Month: March 2008

This is 4.2 meter tunnel shield, Russia will have a 19 meter shield! WOW!

2-level tunnel to be driven below Kolomenskoe

The city authorities of Moscow plan to purchase one more tunneling system to drive a tunnel below Kolomenskoe mansion, Alexander Zemelman, president of JSC Metrogiprotrans, declared at a press conference on December 18, RIA Novosti reported.

“The capital [of Russia] authorities intend to purchase a 19-metre-diameter(62.34 ft.) tunnel shield from a German company for performing this work,” Mr Zemelman said.

He noted that JSC Metrogiprotrans would design, besides the tunnel, the approaches to it as well as a bridge over the Moskva River.

“The tunnel will link Proletarsky Avenue to Pechatniki district,” the company president added.

Mr Zemelman emphasized it would be the two-level tunnel.

“A road tunnel of the fourth ring road will be overlapped with the metro tunnel. The vehicle lanes will be located on the upper level and the metro line – on the lower level, this line is set to link Kashirskaya station to Pechatniki station,” the official concluded.
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(Original Article)
В Москве построят гигантский тоннель
Краснобогатырскую улицу и проспект Буденного свяжет тоннель, длина которого составит 3 км 207 м. По информации Департамента транспорта и связи столицы, он станет участком Северной рокады.

Дорога уйдет под землю на Краснобогатырской улице, пройдет под Преображенской и Семеновской площадями и выйдет на проспект Буденного после Семеновской улицы.

Напомним, что одновременное строительство Северной и Южной рокад заложено в Генплан развития Москвы до 2025г. Эти трассы станут своеобразными хордами и соединят противоположные районы Москвы.

Северная рокада начнется от трассы Москва – Санкт-Петербург в районе Левобережное и выйдет вдоль Октябрьской железной дороги на проспект Королева в сторону Преображенской и Семеновской площадей. Затем трасса уйдет в район Кожухово через Перово.

Южная рокада пройдет через улицу Обручева до Балаклавского проспекта, далее под железнодорожными путями и выйдет на Варшавское шоссе. Естественно, и здесь не обойдется без “супертоннеля”, который пройдет под Борисовскими прудами. Его длина, согласно проекту, составит 4,5 километра.

Любопытно, что совсем недавно стало известно о намерении властей открыть еще один тоннель-гигант протяженностью 4,85 км. Он должен пройти под музеем-заповедником “Коломенское”, через район Нагатинский Затон к станции “Печатники”. Планируется, что благодаря такому строительству удастся облегчить передвижение по городу не только автомобилистам, но и пассажирам метрополитена (в плане заложено продление Каховской линии метро от станции “Каширская” до станции “Печатники”).

По нижнему ярусу тоннеля будут следовать поезда метро. Верхний уровень предполагается отвести для автомобильного транспорта. Тоннель будет построен по тому же принципу, что и на Звенигородском шоссе под Серебряным бором, однако для автотранспорта он будет не трех-, а четырехполосным. Ширина полос автомобильного движения составит 3,75 м.

Таким образом, столичные власти замахнулись на весьма амбициозный проект: если замысел будет реализован, то этот подземный путь станет самым длинным городским тоннелем в Европе (сейчас это звание закреплено за тоннелем в Дублине, протянувшемся на 4,5 км).

Пока же самым длинным тоннелем в Москве считается Лефортовский. Его протяженность составляет 2150 м. Кроме того, он является самым широким в Европе: диаметр тоннеля составляет 14 метров.
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(Machine translation)
In Moscow: They will build The gigantic Tunnel!

Krasnobogatyrskuyu street and the prospectus of Budenniy will connect the tunnel, whose length will be 3 km of 207 m. according to the information of the department of transport and connection of the capital, it will become the section of northern belt road.

Road will leave go under the earth on The krasnobogatyrskoy street, it will pass under Preobrazhenskiy and By semenovskoy by areas and will leave the earth to the prospectus of Budenniy after Semenovskoy street.

Let us recall that the simultaneous building of northern and southern belt roads into the general plan of the development of Moscow to 202shchg. these routes will placed become unique chords and will connect the opposite regions of Moscow.

Northern belt road will begin from the route Moscow – Saint Petersburg in the region left-bank and will leave along the October railroad to Korolev’s prospectus to Preobrazhenskiy’s side and Semenovskoy of areas. Then route will leave into Kozhukhovo region through pointed. Southern belt road will traverse Obruchev’s street to The balaklavskogo prospectus, further under the railway lines and will leave to the Warsaw highway.

Naturally, and here it will not manage without the “super-tunnel”, which will pass under the Borisov ponds. Its length, according to project, will be 4,5 kilometers. It is interesting that very recently became known about the intention of authorities to open one additional tunnel- giant the length of 4,85 km it it must pass near the museum- preserve “Kolomna”, through the region Nagatinskiy creek to the station “printers”. It is planned, which because of this building will be succeeded in facilitating movement by the city not only for motorists, but also the passengers of the metro (in the plan placed the prolongation of Kakhovka subway line from “Kashira station” to the station “printers”).

The subway trains will follow on the lower tier of tunnel. Upper level is intended to lead for the truck transport. Tunnel will be built on the same principle as on the Zvenigorod highway under silver boron; however, for the motor transport it will be not three -, but four-strip. Width of zones of automobile motion will be 3,75 m. Thus, capital authorities were swung back to the very project: if concept is realized, then this underground way will become the longest urban tunnel in Europe (now this title allotted for tunnel in Dublin, which was lengthened on 4,5 km). As the for the present longest tunnel in Moscow is considered Lefort. Its extent is 2150 m. furthermore, it is the widest in Europe: the diameter of tunnel composes 14 meters.
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Now this is cool!
Bear likes tunnels.

Kyle & Svet

Dear Customers!
We apologize for the TEMPORARY lack of alcohol in our store!

Уважаемые покупатели!
Приносим свои извинения за ВРЕМЕННОЕ отсутствие алкогольных напитков в нашем магазине.

In Russia beer is not considered alcohol, So of course you do not get drunk drinking beer? (sounds like a bunch of people I knew in America!)

So the sign points out the fact that they do not have hard liquor at the store, (whiskey & Vodka)!

The beer is the same as Coke & Pepsi, just that beer is better for you 🙂 ……wrong 🙁

My wife and I do not drink so we always find things like this strange.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

I love pancakes but I think that I would never eat as many as this guy did:

Last Week:

A St. Petersburger man has set a new Guinness Book Of World Record for eating pancakes.

Andrei Smirnov at age 33, ate 73 pancakes in 60 minutes, at the village of Lakhta, 20 kilometers west of St. Petersburg during traditional Maslenitsa or Shrovetide festivities.

The competition was open to everyone, Igor Kirsanov, one of the organizers of the event, told Metro daily, but all the participants were men.

The total weight of the pancakes Andrei consumed was more than 5 lbs or 2 kilos.

The senior judge of the Russian committee for the registration of world records witnessed the record-breaking Pancake consumption.

The majority of pancake records in the Guinness Book of Records today don’t belong to Russia, in the U.S. they lift pancakes like weights, In India set a record with the biggest pancake & In England they run a race with as many pancakes that they can carry! The organizers said,”It was about time Russia, the home of blini, had a pancake record of its own.” The organizer also said, “A Russian saying, says that the number of pancakes one eats during Shrovetide will equal the number of happy days one will have during the year.”

The competition, held in a local restaurant, lasted for an hour. Organizers cooked 1,000 pancakes weighing 20 kilograms in all.

Participants were allowed to wash down the pancakes with tea or mors, a traditional berry drink.

Maslenitsa ended Sunday with Orthodox lent beginning on Monday.

Pancake time is over now Lent is here!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Moscow 15:01:20.Vnukovo International Airport’s passenger traffic surged 43.6 percent to 960,000 people in January-February 2008 compared to the same period a year earlier, the company’s press office reported today. International passenger traffic (to countries outside the CIS and the CIS) amounted to 310,000 people, having climbed 23 percent from the first two months of 2007. The airport’s passenger traffic stood at 486,000 people in February 2008, including international and domestic passenger traffic of 144,000 people (up 59 percent) and 342,000 people (up 54.4 percent), respectively.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Moscow 14:33:03.Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are poised to start selling natural gas at the price equal to that in Europe in 2009, Gazprom’s press office reported today. The announcement was made by the chiefs of KazMunaiGas, Uzbekneftegaz, and Turkmengaz during a meeting with the Russian giant’s President Alexei Miller. The executives of these companies explained that their decision was based on national interests and incorporated the countries’ obligations regarding energy supplies.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Cannes 14:05:57.Russia’s Economy Ministry is not planning to change its forecast regarding capital inflow into the country from $40bn-$50bn, Economy Minister Elvira Nabiullina told journalists at the property market MIPIM-2008 in Cannes today. According to the Bank of Russia, capital outflow stood at RUB 9bn (approx. USD 377.52m) in January 2008. Nabiullina pointed out that it was too early to make conclusions, adding that the ministry did not expect negative trends. She also stated that oil prices were projected to be high in 2008, and therefore, there were no reasons to change the forecast.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Moscow 13:39:10.Slightly over three hours into today’s special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the low on deals stood at 23.78 RUB/USD, which is RUB 0.08, or more than 0.3 percent, below the official rate set by the Bank of Russia for March 12. As a result of the dollar’s considerable decline against the ruble, the spread on deals reached RUB 0.08. The current developments on the domestic market can be attributed to the euro’s noticeable appreciation against the dollar on international exchanges. The European currency is now buying nearly USD 1.5430, up form around USD 1.5410 as of 1:10 p.m. Consequently, the dollar has edged down almost 0.15 percent against the euro on the global market over a short period. As a result, commercial bank activity has been consistently high, and the trade volume has already significantly exceeded USD 1.2bn.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Cannes 13:21:50.Russia’s housing market is expected to demonstrate a rapid growth in 2008, Russian Economy Minister Elvira Nabiullina said at the opening of Russia’s exhibit at the world’s property market MIPIM-2008 in Cannes today. She pointed out that the construction, real etate, and infrastructure sectors showed the highest increase in 2007 in Russia, noting that the added value of this sector rose 16.4 percent.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Moscow 12:58:27.Rostelecom’s Board of Directors has approved the acquisition of a blocking stake in the federal internet provider RTComm.RU from Synterra, the Russian telecommunication service provider’s press office reported today. As a result of the potential deal, Rostelecom’s stake in RTComm.RU is expected to increase from 31.59 to 99.5 percent. The decision was made as part of the company’s business diversification strategy, Chairman of Rostelecom’s Board of Directors Alexander Kiselyov stated.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Moscow 12:29:39.Russian President Vladimir Putin and President-elect Dmitry Medvedev will meet with State Duma officials in the Kremlin today, State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov told journalists following this morning’s session. During the meeting, Gryzlov, his deputies, and the leaders of political parties intend to discuss the goals set by Putin during the Federation Council session, such as better state governance, economic innovations, and higher quality of life of Russians, Gryzlov said. He pointed out that heads of State Duma committees had already received a step-by-step plan to attain the goals.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Tbilisi 11:51:24.Georgia’s parliament is poised to make a statement regarding Russia’s unilateral lift of trade, economic, financial, and transportation sanctions against Abkhazia, a source close to the parliament told RBC today. Parliamentary deputies are now discussing the document, which was drafted by the ruling party deputies and the experts of Georgia’s Foreign Ministry. The parliament insists that Russia’s move is unacceptable, and that Georgia regards it as an attempt to annex its territory and destabilize the situation in the region. The matter is to be considered by the OSCE, and Georgia hopes to receive political support from the organization, as well as from the international community, the country’s Foreign Minister David Bakradze told journalists today.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Moscow 11:24:08.There was no defined trend at the opening on the Russian stock market today. Within the first few miniutes of trade on MICEX, there was some demand for Gazprom, Norilsk Nickel, LUKoil, and Gazprom Neft, while selling activity was seen in Sberbank, RAO UES, and VTB. The RTS index was down at 2,009 points in early trade.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Moscow 10:50:34.CTC Media has signed an agreement on the purchase of DTV Group for $395m from Modern Times Group, Russia’s leading independent television broadcaster said in a statement today. The deal is expected to be completed at the end of the second quarter of 2008 upon the receipt of a number of regulatory approvals, including those from anti-monopoly agencies.

RBC, 11.03.2008, Moscow 09:31:14.A seventh Russian-French security cooperation council meeting will be held in Paris today with the participation of the heads the two countries’ Foreign and Defense Ministries. The participants will discuss cooperation between Russia and France within the UN and the Security Council, ensuring security in Europe, cooperation in counteracting international terrorism, and strengthening the regimes of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Also on the agenda are matters of resolving regional crises.

Hello,

Today I want to tell you about Paul Robeson(April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976). And we will celebrate his 110 birthday anniversary exactly in a month. When we look for information about Paul Robeson in Internet we can find out that he was an exceptional athlete, actor, singer, cultural scholar, author, and political activist. I want to start my story about him with my favorite video:

Some people knows him just as a great singer, but he was unique man. He had a very strong opinion about fairness and he fought for his beliefs. He toured Republican Spain during the Spanish Civil War and was photographed with members of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, including its black commander, Oliver Law. His repertoire included Peat Bog Soldiers, which was popular with International Brigades volunteers and veterans alike. Robeson was among the first performers to sing in concert on behalf of the U.S. troops during World War II.

But today I want to tell you just about Paul Robeson and Soviet Union.

After traveling to Europe for several years in the early 1930s, Robeson was extended and accepted an offer to visit the Soviet Union. While there, Robeson was given the red carpet treatment, according to biographer Martin Duberman, including trips to the theater, banquets, and other attractions. Robeson became captivated with this new society and its leadership, declaring “that the country was entirely free of racial prejudice and that Afro-American spiritual music resonated to Russian folk traditions. “Here, for the first time in my life … I walk in full human dignity.”

Through his writings and speeches, Robeson went on to defend the foreign and domestic policies of the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin. During the Soviet purges, Robeson allegedly told a Daily Worker reporter that “from what I have already seen of the workings of the Soviet Government, I can only say that anybody who lifts his hand against it ought to be shot!” After the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Robeson proclaimed during a speech at the Paris World Peace Congress in 1949 that “It is unthinkable that American Negroes will go to war on behalf of those who have oppressed us for generations… against a country [the Soviet Union] which in one generation has raised our people to the full dignity of mankind.” Sugar Ray Robinson responded to this by saying that although he did not know Robeson he would “punch him in the mouth” if he met him Even while many former left wing supporters of the Soviet Union learned of the atrocities being committed there and began publicly denouncing their former affiliations, Robeson held firm.

In March of 1950, NBC canceled Robeson’s scheduled appearance on former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s television program, Today with Mrs. Roosevelt. A spokesman for NBC declared that Robeson would never appear on NBC. Press releases of the Civil Rights Congress objected that “censorship of Mr. Robeson’s appearance on TV is a crude attempt to silence the outstanding spokesman for the Negro people in their fight for civil and human rights” and that our “basic democratic rights are under attack under the smoke-screen of anti-Communism.” Protesters picketed NBC offices and protests arrived from numerous public figures, organizations and others.

However, because of the controversy surrounding him, all of Paul Robeson’s recordings and films were withdrawn from circulation. From then until the late 1970s, it became increasingly difficult in the United States, if not impossible, to hear Robeson sing on records or on the radio, or to see any of his films, including the highly acclaimed and successful 1936 film version of Show Boat. As far as audiences of the late 1950s (and all of the 1960s) knew, there was only one film version of the show, the MGM Technicolor version of 1951, in which bass-baritone William Warfield played the role that Robeson had played in the 1936 film version.

In 1952, Robeson was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize. In April, 1953 shortly after Joseph Stalin’s death he wrote a eulogy entitled To You Beloved Comrade, in which he praised Stalin’s “deep humanity,” “wise understanding,” and dedication to peaceful co-existence with all the peoples of the world calling him “wise and good”.

I asked my Mom about Paul Robeson and she told me that, yes she knows and remembers him: She told that he was incredible person and that’s mean a lot. Not just Paul Robeson loved Soviet Union, Soviet Union (people and leaders) loved him! Here is a Soviet video of his 60th anniversary movie what was made in 1958 when he was repressed and banned in his own country.

Dear Paul Robeson, Soviet people sends you regard from mountains and ocean!… – that was the end of this movie.

And I just can add: “Dear Paul Robeson people of ex-Soviet Union still remember and love you!”

Svet

comments always welcome
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PS. This story started when Kyle publish an old Soviet Anthem on our Video site. This Anthem was sung by Paul Robeson, it was an English, a good translation and a voice of the singer was gorgeous! An Anonymous (DP) asked if the singer is the same Paul Robeson – an American black opera singer and what deal he had with Soviet Anthem back in 1943.

Thank you Anonymous for your good question
PPS Don’t miss a very good documentary movie about Paul Robeson!

I was drinking my wonderful morning cup of coffee & thinking that I am aware of what Russia is capable of, but our beloved leaders in the west appear to be a little slow to digest it all. Maybe its because they have never lived or worked overseas.

When the Soviet Empire crashed, out of its smoldering ruins emerged Russia….

Since then, Russia has grown at a real terms average of 7 per cent a year. In 2007, growth hit 8.1 per cent – higher than the year before, despite the US-originated sub-prime crisis that has hobbled much of the world.

Russia’s reserves have ballooned from practically zero in 1998 to $480bn (£242bn) today – the third largest haul on earth. The country is now almost debt-free – with a budget surplus of 6 per cent of GDP, and a trade surplus almost twice as much again.” (How often has the USA in recent times had a budget surplus?)

Compare the statistics above with what little the U.S. has accomplished over the last 7 to 8 years. The S&P 500 Index, a reflection of the U.S. economy, ended 1999 at 1,469.25 and 2007 at 1,468.36. In other words, no change. The federal government’s budget surplus of $236 billion in fiscal 2000 was a budget deficit of $412 billion in fiscal 2004, that’s a swing of $650 billion in just 4 years. During the 8 years of the Clinton administration, “private-sector” payroll jobs increased by 21,140,000. During the first 7 years of the Bush administration that fell to 4,132,000. Nonfarm productivity growth has gone down every year since 2002, reaching just 1.0% in 2006. Finally, U.S. national debt was $9.13 trillion in December 2007. It was expanding by about $1.4 billion a day or nearly $1 million a minute. (Scary Huh!)

Russia’s prosperity is built on nine successive years of expansion, a sixfold increase in average incomes and almost $500 billion of currency reserves.

Not all is roses though: Inability to contain consumer-price growth, which overshot its target in every one of Putin’s eight years as president except 2003. Russia must find ways of containing inflation that accelerated to 11.9 percent in 2007. Failure to do so may trigger unsustainable wage demands, squeeze consumer spending and dent company profits.

Monetary policy isn’t effective because, 17 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia hasn’t developed a fully fledged consumer-credit market. Mortgages are few and credit-card use is in its infancy outside the biggest cities.

Cash Is King

Cash dominates transactions, with almost 90 percent of Bank Cards used only to withdraw rubles from bank accounts! This is a good sign to me, Russians have not fallen into the credit trap like most of America has!

My wife says, “If you don’t have the money to buy it you do not need it!”

She is very correct!

Kyle & Svet

Now you have more knowledge of Russia!

comments always welcome.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&refer=home&sid=a52mcF2m1U6k

Russia is emerging as a global economic giant

By Liam Halligan

In the run-up to today’s Russian vote, the Western press has been full of insinuation, slur and downright disinformation about a nation which has risen from the ashes and is now emerging as a global economic giant.

I lived in Moscow for several years during the mid-90s – the roughest period of Russia’s “transition” from state-planning to capitalism. I’ve paid regular visits ever since. I now work for a company that manages foreign investments in emerging markets – including Russia.

So, feel free to sniff at my motives. But please don’t sniff at the facts, which show that Russia, over the last ten years, has achieved possibly the most incredible economic turnaround in human history……

When the Soviet Union imploded in the late 1980s and the planned economy collapsed, Russian growth sunk deep into negative territory. For the next decade, the country lurched from crisis to crisis.

Then, amid signs of recovery in 1998, Russia’s fragile post-Communist economy collapsed again – caught in a financial melt-down affecting all emerging markets. Trying to defend its currency, the country defaulted on its sovereign debt.

Since then, Russia has grown at a real terms average of 7 per cent a year. In 2007, growth hit 8.1 per cent – higher than the year before, despite the US-originated sub-prime crisis that has hobbled much of the world.

Russia’s reserves have ballooned from practically zero in 1998 to $480bn (£242bn) today – the third largest haul on earth. The country is now almost debt-free – with a budget surplus of 6 per cent of GDP, and a trade surplus almost twice as much again.

Goldman Sachs describes Russia’s economic performance as “remarkable”. UBS calls it “awesome”. Russia, India, China and the other large emerging markets are upending the world economic order. Their resurgence has created hundreds of billions of dollars of wealth and lifted tens of millions from poverty.

Western politicians struggle to adjust to these new realities – particularly when it comes to the old “Cold War” enemy. But Russia is now the world’s ninth largest economy – and rising fast. And, in my view, much of the scorn aimed its way is nothing but a small-minded reaction to this rapidly shifting balance of global power.

Three years ago, Russia overtook Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest crude exporter. And the country’s post-Soviet recovery was initially built on a 50 per cent rise in annual crude production.

Had that increase not happened (had Russia chosen to join OPEC, for example), oil would now be way above $150 a barrel, rather than close to $100. Imagine how much that would now be hurting oil importers like America and the UK.

But Russia is now far more than “just an oil and gas economy”. Retail sales are growing at around 13 per cent a year in real terms – one reason why leading multi-nationals are now piling into Russia. Construction is expanding by 16 per cent a year, and domestic investment by 20 per cent – as Russia rebuilds its shattered post-Soviet infrastructure. Again, this trend is now attracting massive – and welcome – foreign investment.

The big blot on Russia’s economic landscape is inflation – almost 12 per cent last year. Like many fast-growing emerging markets, the country suffers from high food prices. But Russian policy-makers are now allowing the ruble to appreciate more quickly – bearing down on expensive food imports. And, while the rest of the world has been cutting interest rates, Russia’s Central Bank just raised them – as part of its bid to tackle inflation.

This is a country, of course, with many problems. As in any nascent capitalist society (think England in the 1780s, or America in the 1870s), there is corruption and the legal system is fragile.

But, in recent years, despite factional in-fighting, the direction of economic policy has been clear. Russia now has a 13 per cent basic rate of income tax. Foreign banks can set up at will. Moscow, St. Petersburg and, increasingly, Russia’s regions are rippling with stores bearing Western names and products. Despite his “hard-man” image, these developments have all happened since President Putin took office in 1999.

And today’s likely winner – Dmitri Medvedev – will encourage further liberalisation. The 42-year-old has made a series of speeches calling for “reduced taxes” and “decentralisation of power”. A trained lawyer, Medvedev will put effort into “improving the legal system”.

Dismiss this as a wish-list if you like. But, again, the direction of travel is clear. Russia wants to be a fully-developed market economy and part of the global system – but on equal terms.

Will it be pushed around by the West? No. Will it allow the West to pull its historic trick of annexing countries with large natural resources, or treating them as supine? No.

Above all, Russia wants to trade with the West. But the West keeps blocking its membership of the World Trade Organization – despite admitting China.

Since the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia has made huge strides – economically, but also in terms of freedom. Today’s election, while imperfect, is a testament to that.

Western businesses are engaging with Russia as quickly as they can, desperate to gain a foothold in what will soon be one of the world’s very biggest economies.

Western politicians, meanwhile, cling to their cold war clichés – replacing the “iron curtain” with an “iron curtain of the mind”.

• Liam Halligan is Chief Economist at Prosperity Capital Management
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I have been making it clear in this Blog that Russia is not what it seems to the American & Europe Brain Washed Media Biased Individual!

Russia is the next World Power Economy!

Ruble as world currency?

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

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Like we reported the Russian elections were given a clean bill of health and even though they may not have been too exciting! They cost much less than the 3/4 of a Billion Dollars that the American elections have spent so far! The people are happy, government is happy & Putin is happy! (Not sure if Medvedev is happy yet)

Russia’s presidential elections were held in line with international standards, Bolat Nurgaliyev, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the leader of its observer mission, told a press conference in Moscow today, adding that the election had been free and fair. Nurgaliyev noted that 19 observers from the mission had monitored the elections from February 21 until March 2. The observers visited 96 polling stations of Moscow and the Moscow region on Sunday. They also visited seven polling stations during the vote counting and did not register any violations.

No observer mission has questioned the results of the Russian presidential vote, Russia’s election chief Vladimir Churov told a press conference today. He noted that, “according to the assessment by reputable legal scholars,” the Russian election law is one of the most progressive in Europe. Churov said that the Central Election Commission of Russia had received several comments and recommendations from monitors, and added that his agency would pay particular attention to these, but would probably not be able to follow all the recommendations, as some of them related to the organization of debates, and a number of observers had proposed changes to legislation in this aspect.

Paul Marie Couteaux, head of the European Parliament’s observer mission in Russia, believes that foreign media sources have a rather biased opinion about presidential election in Russia. He made this statement in Moscow today, adding that most foreign correspondents are trying to promote the idea of mistrust for the election. Couteaux also noted that most foreign media companies in Western Europe are owned by large financial corporations and act in their interests. However, he indicated that the general public understood that Russia and Western European countries were partners and disregarded those statements by media companies trying to compromise Russia.

Lets see anyone in America get 70% of the popular vote….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.
USA Presidential Election cost in 2004!
Election Costs are going skyhigh in 2008!