Current Moscow Time: 02:37:3326 May 2013
The world’s biggest country, in a magazine. Since 1956.
Russian Life: Jan/Feb 2009
Cover: Nikolai Gernet
7: Iconic Controversy
The Orthodox Church in September asked the Tretyakov it if could borrow Andrei Rublyov's famous Trinity icon for a religious service in Sergiyev Posad. It touched off a controversy over whether the icon is art or artifact...
Note Book
19: Afghanistan: Distant Drums
This February is the 20th anniversary of the final withdrawal of Russian troops from Afghanistan.
:: Translation by Nora Favorov
Russian Calendar
22: Lev Landau: Impure Science
101 years ago in January, Nobel Prize winning physicist Lev Landau was born. His life was one of great achievement and controversy.
:: Translation by Nora Favorov
Russian Calendar
24: Boris Savinkov: Russian Terrorist
One of the first Russian proponents of terrorism and "strong" leadership was born 130 years ago in January.
:: Translation by Nora Favorov
Russian Calendar
26: Soaping Your Way
This issue's Survival Russian column looks at the clean (and less than so) metaphors that arise from soap...
:: Illustrations/Images by Victor Bogorad
Survival Russian
28: Under My Chum
The assignment sounded simple enough: provide medical and cultural support to a small, indigenous population... But it was in the remote Kanin Peninsula, between the Arctic and Barents Seas. Nikolai Gernet nonetheless jumped at the opportunity and brought back this story of the nomadic Nenets reindeer herders.
:: Translation by Paul E. Richardson
Features
36: Culture Wars
The Kremlin's reassertion of control over the mass media has gotten plenty of press. Much less has been written about its forays into the arts - specifically, how the Kremlin is seeking to influence film, literature and art. We decided to look into it.
:: Translation by Craig Bell
Features
44: Islands of Mystery
The Solovetsky Islands ("Solovki") have long been a part of the Russian landscape. First inhabited as an Orthodox refuge and monastery, the latter was transformed by the Soviets into the first camp for political prisoners. Today, it is a booming tourist mecca. Editor Maria Antonova went to investigate.
Features
52: In Search of Bards
To paraphrase Pushkin, "In Russia, a bard is much more than a bard." We look back at the bardic tradition (singer-songwriters) in Russian culture and find that not all is what it seems. Or, to paraphrase Pushkin again, "In Russia, a bard is often less than a bard."
:: Translation by Deborah Hoffman
Features
58: Cookies for Carolers
Pryaniki are a time-honored cookie enjoyed at holiday time. Get yours here.
Cuisine
60: The Evil That Runs Through Men's Hearts
Five new books that touch, in various ways, on the evil chapters of Soviet and Russian history over the last 100 or so years.
Under Review
64: Obama's Russia Policy
We consider what changes might occur in US-Russian relations under an Obama administration, through edited congressional testimony of a campaign advisor to Barack Obama.
Post Script