October 22, 2023

VDNKh Gets More Russified


VDNKh Gets More Russified
The new Russia pavilion at Moscow's VDNKh Izvestia

VDNKh, the Stalinist outdoor exhibition center in Moscow, is preparing for the opening of a new "exhibition-forum" inside a refurbished "Russia" pavilion.

The "Russia" pavilion joins dozens of others throughout the park. The building will house an exhibition of Russia's achievements and host a forum of leaders from throughout the country to showcase achievements from several Russian regions.

The project was spearheaded by Russian president Vladimir Putin himself, who signed a decree on March 29 for its establishment.

The pavilion is the old Soviet building from the 1967 World Exposition, held in Montreal, Canada. It was the most visited pavilion at the event and was transported to Moscow by boat afterwards. The refurbishment has breathed new life into the building.

The exhibition comes on a wave of increased patriotism throughout the country as Russia's invasion of Ukraine drags on.

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The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.

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