October 25, 2022

Some Parents Precluded


Some Parents Precluded
Historical reenactors march off to face the enemy. The Russian Life files

On October 14, Andrey Kartapolov, Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, announced that parents of three or more children won't be mobilized – yet.

The announcement comes as many adult male Russians are facing mobilization orders that are sending them to the frontlines of the conflict in Ukraine.

The order reportedly comes after pressure from parents convinced officials, including Putin himself, that those with large families should be exempt from service.

However, it is important to note that this is merely a deferment, not a permanent exemption: if the conflict continues to escalate, the special privileges could be revoked.

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Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
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Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.
Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
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Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

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Okudzhava Bilingual

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