October 07, 2022

Beginning of the End?


Beginning of the End?
President Vladimir Putin in Serbia, 2019.
 Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
 
Not!
 
Today is the 70th birthday of Russia's authoritarian-in-chief, President Vladimir Putin. Appropriately so, it was announced that the Nobel Peace Prize had been awarded to the Memorial Human Rights organization (liquidated by the Russian Supreme Court in a political hit job), Belarussian rights activist Ales Belyatsky, and Ukraine's Center for Civil Rights.
 
Also today, Meduza published an account (machine-translated by Google at the link below), based on revealing information from Kremlin insiders. Putin's world of shadows and mirrors, terror and misinformation, is unraveling.
 
Read the article in Russian / in English.
 
The article paints a picture of Putin making countless decisions without consulting advisors or ministers, of massive fear and uncertainty in the ranks of the elite, of endless promises and money running out.
 
Meanwhile, Putin's war-crime aggression against Ukraine is also falling apart. Troops are dispirited and under-prepared, turning on their heels and fleeing in the face of Ukrainian attacks. The mass mobilization has led hundreds of thousands of Russians to flee the country.  And a circular firing squad is ensuing as the president and his allies are being attacked by the "party of war."
 
In short, time is running out for the Putin regime. The fear, of course, is that a cornered Putin will lash out, that an even more dictatorial faction will move to seize power, in order to prosecute the war even more ruthlessly, or, worst of all, that things will spiral into nuclear confrontation.
 
Things are clearly at a turning point and one can only hope that sane members of the elite will step in and put a stop to the madness, that Russians will be moved to act like they did in 1991 and make a stand for their freedom and their future.
 
That, in any event, is our birthday wish.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

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.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

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.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

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.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

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.

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