September 01, 2017

Overheard


«В отличие от авианесущего крейсера «Адмирал Кузнецов» <...> британский авианосец – всего лишь удобная крупногабаритная морская цель».

“Unlike the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov... The British carrier is just an easy, large naval target.”

Igor Konashenkov, spokesman at the Russian Defense Ministry, mocking Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, saying even Russia’s aging (and singular) aircraft carrier is vastly superior. (Defense Ministry)

«Известность ежедневной работе не помогает и не мешает. Мешает другое – отравленная атмосфера, в которой приходится работать».

“Fame doesn’t make it harder or easier to do the job. What makes it harder is the toxic atmosphere in which we are forced to work.”

Departing Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak, on the difficulty of his last few months in Washington. (TASS)

«Региональный охват протестных акций небывалый. Кремль сходит с ума и пытается остановить нас уже чисто методами полицейского беспредела».

“The regional range of the protests is unprecedented. The Kremlin is going crazy trying to stop us, employing purely lawless, strong-armed police methods.”

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who says over 100 of his protesters were arrested during just one day in July as they were handing out flyers. (Vedomosti)

«Мировая война неизбежна, но если этот фильм не будет показан, в России кто-то да останется жить, пусть не в городах. Если он будет показан – да погибнут все, и это будет достойно и справедливо».

“A world war is inevitable, but if this film is not shown, some people in Russia will survive, just not in the cities. If it is shown, everyone will perish and that would be right and just.”

Orthodox priest and former spokesman Vsevolod Chaplin, saying the new movie Mathilda, about Tsar Nicholas II and ballerina Mathilda Kshessinska, directed by Alexei Uchitel, will be the end of Russia. (YouTube address quoted by Esquire)

«Эта легенда стала материальной силой – страшнее и прекраснее любого факта любого реального боя. Ибо в ней воплотилась вся боль и вся мечта советского человека – защитника своей семьи и своей земли. Не видеть в мифе факта – значит перестать быть историком».

“This legend has become a material force, it is more frightening and beautiful than the true facts of any real battle. Because it embodies all the pain and dreams of Soviet man, the defender of his family and his land. Not seeing the truth in the myth would mean no longer being a historian.”

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, whose defense of the myth about the Panfilov 28 – guardsmen who protected Moscow – has been criticized by Russian historians. The story of the Panfilov 28 was invented by WWII journalists. (Rossiyskaya Gazeta)

«По-моему, 90-е годы надо называть не лихими, а святыми и поклониться тем людям, которые жили в то сложное время, которые создавали и строили новую страну в тяжелых условиях, не потеряв в нее веру».

“I think the 1990s should be called sacred rather than reckless, and people should honor those who lived through that difficult time, those who were creating and constructing a new country under harsh conditions, without losing faith.”

Naina Yeltsina, widow of Russia’s first president Boris Yeltsin. (Interfax)

«Чем меньше средств в казне, тем лучше включаются творческие возможности. Начинаешь думать: где найти?»

“The less money there is in the coffers, the more our creative juices start flowing. You begin to think: where can we find some money?”

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the effect of Russia’s shrinking budgetary resources on bureaucrats’ cognitive abilities. (TASS)

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