April 07, 2016

A kick in the face of public taste


A kick in the face of public taste

Get a kick out of life

1. The Panama Papers exposed massive corruption among the cream of the world's political crop. Among other Russian bigwigs, renowned cellist Sergei Roldugin may have to face the music for orchestrating offshore tax evasion. President Vladimir Putin’s name, however, is a glaring absence from all 11.5 million leaked documents. Read Russian Life’s cheat sheet on what the Panama Papers mean for Russia.

2. A Russian wrestler wins at worst selfie stunt by urinating on a statue of Buddha and aiming a karate kick at the deity’s face. He may face jail time for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred (same charge as Pussy Riot, for the curious). Not to mention angry locals who swarmed his hotel to demand an apology. Buddha may be forgiving, but not all Buddhists are so ready to forgive.

3. Are they doing downward-facing dog or planting a bomb? Police in Moscow and St. Petersburg weren’t so sure about the difference when they arrested about 30 people suspected of being members of the Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo. As it turned out, the detainees just shared a passion for yoga.

In Odder News

  • What’s worse: sledgehammering through a wall to steal candy bars, or feeling ashamed of your sweet tooth and lying that you stole beer?
  • The latest in patriotic dining: Krasnoyarsk’s new President Café boasts a life-sized cartoon Putin, photos of Vova's youth, and of course, Obama toilet paper.
  • In the most adorable rescue mission ever, firefighters saved 50 rabbits from a burning penal colony. Don’t worry about the inmates, either: every bunny made it out safe.

Quote of the Week

"Buddha would certainly have forgiven him for this, because according to our religion, if you do not accept evil, it has no bearing on you…But in terms of the geopolitical region, guests need to be put in their place…If not for the police, the mob would have killed this guy."

—Mandzhiev Bator, a resident of Elista, the capital of the largely Buddhist region of Kalmykia, on wrestler Said Osmanov’s alleged desecration of a Buddhist temple and the locals’ angry response.

Image credit: gazeta.ru

You Might Also Like

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955