The Western press has been gleefully reporting that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was booed when he addressed the crowd after Russian Fyodor Emelianenko beat American fighter Jeff Monson. US paper the Washington...
Archive - November 2011
AndyThe going rate to bribe your way into a Russian Government job is…
I was amused to see RIA Novosti reporting the arrest of a con-man who had attempted to sell government posts to gullible businessmen. In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that: “the suspect...
Russia is Europe’s largest internet market
After a slow start, Russia has now officially got the largest number of web users in Europe. According to the latest Comscore report, 50.8 million Russians have access to the internet through either a home or work...
Post-Soviet Elections Roundup
While everyone’s focus is on the Russian Duma elections (due in December 2011) and the Russian Presidential election (due in March 2012), I thought it might be interesting to take a look at some of the other...
Bridgwater Carnival Overthrows the Tsar
A couple of weeks ago I went back to my home town to watch the annual Bridgwater Carnival. For the uninitiated, the Carnival is a massive procession of illuminated floats, each carrying enough lightbulbs to be seen from...
Putin: Confucius Peace Prize Winner 2011!
Vladimir Putin, Russia’s premier pacifist, has racked up yet another global accolade – the world renowned Confucius Peace Prize. The organisers awarded the prize to Putin for his outstanding contribution to...
Soyuz blasts off with crew for ISS
Russia's Soyuz rocket blasted off today, with a crew of two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut, to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). Unusually even for Russia, the launch took place in blizzard...
Russia condems Arab League for suspending Syria
Russia today condemned the Arab League's decision to suspend Syria's membership. Even China has now moved to support the League, though, leaving Russia as one of the isolated regime's few remaining supporters.
Russian Army: “Badminton helps you throw grenades!”
In a startling display of sycophancy, the Russian Defense Ministry has just announced that it will buy 10,000 badminton rackets and shuttlecocks - all because Russia's President loves the game. "Playing badminton uses...
Russia WTO entry – all but guaranteed
Russia’s World Trade Organisation entry has been all but guaranteed after the WTO’s Working Party on Russian membership agreed the precise rules and obligations that Russia will have to meet as a member of...