Notebook

In Brief

A synagogue for the fallen

The World War Two memorial complex at Poklonnaya Gora in the west of Moscow is to be the site of Moscow’s first new synagogue since 1917. It will be finished in time for the celebrations of the 850th anniversary of the city. Work began on construction with Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin laying the foundation stone. The project was initiated and financed by the Jewish National Congress, headed by prominent businessman Vladimir Gusinsky. During the Stalin era, it was claimed that Jews fought poorly in the war, and it has only now become possible to erect a monument to Jewish soldiers. Russia currently has between 1.5 and 2 mn known Jewish inhabitants, though more are now returning to their religion and roots.

Phone rates slashed

Russian telecommunications company Rostelecom has announced a drastic reduction in rates of calls to the US for the period November 1 to January 15. Peak calls (8 am-8 pm weekdays) will now cost R6,300 ($1.15) instead of R14,700 a minute, off-peak calls (8 pm-8 am weekdays) R4,200 rubles instead of R9,800 and weekend and holiday calls R3,150 instead of R7,350. The move was explained by new measures to increase access to the network. Rostelecom currently controls 85% of the market for outgoing international calls.

Nicholas II to be canonized

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has decided to start the process of canonization of Tsar Nicholas II. A poll of Orthodox opinion throughout the country will be taken, and the tsar could become one of Russia’s 10,000 saints sometime next year. Supporters of the idea say it is not Nicholas’s rule, often weak and indecisive, which could lead to canonization, but rather the way in which he faced death. Opponents  say there was nothing unusual about a death of this kind, shared by thousands of others at the time.

A project for safe sex

In an attempt to curb teenage pregnancy, abortions and the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Russia’s Education Ministry has announced the introduction of a new voluntary schools program. Called ‘Sex Education of Russian Pupils,’ it will be implemented over a period of three years and include research, teacher-training and pilot programs around the country. Teenagers’ knowledge about sex in Russia has been found to be surprisingly low, with information about STDs being particularly hard to come by.