February 29, 2012 Alexander Herzen The Russian writer Alexander Ivanovich Herzen was born in Moscow on March 25, 1812 (April 6, New Style). Thanks to a famous phrase from Lenin’s “In Memory of Herzen” – “The Decembrists awakened Herzen. Herzen began the task of revolutionary agitation.” – everyone who grew up in the Soviet Union knew Herzen’s name, whether or not they had ever read a line of his work. History Literature Russia File
February 26, 2012 Becoming Observers I have slept very little the past two weeks, and I have done very little to prepare for my classes. My students have tired of asking when I will correct their papers, and piles of their notebooks are gradually filling up my room. There is nothing to eat in the house; I have no had any time to get to the store. I am completely overcome by my work in “Citizen Observer"... Politics Russia File
February 21, 2012 Poor Chulpan Putin is doing everything in his power to guarantee his victory in the first round. Everyone everywhere is mumbling “stability, stability, this is what Putin has given us.” Politics Russia File
February 20, 2012 Bliny In honor of Maslenitsa, we offer this great story/essay by Chekhov on bliny: "Did you know that bliny have been around for over a thousand years, since what is known as the old Slavonic ab ovo...? They appeared on earth before Russian history began and have lived through it all from the beginning to the last page, without any doubt, invented, like the samovar, by Russian minds...." Food & Drink Holidays Russia File
February 05, 2012 Putin's Counterattack It seems like those in power are starting to get very worried, and therefore have gone over onto the counterattack. All across the country, they are herding people to pro-Putin rallies, handing out stenciled posters, then declaring what huge support he has. Politics Russia File
January 30, 2012 Moscow's White Ring The first installment in History Editor Tamara Eidelman's Election Journal, which she is writing for us in the buildup to the March 4 presidential election. Politics Russia File
January 10, 2012 Interview with Author William Ryan William Ryan’s second book featuring MVD Detective Alexei Korolev, The Darkening Field, was released on January 3, 2012. Russian Life Publisher Paul E. Richardson interviewed Ryan about the genesis for his character and the challenges of situating a novel in Soviet Russia. History Literature Reviews Russia File
January 08, 2012 1972 ABM Treaty English text of the 1972 Antilballistic Missile Treaty between the U.S. and Soviet Union. History Science Russia File
January 03, 2012 Lyubov Orlova Lyubov Petrova Orlova was born January 29, 1902 and became the first Soviet movie star and sex symbol. She was also Stalin’s favorite film actress and a highly gifted singer. This is an extended biography of the artist (an abridged version ran in the JanFeb 2012 issue of Russian Life). Culture Film & TV Russia File
January 01, 2012 Election Fever Is Putin in decline? Were the elections rigged? And what are they tweeting about Vladimir? Politics
January 01, 2012 Winter Wonderland Turning Sochi into an Olympic city is a Herculean task. Environmentalists, local residents and bookkeepers are all wary. And then there is Georgia, just a few kilometers away. Sports
January 01, 2012 Notebook Our pages of news cover items as varied as a new film on Vysotsky, the Booker book of the decade, a film on the life of a jailed tycoon, Russian's internet usage, Ronald Reagan, the Bolshoy, museums and much more.
