September 01, 2014 The Many Days of September 1 Did you know September 1 is more than just Labor Day? Read on to find out how Russians celebrate September 1, the Day of Knowledge, the first day of school. Holidays Russia File
August 01, 2014 Enhanced Interrogation, Soviet Style A third excerpt from Alexei Bayer's mystery novel Murder at the Dacha. Inspector Matushkin visits a suburban police station and witnesses some "enhanced interrogation techniques" gone wrong. Russia File
July 30, 2014 Tsarevich Alexei and the Worst 10th Birthday Ever Late July and early August were busy times in 1914: not only was Russia's own heir apparent celebrating his 10th birthday, the world was devolving into the military chaos of World War I. History Russia File
July 18, 2014 Parley with a Gangster A second sample from Alexei Bayer's mystery novel Murder at the Dacha. Here, inspector Pavel Matushkin redeems a favor to get some information from a gangster. History Literature Russia File
July 14, 2014 The First Russian Automobile July 14, 1896, is celebrated as the birthday of the Russian automobile – on this day, the first Russian-built motorcar with an internal combustion engine was introduced to the public at the Arts Exhibition in Nizhni Novgorod. History Science Russia File
July 04, 2014 Stranger on a Train Sample Alexei Bayer's myster novel Murder at the Dacha with this gripping incident on board a Moscow commuter train. Russia File
July 01, 2014 Isaac Babel and Russian Jews Ever wonder why so many Russian Jews ended up in the US? Perhaps it was the educational quotas, or the restrictions on travel and residence, or maybe the rampant anti-Semitism and violence – and all the other miseries chronicled by Jewish writer Isaac Babel. History Russia File
June 21, 2014 The Great Moscow Fire June 21, 1547 is remembered as the day of the Great Moscow Fire. The wooden city was devastated, and the destruction was later taken as an omen portending the horrors of Ivan IV's reign. History Russia File
June 19, 2014 Russia's World Cup Record Russia is not known as a soccer powerhouse. But it does have a devoted fan base and will host the 2018 World Cup. We look back at 1994, the first time Russia qualified for the World Cup and a Russian player made history. History Sports Russia File
June 18, 2014 Yuri Vizbor: Soviet Renaissance Man Think you know Yuri Vizbor? Think again! Sure, you may have heard his songs, but did you know he was also a teacher? An alpinist? A journalist? A radio operator? Culture Literature Russia File
June 04, 2014 Measuring Like a Russian Ever wonder how many arshins tall you are? Or how many verst to the nearest grocery store? Get a sense from this list of old Slavic measurements. History Russia File
May 01, 2014 This Just in From Ukraine... Today is the 401st anniversary of the crowning of the first Romanov Tsar, Mikhail, in 1613, and the end of the "Time of Troubles." This of course has nothing to do with current events. Just thought I'd mention it in passing. Humor Int'l Relations Politics Russia File
