Windows to Russia

RBC, 26.12.2008, Moscow 15:37:48.Russia and China will set up two working groups for integrated water management and the monitoring of the quality of transboundary waters and their protection, the Russian Natural Resources and Ecology Ministry’s press office reported today. A joint Russian-Chinese commission for the rational use and protection of transboundary waters will hold a meeting in Khabarovsk on December 26-28, with a protocol establishing the working groups to be signed following the meeting.

RBC, 26.12.2008, Moscow 15:24:19.Rosneft is planning to refinance or pay back roughly $9bn of its debt, the Russian oil company’s President Sergei Bogdanchikov said in an interview today. He pointed out that the company’s total debt currently amounted to $23bn. Bogdanchikov reiterated that Rosneft paid back $16bn in 2008, including $7bn from its own funds. The company is also planning to repay another $250m before the year-end.

RBC, 26.12.2008, Moscow 14:59:43.The Russian State Duma has finished its fall 2008 session today. When closing the session, Speaker Boris Gryzlov declared that the deputies had managed to ensure a fast and efficient legislative process. They adopted 162 federal laws and approved three constitutional laws and two amendments to the Russian Constitution during the session, the official said.

RBC, 26.12.2008, Moscow 12:46:02.The Russian Air Force will receive more than 100 military and training helicopters in the next four years, Colonel General and Air Force Commander Alexander Zelin told a government commission today. He pointed out that this step would greatly improve Russian aviation military potential and carry out operations during the day or at night, in simple or complex weather conditions, and in hilly or mountainous regions.

RBC, 26.12.2008, Moscow 10:50:22.The Bank of Russia has widened the ruble’s trading band against the basket of two currencies – the euro and the dollar – again today, for the third time this week, a source in the bank said, without giving any exact figures.

RBC, 26.12.2008, Moscow 09:57:55.Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has signed amendments to the employment law passed by the State Duma on December 19, 2008, and approved by the Federation Council on December 22. Amid the global financial crisis that has battered the Russian economy, metallurgical and machine-building companies, producers of consumer goods and retailers, real estate and telecommunications companies and others could be forced to lay off staff. The amendments grant the Russian government the authority to work out and implement additional steps to ease the growing stress in troubled regions, which could imply retraining personnel at risk of layoffs in advance, relocating them to other areas, offering them public or temporary jobs etc.

RBC, 25.12.2008, Moscow 19:37:32.Moscow is greatly concerned over the escalation of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and around it into an open confrontation, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s information and press department reported today. The ministry views the missile bombardments of Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip as unacceptable, stressing that such bombardments, as well as Israel’s military operations affecting Palestinian civilians, must be stopped. Military attacks cannot bring peace and security to the region or its residents, the document says.

RBC, 25.12.2008, Moscow 19:13:30.A Proton-M carrier rocket was launched from the Baikonur space center at 1:43 p.m. today, and it placed three Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) satellites into their target orbit at 5:15 p.m., the information and public relations department of the Russian Defense Ministry’s space force reported today. The satellites have separated from the carrier rocket as planned, and their onboard systems are functioning normally, the report said.

RBC, 25.12.2008, Moscow 18:25:00.Russia has completed talks on investment agreements protecting and promoting mutual investments with Iran, Namibia and Turkmenistan, Maxim Medvedkov, head of the Economy Ministry’s trade negotiations department, told journalists today. He also noted that Russia had signed similar agreements with EurAsEC countries, as well as Libya and Venezuela in 2008, thus bringing their total number up to 61. Medvedkov stressed that Russian businesses had demonstrated higher interest in investments in the countries with which Russia had signed such an agreement.

RBC, 25.12.2008, Moscow 15:27:33.Gazprom and the Turkmen government have agreed on the technical requirements for the Caspian gas pipeline’s Turkmen stretch, as well as a gas transit facility to be built at the South Iolotan field, the Russian gas monopoly’s press office reported today. The decisions were made during today’s meeting between Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Tacberdi Tagyyew.

Hello,

It seems that Russia is up to her usual antics:

Russia said on TV that with out a doubt the evidence points to Ukrainian, U.S., Turkish and Czech mercenaries, were involved in fighting in Georgia’s breakaway republic of South Ossetia in early August. (The next day the USA said: No Way!)

So while the US and Russia have a He said – I said issue:

Evander Holyfield is jumping up and down, crying and filing lawsuits about the big bully Russian Heavyweight Boxer Nikolai Valuev. It seems that Holyfield thinks he won the fight and the judges ripped him off. I hate to tell Holyfield this but I watched the fight and he did not win. Unless you win for running in circles around someone for 12 rounds. I would not say that Valuev won by much but the champion always gets the close calls not the challenger. So even if the fight was even Valuev wins!

So while Holyfield is filing lawsuits:

Siberian republic of Yakutia has tough cops and crooks! You would think that -50 degrees weather would put a curtailment on most activities including harvesting cannabis (pot). It seems that not even cold weather deters bad guys so despite minus 52 degrees Celsius [minus 62 degrees Fahrenheit] two men managed to harvest several bags of cannabis with a total weight of nearly three kg [6.6 lbs], from under the snow cover. While they were collecting their prize the local police were hanging out nearby waiting to arrest them.

While the Yakutia people are collecting awards for the toughest people on earth in a sub zero environment:

Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko is doing a Holyfield and crying about the big bad Russians. It seems that Yushchenko had a on-line session with the world and got lambasted. It seems that he had to pull the plug early after the questions hurt his feelings. Now he makes a press statement that Russia is mean and they ruined his on-line poll. I did not know that only Ukraine’s were allowed to play. 🙁

So while the Russians have hurts someone else’s feelings again:

The age old tradition of dog sledding lives on in Russia. A small group of enthusiasts is trying to revive the tradition of dog sledding in the ever-green forests of Siberia, where sometimes husky sledding is the best way to get around. The Khanty-Mansi autonomous region in Western Siberia provides ideal conditions for biathlon – cross-country skiing and shooting – and is the centre of the sport in Russia. (Link) A Siberian husky dog can withstand temperatures of -60C but it seems so can cops and robbers in Yakutia!

Last but not least Putin and Obama are being compared shirtless now. The hot news from Russia today is:

LOL 🙂

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I am drinking my morning cup of coffee and warming up after a 1 hour walk with the dog. It is -5 degrees here and the snow has stopped falling.

Boza and I earlier dropped Svet off at the Bus stop! Like I have said Russia does not have a 25th of December Christmas so all is normal here.

Boza and I decided to take pictures today of our walk. I kept the best pictures as Boza seems to want to pull on the leash as I take every picture. (It is like he knows the perfect time to pull the leash!)

This is our favorite sidewalk! Boza does his business along this outer edge sidewalk.

While Boza does his business, I take a picture of the Bus station!

We can still see our building in the trees!

That ugly black oval is our flat on the 14th floor.

The weather is wonderful with the exception of never seeing the sun. (That is why the pictures are so blue) If you do see the sun it is so low on the horizon that it looks like it is setting even when it is middle of the day. We at least get light and if you go much father North you will find that they only get a few hours of light if any. The shortest day of the year has passed (21 Dec. 2008). Which means right now in Moscow the sunrises at 9 am and sets at 4 pm.

I am going to finish that cup of coffee and start another article! 🙂

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

We put together the slideshow for Christmas. We used Russian postcards both old and modern and American tune “Deck the Halls” played in a modern way. Hope you enjoy it!

Windows to Russia,
Svet and Kyle

“The August conflict over South Ossetia came as no surprise to the United States, according to the outgoing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.”

The USA has lied about this situation in South Ossetia so much that I as an American have lost much respect for my Government. Rice back tracking now and trying to save a little face will never erase the hateful remarks that she and the rest of the Administration proclaimed during the South Ossetian conflict toward Russia!

I have one question if the American Government lied this openly and flagrantly about the Georgia / Russia War what else are they lying about?

How many Americans know that Vice President Cheney came to this part of the world after the short war and went from country to country and spread lies about Russia?

Sad….

Kyle & Svet

RBC, 23.12.2008, Moscow 13:06:47.The investigative committee of the Russian Prosecutor’s Office has registered 162 civilian deaths caused by the military operations in South Ossetia that began on the night of August 7-8, the committee’s chief Alexander Bastrykin told journalists today. He added that 157 servicemen had been wounded, and 10 of the 48 soldiers killed were Russian peacekeepers. Bastrykin specified that the figures included only those victims whose personal data had been identified. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 civilians have been acknowledged as victims of the conflict. Over 1,000 houses were completely destroyed, and more than 2,000 buildings partially destroyed. “What was seen there causes shock, anger, and indignation,” Bastrykin said. He added that more than 33,000 South Ossetian residents had been forced to leave the republic, and the criminal case consisted of more than 300 volumes. Meanwhile, according to the South Ossetian leadership’s data, 2,100 civilians were killed in the conflict.

RBC, 23.12.2008, Moscow 16:53:53.The government commission for stabilizing the Russian economy has approved a list of more than 250 core companies that may receive government aid, Economy Minister Elvira Nabiullina said following the commission’s meeting today. She explained that the list included large employers, companies providing the main source of employment for particular towns, infrastructure companies, and those possessing unique technologies. Nabiullina pointed out that the list was not set in stone: other companies could also be added, and the list itself could be amended.

RBC, 23.12.2008, Moscow 15:20:50.The Gas Exporting Countries Forum must play the key role in coordinating natural gas suppliers’ operations, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced during the organization’s meeting in Moscow today. He stressed that the forum’s operations were completely in line with international standards. The forum must become a permanent organization with its own statute and headquarters, the PM said, adding that this will enable it to represent the interests of gas producers and exporters worldwide. Russia believes that the forum must develop through interaction, which is especially important during the global financial and economic crisis, Putin concluded.

RBC, 23.12.2008, Moscow 13:38:51.The investigation into the genocide of South Ossetian residents may be completed by April 2009, at which point prosecutors intend to pass the case files on to the Russian Foreign Ministry, chairman of the investigative committee of the Russian Prosecutor’s Office Alexander Bastrykin told journalists today. He explained that the case files would be used during international court proceedings.

RBC, 23.12.2008, Moscow 13:31:34.In August 2008, representatives of the Ukrainian nationalistic organizations UNA (Ukrainian National Assembly) and UNSO (Ukrainian National Self-Defense Organization) took part in the military operations in South Ossetia on Georgia’s side. In addition, subversive groups of Americans, Czechs and Turks also took part in the operations, said Alexander Bastrykin, head of the investigative committee of Russia’s Prosecutor’s Office.

RBC, 23.12.2008, Cairo 12:17:56.According to the latest data from the Russian embassy in Egypt, seven Russians died in a bus crash yesterday night near Egypt’s Dahab. The coach bound for Sharm-el-Sheikh overturned in the Sinai peninsula. The death toll includes five men and two women. Six people died at the site of the accident, and one more died later in the hospital. Between 15 to 17 more tourists were injured. Four Latvians were also on board with Russian tourists, the embassy said.

RBC, 23.12.2008, Moscow 10:43:00.Sberbank will defer payments on non-mortgage loans or offer the option of paying by installments for people losing their source of income, Sberbank’s head German Gref stated at a meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin yesterday. Deferred or installment payment terms can be offered for a term from half a year to a year until the borrower regains his income. The option will be available to laid-off people or people suffering a sharp drop in income, provided it is confirmed by relevant documents, Gref stated.

Hello,

I was walking the dog and went by a new sign that was just pasted up. The sign is great…

Basically it says: Put your Money in our bank, add money every month and have a happy New Year every Month, With a free bottle of champaign! (I will take any corrections in my translation)

The bank is called Absolutbank: It makes me think that they need to give out Absolute Vodka instead of champaign. 🙂

I remember when banks gave a way toasters…..

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Here at Windows to Russia we are stopping to reflect on the last one and a half years. This blog came to life in May of 2007! Originally I had intentions of just writing about anything that I felt like, but after a few posts I realized that my passion for Russia would over ride all else.

At first the site was called Windows to Russia: by Kyle Keeton but that grew into more than just Kyle. I had a little Russian Sweety that was intrigued by what I was doing and she was showing interests in trying to write articles herself. Svet started Svet Sunday and from that success she developed a very good Video Blog and a Russian powerhouse of a blog called Blogger 4 You printed all in Russia.

Windows to Russia became a we and expanded to multiple horizons. Some areas never took off and some did. We failed at integration of a forum and the guest book became a spam arena. But the Photo blog, Video blog, Soviet Stories and Did You Know all became a huge success that added to Windows to Russia and generates 800 to a 1000 Googles a day. Windows to Russia has generated over 600,000 site hits since being developed.

We have started another Windows to Russia that will in time grow to become more advanced than the original Windows to Russia! (We stress in time!)

We have a huge reader base of very silent readers that read and leave. They never comment but they keep the site reading average at over 7 minutes and 6 pages per visit. We want to thank all the silent readers that support the blog and let you know that Svet and I appreciate the fact that so many people find what we say worth reading.

We have a core group of readers that comment and keep life interesting. We will not name all of them and they know who they are. They have increased the knowledge base of Windows to Russia 10 fold. Most commenting readers have fantastic knowledge about Russia and with their help the blog has been a success. (Thank You)

Mixed into the pages of Windows to Russia, blended with the articles, nestled next to the politics, hiding behind the pictures and peeking around the corners of the posts. Is Svet and my thoughts on Russia.

Thank you all for making Windows to Russia a success.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.