid one at that. It’ll be great to see you interviewed on Russia today. I dont like to see your distortions go uncorrected, hence my coming on here with you. You are – to use one of your own words – a buttmunch.
He lies again by ignoring what I said on the matter. Vintage trolling.
Moreover, he isn’t aware of my financial situation which in any event is none of his sorry ass business.
“Kremlin fuck-ups”? (his words). Actually, I’ve discussed them. His apparent learning disability prevents him from acknowledging them. It could be a combination of that and just carrying on like a disingenuous troll, who knowingly skirts certain particulars.
Whatever the case, he has conculsively shown himself to be an absolute flop.
That’s conclusively. This is what happens when you correspond with people of dreck ability.
In his blog, Marginal Revolution, economist Tyler Cowen titled one of his posts, “Does the quality of blog comments deteriorate?”. Excerpt of the post:
“I often have the impression that the best comments come in the first fifteen or so, after which quality declines precipitously and often exponentially. Why might that be?
1. The truly smart people only like to make smart points on “fresh” posts. For instance more people read the comments on fresh posts (but why?), so the benefit of a quality comment is lower as the post becomes older.
2. As time passes, the chance that a warring twosome find each other, and take over the thread, increases.
3. There is a tendency to attack or respond to the stupidest or most controversial thing said, and the longer the comments thread runs for, the stupider this will get.
4. As the number of comments multiplies, so does the number of independent discussion threads and the optimal number of threads is exceeded.”
To read the whole thing, go to:
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2008/02/does-the-qualit.html
Kolya contributed to the stupidity with at least one of his comments for sure.
For others besides himself, it was okay for him to term Russia Blog as “propaganda”, as uncritical praise was heaped on another blog.
When legitimate criticism was raised of that other blog, it was simplistically categorized as a “bash” followed by a series of disingenuous personal attacks.
It’s worth repeating that all of Chris Doss’ posts here were of a purely crank nature. Also note the silence of those who seemngly try to give the appearance of being responsible.
Once again, I’ve no criticisms of Andy on the conduct of this thread. Unlike other moderators/hosts, he hasn’t come in to take a questionable side (put mildly) over the other. One can either be an even handed disciplinaraian or take a completely laissez faire approach. The overtly biased moderator/host isn’t a positive quality.
At this thread, links were posted where intelligent discussion could be found. The purpose of trolling can be to either eliminate the participation of a source for political reasons and-or to get a perverse kind of cheap thrill by saying stupidly negative remarks against an individual or individuals. Such a scenario is akin to the crank caller to a talk radio show. Caller id systems and the 7 second delay have mostly eliminated that as an issue.
I stumbled upon this blog through a search for something else (I live in Siberia) and wow–wow. I had read this link (Top 5) and looked at LR which is just sad–so much anger and misplaced hatred–imagine what good that negative energy could accomplish if it weren’t so tainted by ego and so bent on fueling further negativity. Then I thought I’d read the comments here and I see that ego prevails in so many of the postings. It’s not uncommon, I guess–and, truth be told, there was a day when I would have also engaged in such indignant, self-righteous rhetoric. However, I learned that its productive value is so limited and that it mostly turns people off (which is the case with me now). Not everyone has done this here, but enough have for me to know that this is not a place I’ll seek thoughtful discourse.
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