The “Caucasus Mujahideens” Claim Responsibility for The Moscow-St. Petersburg Train Crash!

Militants claim responsibility for train blast:

02 December, 2009, 10:25

The leadership of the so-called “Caucasus Mujahideens” has claimed responsibility for the explosion that caused the derailment of the “Nevsky Express” train on November 27.

The statement was published on one of the militants’ websites, Lenta.ru reports.

The online news edition says the terror act was one of a series targeting several strategic objects in Russia. The militants are said to have acted on the order of their leader Doku Umarov.

According to the militants, the blast was organized by a special subversive group. They promised to carry on with such acts of terror until “occupants in the Caucasus stop the policy of killing ordinary Muslims because of their religious beliefs.”

In their statement, the militants claim more victims than the official figures – 30 people killed and at least 80 wounded versus 26 and 100 respectively.

Earlier, investigators said they are now searching for several suspects, including four men of Caucasian origin.

The media have also speculated that a “Russian Wahhabi”, Pavel Kosolapov, could be linked to the explosion. Kosolapov is a Russian serviceman taking the militants’ side.

Kosolapov has been put on a wanted list after he was charged in absentia with a terror explosion that derailed the same train back in 2007. The Prosecutor’s Office believes two years ago the terror act was organized by Doku Umarov. Meanwhile, there has been no official confirmation of Kosolapov’s involvement in the latest blast.

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Russia’s New Sochi Olympics Logo has been Unveiled


BrandRepublic has unveiled the new Sochi Olympic Logo!

LONDON – The logo for the 2014 Winter Olympics, to be held in Sochi, Russia, has been unveiled today, becoming the first Olympic emblem to feature a web address – Sochi2014.ru – as organizers target the digital generation.

What do you think is it cool or not? (I think sorta cool!)

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In Russia: The Old Bike and Trike Park!

If you have been reading Windows to Russia over the years, then you know that I like parks and amusement areas for children. I have another find to add to our collection, I have found an old Bike and Trike road system designed for kids to have fun and be safe. At least that is what I have surmised after studying it for a few days…

There are straight a ways and circles for the kids to ride on – There are intersections and a playground for when you are tired of riding your bike or trike – It is a really cool park
Above – Boza has to get in at least one picture! The road even goes around the slide!
Below -There is a stage and benches so the Moms can relax .
See how it looks like a road system?

Above – A huge sandbox and the road goes all the way around!
Below – Everything is designed to keep the little ones contained away from the main road to the right.

When I was a kid I would have put some miles on that tiny road system. Look see above – Even a Cul-de-sac or two! 🙂

One thing that is little know by Americans is that the Soviets cared about their children very very much. Parks like this are very common place, in the old parts of town. Many of these parks are starting to crumble and some have just faded to a remnant of there former glory. These parks were built by love not modern technology and usally were made from what ever could be found in abundance to create a park.

This link will take you to my favorite park: The Old Soviet Playground!

Today – I wish that I was 4 years old and had my trike – Boza and I would ride to China on that old Soviet road for bikes and trikes…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

Medvedev and Obama Talked by Telephone! (Nov. 30th, 2009)

Dmitry Medvedev had a telephone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama:

Mr Obama expressed his sincere condolences concerning the act of terrorism in Russia which resulted in a train derailment and caused many casualties.

Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama touched on further cooperation between Russia and the United States in order to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan and discussed the preparation of a new treaty on strategic offensive weapons.

The conversation was initiated by the American party.

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Russian News From Russia: December 1st, 2009!

Mrs. World 2009 Victoria Radochinskaya, and her tiara, return to Russia:
On Friday, the woman who won the Mrs. World 2009 competition, Victoria Radochinskaya, flew into Moscow from Vung Tau in Vietnam. After all this time at the competition, she just wants to see her son as soon as possible: she has been away from him for over a month.

Polish expert says Russian-Ukrainian gas crisis unlikely:
Russia and Ukraine are unlikely to face another gas crisis early next year, similar to that of January 2009, a polish analyst said on Tuesday.

Ex-Yukos owners win international ruling against Russian government:
Former owners of the defunct Russian oil company Yukos have won a crucial ruling in The Hague allowing them to seek $100 billion in damages from the Russian government, The Financial Times reported.

“The New System of Euro-Atlantic Security” (8-10 December, 2009):
The Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti and the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy would like to announce about a two-day conference “The New System of Euro-Atlantic Security” (8-10 December, 2009), that is held as part of a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club’s European section.

Armed militant killed in Chechnya, one officer injured:
Police have killed a Chechen militant during a shootout in the volatile North Caucus republic, during which one police authority injured, a police spokesman said on Tuesday.

OSCE to discuss Medvedev’s European security pact:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s European security pact draft will be discussed at the 17th OSCE Ministerial Council opening in the Greek capital Athens on Tuesday.

Russia successfully launches Intelsat-15 satellite into orbit:
Russia’s Zenit-3SLB carrier rocket has successfully put into orbit a U.S. telecommunications satellite, the Intelsat-15.

Obama and Medvedev START talking:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama talked by phone about key political issues, including Afghanistan and START. Obama also expressed his condolences on the deadly train crash.

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The Moscow-St. Petersburg Train Crash Infographic from RIA!

I have had several emails wanting more updates on the train crash caused by a bomb. We also has several calls to make sure that we were OK. So I found this infographic and video made by RIA News and it gives a sight stimulus to help define what happened. Just follow the link to a large infographic on the RIA website…

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Is Your McDonald’s going Green? (They soon will in Russia!)


The local TV news sources in Moscow have been talking about McDonald’s in Europe which evidently is going to include Moscow, Russia – that McDonald’s is going green – literally!

This news in Russia is following a story from Germany where about 100 McDonald’s are getting the green face lift. The information floating about says that McDonald’s will start having a veggy menu and will practice the “Green Movement”.

The big question in Russia is why? (Looks like a lot of money being spent for redecorating…)

The New Green McDonald’s will encompass all of Europe by the end of 2010. The standard red and yellow colors of the fast food trademark will be replaced with green and yellow colors as well as the menu will go “Green”. The Green McDonald’s will hit Russia next year, but experts are skeptical about the new trend, (GZT.ru )

Looks like McDonald’s which is the 27th most “Green” company is going all out to make themselves really green… (Literally)

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Windows to Russia has Imported all Comments!

I just want to pass along a tidbit of information:

Windows to Russia has finally gotten every comment that was every posted in all the various comment systems integrated into Disqus.

This has not been easy and it took many attempts over the last few months to get all the “ducks in order” so to say.

But finally as of yesterday – 11234 total comments have be consolidated into one format and is now totally accessible from the Windows to Russia posts! (Other words all old blogger and Intensedebate comments are now at their perspective places.)

That is just way cool…

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The European Security Treaty – Russia’s Medvedev’s pet project!

The draft of the European Security Treaty has been published.

On June 5, 2008, the President of Russia put forward an initiative to develop a new pan-European security treaty, the main idea of which is to create – in the context of military and political security in the Euro-Atlantic region – a common undivided space in order to finally do away with the Cold War legacy. In view of this Dmitry Medvedev suggested formalizing in the international law the principle of indivisible security as a legal obligation pursuant to which no nation or international organization operating in the Euro-Atlantic region is entitled to strengthen its own security at the cost of other nations or organizations.

Based on the results of discussions that have taken place in the last year at various venues, Russia had prepared a draft European Security treaty. The Russian President has sent this draft to the heads of relevant states and to chief executives of international organizations operating in the Euro-Atlantic region such as NATO, the European Union, the CSTO, the CIS, and the OSCE. Dmitry Medvedev emphasized that Russia is open to any proposals on the subject matter of its initiative and counts on the positive response from its partners and the beginning of a substantial discussion on specific elements of the draft treaty, which text is given below.

EUROPEAN SECURITY TREATY
At a meeting with the representatives of German political, parliamentary and public circles, the President of Russia suggested developing a legally binding treaty on European security. June 5, 2008, Berlin
Russia-EU Summit in Nice. November 14, 2008
Speech at Helsinki University. April 20, 2009
Address to the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly. September 24, 2009
Speech at Serbian National Assembly. October 20, 2009, Belgrade

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Update: Train Derailed by Homemade Bomb – Says Security Chief of Russia!

A homemade bomb is responsible for Friday’s deadly train crash, according to Russian Security chief Aleksandr Bortnikov.

“Preliminary evidence suggests that it was an explosion of a homemade device, equivalent of seven kilograms of TNT,” said Russian Federal Security Service chief Aleksandr Bortnikov.

A spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee, Vladimir Markin, added some more details regarding the blast.

“We have found a 1.5-by-1-meter hole at the train crash site, and also the remains of an unidentified explosive,” he said. Markin noted that the accident, which has left 26 dead, is almost certainly an act of terror. (Read More)

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http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/11/train-in-russia-derails-and-at-least-10.html