The Power of Seven

Numeric idioms, as the above column indicates, have a special place in the Russian lexicon. And certainly the number seven is a first among equals in this regard.

If you need any proof of this, suffice it to note that seven is current Russian President Vladimir Putin’s favorite number. Perhaps this had some bearing on Vladimir Vladimirovich’s division of Russia into seven new federal districts. And it may have been one reason why he reportedly sought to make the presidency a seven-year post instead of a four-year one. But this is just idle speculation.

What we do know is that Putin’s love for seven is shared by his fellow Russians – perhaps even contributing to his high approval ratings.