Auto giant AvtoVAZ has finally stopped making its classic Ladas –the boxy four-door vehicles whose design dates from the 1970s, when the series was copied under license from a popular 1960s Fiat model. The classic line that came to be known as the Zhiguli survived more or less unchanged for several decades, finally ending with the VAZ-2107, also known as the semyorka (“seven”). AvtoVAZ said that demand for the classic model had fallen so low that it no longer makes sense to keep it in production.
Critics meanwhile said that the model was far too expensive (R200,000, or between six and seven thousand dollars). Going forward, the factory will focus on its new Lada Granta (which still looks dated, but is a visual improvement on the Zhiguli). Ironically, the old Lada continues to be produced in Egypt, where a subsidiary of AvtoVAZ constructs them from imported Russian parts.
The Zhiguli was enormously popular in the 1980s, when few people owned cars. Yet over the past ten years the model increasingly became the laughing stock of the car industry, all but replaced by imported cars in wealthy cities such as Moscow, while remaining dominant on roads in less wealthy regions like the North Caucasus.
Anti-free-speech laws targeting homosexuals are sweeping Russian cities, over the objections of human rights organizations and gay activists. A St. Petersburg law, which makes “gay propaganda” punishable by a fine of R5,000 (about $150), and which has been copied in other cities, has already been used to convict activist Nikolai Alexeyev, who held up a sign next to city hall proclaiming “Homosexuality is Not a Perversion.”
Similar legislation, which argues that “gay propaganda” hurts Russian children, while not explicitly defining “propaganda,” is also being discussed in the Russian Duma. If passed, this social minority is likely to face additional pressure in an already hostile environment. Gay pride parades are routinely banned and gay activists are regularly beaten with impunity.
Russia is experiencing record capital flight this year ($42 billion from January through April) as economic turmoil in Europe has caused investors to flee developing markets. Meanwhile, the price of oil, crucial to Russia’s economic health, is falling, leading fiscal hawks like recently ousted finance minister Alexei Kudrin to sound the alarm. “It’s time for the government to start thinking about anti-crisis measures,” he wrote in a Vedomosti editorial, “and not wait until the lightning strikes.” Kudrin noted, however, that the new government under Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is unlikely to push for economic reform or cut state expenditures, putting the economy in further peril.
A trio of well-known media professionals is making a documentary about the Russian protest movement just as the government is starting to crack down on rallies and gatherings. The trio – documentary director Alexander Rastorguyev, cinematographer Pavel Kostomarov, and journalist and newscaster Alexei Pivovarov – have also started a blog on LiveJournal where they are uploading short clips about the leaders of the Russian opposition.
“What is in their hearts? In their heads? What moves them? When we began filming, we decided to answer these questions,” the authors explain.
The brief documentary is called Srok (“term,” which could refer both to Putin’s third term in the Kremlin, as well as to possible prison terms faced by opposition leaders after new criminal probes and passage of increasingly restrictive legislation) and is comprised of short features.
Segments so far uploaded focus mostly on Alexei Navalny and Sergei Udaltsov, the two charismatic young politicians who rose to prominence in the massive rallies of last winter and spring. It provides a close look at rally organizers, and does not edit out the brutality with which riot police disband demonstrations, detaining key figures on trumped-up accusations.
All three of the contributors are renowned filmmakers. Kostomarov is known for his fine cinematography in recent movies such as How I Ended this Summer. The most surprising participant is probably Pivovarov, a news anchor on NTV, a government mouthpiece derided by the opposition for its political smear documentaries about protesters. Pivovarov said the film is a side project not affiliated with his work on the channel.
srok-doc.livejournal.com
Russia’s grandmotherly folk choir from Udmurtia, Buranovskiye Babushki, took second place in May’s glitzy Eurovision song contest, a live show watched by millions in Europe and the former Soviet Union. This year’s competition was held in Baku, since last year’s winners, Ell and Nikki, were from Azerbaijan.
The babushkas do in fact live in the remote village of Buranovo, near Izhevsk, where they keep goats; the village only recently was tied into gas supply lines for heating.
The troupe was an earthy addition to the contest, better known for its over-the-top pop performers in glittering, skin-tight costumes. The grandmothers performed Party for Everybody in their native Udmurt (singing the short refrain in English), swaying to the beat in bast shoes next to a fake Russian stove. First place went to a singer from Sweden, Loreen.
The Soviet Union may have fallen apart in 1991, but Russia’s Pioneers still welcome new recruits in an annual spring ceremony.
This year, about a thousand children were inducted into the Pioneers, the Soviet-era scout-like organization whose goal is to educate good citizens loyal to Communist ideals.
From the 1920s through the 1980s the Pioneers was a mass movement encompassing nearly all school students from the age of nine, whose members were set apart by the red neckerchiefs that membership conferred. The elite of the Pioneers would graduate into the Komsomol (Young Communist League) and eventually be recruited the Communist Party.
While Pioneer organizations still exist, the movement’s once-mighty infrastructure, which included hundreds of summer camps, clubs, and sports teams, has fallen apart.*
Director Sergei Bodrov is working on a screenplay for an English language remake of the legendary Soviet film Amphibian Man (see Russian Life Nov/Dec 2011). The 1961 film, adapted from the book by Alexander Belyayev, was one of the most popular films of its era, setting a box-office record with its sale of 65.5 million tickets.
The remake is a partnership between Russia’s Trikita and Italy’s Lumiq, with a reported budget of $8 million. Shooting will begin on the island of Malta later this year.
Sergei Bodrov is best known for his film Prisoner of the Caucasus, about the war in Chechnya.
St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater recently surprised fans with a new take on Modest Mussorgsky’s opera Boris Godunov. The production, directed by Britain’s Graham Vick, is a contemporary take on the classic work, with set details that include a Soviet emblem, a large iconostasis, and a swarm of OMON riot police protecting Tsar Boris, who sports a flashy fur coat.
The production, put on as part of the historic city’s Stars of the White Nights Festival, was immediately seen to be drawing parallels with the Putin era, especially with the spring clashes between protesters and police in Moscow. Some opera lovers praised the references, while others were put off by the post-Soviet clichés.
No one, as the Mariinsky wrote on its Twitter account, was neutral.
The biking movement is gathering steam in Russia, with cyclists increasingly challenging four-wheeled travelers. About 5000 riders biked through Moscow in May in Russia’s version of a “Critical Mass” ride (though the action was called a parade and car traffic was conveniently redirected). The event was the most massive bike parade in Russian history, and organizers later said they spotted officials from city hall taking part, leading to hopes that Moscow authorities will stop turning a blind eye to bicyclists..
* Current membership of the Russian Communist Party: 164,546 (Russian Federal Registration Service). Membership of the Soviet Communist Party in 1986: 19,000,000 (of which 50-60% were in Russia).
Team Russia won all ten of its games, including the final against Slovakia (6-2), to sweep the Hockey World Championship, amassing 30 more goals than its opponents.
‘’We are now the Big Red Machine,’’ said defenseman Nikolai Kulemin (of the Toronto Maple Leafs) after the final. Russia was champion in 2008 and 2009, yet finished only fourth last year. Topped with seasoned stars who were hungry and happy, Russia put on a tremendous final show of skating speed, passing technique and imagination.
“I had to remind the team that Slovakia is really good, and that they beat the Czechs and Canada. I’m grateful to my team, as they played well, not only in this final but in the whole tournament,’’ said coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov after the win. The former Dynamo and USSR team defenseman was appointed last year to replace the sacked Vyacheslav Bykov, and previously coached Russia’s Ak-Bars (Kazan). He gave the squad a much-needed shot in the arm by adding 10 rookie players, creating a winning alloy of youth and expertise. Further, his choice of Semyon Varlamov (of the Colorado Avalanche) as goalie was crucial: Varlamov had a 93.93 save percentage and 1.70 goals-against average. In the final, he had 29 saves.
Members of the Russian team and delegation attending the 2012 London Summer Olympics are to be banned from drinking alcohol during the competition. “Olympic values are not compatible with alcohol,’’ said Ilya Dzhus, spokesman for Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak. The Russian Olympic Committee will not even be allowed to toast the health of medal-winning athletes.
The measure takes aim at the infamous parties held at the so-called “Russian Hospitality House” set up within the Olympic Village, where athletes were entertained (and toasted) by singers, comedians and other members of the Olympic support team. From now on these parties will be alcohol-free – the ban covers both the Russian Olympic Committee and the Sochi 2014 organization committee.
The decision was taken due to the “disastrous results’’ of the Russian team at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, where they won only 14 medals out of a predicted 50. “On the other hand, the Russian receptions in Vancouver were the noisiest,’’ Kommersant daily said, recalling one particular evening when two imitation petrol pumps were installed serving vodka and whiskey for guests.
The Russian squad fell to Serbia 3-2 in the Fed Cup 2012 semifinals tie despite having defeated Serbia in all three previous matchups.
Notably, the Russian side was missing its two top players: Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva. While Zvonareva was sidelined with a shoulder injury, Sharapova, according to captain Shamil Tarpischev, did not play because the clay surface was “hardly Maria’s favorite.” This only incited Sharapova’s critics, who feel she only makes rare appearances for Russia so as to book a ticket for the Olympics (Sharapova played only once this year, winning her singles rubber in the Fed Cup 2012 opening round in Moscow vs. Spain).
Ironically enough, just after the Fed Cup tie, Maria won three straight clay court titles, in Stuttgart, Rome, and at the French Open. Shortly after the latter win, it was announced that Sharapova will carry the Russian flag in the Olympics.
In May, the World Chess Championship was played in Moscow for the first time since the epic 1984-85 battle between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov (which was aborted and later replayed). This year’s title bout pitted Viswanathan Anand (India) against Boris Gelfand (a Belorussian-born Israeli).
Organizers decided to add drama to the event by staging it in the nineteenth century splendor of the Tretyakov Art Gallery – the first title decided in an art gallery since Stalin ordered one played at the Pushkin Museum in 1935. The Vrubel Hall hosted the Grand Opening, while the games were played in the Engineering Building’s conference hall, which seats 400.
After the initial 12-match classical chess series, Anand and Gelfand were at a 6-6 draw with five ties and one win each. Then, in a breathtaking four-game tie-breaker of blitz chess, Anand gained the upper hand and took home $1.5 million in prize money staked by a group of Russian billionaires, who outbid Indian rivals for the right to stage the global event. Gelfand earned $1 million as runner-up. Anand has held the undisputed title since October 2008, when he defeated Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik in Bonn, Germany.
это человек, который ведет себя адекватно, просто общается с людьми, говорит без слэнга, понятно и четко излагает свою программу.
“This is a man, 40 to 50 years old, with successful work experience in the management sphere, a person who behaves appropriately, speaks with people simply but without slang, by clearly articulates his program.”
Mikhail Dmitriev of the Center for Strategic Research (a think tank that created Vladimir Putin’s first policy program) on what research shows to be the characteristics of Russia’s future leader. (Vedomosti)
реформаторов уничтожили те самые «жирные коты», которые сейчас живут в своих столичных небоскрёбах
“Gaidar was in power for six months. Six! And after that the stealing began. Reformers were destroyed by the same fat cats who now live in their Moscow skyscrapers, so as to transfer everything into their own pockets and make us slaves once again.”
Actor Oleg Basilashvili reflecting on the reforms of the 1990s pushed by economist Yegor Gaidar, which are commonly blamed for wiping out people’s savings. (Argumenty i Fakty newspaper)
такая девушка с флагом, с обнаженной грудью.
“Kseniya Sobchak is, in my view, truly, if you remember the painting “Liberty Leading the People” – some kind of young woman with a flag, with an exposed breasts.”
United Russia party parliament member Andrei Isayev. (Itogi)
ежегодное существенное наращивание расходов
“Right now a considerable annual spending increase is planned – by about 2-3 percent of GDP. This must not happen.”
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, at a round table discussion of Russia’s outlook as Europe edges toward recession.
Если он был искренен, значит, запомнить его надо как неопытного президента.
“He will be remembered for his promises, but I don’t know how sincerely he believed in carrying them out. If he was sincere, then he should be remembered as an inexperienced president. No politician can allow himself to have friends: that hinders him from being merciless to everyone for the sake of the law. Unfortunately, Medvedev was not like this.”
Andrei Konchalovsky, on how he will remember Russia’s former president. (Kommersant Vlast)
если вы его спрашиваете, он вам отвечает, и отвечает правду. А если он не хочет говорить эту правду, он врать не будет - просто не ответит на вопрос.
“Putin is a rather closed person. But if you ask him a question, he will tell you the truth. And if he does not want to tell the truth, he will not lie, he will simply not answer the question.”
Legendary Russian soprano (and Mstislav Rostropovich’s widow) Galina Vishnevskaya, on Vladimir Putin. (Izvestia)
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