Russia Blog roundup

There are so many high quality posts out there at the moment, that I think I might just manage to get through a whole roundup without mentioning the election…

• First up are the first two posts from new blog Soviet Russia. An excellent look at the Cold War rivalry betwen US and Russian pilots, and then a post called Stalins Golden Cage, remembering the residential complex that became a symbol of Stalinist repression. By the way – did you know that Stalin died 55 years ago this week?
• Also well worth a read, if you’re into doom and gloom, is Executed Today’s latest Russian executionee – Georgy Nikolayevich Kosenko. Dmitry Minaev (of De Rebus Antiqus Et Novis) writes “a history of life and death of a typical spy from the early Soviet years.”
• Moving on to multimedia, Seesaw has also posted a video of Lenin giving a speech over at Russia Past and Present – complete with translation.
• One last history post before I move on. Head over to Coming Anarchy and learn about how Russia’s borders have expanded and contracted over the past millenium. Complete with some rather snazzy maps.
• In sports news, Timothy Post takes a look at the rise of Russia’s Ice Hockey league and asks – is it time for the NHL to merge with the Russian Superliga?Russia these days is all about business. And, if you’re a businessman in Russia today, you’d do well to take heed of these sage pieces of advice:
  • Upgradeski – the art of Business Class travel in Russia
  • How to negotiate in Russia
  • Is Livejournal the wrong place to host a Russian corporate blog?
• The newly redesigned Nosemonkey’s EUtopia writes about the forced closure of St Petersburg’s European University.
• Neeka reviews an episode of Vesti Nedeli – “It’s a gorgeous show, a great example of how perverted journalism has become here.”
• Ever wondered what ???????????? & ??????? actually mean? Find out at Russian Language and Culture.
• Lydon at Scraps of Moscow writes: “The New York Times appears to have established a Russian-language community on LiveJournal where they are going to post some of their coverage of Russia and solicit responses… part of me thinks it could just be a really interesting hoax.” Sadly for the conspiracy theorists, he’s proved wrong.
• Did you know that Vladimir Gushchin, the Director of Internal Communications at RIA Novosti has a blog? Here, he writes about why India will buy a beat up old Russian aircraft carrier rather than a beat up old American aircraft carrier.
• Sad to say, con-artists abound in Russia – like everywhere else. Svet tells how someone tried to con her uncle – and failed.
• Want to see a Russia blogger on the tv? Russia Blog’s Yuri Mamchur is fast becoming a regular pundit over at Russia Today.

Election? What election?

• Ok I couldn’t resist. This election post is from English Russia, though, so it’s not too heavy. A quick look at propoaganda posters from past Russian elections. Didn’t they all look young and innocent?

• And, seeing as I’ve failed, here’s one more elections post. Sean has just launched his very own Russian elections awards show – the Vybor awards.

Right, that’s enough for this roundup. Til next time.