Windows to Russia

Russia Is Finished The unstoppable descent of a once great power into social catastrophe and strategic irrelevance By Jeffrey Tayler During the Cold War years I perceived Russia through a Cold War prism—as a land of vast, frozen twilight realms of steppe and forest where a drama was being acted out that involved players of […]

World War I demonstrated czarist corruption and inefficiency, and only patriotism held the poorly equipped army together for a time. Disorders broke out in Petrograd (renamed Leningrad and now St. Petersburg) in March 1917, and defection of the Petrograd garrison launched the revolution. Nicholas II was forced to abdicate on March 15, 1917, and he […]

Tradition says the Viking Rurik came to Russia in 862 and founded the first Russian dynasty in Novgorod. The various tribes were united by the spread of Christianity in the 10th and 11th centuries; Vladimir “the Saint” was converted in 988. During the 11th century, the grand dukes of Kiev held such centralizing power as […]

Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean. Largest country in the world in terms of area; Mount Elbrus is Europe’s tallest peak in Europe. Area: total: 17,075,200 sq km water: 79,400 sq km Climate: ranges from humid continental in much of European Russia through steppes in […]

Geography The Russian Federation is the largest of the 21 republics that make up the Commonwealth of Independent States. It occupies most of eastern Europe and north Asia, stretching from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, and from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea […]

Fast Facts about Russia Country name The official name for Russia is either Russian Federation or Russia. Both names are equal according to the Russian Constitution. In Russian script, they are spelled as Российская Федерация and Россия accordingly. Capital city The capital of Russia is Moscow, or Москва in Russian script. Moscow is the largest […]

Official state holidays 8 state holidays January 1 — New Year´s Day January 7 — Christmas February 23 — Defender of the Motherland Day March 8 — International Women’s Day May 1 — Labour Day May 9 — Victory Day June 12 — Russia Day November 4 — National Unity Day

Religion Four religions are official: Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism Since the fall of communism, religion has thrived with churches and monasteries springing up all over the country Decades of Soviet rule have left their mark: up to half of Russians declare themselves atheists, although figures vary. Among believers Orthodox Christianity dominates, but smaller […]

Administrative division 83 federal entities Russia is made up of 83 federal entities. Some of them are called republics, others are regions and there are also autonomies They all have equal representation in the Russian parliament but differ in the degree of autonomy they enjoy. Their administrative heads are often referred to as “governors”, although […]

Political system The Constitution was adopted by national referendum on December 12, 1993 Russia is a federal presidential republic The executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, but the President is the dominant figure. The legislature is represented by the Federal Assembly of Russia. It has two chambers: the State Duma […]