March 01, 2021 Can't Bear to Watch By The Editors A nurse injects a performer in a bear costume with Russia’s Gam- COVID-Vac vaccine (under the brand name of Sputnik V) at a temporary COVID-19 vaccination site in Moscow’s Shchyolkovsky shopping centre. Government Health
February 25, 2021 Have Your Cake By Haley Bader On February 18, the Moscow Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia (CK) released a stern reminder for Russian youth who might be considering a stint in theft, robbery, extortion or other shenanigans after their fourteenth birthdays. Education Government Law Social Issues Russia File
February 14, 2021 An Ode to the Hovercraft By Griffin Edwards Russia is a land of many mysteries. The greatest of all, of course, is this: What's the deal with Russians and their hovercraft? Geography Government Transportation Travel
February 04, 2021 Sports, Sleep, and the State Duma By Amanda Shirnina This week's Odder News features Russian athletes making international news, low-tax sports gear, and more opportunity for restful shut-eye. Government News Sports Odder News
February 03, 2021 Freed Internet or Internment? By Haley Bader “Everything is ready for it technologically. All decisions have also been made at the legislative level, but (…) it is not easy, and it is really not desired. I still, frankly speaking, do not see any signs of this happening, because, for obvious reasons, it is a double-edged weapon.” – Brandishing the biggest sword, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev announced to the rest of the world on February 1st that Russia is now ready to disconnect from the global Internet. Government Internet Social Issues Quote
January 27, 2021 No Beating Around the Bush By Haley Bader “These promotions are illegal. <...> Of course, we must talk about the illegality of the actions, not about detentions. I don't see any violation at all. What is it, are these our first arrests? These are not the first uncoordinated rallies. Usually this ends with someone drawing up a complaint of administrative offense and then they are released. I am sure that now, if there are no provocations or clashes with the police, the same will happen.” – The refreshing honesty of Valeriy Fadeyev, the Head of the Human Rights Council under the President of Russia, calling it like it is in the midst of massive anti-corruption protests rocking Russia. Government Moscow Politics Social Issues Quote
January 20, 2021 Like Uber for Booze By Griffin Edwards Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade has thrown its support behind a measure for distance-selling alcohol. Business Food & Drink Government Law Russia File
January 13, 2021 Why Didn't We Think Of That? By The Editors “If you don't like the current president, only elections can solve the issue.” – President Alexander Lukashenko, of the former Soviet state Belarus, known for having rigged elections last year to continue his run since 1995, among other things. Government Politics Quote
January 07, 2021 Russia's Still Odd in 2021 By Griffin Edwards This week, stealing a ridiculous amount of butter leads to punishment; Chechen nepotism knows no bounds; and Russians hope for an end of the pandemic (don't we all?). Cities & Towns Government Law Moscow Social Issues Urban Life Odder News
January 06, 2021 Party Like It's Belarus By Griffin Edwards The president of Russia's neighbor Belarus ended 2020 the same way he started it: in denial over the coronavirus pandemic. Government Health Politics Social Issues Russia File
January 01, 2021 "Не живёте, потому что нельзя это жизнью назвать." By Yuliya Ballou Тридцать лет назад, незадолго до своей смерти, Игорь Тальков (1956-1991) написал песню-крик души о своей многострадальной родине — СССР. Эта песня, к сожалению, до сих пор очень актуальна в России и не только... Government History Music
January 01, 2021 Kamchatka Tragedy By The Editors Russian scientists are researching the cause of a massive die-off of marine life off the coast of Kamchatka in October. Environment Government Regions
