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orthodoxydaily · 21 days

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SAINTS&READING: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

august 21_september 3

APOSTLE THADDEUS OF THE SEVENTY (44)

Saint Thaddeus, Apostle of the Seventy, was by descent a Hebrew, and he was born in the Syrian city of Edessa. The holy Apostle Thaddeus of the Seventy must be distinguished from Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus or Levi (June 19), who was one of the Twelve Apostles.

When he came to Jerusalem for a feastday, he heard the preaching of John the Forerunner. After being baptized by him in the Jordan, he remained in Palestine. He saw the Savior, and became His follower. He was chosen by the Lord to be one of the Seventy Disciples, whom He sent by twos to preach in the cities and places where He intended to visit (Luke. 10: 1).

After the Ascension of the Savior to Heaven, Saint Thaddeus preached the good news in Syria and Mesopotamia. He came preaching the Gospel to Edessa and he converted King Abgar, the people and the pagan priests to Christ. He backed up his preaching with many miracles (about which Abgar wrote to the Assyrian emperor Nerses). He established priests there and built up the Edessa Church.

Prince Abgar wanted to reward Saint Thaddeus with rich gifts, but he refused and went preaching to other cities, converting many pagans to the Christian Faith. He went to the city of Beirut to preach, and he founded a church there. It was in this city that he peacefully died in the year 44. (The place of his death is indicated as Beirut in the Slavonic MENAION, but according to other sources he died in Edessa. According to an ancient Armenian tradition, Saint Thaddeus, after various tortures, was beheaded by the sword on December 21 in the Artaz region in the year 50).

SAINT MARTHA , SCEMANUN OF DIVEYEVO (1829)

Our Venerable Mother Martha (in the world Maria Semenovna Milyukova) was born on February 10, 1810 into a peasant family of the Nizhny Novgorod governorate, Ardatovsky district, in the village of Pozhidovo (now Malinovka). The Milyukov family, who led a righteous and God-pleasing life, was close to Elder Seraphim of Sarov. In addition to Maria, there were two older children - her sister Praskovya Semenovna and her brother Ivan Semenovich.

This village, along with those adjacent to it, were appanages - they did not belong to the lord-landowner, but to the treasury. Its land was divided separately, but it was infertile, because the black earth plots were seized by neighboring landlords. The peasants lived very poorly, from childhood they had to work a great deal in the fields, and to take care of the livestock.

With Saint Seraphim's blessing, Praskovya Semenovna entered the community of Mother Alexandra (in the world Agathia Semenovna Belokopytova), the first founder of Diveyevo Monastery, and a nun of exalted spiritual life.

When Maria was thirteen years old, she and her sister Praskovya came to Father Seraphim for the first time. This occurred on November 21, 1823, the Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. As Praskovya Semenovna told it, Maria "was attached to me," and so both of them came to Sarov. The great Elder, seeing that the girl Maria was a chosen vessel of God's grace, he did not allow her to return home, but ordered her to remain in the community. Thus, thirteen-year-old Maria Semenovna was numbered with Father Seraphim's chosen orphans, in the community of Matushka Alexandra, of which the Eldress Xenia Mikhailovna Kocheulova was the Superior, whom Father Seraphim called "a pillar of fire from earth to heaven" and a "spiritual rasp" because of her righteous life. The extraordinary, hitherto inconspicuous girl Maria cannot be compared with anyone: she was angelic, a child of God, and from an early age she began to lead an ascetical life. In the severity of her ascetical contest (podvig) she surpassed even the sisters of the community, who were distinguished for the severity of their life, and even surpassed the Superior Xenia Mikhailovna herself. Unceasing prayer was her food, and she would reply only to necessary questions with heavenly meekness. She was almost completely silent, and Father Seraphim loved her with exceptional tenderness, disclosing to her all his heavenly revelations concerning the Monastery's future glory, and other great spiritual mysteries. He ordered her not to speak of these things until that time. She obeyed his instructions, despite the requests and entreaties of the sisters and her relatives. Whenever she returned after seeing Saint Seraphim, she was radiant with inexpressible joy.

Soon afterward, Maria entered the community of the Kazan church. The Queen of Heaven had blessed the creation of a new community next to that one, which is how the construction of the Monastery, which the Mother of God had promised to Mother Alexandra, began.

From 1825, Father Seraphim began going to bless first the sisters, and then the virtuous Superior of the Diveyevo community, Xenia Mikhailovna, who, of course, deeply respected and highly revered Father Seraphim, but she would not agree to change the Rule of her community, which seemed to be too severe, both to Father Seraphim and all the sisters who had been rescued in the community. The number of sisters had increased so much in the community that they needed to enlarge their property, but it was impossible to expand in any direction. Batiushka Seraphim summoned Xenia Mikhailovna and tried to persuade her that it would be easier to replace the severe Sarov Rule, but she wouldn't hear of it.

"Obey me, my joy," Father Seraphim said.

But the uncompromising Eldress finally replied: "No, Batiushka, let it be the old way. We have been content with the Rule which our founder, Father Pakhomios († 1794) has already established for us!"

Then Father Seraphim dismissed the Superior of the Diveyevo community, reassured that what the great Eldress Mother Alexandra had asked him to do no longer weighed on his conscience, or that the time for God's will to be done had not yet come. But on November 25 of that year, on the Feast Day of the holy God-pleasers Clement, the Pope of Rome, and Saint Peter of Alexandria, while he was making his way through the thickets of the forest along the bank of the Sarovka River, and going to his Far Hermitage as usual, Saint Seraphim saw the Mother of God and two Apostles standing behind her: Saint Peter and Saint John the Evangelist. The Queen of Heaven, struck the earth with her staff, so that a spring issued from the ground, a fountain of clear water. She said to him, "Why do you wish to disregard what my servant Agathia, the nun Alexandra, has asked you to do, and to forsake Xenia and her sisters, for this commandment to my servants must not be broken, but strictly observed; for it is by my will that she gave it to you. I will show you another place, also in the village of Diveyevo, and there I will establish this, my promised abode. In remembrance of the promise I gave her, take eight sisters from Xenia’s community, the place of my servant’s repose."

She also told him the names of which girls to take. Two weeks after this vision of the Queen of Heaven, on December 9, 1825, Maria and another sister, came to Saint Seraphim, and Batiushka told them that they should accompany him to his Far Hermitage. Arriving there and going into the dwelling, Father Seraphim gave the sisters two lit wax candles, which they brought with them at his orders, together with oil and breadcrumbs. He told Maria to stand on the right side of the cross hanging on the wall, and Praskovia Stepanovna (that was the name of the other sister) on the left. So they stood for more than an hour with lit candles, and Father Seraphim stood between them, praying all the while. After praying, he stood before the cross and told them to pray as well. Thus, before beginning to establish a new community he prayed mystically with the sisters, who had been designated by the Mother of God for special service to her and to the Monastery.

For four years, Maria struggled, helping Saint Seraphim and the sisters to establish the new community, she stored poles and timbers for the mill which the Mother of God blessed them to build on the site where the new community would be built. She carried bricks for construction of the church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos; she ground flour and fulfilled other obediences, during which she never neglected her heartfelt prayers, "silently lifting up her ardent soul to the Lord."

This wondrous girl was endowed by the Lord with a very rare gift of pure and unceasing prayer. In all things she was always guided by Saint Seraphim himself. As an example of her unconditional obedience, it was said that when her sister Praskovia Semenovna had a question about a certain Sarov monk, Maria was surprised and like an innocent child she asked: "What kind of monks, Parasha, look like a priest?"

Surprised in turn by her sister's question, Praskovya Semenovna replied to her: "After all, you go to Sarov, didn't you see what you were asking about?" – "No, Parashenka," Maria Semenovna said humbly, "because I don't see or know anything; Father Seraphim ordered me never to look at them, and I tie a handkerchief over my face like this, so I can see the road beneath my feet."

That is how the child-ascetic was. She lived in the Monastery for just six years, and then she went peacefully and quietly to the Lord at the age of nineteen.

On August 21,1829, Diveyevo Monastery lost its wondrous young girl of holy life, Maria Semenovna Milyukova, Schema-nun Martha. Having foreseen the hour of her death in the spirit, Saint Seraphim suddenly wept with great sorrow and told Father Paul in the neighboring cell, “Paul! Maria has departed, and it grieves me that, as you see, everyone is crying!”

Batiushka Seraphim wished to make her an oak coffin, rounded and hollowed out. Praskovya Semenovna went after him with another sister of Diveyevo, Aquilina Vasilyevna. Praskovya Semenovna was very upset, and Batiushka embraced her in a paternal way, caressing and encouraging her. Then he joined the hands of Praskovya Semenovna and Aquilina Vasilyevna and told them: "Now you shall be sisters, and I am your father, for I have begotten you in the Spirit! Maria is the Schema-nun Martha, I tonsured her into the Schema. She has everything: the Schema, the mantiya, and my kamilavka, all this is hers. Put it down! Don't be discouraged, Matushka." Father Seraphim turned to Praskovya Semenovna and said, "Her soul is in the Kingdom of Heaven, near the Holy Trinity, at God's Throne, and your entire family shall be saved by her."

In addition, Batiushka Seraphim donated 25 rubles for the funeral expenses and 25 copper rubles to give to all the sisters and laymen, whoever was at her burial, three kopecks each. He also donated two towels for the altar, a bunch of yellow candles for her to be commemorated for forty days after her repose, so that they would burn in the church day and night for forty days, and at her coffin a yellow one ruble candle, and at the funeral, half a pound of white twenty-kopeck candles.

Thus, with the blessing of Saint Seraphim, Maria Semenovna, Schema-nun Martha, was laid in a coffin: in two scrolls (shirts), in a paper cassock, belted with a woolen black edge, over this was in a black and white cross-stitched Schema and a long robe. On her head was placed a green velvet embroidered gold cap, and on top of it Batiushka Seraphim's kamilavka, and finally, still tied with a large dradedam a dark blue handkerchief with tassels. In her hands - leather prayer ropes. All these things were given to her by Father Seraphim with his own hands, ordering them always to commune of the Holy Mysteries, which was exactly what Maria did on each of the Twelve Major Feasts, and during the four fasts.

The righteous Seraphim sent all those who had just come to him in these days to Diveyevo for the funeral of Maria Semenovna. So, to the sisters who knew nothing about it, those who worked on Satis (a forest area on the banks of the Satis River), to Barbara Ilyinishna and others, the Elder said: "You are my joys! Come soon to Diveyevo where the great servant of God Maria has departed to the Lord!" The sisters could not understand how Maria could die, and they were surprised to find Maria Semenovna in her coffin.

Then Maria Semenovna's brother Ivan, who had also attended his sister's funeral, went to speak to Batiushka Seraphim. Suddenly the Elder said: "Are you really Maria's brother?" – "Yes, Batiushka," he replied. Batiushka looked at him a second time and asked: "Are you Maria's brother?" – "Yes, Batiushka," he said again.

Then the Elder thought for a long, long time, still staring intently at Ivan, who stood before him. Suddenly he became so joyful and luminous that the sun's rays seemed to shine from his face, and Ivan had to turn away from Father Seraphim, unable to look at him. Then Batiushka exclaimed: "Behold, my joy! What mercy she has received from the Lord! She is in the Kingdom of Heaven at the Throne of God, near the Queen of Heaven, with the holy virgins! She is an intercessor for your entire family! She is the Schema-nun Martha, I tonsured her. Whenever you are at Diveyevo, never pass by her grave without kneeling down and saying: "Our lady and Mother Martha, remember us before God's Throne in the Kingdom of Heaven!"

Then Saint Seraphim repeated this to Ivan Semenovich three times.

After that, Father Seraphim summoned Sister Xenia Vasilyevna Putkova (later the Nun Capitolina) whom he always assigned to write down various names for commemoration, and said to her, "Behold, Matushka, list her as the Nun Maria, but because by her deeds and by the prayers of the wretched Seraphim, she has received the Schema! Pray to her as Schema-nun Martha, you and everyone around her."

According to the testimony of the sisters and those close to Diveyeo, Maria Semenovna was tall and attractive in appearance; with an oblong, pale, bright face, blue eyes, thick light blonde eyebrows, and hair of the same color. She was buried with her hair loose. She rests on the left side of Mother Alexandra, the first founder of the Kazan community. Few of the stories told by the older nuns about Maria Semenovna have been preserved. Maria Ilarionovna (later the nun Melitina) related the following: "Living in the world and hearing about Father Seraphim from everyone," she said: "I wished to be at Sarov and to receive his blessing. First of all, when I arrived at Sarov, I went to Batiushka in his wilderness; he came out to meet me, blessed me, and said with a smile, 'Matushka, do you know Maria Semenovna?' I said 'I do know her, Batiushka; she lives three yards away from us.'

'Behold, Matushka," the Saint continued, 'I will tell you about her, how zealous she was about her work. When a church was being built at Diveyevo in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the girls themselves carried small bricks, one took two, another took three, and she, Matushka, could carry five or six bricks, and silently, with a prayer on her lips, she lifted up her ardent soul to the Lord. Soon she developed a stomach ailment and surrendered her soul to God.'

According to Saint Seraphim, the nineteen-year-old ascetic Schema-nun Martha, who departed to the Lord, was appointed, as the Superior of the Diveyevo "orphans" in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the abode of the Mother of God, concerning which he said to the Eldress Eudokia Ephraimna: "The Lord has twelve Apostles, the Queen of Heaven has twelve virgins, so you twelve are mine. Just as the Lord chose the Great Martyr Katherine as His bride, so from you twelve virgins, I selected Maria as His future bride. There she is above you, she will be the eldest!"

Their brother, Ivan Semenovich, also ended his life as a monk at Sarov Hermitage. Having the obedience as the gatekeeper at Sarov, he said: "As a layman and a peasant, I often worked for Father Seraphim, and he foretold many, many wonderful things to me concerning Diveyevo, and he always said: "If anyone offends my orphan girls, he shall be punished severely by the Lord; but whoever stands up for them, and defends and helps them when in need, God's great mercy will poured forth on that person from on high. Whoever even sighs and pities them in his heart will be rewarded by the Lord. And I will tell you, Batiushka, remember this: happy is everyone who stays with the wretched Seraphim at Diveyevo for a day, from morning to morning, for the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, visits Diveyevo every twenty-four hours!"

Remembering his commandment to Batiushka he added: "Gatekeeper, I have always said that, and I tell everyone."

Three of his daughters later entered the Diveyevo community. One of them, Elena Ivanovna, married a spiritual man, Saint Seraphim's friend Nicholas Alexandrovich Motovilov, who was the Monastery's benefactor. She was a "great lady," as Batiushka Seraphim called her when she was just a child, ordering her sister to fall down at the young girl's feet. Elena Ivanovna was the only one present at Father Seraphim's burial in 1833, and she survived until his glorification in 1903. Widowed in the last years of her life, she lived at Diveyevo. Elena Ivanovna reposed at an advanced age in 1910. Before her death, she was secretly tonsured as a nun.

Praskovya Stepanovna, an old sister in the community by the mill related how terrible it was to disobey Father Seraphim, she recalled that once Batiushka ordered her to come with the young woman Maria Semenovnaya with two horses pulling logs behind them. They were to go straight to Batiushka in the woods, where he would be waiting. They prepared two thin logs for each horse. Then, thinking that all four logs could be carried by one horse. The sisters attached the logs to one horse, and to the second horse, they attached a large, thick log. But as soon as they tried to move from their places, this horse fell, wheezed, and almost died. Knowing that they were guilty of acting contrary to what Batiushka had blessed, they immediately fell to their knees in tears and asked for forgiveness, and then removed the thick log and attached the other logs as before. The horse jumped up and ran so fast that they could hardly catch up. The words of Schema-nun Martha have come down to us through generations of Diveyevo sisters, recorded by an old woman, Justinia Ivanovna (later the nun Hilaria), from a manuscript page found in the cells of Schema-nun Margarita Lakhtionova.

After the Monastery was restored, the Lord wondrously celebrated the Feast Day of the Venerable Schema-nun Martha by consecrating the Transfiguration Cathedral. It was built in 1917 but was not consecrated. It lay in ruins during the Soviet years and the authorities transferred the cathedral to the restored Monastery in 1991, The restoration work went on until 1998, and the Cathedral's consecration just happened to coincide with the day of the Saint's blessed repose.

According to the memoirs of the nun Seraphima Bulgakova of Diveyevo Monastery, before the Monastery's closure in 1927, there was a portrait of Schema-nun Martha, painted by the sisters immediately after her death. According to the testimony of Archpriest Stephen Lyashevsky, in addition to this portrait, another one was painted by his mother (Capitolina Zakharovna Lyashevskaya, later the nun Maria). It is a hagiographic image of the Schema-nun Martha with the following scenes around the borders: Schema-nun Martha carrying bricks to the top of the Nativity Church under construction; Father Seraphim tonsuring her into the schema; Father Seraphim, Maria, and Praskovya Semenovna pray with lit candles for Diveyevo; the soul of Schema-nun Martha ascending to God's Throne; the Queen of Heaven and Schema-nun Martha in a vision in the church; and three holy graves. The present location of Schema-nun Martha's portrait is unknown, but the hagiographic image is believed to have been taken abroad.

In 2000, Schema-nun Martha was canonized for local veneration as a Saint in the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, and now her relics rest in the church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery. Saint Martha of Diveyevo is commemorated on August 21 (the day of her repose), June 14 (the Synaxis of the Diveyevo Saints), and on the Synaxis of the Nizhny Novgorod Saints (Movable Feast on the Sunday after August 26).

Source, all texts: OCA

2 Corinthians 2:14-3:3

14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Matthew 23:23-28

23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristianity #easternorthodoxchurch #originofchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #bible #wisdom #faith #saints #jesus christ #holy spirit

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ultrajaphunter · 5 months

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Drone attacks on RuZZian oil and Gas infrastructure - #PlanB ,

after western interventions on curtailing RuZZia’s daily revenue to fund the illegal and murderous war.

Context: Targeting the interruption of this revenue by the EU and G7 countries have until now - acted through implementation of sanctions and the oil price cap on seaborne russian oil.

The price cap has become ineffective, as RuZZia has moved from a 90% reliance on EU owned and insured oil tankers -

to an opaque and nefarious shadow fleet of tankers to shift it’s oil -

and is realizing a sale value well above the price cap -

which means more money to fund the war in Ukraine.

In the absence of the United Nations intervening in the growth of the shadow fleet of dangerous, aged and uninsured vessels shifting RuZZian oil,

and in the absence of the enforcement of the price cap.

This is through the EU and G7’s failure to implement secondary sanctions on shadow companies and shippers, who easily manipulate the cost of cargo born by the vessels using miscellaneous transport costs by the shadow carriers and intermediaries and oil traders.

Traders have a new lawless hotspot - based in Dubai.

The United Nations under the incompetent leadership of Antonia Guterres (currently playing the Palestine card while the World edges towards all out war),

Ukraine has implemented plan B -

a new tactic to circumvent RuZZia’s oil and gas supplies and revenue -

by using targeted #drone strikes on critical infrastructure.

Recent Drone Strikes:

RuZZia energy infrastructure has been hit by 7 drone attacks and fires in the past month, adding to uncertainty in global oil and gas markets already rocked by the conflict in the Middle East.

* on Jan. 18

that Ukraine had tried and failed to target a RuZZian Baltic Sea oil terminal with a drone.

Ukraine said it had hit targets in St Petersburg with domestic-made drone. Mikhail Skigin, a co-owner of the St #Petersburg Oil Terminal, told RBC media that the air defence had thwarted a "monstrous catastrophe", opens new tab, which could lead to human losses and ecological damage to the Baltic Sea.

* on Jan. 19

Four oil tanks at a large storage facility in the town of Klintsy in RuZZia's western Bryansk region caught fire after the military brought down a Ukrainian strike drone, the regional governor said.

* on Jan 19

A fire tore through Ryazan oil refinery, RuZZia's third-largest,,

* on Jan. 21

RuZZian energy giant #Novatek, was forced to suspend some operations at the huge Baltic Sea fuel export terminal at Ust-luga as well as "technological processes" at a nearby fuel-producing complex due to a fire, started by what Ukrainian media said was a drone attack. RuZZia will likely cut exports of naphtha by some 127,500-136,000 barrels per day, or around a third of its total exports, after fires disrupted operations at refineries according to traders and LSEG ship-tracking data.

* on Jan. 26

Rosneft's Tuapse oil refinery 250km inside RuZZia from the frontline - halted oil processing and output following a fire.

* on Jan. 27

#Lukoil halted a unit at NORSI, RuZZia's fourth largest refinery, located near the city of Nizhny #Novgorod, some 430 km (270 miles) east of Moscow, after an "incident".

RuZZian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that repair work would take at least a month or a month and a half.

* Jan. 29

RuZZian air defences thwarted a drone attack on the Slavneft #YANOS oil refinery in the city of Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow, regional governor Mikhail Yevrayev said.

* on Saturday, Feb. 3

Two Ukrainian attack drones struck the largest 300,000 bpd oil refinery owned by LUKOIL in the country's south, in Volgograd, the latest in a series of long-range attacks on RuZZian oil facilities which has reduced RuZZia's exports of naphtha, a petrochemical feedstock.

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aurevoirmonty · 6 months

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Libération de l’Ukraine : la Russie va lever au moins 250,000 hommes supplémentaires

La Russie va lever deux armées combinées supplémentaires, ainsi que 14 divisions et 16 brigades.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu shakes up the world stage with the rollout of 2 fresh ground armies, boasting 16 brigades and 14 divisions pic.twitter.com/H4ICrP5pGE — Liberty_Sean (@sharland57753) March 21, 2024

Une armée combinée peut représenter jusqu’à 17,000 hommes, une division environ 12,000 hommes, une brigade à peu près 4,000 hommes. Au total, au moins 250,000 hommes supplémentaires devraient être recrutés, entraînés et équipés d’ici à la fin de l’année 2024, peut-être davantage.

Il n’est pas précisé dans quel secteur ces troupes seront déployées, même si l’état-major russe a souligné lors du même point de situation la création récente d’une flottille du Dniepr, chargée de maîtriser le passage du fleuve qui coupe l’Ukraine en deux.

Stratégiquement, le passage du fleuve suivi d’un assaut victorieux contre Odessa infligerait une défaite stratégique pour Kiev qui perdrait tout accès à la mer. L’agitation de Macron au sujet de cette ville crédite cette possibilité.

La récente réception d’une représentante de la Transnistrie russe par Vladimir Poutine, après l’appel à l’aide de cette région, constitue également un signal.

🤝 On March 6, 2024 President Vladimir Putin met with Governor of Gagauzia Evghenia Gutsul on the sidelines of #WYF2024. 🔗 https://t.co/qctKhZCvx3 pic.twitter.com/HVx3QAf2p2 — MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) March 7, 2024

Compte tenu de l’état d’épuisement rapide de l’armée ukrainienne, une percée en force dans ce secteur d’ici la fin 2024, ou courant 2025, est possible.

La Moldavie pourrait dans la foulée être libérée par l’armée russe.

Quant à l’effort de guerre, il progresse. Les Russes ont commencé la production en série de bombes guidées de 3 tonnes qui compléteront celles de 500 kilos et 1,5 tonne qu’ils emploient depuis peu à grande échelle grâce à leurs nouveaux kits.

Les Russes ont arrêté de tourner autour du pot. Désormais, ils comptent bien écraser tout ce qui tente de résister par un énorme déluge d’acier et de flammes.

Mass production of three-ton FAB-3000 aerial bombs has begun in Russia. Shoigu was told this during his inspection of the Industrial Enterprises of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. pic.twitter.com/5jhTRkebJp — ayden (@squatsons) March 21, 2024

Bref, les choses prennent une bonne direction.

Démocratie Participative

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phonemantra-blog · 10 months

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Information from the regional governor Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region Gleb Nikitin said that the regional authorities are planning to restart the production of cars under their own brand. “The auto industry has certainly strengthened, I say this with absolute responsibility. It was more dependent on the market situation, on various specific suppliers, but now we have more choice, more options and opportunities. We are now very actively working to expand the line of cars we produce. We hope that in the near future we will be able to return to the Nizhny Novgorod region the production of passenger cars under our own brands. We are waiting for a domestic, Nizhny Novgorod brand,” said Gleb Nikitin. “We are waiting for a domestic, Nizhny Novgorod brand,” - Volga may return in the near future [caption id="attachment_84861" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Volga[/caption] The head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, previously said that the new Volga could be presented as early as next summer. The Gorky Automobile Plant operates in Nizhny Novgorod, which produces buses and commercial vehicles. Volkswagen and Skoda cars were produced at GAZ facilities. Gleb Nikitin added that the region plans to expand cooperation with Chinese companies.

#automobile #automotive_design #automotive_heritage #automotive_history #car_model #classic_car #gaz_volga #Russian_automotive #Russian_car #Russian_car_manufacturer #sedan #Soviet_automobile #vintage_cars #Volga #Volga_series

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mariacallous · 1 year

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According to preliminary results from the Central Election Committee, candidates from the ruling United Russia party have won 13 gubernatorial elections.

The Central Election Committee also reports that Sergei Sobyanin, incumbent mayor of Moscow, has won reelection with 76.39% of votes. Additionally, incumbent governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, received 83.68% of the votes.

The incumbent governors or acting heads nominated by United Russia won in 11 other constituent entities of the Russian Federation:

In Primorsky Krai — Oleg Kozhemyako (72.78%);

in Amur region — Vasily Orlov (82.38%);

in Magadan region — Sergey Nosov (72.39%);

in Chukotka — Vladislav Kuznetsov (72.34%);

in Nizhny Novgorod region — Gleb Nikitin (82.82%);

in Altai Krai — Viktor Tomenko (76.16%);

in Omsk region — Vitaly Khotsenko (76.33%);

in the Pskov region — Mikhail Vedernikov (86.3%);

in Novosibirsk region — Andrei Travnikov (75.72%);

in the Kemerovo region — Sergey Tsivilev (85.24%);

in Voronezh region — Alexander Gusev (76.83%).

In Khakassia and Orel region, incumbent governors representing the Communist Party of the Russian Federation won: Valentin Konovalov (63.14%) and Andrei Klychkov (82.09%).

In another six regions, where the vote counts is being finalized, the leading candidates are also United Russia candidates and incumbent governors. In Yakutia, the incumbent head of the region Aysen Nikolaev is in the lead (75.77%). In Krasnoyarsk Krai, Mikhail Kotyukov has a majority (70.21%). In the Ivanovo region Stanislav Voskresensky is leads (82.49%), in the Samara region — Dmitry Azarov (83.83%), in the Smolensk region — Vasily Anokhin (86.62%), in the Tyumen region — Alexander Moore (78.77%).

In total, elections for regional heads were held in 21 Russian regions.

“Elections” for municipal and regional “parliaments” were carried out in the occupied and annexed territories of Ukraine. There United Russia claimed a majority of the votes, said Alexander Sidyakin, head of the party’s central executive committee. They claim to have won between nearly 75% and 83% of the vote.

In a statement from September 4, the Council of Europe said the “elections” in Ukraine’s occupied territories were, “a flagrant violation of international law which Russia continues to disregard,” and that holding them created, “an illusion of democracy but clearly violates the right of citizens to participate in the conduct of local public affairs.”

Election observation movement Golos reports that, “a significant contribution [to voter coertion] this year is made by reports of the use of digital technologies and, above all, remote electronic voting (DEG) for coercion.” Golos has observed a number of irregularities related to electronic voting.

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gorky-gorod · 1 year

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❗️In #NizhnyNovgorod, a car with propagandist Zakhar Prilepin was blown up. The governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Gleb Nikitin, said that Prilepin was "in order." The police are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

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mostly-history · 5 years

Photo

Illustrated cards for the provinces of the Russian Empire (published in St. Petersburg 1856). Each card presents an overview of the province's history, geography, culture and economics. The front depicts distinguishing features such as rivers, mountains, and major cities and industries. The back shows a map of the province, the provincial seal, information about the population, and a picture of the local dress of the inhabitants.

The cards shown here are the guberniyas (governorates) of Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, and Simbirsk.

#history #art #geography #fashion #russia #yaroslavl governorate #kostroma governorate #nizhny novgorod governorate #kazan governorate #simbirsk governorate #yaroslavl #kostroma #nizhny novgorod #kazan #simbirsk #ulyanovsk

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kalevalaandothers · 21 days

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Mordovian man Ivan Filipovich Atmukhov from village of Bortsovo, Nizhegorodsky Uezd of Nizhny Novgorod Governorate, 1866.

Photography by B. Barro

#mordva #volga finns #old photo

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anne-lister-adventures · 4 years

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Tuesday, 11 February 1840

8 1/2

3 50/’’

Fine morning Reaumur 9 1/2º at 8 1/2 a.m. on the window seat in my room – Breakfast at 9 50/’’ in 40 minutes then dawdling over 1 thing or other till 11 5/’’ Madame Krukoff having just sent her compliments and to know when we should like to have her carriage – Compliments – Much obliged – Would like to have the carriage immediately – (Had expected it to be here at 11 without more ado) – How one’s time is frittered away! –

The carriage at 11 25/’’ – Out at 11 40/’’ drove along the Moscow road, the summer road for one comes along the river in winter – Our steep pitch down from Dosxino on Saturday night was down upon the river and of our 26 versts we came 23 on the frozen Oca – Returned and came down up the curious old (century old or more) Strogonoff church – All about the numerous windows, doors, pilasters &c. &c. (the whole exterior) profusely florid in white plaster-ornament on a painted ground (painted in fresco, in a pattern à la Tartar) – Very grotesque and picturesque and striking –

The Stroganov Church (c. 1870).

As it were 2 churches the one entered thro’ the other – Rich iconostase, and domes and painted walls – In the 1st church a good wooden whole length figure Our Saviour with a crown of thorns, and clothed naturally in the costume of the time and standing so naturally and looking so natural (not tall – a littleish man) that one might have been deceived, or passed the figure by, as I did at first –

Then along the river some distance – Then crossed to the other side, and drove along the Bourg beyond the Great Gastinoi Dvor of the Fair – Passed the Armenian Church – Drove along the foire Dvor up to the cathedral and from there got a view of the Mahomedan Mosque – Could not drive there too much snow –

Then drove along the Oca to its junction with the Volga – Nijeny beautifully and picturesquely seated along the crête of the high ground and creeping down the slope, as it were in terraces, to the river – The large white Monastery and its handsome church on a platform midway the steep ridge with the Town and one or 2 churches on the summit of the ridge above extending some distance beyond – And at the other end of the ridge, high over the Volga, the Kremlin, and its domes and high white wall, and round towers, and the basse ville beneath .. – All together very fine – Nijeni very finely situated – From the Faire side Nijeni – from the Nijeni side, the Faire – Both sides strikingly fine – How beautiful it must be in summer – How fine the junction of these 2 noble rivers – But said Colonel Gottman to A-[Ann] this evening (at dinner) the Oca is not here (as according to Schnitzler) a verst broad – The bridge of boats from Nijeni to the Fair is not near that –

Returned by the Kremlin Reaumur -18º of cold this morning said Madame de Krukoff’s footman – And Mrs. Gottman said she had just had her children out in the sun and Reaumur -14º - I daresay it was -18º on the rivers without sun as we stood there A-[Ann] too cold and got in the carriage again almost immediately – At 2 called at the General Governor’s – Madame de Boutourline out – Then called and sat 10 minutes with Madame Gottman and then 7 minutes with Madame Baehr – Both invited to meet us at dinner at the Krukoff’s – All very civil –

The Kremlin at Nizhny Novgorod (c. 1896).

Home at 2 1/2 – Dressed – Off in the Krukoff carriage a handsome new coach-vassock built here, à 4 places – At 3 3/4 – All had arrived before us – A Madame Lessing? and her husband (she English?) les 2 dames Gottman and Baehr and their husbands – The Prince de Georgie (Grubinsky) and his nephew Prince Trubatskoi – Another gentleman and our friend Mr. Tolstoy – The 2 Krukoffs (she 60 he above both in excellent perservation) and our 2 selves – 14 of us – (I think there was nobody else – no other gentleman) –

The avant diner soon brought in – 1st liqueurs – Then caviar, cheese bread and one or 2 other little things, tranches de saucisses …. then dinner – Handsome and excellent – 2 soups – Tchee, and a sort of gravy soup – This done – 2 sorts of pâtés handed round – Then a marinade of fish? Then round cutlet-like slices of roast beef with spinach? and small potatoes – Then a plat of small pieces of veal and savory jelly and coxcombs &c. very prettily arranged and good – Then Sterlet excellent in little slices – Stewed with an excellent gravy – Then a plat of vegetables asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, and green peas – Then the rôti turkey and partridges and with this rôti we had preserved cherries and coucombres salés – Then an excellent jelly (large mould garnished with very small moulds of ditto done with pine apple of which a piece in the middle of the little moulds – Excellent) – Then 3 or 4 sorts of sweetmeats excellent – Then biscuits – Light white wine on the table a bottle to about every 2 or 3 people – then London porter handed round – Then sherry or Madeira – An excellent Rhine wine, Malaga and Lunel – And lastly Champagne one glass to each person – No water glasses today –

Then retired to the salon, and almost immediately coffee – Nobody except Tolstoy and the one we did not know slipt off – Came away till we moved – Then all moved – Everybody very civil –

We home at 6 25/’’ – Asked at dinner about the wine done with Seville oranges – It is called Bishkoff? The Lady on my right (Madame de Krukoff on my left and Monsieur de K-[Krukoff] handed me out) Madame Lessing to give me the receipt for making it – Madame de K-[Krukoff] said we ought to try the strawberry and raspberry and cherry wine made in Russia – Bottles filled with the berries, then brandy poured over so as to well cover the berries over the top – These let to stand some time (did not say how long) then poured out into a large vessel, and all strained thro’ a bag, then bottled and sweetened to the taste of the person and kept for use –

The Prince de Georgie will give us a letter to his village 80 versts from here where we are to sleep tomorrow night – He will come to us tomorrow as also Madame K-[Krukoff] said we should be off as soon as we could at 10 or 11 a.m. –

Prince Georgy Gruzinsky in the 1840s.

On our return home found that Mr. de Boutourline had called and left letter for the General Gouverneur of Kazan and 2 cards de la part de Madame de B-[Boutourline] née Princess ҖaxobckaA Shachovskaia –

Changed my dress – Put all up ready for tomorrow – Tea at 8 – They had recommended Nijeni felt boots (the manufacture of the place) and sent the maker A-[Ann] and I bought each a pair – Nice – Pretty, at 4/- per pair – Then wrote all but the first 4 lines of today till now 10 1/4 p.m. – Very fine day –

Then wrote 4 pp.[pages] 1/2 sheet wide and not small to old Princess Croussoff, and then 4 pp.[pages] 1/2 sheet tolerably small and close to Countess A.[Alexandrine] P.[Panin] till two and forty minutes –

[symbols in the margin of the page:] ✓c ✓c ✓c

[in the margin of the page:] Reaumur –18º

[in the margin of the page:] dinner at the Krukoffs’

[in the margin of the page:] Russian wines

Page References: SH:7/ML/E/24/0011 and SH:7/ML/E/24/0012

#anne lister code breaker #anne lister #ann walker #moscow to baku 1840

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orthodoxydaily · 2 years

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Saints&Reading: Wed., June 29, 2022

June 29_June16

SAINT TYKHON, BISHOP OF AMATUS (425)

image @Artis

Saint Tikhon, Bishop of Amathus, was born in the city Amathus on the island of Cyprus. His parents raised their son in Christian piety, and taught him the reading of sacred books. It is said that the gift of wonderworking appeared in Saint Tikhon at quite a young age.

His father was the owner of a bakery, and whenever he left his son alone in the shop, the holy youth would give free bread to those in need. Learning of this, his father became angry, but the son said that he had read in the Scriptures, that in giving to God one receives back a hundredfold. “I,” said the youth, “gave to God the bread which was taken,” and he persuaded his father to go to the place where the grain was stored. With astonishment the father saw that the granary, which formerly was empty, was now filled to overflowing with wheat. From that time the father did not hinder his son from distributing bread to the poor.

A certain gardener brought the dried prunings of vines from the vineyard. Saint Tikhon gathered them, planted them in his garden and besought the Lord that these branches might take root and yield fruit for the health of people. The Lord did so through the faith of the holy youth. The branches took root, and their fruit had a particular and very pleasant taste. It was used during the lifetime of the saint and after his death for making wine for the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist.

They accepted the pious youth into the church clergy, made him a reader. Later, Mnemonios, the Bishop of Amathus ordained him a deacon. After the death of Bishop Mnemonios, Saint Tikhon by universal agreement was chosen as Bishop of Amathus. Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus (May 12), presided at the service.

Saint Tikhon labored zealously to eradicate the remnants of paganism on Cyprus; he destroyed a pagan temple and spread the Christian Faith. The holy bishop was generous, his doors were open to all, and he listened to and lovingly fulfilled the request of each person who came to him. Fearing neither threats nor tortures, he firmly and fearlessly confessed his faith before pagans.

In the service to Saint Tikhon it is stated that he foresaw the time of his death, which occurred in the year 425.

The name of Saint Tikhon of Amathus was greatly honored in Russia. Temples dedicated to the saint were constructed at Moscow, at Nizhni Novgorod, at Kazan and other cities. But he was particularly venerated in the Voronezh diocese, where there were three archpastors in succession sharing the name with the holy hierarch of Amathus: Saint Tikhon I (Sokolov) (+ 1783, August 13), Tikhon II (Yakubovsky, until 1785) and Tikhon III (Malinin, until 1788).

source: Orthodox Church in America

ST. KAIKHOSRO THE GEORGIAN (1612)

The life of St. Kaikhosro the Georgian has been passed down to our century in the works of Archbishop Timote (Gabashvili), a famous Church figure and historian of the 18th century. In a passage describing the frescoes and commemoration books of the Holy Cross Monastery in Jerusalem, Bishop Timote writes that an image of St. Kaikhosro the Georgian is among the sacred frescoes. According to the commemoration books of the Holy Cross Monastery, St. Kaikhosro the Georgian was tortured to death by Shah Abbas I in 1612 for his pious veneration of the holy icons.

MATTHEW 10:16-22

16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21 Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

ROMANS 8:2-13

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristianity #EasternChristianity #originofchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #wisdom

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dushegreya · 5 years

Photo

1. Женский праздничный костюм. Середина ХIХ века. Нижегородская губерния. ГРМ.

Woman’s festive clothes. Mid 19th century. Nizhny Novgorod Governorate. The State Russian Museum.

2. “Очелье” под “кокошником”

“Ochelie” element under the “kokoshnik“ headdress

Source: https://vk.com/club65068529

#russian costume #costume #traditional russian costume #kokoshnik #ochelie

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architectnews · 4 years

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Astrakhan Agglomeration Competition

Astrakhan Agglomeration Master Plan Competition, Caspian Sea Design Contest News, Russian Architects

Astrakhan Agglomeration Competition, Russia

19 Mar 2021

Astrakhan Agglomeration Masterplan Competition

Location: Astrakhan, Russia

Astrakhan Region awaits comprehensive changes:

Astrakhan. Astrakhan Kremlin. Fortress. Assumption Cathedral and the bell tower of the Astrakhan Kremlin. Flying drone over the Kremlin. Panorama of the city of Astrakhan. park for rest and walks. The central embankment of the city. A cruise ship. The bridge over the highway bridge across the Volga, Swan Lake. Volga. Beautiful multi-storey houses near the river.

Astrakhan starts on path of agglomeration development: international competition for master plan of the Astrakhan agglomeration announced

March 2021, Moscow, Astrakhan – An Open International Competition for the development of a master plan for the Astrakhan agglomeration was announced today by the TASS information agency. The project is designed to establish the priorities for the development of the agglomeration, to raise the population’s quality of life to a new level, and to ensure the new status of the region with the subsequent introduction of amendments to the territorial planning and urban zoning documents of Astrakhan Region and Astrakhan.

Astrakhan. Volga. The bridge over the highway bridge across the Volga. Panorama of the city of Astrakhan. The central embankment of the city, Swan Lake. Monument to Peter 1 on the park for rest and walks. A cruise ship. Beautiful multi-storey houses near the river. Astrakhan Kremlin. Assumption Cathedral and the bell tower of the Astrakhan Kremlin

At the end of 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined the need for a transition to master planning as the principal tool allowing the determination of the strategic aspects of a city’s urban development, instructing the Russian government to prepare proposals for the transition of large cities from general plans to master plans. Astrakhan will be one of the first regional centers to start developing a master plan. The master plan resulting from the open international competitive procedure will determine the main vectors for the development of the urban agglomeration in the medium and long term.

The Open International Competition became a part of the comprehensive work begun by the region based on personal instructions from Governor of Astrakhan Region Igor Babushkin. The work is being carried out by the Agency for Strategic Development CENTER with the support of the Government of Astrakhan Region and the Administration of Astrakhan and with the participation of leading federal and local experts, as well as taking into account the opinions of the residents of the region while involving them in the process of changes, in accordance with the Standard for Involving Citizens in Solving Issues of the Urban Environment developed by the Ministry of Construction of Russia. The work includes an analytical study and a professional competition in urban planning.

Irek Fayzullin, Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation: “The participation of citizens in decision making on the future development of territories is a necessary process for creating a comfortable urban environment. It is essential to creating truly desirable spaces. Involving residents helps to accommodate the needs and wishes of the people who use the area. Today, Astrakhan Region has set itself ambitious challenges, including the introduction of a tool for agglomeration development and the creation of a master plan.”

Astrakhan Region is a unique region of Russia, one of the centers of the Caspian Sea region, the country’s southern outpost, and a center of diplomatic and cultural relations. Due to its geographical position, the region has high cultural, tourist, economic, industrial and logistic potential. It is a multinational and multi-confessional region, on the territory of which there are almost 900 monuments of architecture, history and culture.

Aerial view of the Astrakhan Kremlin, historical and architectural complex. Russia, Astrakhan

The purpose of the master plan is to solve strategic challenges in the development of the Astrakhan agglomeration and the region as a whole. The document will help in setting development priorities, improving the quality of the environment and of life in the urban and rural areas, as well as in developing the tertiary sector of the economy and reducing the outflow of the population. The set of measures developed will contribute to the social and economic development of the region with direct consideration of the opinions of residents on the development of the territory.

Igor Babushkin, Governor of Astrakhan Region, chairman of the judging panel: “Our primary wealth is our people. It is for them that we want to create the most comfortable living conditions. It is important to us to approach this issue comprehensively and systematically. Therefore, we want to start working out and formulating a master plan for the Astrakhan agglomeration. This approach is the future. As world practice shows, the economy of an agglomeration develops 20% more efficiently than the economy of a single city.”

The competition will have two stages and will be concluded on July 22. Its goal is to choose the master plan that is optimal for the Astrakhan agglomeration, implementing a scenario for the development of the territory which takes into account the identified potential and promising areas of integration.

Applications for participation in the competition will be accepted until April 7. Participation in the competition is open to professional organizations operating in Russia in the field of integrated development of territories and urban planning, architecture, design, and elaboration of concepts for the development of public spaces and capable of attracting specialists in the fields of economics, finance, and content programming to the team.

In the first stage, the judging panel, which will include representatives of government authorities, development institutions, and experts in the field of architecture, urban planning, integrated development of territories, cultural heritage, as well as economics and spatial planning, marketing and communications, technology and innovation, will name three finalists. They will continue to work in the second stage and at the end of July they will submit their bids to the judging panel. Based on the results of this consideration, a decision will be made to choose the winner of the competition, whose project will be implemented in the future. The judging panel will be headed by Governor of Astrakhan Region Igor Babushkin.

The total value of the prize fund is RUB 15,500,000, of which the winner will receive RUB 6,500,000, the runner-up – RUB 5,000,000, and the third place finisher – RUB 4,000,000.

To take part in the competition, it is necessary to fill out an application on the official competition website at https://astraplan.ru/en and provide a portfolio of completed projects demonstrating relevant experience, along with an essay with a description of the key ideas that will lay the groundwork for the future master plan.

Astrakhan Agglomeration Competition Russia images / information received 190321

24 Dec 2020

Astrakhan Agglomeration

Astrakhan Region Masterplan News image courtesy of article provider Astrakhan Agglomeration Masterplan

Location: Astrakhan Agglomeration, Russia

Russian Architecture

Russian Architecture Designs – chronological list

Russian Buildings

Russian Architecture Walking Tours

Russian Architecture Competitions

Masterplan for Derbent Urban District Competition

The Spit in Nizhny Novgorod Competition photo from Union of Moscow Architects The Spit in Nizhny Novgorod Competition

Vasilievsky Island competition, Saint Petersburg, Russia Design: KCAP Architects&Planners / ORANGE Architects visual © KCAP and ORANGE Architects Vasilievsky Island Competition St. Petersburg

Belgorod City Centre Competition Design: de Architekten Cie. image from architects Belgorod Design Competition Russia – 2013

A101 Urban Block Design Competition

National Center for Contemporary Arts Russia Competition

Nikola-Lenivets Architectural Competition

Russia Theme Park Design Competition

ZIM Design Contest Russia

Nizhny Novgorod Sports Complex Design: Wilkinson Eyre Architects Nizhny Novgorod Sports Complex

St Petersburg Masterplan Design: Wilkinson Eyre Architects St Petersburg Masterplan

Gazprom HQ, St. Petersburg RMJM Architects Russian tower

Mystetskyj Arsenal Cultural-Art and Museum Complex, Kiev Winning Design: Arata Isozaki & Associates image courtesy of architects Mystetskyj Arsenal Kiev Architecture Competition – 2008

Comments / photos for the Astrakhan Agglomeration Competition, Russia Architecture page welcome

Website: Oymyakon

The post Astrakhan Agglomeration Competition appeared first on e-architect.

#e-architect

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backstorywithdanalewis · 4 years

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Russia Dissent Back Story with Dana Lewis podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/7499026

Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (00:00) Your father was killed on the 27th of February, 2015 in front of the Kremlin gun down there. It must've been a terrible moment for you and probably still is. Zhanna Nemtsov: (00:11) It was, uh, uh, the most dramatic moment, uh, in my life. I think it was, uh, and it is still, it's a big tragedy for myself. And at the same time, it was a decisive moment. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (00:33) Hi everyone. And welcome to backstory. I'm Dana Lewis. On this edition, we talked to a young lady whose father was one of the leading opposition figures in Russia. And for speaking up and speaking out in Putin's Russia, it cost him his life. Also the former prime minister, who later tried to run for president and unseat Putin. He speaks on the recent demonstrations across the country corruption in the jailing of opposition figure Alexei, Navalny, and an expert view on what happens now or at John, and then SOF joins us now from Nizhny Novgorod John, how are you? I'm fine. Thank you. And you very well. I mean, it, it, your father was killed on the 27th of February, 2015 in front of the Kremlin gun down there. It must have been a terrible moment for you and probably still is. Zhanna Nemtsov: (01:31) It was, uh, uh, the most dramatic moment, uh, in my life. Um, so you wanna, you want to talk about my feelings, what I felt when I, uh, learned that my father had been assassinated? Yes, I think it was, uh, and it is still, it's a big tragedy for myself. And at the same time, it was a decisive moment. Uh, back then, uh, there was one question, should I, uh, keep, uh, silent or should I act, and back then it was a moral choice for me. And I understood perfectly well, uh, those risks, which are normally associated with, uh, being outspoken in Russia. Uh, and so I thought for probably one or two days and realized that, uh, I would be called otherwise, uh, it would be a betrayal of my father, and that's why I, uh, played an active role in the whole investigation. Of course, it was pretty clear for me that no proper would be conducted, uh, but I did what I could to push it forward. So we initiated, uh, and we employed some mechanisms of international oversight, uh, of this investigation and the parliamentary assembly of the council of Europe, uh, approved of a resolution. And it basically outlined, uh, uh, those drawbacks, which, uh, they were in the whole investigation. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (03:34) So the drug that the chief drawback would be if the state doesn't want to cooperate and they're not sincere in finding the killer is they're not going to be found, Zhanna Nemtsov: (03:44) They are not sincere. They can do that. I think it's not a complicated case for them, uh, but, uh, they don't want to, uh, identify most of months, or of course they don't want to identify the motive behind the investigation. These two questions, uh, still remain and answered. So we, uh, had, uh, the same procedure at, uh, there at the OSI. So, uh, we have the official position of two important international organizations regarding this investigation, but I still believe, uh, that, uh, the truth will come out. Uh, but I understand that is almost impossible that we will, uh, get the truth under the current political leadership in Russia Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (04:43) Who killed your dad. Do you think Zhanna Nemtsov: (04:50) You wanna, you wanna, you want me to say that, uh, they S uh, killing was, um, uh, authorized or directly ordered by legitimate Putin? I don't know because we, uh, no, uh, we, we don't know a lot, or we know very little about all the circumstances, uh, of, uh, of, of this murder, of this brutal murder. Uh, we know some, uh, some people who were directly involved and, uh, they were by the way identified, but, uh, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (05:29) Well, these are, these are the guys, these are the guys who pulled the trigger. Zhanna Nemtsov: (05:33) I mean, I mean, we have to basically, uh, not we, but the central investigative committee has to, uh, interrogate, uh, rums on Kuduro, uh, who I believe was directly involved in my father's as destination. And it was my request. I filed this requests on a number of occasions, but of course the central investigative committee, uh, does not do its job properly and they are doing it intentionally because, uh, effectively, uh, there, uh, top Russian officials blocked this investigation and it is itself a crime to block, uh, criminal investigations and at least, uh, and I, I said it six years ago and I would like to repeat it right now that [inaudible] best political responsibility for my father's murder. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (06:37) I knew your dad. And, uh, I liked him a lot as a journalist for NBC. I was based there originally in 1998 when the financial crash happened. Uh, and he was one of the first people I interviewed and he talked about how he was removed as deputy prime minister, because he wanted to close all the banks down, all of these corrupt dozens and dozens of banks. And, uh, they were trying to clean up the system and in the end, Yeltsin buckled under the pressure probably of oligarchy. And, uh, but, but then I followed your father also in Sochi when he ran for mayor, um, and asked him why you, you know, look, he was a governor of new Janine Novgorod region, and then he was deputy prime minister, and then suddenly he's running for mayor in Sochi. And the question was why, and obviously we knew the Olympics were going to go there, but, um, following him around in Sochi and Gary Kasparov was there. Um, and he just said, look, we have to start somewhere again to build a bridge of democracy, a free media, um, and then return Russia to back to development again, instead of this stillborn dictatorship. Um, and he was deeply inspired to do that. So it's a terrible loss for Russia, because if he had stayed as a, as a big political player in Russia, don't you think it would be a very different country today? Zhanna Nemtsov: (08:10) So, first of all, I would like to follow up on, uh, your, uh, uh, most recent remarks and just add to it that my father, uh, also, uh, participated in the original elections in the city of jaroslava and in 2013, he won their elections. He had got elected to the, uh, regional parliament or, uh, of the province of Urus Lovell. And he worked there quite effectively, I should say yes. And, uh, I think that, uh, he was not, uh, an arrogant person and he, uh, wanted to do something, uh, on any level and he was effective and he had a lot of experience in government governance, uh, for example, the region of [inaudible]. Um, so, uh, it's difficult. Uh, I would say yes, if, if my father, uh, had been elected president, uh, in 2000, we would have lived in a totally different country. Uh, of course, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (09:21) What was the point of, and by the way, many people thought that Boris Yeltsin was grooming him to take over, um, and that he would be president one day. And so it was this great opportunity missed by, I think a lot of people think, but what was the point of silencing him, uh, within assassination, because he had been critical of the administration and Putin and the Kremlin for many years, what was the point of it? Zhanna Nemtsov: (09:46) We can make guesses, but we cannot be so sure of our guesses. Uh, so you know that, uh, Russia is a repressive state, uh, it's governed by an autocrat. And of course, all, uh, leaders of the Russian opposition are under threat and on the attack, they can be killed. They can be thrown into prison, they can be poisoned. So it was the case with Alex [inaudible], uh, he was poisoned with Navi, choke a nerve agent, but he managed to survive and was a miracle. So it is how old, uh, autocratic States, uh, behave. There is nothing new about it. They're afraid of losing power and the ultimate goal for any older crowds and put in is by no way, an exception is to retain power presumably full life. So, and of course they are afraid of, uh, any people who, uh, oppose, who are critical of the government, uh, why they, why they, why they chose my father as a target that I don't know, I want to get an answer to this question. It's an important question. Uh, but he was the powerful voice and he was, he was an experienced politician. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (11:19) He was a powerful voice for sure. And I completely agree with you, John. And some people say maybe because that's when the invasion of Ukraine was taking place in the Crimea and he had, he had certain facts on what was sticking out. Zhanna Nemtsov: (11:31) I would, I would, I would, I would say different things regarding what you've just said about Ukraine. Yes. He was working, uh, on an investigative report about Russia's involvement, uh, military actual involvement into Ukraine, but, uh, you have to bear in mind. Uh, their political are in 2014 and 2015. It was very different from what is happening now because Putin, uh, has lost a lot of his legitimacy since 2015. So not back then. Uh, the level of support of Putin was really high. It was literally 87%. So, and, uh, he, uh, of course in this environment, it was way easier to attack, uh, opposition, politicians. And I also think that probably putting head something personal with my father, because my father, uh, I would put it this way. I made really impolite remarks, uh, uh, in regard to Putin, uh, and probably he was really offended with his remarks. I think that he takes a lot of things really personally, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (12:48) If I can ask you then, are there parallels with Alexei Navalny because Nevada needs video of corruption in the Kremlin and Putin Putin's wallets, where he talks in names, names about people who have kept money and shadowy offshore companies for Vladimir Putin, this billion dollar palace. I mean, he is called him a thief and basically called him a mafia leader. Um, it is very personal. Zhanna Nemtsov: (13:15) I would S I would add to that. He calls him a very old man, and that is really personal. Uh, I cannot, I cannot translate it into English directly, uh, but he, uh, he refers to him as [inaudible]. I have to, if you, if you can, if you can translate it, uh, please do that. So, uh, I think that he regards Novalis as his enemy number one, and of course it's because, uh, of Nevada is, uh, investigations into grant corruption in Russia. And of course, because of his personal, uh, attacks, uh, that are that target mainly put, yes, I absolutely agree. And also Nevada, he is a very powerful politician. Uh, he has a network of offices all across Russia and his infrastructure is extremely efficient. So he managed to bring together active people, very capable of working and very passionate about, uh, bringing change to Russia. Uh, of course all these factors contributed to what had happened to all [inaudible]. I mean, his attempted poisoning. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (14:41) Do you fear for his safety in prison now because they tried to poison him in August? Um, they have, he has since come out with this videotape embarrassing, the, and Putin and all of the people around Putin, um, including the federal security service, uh, you know, all sorts of people in government, um, what's going to happen to him. Zhanna Nemtsov: (15:04) Oh, well, I would refrain from making predictions. Um, I am extremely worried. Uh, I think that, uh, there are real threats, uh, for him, and that was the reason why I joined the protest in [inaudible]. I think our active, um, engagement can save his life. And I'm not an exception. I'm a citizen of my country. Uh, I don't want my country to be, uh, an unlovable state. I want my country to be a democratic state, and I want, uh, our rights as citizens to be observed by the authorities. And of course, I feel very personal about Aloxi whom I regard as my friend. So we, uh, we were in touch before his detention. So we met on a number of occasions and I do, I truly believe that he, uh, I would like him to be our next president. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (16:17) What do you think is going to happen with these demonstrations? They are calling for more of them. Do you think that the, and how is the Kremlin going to deal with it? Zhanna Nemtsov: (16:26) Oh, I am not. Uh, um, pre-school who is put in spooks, man. So you have to ask him about, uh, about, uh, their plans. So my plan is the giant, uh, demonstrations on the 31st of January in support of Alexina wildland and in support, uh, of, uh, the idea that we should get rid of our older credit regime, and we should, uh, bring change, bring democratic change to our country. So, uh, I know one, the one thing as we are talking right now, these news came, um, I think one hour, two hours ago. So, um, he is, uh, Allison, Yvonne is not on the arrest till, uh, the 15th of February. So they hearing, uh, regarding, uh, his, um, suspended sentence, uh, is scheduled for the 2nd of February. Uh, but also, uh, there gonna be another hearing on the 28th of January. So, uh, they are going to, uh, consider whether his current arrest, uh, is in with our laws. Zhanna Nemtsov: (17:51) And so I think that is, it is a reaction to massive protest that we had last Saturday. So I think that's a sign that the authorities I afraid of are big crowds and they cannot ignore, uh, our views, our opinions, and the fact that thousands of people took to the streets, not only in most consent Petersburg, but the nutrient auger, the biggest demonstration, and now in the history of our city and everywhere in big cities, in small cities everywhere, I think we are witnessing now affirmation of a nationwide movement. It is what, uh, we didn't have several years ago. Now it might evolve into yes, a nationwide movement against the current political regime. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (18:44) If your father was alive today, what would he be saying? Do you think, Zhanna Nemtsov: (18:49) He'd be saying Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (18:52) These demonstrations about an avant that they knew each other? Of course, Zhanna Nemtsov: (18:56) Of course they work with the charter. My father was very supportive or like Saint of Alexander valine, uh, or he would have joined the protests for sure. I think that he would, uh, have been real outspoken. Uh, he would do everything to, uh, defend Alexina volley because he always, uh, he always defended all political prisoners and he, uh, participated in one man protests in support for political product, uh, prisoners all the time. I think that, uh, he would have been really inspired with what, uh, I swore last Saturday, very martial arts, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (19:40) Knowing your dad. I think he would be inspired. I know he was tough and he was open and democratic, and I think he would be very proud of genre Nimsoft today. So, Zhanna Nemtsov: (19:52) So probably I will have a chance to ask him one day though. I'm not a religious person. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (19:58) Are you going to last question? I know you've done journalism. Are you going to go into, Zhanna Nemtsov: (20:04) I'm still a journalist? What Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (20:06) Are you going to go into politics in Russia? Zhanna Nemtsov: (20:09) Uh, no. Uh, so I basically, I founded the bore center foundation for freedom in Germany. It's registered in Germany and, uh, now I'm focused on the development of the abortions of foundations of freedom. And I find this job really interesting. And I think, uh, we ha we don't have a lot of impact because we are a smaller organization, but we have some input and I want to grow this organization to make it really impactful. We have very few organizations such as the bore center foundation. Uh, it's a policy organization. Yes, we are focused on education on journalism next like that. I am a journalist, uh, uh, till 2020, I worked for Dutch Valley, the German public broadcaster. I interviewed the world leaders, um, in many, in many countries of the world. Um, now I'm, I'm a freelance journalist and I am working on my own projects. Uh, basically all these projects and I'm in English. So I want to switch to English language, journalism, wish me luck, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (21:16) Good luck. And really it was a privilege knowing your dad and it's wonderful meeting you. And thank you so much on it. Zhanna Nemtsov: (21:24) Thank you very much. Have a nice day. Good luck to you. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (21:32) All right, Mikhail, Kasyanov joins me now from just outside of Moscow. He is a Russian politician who served as the prime minister, uh, from 2000 to 2004. And I've interviewed him many times and respect his opinion very deeply on what's happening inside Russia, Mikhail, some stunning events, uh, on the weekend. When you take a look at the, not just the numbers of people, but when you take a look at the landscape of protests, I mean, close to a hundred of them, right across the country. Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (22:01) Yes. Landscape geography as like we say, geography is amazing. It's never happened before in Russia in the last, last 20 years. In fact, it's more than the 500 cities in the old Russia, just, uh, on the streets of conduit, more than a hundred cities, people appear to, to protest, to protest against, uh, against what's what going on in Russia, in the country and protests against arrest of Alexander Berlin. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (22:32) What got them out there? Is it just Navani's arrest or is there more to it Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (22:38) Deeper in fact, people already are tied to of, um, uh, uh, and the discontents by the circus radiating. It has been the Kool-Aid that. And, uh, um, I will say a little less behavior of, of, of authorities on many, many respects. Uh, uh, I would say, uh, of, of authorities to establish some kind of a channel for communication with the, with the society. And, uh, uh, I would say elegant behavior, et cetera, et cetera. But the three gov, this was arrested of [inaudible] who after poisoning came back to Moscow and was arrested at the airport. People were shocked, shocked by that. And a blast on that off the recent, the movie, I would say video reach a place, an interim [inaudible] about the corruption route here, man, the game, of course, uh, just added to these two disrespect as well, too. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (23:39) I sat through that entire video. Um, and I was, I thought it was remarkable. It's very detailed on the corruption of, of Putin, uh, people around him, hundreds of millions of dollars taken this palace near the black sea, you know, Putin shrugged it off this week and kind of smirked. And as you said, arrogantly responded, you know, maybe one day he'd like to have a winery, but, uh, the Kremlin has just said, all of this is false and fiction. Is it fiction? Or is it real? Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (24:12) Yeah, all people of course believe is real. It's not necessarily to be registered as a, as ownership box. In fact, just two minutes, two main factors that, that, uh, the, the sky was locked around that. And, uh, but for, for, for, for, for aircraft and the final quarter, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (24:31) No fly zone by the FSB, the federal security service, Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (24:34) Uh, it was done officially by ministry of transportation because of their authority. But of course, uh, uh, of course I'm the, I'm the security and the whole, the whole area is under security of FSB or secret service, which protects the people. Um, high-level people around it. That's why people, people of course have no doubts, uh, about, about it Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (24:57) And are people outraged. I mean, you know, people are struggling during the pandemic. The economy's not good, their stagnation in Russia. I think that when they take a look at this monstrous palace that, you know, it looks like another Versailles, they must be furious. Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (25:16) There's not, there's not a real, I would say a major aspect, as I said, that was like a trigger or just a decent old, or let's say discom thing to discontent and the people, uh, uh, unacceptable behavior of authorities, et cetera. But, you know, just corruption in Russia is always was a problem. And, uh, a majority of, um, of, um, the generations they lived during the corruptions of during Soviet period. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (25:47) I mean, it's one thing, if you have corruption by bandits, it's another thing, if your leader is seen to be stealing billions of dollars from people though, Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (25:55) Well, young people for new generation who don't have this in there and their memories, of course, for them, it's like explosion for, for, uh, teenagers and on a cheek talk, uh, just, uh, different movies and the different placement there, of course just, uh, very much created the whole atmosphere around it. But as I say, that's not the main issue for majority of those people who were in the streets. Um, now last Saturday, um, mainly that is, uh, um, uh, I would say, uh, discontent is maturing in their minds. And that's what I would like to say. Just the main, the main issue for these 2021 East just constitutional events, elections to state Duma. And that could be, I would say the critical point for the whole historical, I would say, period of Russia at this moment. And this, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (26:51) The thing is that you have parliamentary elections, the Duma, and they're coming up in September and what what's at stake here. Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (26:59) Yeah, that's, that is that's when, uh, that is the issue when, uh, that is the point when people started to understand that, uh, their constitutional rights, they watch our storm or authorities don't allow at all, or in principle, don't allow people to express their, the, the, the, uh, uh, position, uh, to express their opinion. They don't allow opposition parties to participate. They don't allow a position that candidates to participate in elections, or even for those, uh, few, uh, which they allowed to come in. They just then falsified the results. That's what, uh, it happened in December, 2011 and could happen 2022. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (27:44) You ran for president. So Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (27:48) Parliamentary elections, when it goes in present, they cut me from elections. When my supposed to grow, they on the earliest stage one month after registration, they caught me because just them, the stood, that could be a danger, but I mean, I mean, in December, 2010, 2011, there were, there was a results. There was a bill I'm in three elections. And then at that time, um, uh, I would say hundred thousand people in Moscow appeared, uh, Pete on the streets to protest. And at that time, uh, I, sorry, just put started to somehow to relax the situation. Uh, he made a decision to, I would say, ease registration on political parties and some other minor things. But then when demonstrations disappeared from Moscow streets, they stopped all those changes and even, uh, squeeze the whole environment, they won't fill them all Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (28:44) Very quickly. What do you think of Nevani? You know, him, you've met with him many times. You were in a coalition with him where you, at one point what's what's, what's your take on him? I mean, he bravely came back. I don't think a lot of people, Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (28:58) His breath cross on. That's no doubt about that. Even for many, many people who doubt about his, I would say political, I would say strength. So political political position, because sometimes people criticize for him, for him for extreme rights, expressions, or extreme lefts expressions, et cetera, et cetera. But he's really a real leader of the, of the protests on the street progress. He's the leader of this and he's leader of youth. That's definitely, there is no any other of such a, I would say it was such a popularity and he's very brave person. And because of his coming back, many people who didn't support him right now change the attitude to miss Nevada that's. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (29:44) So in that video, then we'll come back to that video for a moment. I mean, she called Putin, abandoned a thief. He listed all of the people with their pictures, with their names, the so-called wallets, the people who store the administration, not the administration store, the president's money illegally in the shadows. That seems like an act of, Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (30:11) As I say, there is no doubt that a in the, right now, the bright sister presented of a position and no one is a, I would say, have doubts about it. Now that's never going to get out of prison. Uh, I don't, I mean, the prison, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (30:30) Is he ever going to be allowed out of prison after doing that video? Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (30:35) That's interesting story right now, there is a discussion about that. In fact, I will tell you on this stage, that behavior of Portugal and the sorority with respect to, um, [inaudible] needs, I would say freedom depends on the position of, uh, leaders of European union, uh, for Russia, for Puccio positional European union. It's very important Russian economy in a very poor position at this moment. And, uh, at least not in relations, economic relations in particular with European union, that's important issue for Mr. Porter. And that's why, that's why, uh, he, I feel he wants and his people around. They want, they want nobody to put the, to put to jail for a long time, but the situation could change. They could somehow to reconsider their emotional or you to this move in. And somehow, somehow just to get a little bit back to the reality and to even legal justice and to release him from these, that would say, uh, convincing what they just artificially created on this stage. And, uh, but in any case he would not be released, uh, completely, but it could be, he could be put on the, in the, in the, in that arrested at home, but not in jail. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (32:00) So you're saying the EU, which is wobbly and wavering on Russia and sanctions. And they met this week and they kind of came up with no decision, which is pretty common for the EU, but they are going to come to Russia. You urge them to take those sanctions. Otherwise, if they don't keep the pressure on Nevada and he may spend a long time in prison, Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (32:23) I have to express just the whole, the whole, I would say, Oh, to, to, to what's happened around my body. When it, first of all, at the issue, number one, that is, uh, application of, uh, of, of nerve agent luggage that is prohibited. And I, as I understand from all those reports, that there is no doubts of, um, uh, uh, organization of, uh, recognition of chemical weapons that the post maybe joked, and there was application of this in Russia is the same Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (32:56) Chemical weapons convention. Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (32:59) That is a violation of the month on national law. That's the issue number one, which could be considered. And secondly, of course, more internal issue like Noah and his arrests there, the human rights abuse, et cetera, but the previous, the, the, the, the, the, the, the primary issue, of course, Navy Nichelle, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (33:18) Ricardo Cassiana hallways, and Hunter to talk to you. Good to see you. Mikhail Kasyanov / former Russia P.M.: (33:22) Thank you very much. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (33:27) Alex Kokcharov is a political risk analyst, and he knows Russia well, Belarus and other parts of Eastern Europe. Hi, Alex, pretty remarkable scenes we've seen, uh, in Moscow and right across the country all the way up to a lot of our stock. Alex Kokcharov: (33:45) Uh, yes, it was quite sizable turn out, uh, in more than a hundred cities across the country from Vladivostok and Yakutsk in Eastern Russia, uh, in Yakutsk people, uh, turned up to protest despite minus 52 degrees Celsius, uh, all the way to the Western cities of Colombian grads, Saatchi and St. Petersburg. So we wanted significant turnout. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (34:11) What do these demonstrations represent? Is this just about the jailing of Nevada County, or is it more, Alex Kokcharov: (34:17) It is a combination of factors and arrest of Nevada was one of those factors. Another factor was a release of, um, a film by Nevada, the steam about allergic, uh, corruption, uh, in the Russian administration and allergic unexplained wealth enjoyed by Alex. Have you seen the video? Yes. I've seen the video. Uh, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (34:43) I think most people, I mean, I think we have to talk about it for a minute, because just saying there's a film out there is not enough. First of all, it is almost two hours. It is very detailed by Alexa and the Valley and his team going through Putin's accumulation of extreme wealth, um, over 20 years. And he named his names, he does flow charts on, he calls them his wallets. Uh, he shows this palace that he has built near the black sea that supposedly could be a billion dollars by their numbers, interior pictures, orders for furniture. And I mean, he really directly goes after president Putin saying that he's a thief and he's surrounded by thieves any stolen from the country. And people have to go to the street and fight this so that the thievery ends it's very powerful. Alex Kokcharov: (35:46) It is. And, uh, it's, it's a very, you know, uh, very interested in film and dozens of millions of people worldwide, not only in Russia have watched it, uh, it is obviously the blockbuster of, uh, uh, you know, of Russia in 2021. It's been watched by nearly a hundred million people, which is remarkable when, when you think about it, if she Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (36:10) Gonna get out of jail, I mean, I think that Putin and the Kremlin knowing them the way I do, and I was in the country for 12 years. Um, the Putin's can not take this not personally. Um, and I think they're going to throw away the key. Alex Kokcharov: (36:28) I think it is increasingly likely that Nevada only will remain in prison for an extended period of time. The fact that he was reportedly targets of an assassination back in August last year when, uh, he was poisoned re again, reportedly with a Novick choppy chemical agents back inside in Siberia suggests that, uh, you know, the rust, some strong, um, decisions, uh, which are made by very senior people in Russia, uh, regarding the Valley, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (37:05) He says Putin would have had to sign off. There's just, nobody else would have allowed a political assassination to take place. Alex Kokcharov: (37:11) Uh, pretty much so. Yes. And, uh, it does sound credible that, uh, um, an order of political assassination of this magnitude would come from very high up in the Russian, in the Russian leadership, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (37:27) If you're good at managing risk and assessing risk in Russia, is this just another attack or do you consider it a new chapter because we've had journalist and it pulled a coast Gaia that was shot at her apartment before because of her reporting on Chechnya, Boris, Nimsoft an opposition figure killed, I mean, literally right in front of the Kremlin. Um, but I mean, the Valley is a very high profile opposition figure for them to take him out now. For what reason? Why, Alex Kokcharov: (38:03) Honestly, we don't know why, you know, if there was an assassination order, uh, we don't know why the timing was in August, 2020. The fact that Nevada has survived it and recovered and decided to come back to Russia, um, obviously sends a strong signal to the Kremlin that he intends to fight, and he intends to, uh, continue his opposition to the Kremlin and to poutine. And it only sends signals to the Kremlin that, uh, in order, uh, to mitigate, uh, Nevada and other opposition figures, uh, the criminal Kremlin must do something. And I think it looks increasingly likely that he will stay in prison for an extended period of time. And the fact that, you know, I think the fact that the way this large protests, uh, it's only, uh, it's only adds to this because if now Nevada said free, it would suggest that the protests work and that the Kremmling, uh, can be pressured into releasing, uh, arrested, uh, political opponents by large-scale turnouts, uh, uh, during protests. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (39:18) Do you think that the Kremlin and Putin are caught in a corner? I mean, they said that they would arrest him the Valley. If he came back, probably hoping that he wouldn't come back, he came back, he forced their hand, and now they're stuck because if they let them out, they look too soft and that's not a good thing in Russia if they keep them in, it's going to keep firing the street and protests. Alex Kokcharov: (39:39) Yes. But I think, I think the calculation is very similar with calculations, which were happening back in 2003 with, uh, businessmen Mikhail. Khodorkovsky there have been threats of his arrest, which he ignored. And he came back to Russia. And despite the fact that he was given multiple warnings, that there will be prosecution against him, unless he stops pursuing political goals, uh, and leaves the country altogether. Uh, he would face an arrest. He disobeyed, he decided to continue, uh, with his political agenda and he was arrested and he spent more than 10 years in prison. And I think it's increasingly likely I see these parallels with Khodorkovsky. And I think it's increasingly likely that the Kremlin will, uh, we'll, we'll keep Navantia in prison for an extended period of time. Despite the fact that, uh, eight, eight, eight is likely to be a trigger to, uh, protests. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (40:45) How do you read Navalny? I mean, Alex Kokcharov: (40:47) Kremlin's perspective, the protests are not life-threatening. They were not yet the way they were quite significant, quite large, but, uh, you know, in Moscow, there are different estimates between 20 and 40, maybe 50,000 people turned up 15 million people, 50, even 50,000 is not significant for protests. So from Kremlin's perspective, uh, Nevada only doesn't come on the streets. Um, so, uh, he cannot mobilize enough people to create genuine threats to the Kremlin, Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (41:24) But he's a popular figure. And they've just made a very popular now. I mean, they've made them, some people have even used the word Mandela. I don't think he's Mendela figure yet, but he's certainly in re in Russia terms, he's not a holder Kowski who was a rich oligarch who ran oil companies and was arrested off his private jet. I mean, Nevada money is, is a pretty common guy. He's a lawyer. And you know, he's not living beyond his means. And suddenly a lot of Russians will identify with him and support him. I mean, you've got videos on Tik TOK where school kids are taking down portraits of Putin and putting up portraits of Nevada County and they have received millions of views. Alex Kokcharov: (42:01) Yes, nav only is quite popular, but we have to remember that his popularity mostly lies with the urban middle is in Moscow St. Petersburg and other larger cities across Russia. And he is still some way off from, you know, popularity amongst various social classes across the country, live in, you know, across different types of localities. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (42:29) Although you saw protests and 11 times zones. I mean, I don't want to overstate the demonstrations either because I think they are still relatively small, but the, the width and the breadth of them across the country shows you that he is tapped into digital media. He is tapped into social media, um, and people now are not getting their news on Navalny from the main Kremlin television stations who get their programming from the Kremlin. I mean, this guy has real support out there in social media with young people, uh, with different age groups in the demonstration. So you can't exactly put a limit on this and say, it's going to end a certain way. We really don't know, do we it's the beginning. Alex Kokcharov: (43:12) Yes. Uh, and I'm not going to dispute this, uh, the fact that these protests took place across the entire country in, in very diverse cities. And, uh, there were, you know, a lot of protests, a lot of protests who actually turned up for the first time to protest, which I think is quite important. Uh, but from the prominence perspective, it's still not enough to, um, to generate genuine threats to the continued, uh, uh, rule of the, of the ruling elite. So of Putin and his administration Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (43:48) Read is right. And I think the Kremlin will dig in here and they're not going to give any ground which leads to more confrontation and more demonstrations in the meantime, last question to you because you deal with risk and you, you deal in, uh, with corporate risk as well. A lot of people, I mean, foreign companies, a lot of them left Russia anyway, with, with the first rounds of sanctions. But do you think that there will be more sanctions because there are certainly a call for that? Alex Kokcharov: (44:15) Well, we've seen these calls for more sanctions by the European union specifically in response to, um, you know, to, to, to, to, to Nevada is the rest and to the use of heavy force against protestors. But also we have to remember that, uh, there are calls, um, for new sanctions in the U S and they STEM from, uh, other things, uh, which also include allegations of cyber attacks by, uh, reportedly Russian actors against us government and us private sector funds. Uh, the cyber attacks, well, very much large scale, and there have been statements from the, at that time. It was still, um, we, uh, team of, uh, president elect by the now president Biden that there will be consequences and that there will be, uh, sanctions coming in response to these, um, incidents. So I think we're likely to see more threats of sanctions and potentially more sanctions. Alex Kokcharov: (45:20) But the big question is what the sanctions will be from the European union. I think personal sanctions against individuals in the, uh, in the criminal administration are more likely rather than, uh, economic sanctions. There are a lot of business interests in the European union, which, uh, still favor doing business in Russia. We know that Russia still supplies a lot of gas and oil to the European union and the infrastructure projects in place, despite the fact that that's subject to us sanctions. Um, so I think is going to be a very mixed picture. Uh, the European union sanctions are less likely to be economic and more personal targeted sanctions against the specific individuals. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (46:05) Let's end where we started when you saw those images on the weekend and how many different cities they were in and watch them unfold through the day. What was your reaction? What did you think? Alex Kokcharov: (46:21) It was impressive. I expected that there will be protests, uh, on, on that day, but I didn't expect that they will be, you know, across the entire country across, uh, so many cities, over a hundred cities across Russia, and they will be such a big turnout. And also I got the impression that the protesters this time around, uh, appear to be somewhat more assertive in their actions and less frightened of the police. And this could mean that could be, can be potential change in the way these protests, uh, uh, take place in the coming weeks. It will be another protest on 31st of January. It's a good Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (47:04) Point because I was watching in Moscow where they were fighting back with police St. Petersburg, where they were pelting them, showering them, burying them with snowballs and fighting and pushing. And, uh, yeah, it's, it's got the potential to kind of spin into a more violent showdown as these continue Alex Cook tariff. Thank you so much. Dana Lewis / Back Story Host: (47:30) Thank you so much. Thanks a lot. Have a good evening. And that's our second backstory on Russia unrest. So much to play for in the country. Putin is getting old and it feels like he's been the president forever 20 years is forever polls show. Most Russians want change. And the question is, will there be a peaceful transition or just more repression and stagnation in that great country? I'm Dana Lewis, please subscribe to the podcast and I'll talk to you again.

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