January 27, 2021 No Beating Around the Bush “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 26, 2021 Buffalo is the New Bovine A new and unusual dairy industry has entered the Moscow region. Agriculture Animals Food & Drink Moscow Russia File
January 25, 2021 The Kingdom of Eternal Permafrost With abnormally cold weather in Yakutsk, Russian TV news channels have been promoting the city's Kingdom of Permafrost and annual ice sculpture competition. Cities & Towns Culture Environment Russia File
January 25, 2021 It's a Dog's Life (in Russia) Icy winter waters were no threat to a talented reporter who dove in to save a puppy from the cold. Animals News Regions Russia File
January 22, 2021 A Model Problem-Solver A man in Ufa got help for paying off his debts thanks to a classy photo-shoot. Cities & Towns Social Issues Urban Life Russia File
January 20, 2021 Like Uber for Booze 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 20, 2021 Opposition, not Operation Barbarossa “Don’t feel sorry for us, we’re simply working. We adequately “met” the airplanes from Germany in 1941, and we will meet all aircraft in the year 2021. This year we will be 80 and we have already seen and survived a lot.” – The Twitter account of Moscow's Vnukovo Airport, on the controversy surrounding the detention of opposition leader Alexei Navalny upon his arrival, drawing parallels to the Second World War. History Moscow Politics Transportation Quote
January 19, 2021 Speedos in January Pack your bikinis and speedos: it's time for Russian winter! Cities & Towns Environment St. Petersburg Russia File
January 19, 2021 Cat's Got Your Train Felix the cat is on the right track: instead of catching mice, he catches trains to get his daily supper. Animals Transportation Russia File
January 18, 2021 The Family Panties Quarantine might have gotten many of us used to hanging around in our underwear, but Russian film director Vitaliy Mansky took his to the streets of Moscow. Moscow Politics Pop Culture Russia File
January 18, 2021 Not-So Smart Crosswalks When the Russian city of Salekhard tried to upgrade its pedestrian crosswalks, crisscrossed chaos ensued. Transportation Urban Life Russia File
January 17, 2021 From the Urals to San Francisco Olga was born one year after the collapse of the USSR, but she witnessed both scarcity and communal living. Optimism and creativity have served her well. Food & Drink History St. Petersburg Food Stories Russia File