Category: Russia

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.

Russia is celebrating tonight:

Nikolai Valuev claimed a majority points decision to defeat veteran American Evander Holyfield and retained his WBA heavyweight belt.

Valuev now holds a 50-1 record with 34 knockouts.

Two judges had the fight 116-112 and 115-114 with the other scoring it even.

Darn he is big….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

http://kylekeeton.com/2008/11/east-meets-west-russian-giant-against.html

Hello,

I have been posting articles about one of my favorite countries, Ukraine. Link Link Link. Ukraine has had major issues come up in the last few months. Ranging from misappropriated funds to involvement in the Georgia war. The investigations are not looking good for the President of Ukraine. The bottom line is that Ukraine seems to be flat broke due to some mishandling of the Government assets by the President. It seems that by the end of December 2008 all Government employees will not be paid, the country is $105 billion dollars in the hole. (Ouch)

The President just had a online poll and question session. The questions that became the most popular had much to do with, when is President Yushchenko leaving so that Ukraine can become a better place.

Ukraine is a fantastic country that deserves much better than what it has become. The desires of a President that was implanted by the USA during the Rose Revolution has taken its toll on a beautiful country and Ukraine people need real leadership.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 19.12.2008, Naberezhnye Chelny 17:32:20.Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has suggested that a RUB 30bn (approx. USD 1.09bn) program for renewing municipal car fleets be developed and implemented in order to support the Russian automobile industry. He made this proposal during today’s meeting on additional steps to stabilize and improve the situation in the automotive sector. Putin explained that he met with heads of regional and municipal governments on Thursday and it was agreed that 70 percent of the program would be financed from the federal budget, and the remaining 30 percent by local and regional authorities. The money will only be used to buy domestic vehicles, Putin stressed. He added that the program would allow local governments to provide the public transportation, housing, utilities, and other socially important sectors with new vehicles.

RBC, 19.12.2008, Kiev 16:59:51.The Ukrainian parliament has refused to halt arms supplies to Georgia, as a mere 195 members out of the necessary 226 in parliament voted in favor of suspending such supplies. At the same time, however, 237 deputies, including those from the Yulia Timoshenko Bloc and the Our Ukraine – People’s Self Defense faction, voted against the move. The deputies decided that such a ban would affect Ukrainian defense companies. They also urged the president and chiefs of government bodies in charge of arms trade with Georgia to observe the country’s national interests.

RBC, 19.12.2008, Moscow 16:29:05.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes that Russia’s relations with the European Union and NATO “have ultimately benefited” from the Caucasus crisis, as he told a press conference today. The conflict in the Caucasus has first of all demonstrated, Lavrov said, that NATO alone cannot respond to all global threats and challenges. Secondly, the crisis has shown that the European Union, with the proper leadership, is capable of handling matters of European security. The resulting peace plan negotiated by Russian and French Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas Sarkozy became the basis for the settlement of the crisis, Lavrov stated.

RBC, 19.12.2008, Kiev 12:09:00.Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Vladimir Stelmakh has denied Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko’s accusations of devaluing the hryvnia and blamed the government’s “bungling work” for bringing the country to a point where it may face an internal default as early as December 2008, the central banker was quoted by RBC Ukraine as saying on Inter TV late Thursday. Stelmakh said the PM’s announcement gave the dollar a boost, thus slashing the hryvnia’s value by one half within a mere day, as exchange rates of 14 hryvnia per dollar were already being called.

RBC, 18.12.2008, Moscow 17:41:28.According to Russia’s Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Klepach, Russia’s international reserves will contract by $110bn-140bn to just $300bn by the end of 2009. As of December 1, 2008, the reserves stood at $455.73bn, down 5.95 percent month-on-month. Meanwhile, reserve assets in foreign currency amounted to $404.563bn, with Russia’s IMF reserve position at $1.018bn, and special drawing rights (SDRs) at $1bn.

RBC, 18.12.2008, Moscow 18:45:24.According to the Economy Ministry’s forecast for Russia’s economic development, oil production will amount to 480m tonnes in 2009, Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Klepach told journalists today, adding that oil prices were expected to stand at $50 per barrel. If oil prices stay at $60 per barrel, oil production may reach 493m tonnes. Meanwhile, natural gas output is expected to total 670bn cubic meters. Russia’s oil exports are projected to amount to 235m tonnes in 2009, compared to 244.4m tonnes in 2008, while gas exports are expected to reach 203bn cubic meters in 2008 and 208bn cubic meters next year.

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about the OPEC meeting. I was thinking about the outcome of said meeting. I had already posted about the OPEC meeting and Russia’s involvement with OPEC. The meeting happened and OPEC has decided that 2.2 million barrels a day of oil will be cut from production. They are expecting Russia to comply by cutting 320,000 barrels a day.

I feel that this is excessive and if fully implemented after a 1.5 million barrel a day cut already this year, that we are actively promoting the continuation of the roller coaster effect.

The question of Russia’s desire to join OPEC has now become forefront and the facts of discussion have not been revealed yet. This is a decision that Medvedev is pondering and will most likely discuss with the Oil Giants in Russia! The only statement said about joining was on TV and it reported that Russia will continue to have some form of involvement with OPEC, as Russia counts for 12 percent of world oil production…..

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Putin was on air all over Russia!

Hello,

The other day when Putin had a telephone answer question session with all of Russia, the world concentrated on the political issues that he answered. But one question that was not political and had to do with the Russian New Year!

Dasha Varfolomyeevaya called Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during his televised question and answer session on December 4 to ask for a new dress. In reply, Putin invited the girl, from a remote village in the East Siberian republic of Buryatia, to meet the New Year in Moscow.

“It is nearly New Year,” Dasha said. “We live on my granny’s pension, and there is no work in the village. Me and my sister dream about new dresses. I want to ask you for a dress like Cinderella’s. Please be a kind wizard for us on New Year.” (Link)

It seems that Putin has made sure that the little girl, her sister and granny will be in Moscow for New Years.

This is just one of the promises that Putin made that night and from what I am seeing he is going to follow up on all of them and make them happen.

If you never got to see or read about the Question and Answer session Putin had, then it is well worth the time to check it out. (Link)

Maybe Putin is a kind Wizard…….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

30 people have died after the bus they were in drove into a ravine in the south of Israel. At least 21 injured, some of them in grave condition, have been taken to the nearest hospital. In total there were 49 Russians and two Israelis on the bus. All of the passengers were tour operators from St. Petersburg. The employees of five Russian travel agencies were taking a tour around Israel to lean more about the hotels and sights they will offer to their customers. The trip was organized by an Israeli tour-operator.

The accident happened not far from the Egyptian border, near the resort city of Eilat. Witnesses say the bus fell over 80 metres into the ravine.

Both military helicopters and dozens of first aid medical units were on the scene.

Sad situation: 80 meters is about 250 feet!

Kyle & Svet