Russian government will provide the Institute of Internet Development with additional 7bln roubles to fund Kremlin’s ideological internet projects. Overall the institute will get 10bln roubles (about $136mln) this year.
There is little doubt that this money will just vanish without any meaningful results. Kremlin’s youth policy hasn’t ever been successful due to corruption and cultural differences between Russian youth and ruling oldmen with Soviet background.
The man in charge of this money and the projects it will be assigned for is Sergei Kirienko. No need to say that Kremlin will find million ways to spend money, but not give it to its people suffering from poverty.
There is no such thing as “taxpayers money” in Russia. It is absent from Russian political culture. Money belongs to the Czar, he is spending it the way he wants to. Nobody will hold him and his government accountable.
There is little doubt that this money will just vanish without any meaningful results. Kremlin’s youth policy hasn’t ever been successful due to corruption and cultural differences between Russian youth and ruling oldmen with Soviet background.
The man in charge of this money and the projects it will be assigned for is Sergei Kirienko. No need to say that Kremlin will find million ways to spend money, but not give it to its people suffering from poverty.
There is no such thing as “taxpayers money” in Russia. It is absent from Russian political culture. Money belongs to the Czar, he is spending it the way he wants to. Nobody will hold him and his government accountable.
When a couple of weeks ago Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu proposed to build 3-5 new big cities in Siberia, we didn’t even pay much attention to it because of the obvious nonsense of this idea. As we see now, Russian telegram and media keep on discussing Shoigu’s proposal as something strategic and at least slightly possible.
Stop it. Russia is always Russia, which means that 75% its territories -Urals, Siberia and Far East - are used for a sole purpose of extracting resources. Nobody will ever move the capital of Russia to Siberia, it has to be closer to Europe.
Being a billionaire and federal minister for almost 30 years, Shoigu will propose anything except for giving money to the people of Russia or rising their wages. The majority of Russians are poor, so let’s spend trillions on new cities and steal at least half of them in the process.
Russia doesn’t need new cities, invest in the existing ones. Russians don't need their money spent on new cities, they need higher living standards in the existing ones.
Stop it. Russia is always Russia, which means that 75% its territories -Urals, Siberia and Far East - are used for a sole purpose of extracting resources. Nobody will ever move the capital of Russia to Siberia, it has to be closer to Europe.
Being a billionaire and federal minister for almost 30 years, Shoigu will propose anything except for giving money to the people of Russia or rising their wages. The majority of Russians are poor, so let’s spend trillions on new cities and steal at least half of them in the process.
Russia doesn’t need new cities, invest in the existing ones. Russians don't need their money spent on new cities, they need higher living standards in the existing ones.
To be precise, Americans didn’t create Taliban. If any foreign country can be referred to as “Taliban Creator”, then it is Pakistan.
The reasons are well-known. Pakistani intelligence ISI was dealing with potential Pashto separatism after Bangladesh secession and made its best to replace Pashto nationalist sentiment in Afghanistan and Pakistan with Islamic movement.
You name one big, powerful country not responsible for millions of deaths. There is none.
To be even more precise, we are not leaving Afghanistan the way Soviets did. We won’t leave a single American there, Soviets left hundreds of their soldiers held captive by Afghans.
Thousands of Afghans have already been evacuated from Afghanistan. How many communists have Russia evacuated after its withdrawal? Zero. In 10 years of Afghan war Soviet Union has officially lost 15000 soldiers dead. In 20 years the US has lost 2354 military personnel dead.
It is the right call, and Biden’s ruined reputation is totally worth it. The region is not an American priority, and won’t be any time soon. It is the moment to move on.
https://publielectoral.lat/stratrus/6784
The reasons are well-known. Pakistani intelligence ISI was dealing with potential Pashto separatism after Bangladesh secession and made its best to replace Pashto nationalist sentiment in Afghanistan and Pakistan with Islamic movement.
You name one big, powerful country not responsible for millions of deaths. There is none.
To be even more precise, we are not leaving Afghanistan the way Soviets did. We won’t leave a single American there, Soviets left hundreds of their soldiers held captive by Afghans.
Thousands of Afghans have already been evacuated from Afghanistan. How many communists have Russia evacuated after its withdrawal? Zero. In 10 years of Afghan war Soviet Union has officially lost 15000 soldiers dead. In 20 years the US has lost 2354 military personnel dead.
It is the right call, and Biden’s ruined reputation is totally worth it. The region is not an American priority, and won’t be any time soon. It is the moment to move on.
https://publielectoral.lat/stratrus/6784
Telegram
StratRus
How can you lose to someone you have created yourself? America created the Taliban to fight the USSR. Now the Americans have conceived a new project that will bring death to the Middle East. Americans are responsible for millions of crippled lives. I hope…
Thanks for meaningful comments, Novyi Vek (New Century in Russian, for our American readers). The feedback is always important.
There are people in our team who have visited Afghanistan on various occasions and have contacts there. Hard times for them, of course.
Images from Kabul are heartbreaking, but the game is unfortunately bigger than that.
https://publielectoral.lat/Wek_ru/10560
There are people in our team who have visited Afghanistan on various occasions and have contacts there. Hard times for them, of course.
Images from Kabul are heartbreaking, but the game is unfortunately bigger than that.
https://publielectoral.lat/Wek_ru/10560
Telegram
Новый Век
И сегодня мы переводим коллег без комментария, лишь предварив текст словами о том, что его внимательное прочтение дает понять то, что американцы на самом деле хотели бы спрятать
Прокремлевская пропаганда сходит с ума по Афганистану, чувствуя, что советское…
Прокремлевская пропаганда сходит с ума по Афганистану, чувствуя, что советское…
Cannot agree with that, Stratrus. Russians tend to disrespect capabilities of smaller countries, but if any country has influence on the ground in Afghanistan, then it is Pakistan with its ISI.
The rise of islamism in Afghanistan started well before Soviet invasion and was supported by Pakistan against Pashto nationalism. You remember Daoud?
Of course, Taliban grew a lot stronger due to Soviet invasion, so you can say that Russia boosted it heavily. They were no longer just islamists, but hero fighters against foreign occupation. It helped them a lot.
Sure enough, the US used them against Soviets, which was absolutely the right thing to do. Although many people in Washington were very unhappy with giving mujahideen the anti-aircraft Stinger missiles.
We don’t see Brzezinski as a vicious strategist, like many Russians do due to his anti-Russian sentiments. The strategy in Afghanistan wasn't Brzezinski's.
https://publielectoral.lat/stratrus/6787
The rise of islamism in Afghanistan started well before Soviet invasion and was supported by Pakistan against Pashto nationalism. You remember Daoud?
Of course, Taliban grew a lot stronger due to Soviet invasion, so you can say that Russia boosted it heavily. They were no longer just islamists, but hero fighters against foreign occupation. It helped them a lot.
Sure enough, the US used them against Soviets, which was absolutely the right thing to do. Although many people in Washington were very unhappy with giving mujahideen the anti-aircraft Stinger missiles.
We don’t see Brzezinski as a vicious strategist, like many Russians do due to his anti-Russian sentiments. The strategy in Afghanistan wasn't Brzezinski's.
https://publielectoral.lat/stratrus/6787
Telegram
StratRus
In the big political game, Pakistan has always been a secondary state. This is not a country that could play its own game, much less act against the USSR. Colleague @russia_gate, what about the strategy of Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was Carter's security adviser?…
How Dzhumayev became Markhiyev
Said Dzhumayev, a 21-year old Chechen who engaged in a fight with cops during winter protests in Moscow, has been sentenced to 5 years of prison. There was only one interesting feature in Dzhumayev’s punishment: he changed his name to Mikail Markhiyev.
Our Russian colleagues surprisingly ignored this fact and didn’t explain it, although it says tons about their country.
Why did Dzhumayev change his name? People from North Caucasus don’t do that very often. Moreover, he not only changed his name, but nationality – Markhiyev is an Ingush last name of his mother.
According to our sources, he was forced to do so by Ramzan Kadyrov and his inner circle.
Kadyrov is the feudal owner of all Chechens in Russia. There is no Chechen who is out of his reach which is one of his services to Kremlin.
Dzhumayev proved matters to be not that unequivocal. He took part in an anti-Putin rally – unthinkable for a Chechen. Kadyrov predictably got furious because this fact alone shattered his image.
Taking into consideration Putin’s sensitivity to protests, Kadyrov got a bit nervous. He denounced Dzhumayev from the very start, saying he was not a real Chechen and wasn’t brought up as one.
Kadyrov's message is "it's not my fault and responsibility, the boy is Ingush". No Dzhumayev - no problem.
Said Dzhumayev, a 21-year old Chechen who engaged in a fight with cops during winter protests in Moscow, has been sentenced to 5 years of prison. There was only one interesting feature in Dzhumayev’s punishment: he changed his name to Mikail Markhiyev.
Our Russian colleagues surprisingly ignored this fact and didn’t explain it, although it says tons about their country.
Why did Dzhumayev change his name? People from North Caucasus don’t do that very often. Moreover, he not only changed his name, but nationality – Markhiyev is an Ingush last name of his mother.
According to our sources, he was forced to do so by Ramzan Kadyrov and his inner circle.
Kadyrov is the feudal owner of all Chechens in Russia. There is no Chechen who is out of his reach which is one of his services to Kremlin.
Dzhumayev proved matters to be not that unequivocal. He took part in an anti-Putin rally – unthinkable for a Chechen. Kadyrov predictably got furious because this fact alone shattered his image.
Taking into consideration Putin’s sensitivity to protests, Kadyrov got a bit nervous. He denounced Dzhumayev from the very start, saying he was not a real Chechen and wasn’t brought up as one.
Kadyrov's message is "it's not my fault and responsibility, the boy is Ingush". No Dzhumayev - no problem.
There is one thing people in Russia or elsewhere often fail to understand: failures of the West are not necessarily their victories. Afghan case will show it the best way possible, although we do not consider it a failure of the US.
The most possible scenario for the country is a lasting civil war. Taliban took over fast, but it will be much more difficult to maintain the position, even with Pakistani and Chinese help.
Britain started to gamble right away in Panjsher.
Ahmad Massoud is not only the son of a fallen hero, but also a graduate of King’s College and City University, who spent time in Sandhurst. His uncle was Afghanistan’s envoy in London, their family’s Massoud Foundation is also based in London.
Massoud family controls lithium and emerald deposits in resource-rich Afghanistan. Saleh and Massoud already took over Charikar and, therefore, control now the only strategic road with Salang tunnel which connects Kabul with Northern Afghanistan.
Another Afghan tragedy is unfolding in front of our eyes. Mark our words - the fact of visual humiliation of the US will make it even worse for everyone.
The most possible scenario for the country is a lasting civil war. Taliban took over fast, but it will be much more difficult to maintain the position, even with Pakistani and Chinese help.
Britain started to gamble right away in Panjsher.
Ahmad Massoud is not only the son of a fallen hero, but also a graduate of King’s College and City University, who spent time in Sandhurst. His uncle was Afghanistan’s envoy in London, their family’s Massoud Foundation is also based in London.
Massoud family controls lithium and emerald deposits in resource-rich Afghanistan. Saleh and Massoud already took over Charikar and, therefore, control now the only strategic road with Salang tunnel which connects Kabul with Northern Afghanistan.
Another Afghan tragedy is unfolding in front of our eyes. Mark our words - the fact of visual humiliation of the US will make it even worse for everyone.
Russian Vaccination Crisis
Regional Healthcare Ministries in Russia have received letters from Gamaleya Institute, the producer of Sputnik V vaccine, with recommendations on the usage of Sputnik Light vaccine.
The document has two columns. First one is with old recommendations, second is with updates.
The biggest update (written in bold, page 3) is that Sputnik Light is not safe for people older than 60.
Regional Healthcare Ministries in Russia have received letters from Gamaleya Institute, the producer of Sputnik V vaccine, with recommendations on the usage of Sputnik Light vaccine.
The document has two columns. First one is with old recommendations, second is with updates.
The biggest update (written in bold, page 3) is that Sputnik Light is not safe for people older than 60.
The International Monetary Fund will grant Russia a $17bln as part of its $650bln Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) giveaway to help poorer countries recover from the COVID crisis more quickly.
Russia doesn’t need to convert these SDRs though. The country has significant international reserves and doesn’t need any cash. There is a fresh proof of this statement.
Vladimir Putin has called yesterday for one-off cash payments to be awarded to Russia’s pensioners ($135 each) and military service personnel ($200). These two categories represent about 40% of people eligible to vote in the coming Duma election.
So, Putin can spend about $7bln in one pre-election move. Not during Covid, when Russians needed support and many called for it, but now, one month prior to the elections in order to buy some votes. There are no usual worries about the inflation, Nabiullina is keeping silence.
Russians are indeed very poor because of practical social Darwinism of its elites, but Russia as a country certainly isn’t. Money isn't the problem, greed of the elites is.
Russia doesn’t need to convert these SDRs though. The country has significant international reserves and doesn’t need any cash. There is a fresh proof of this statement.
Vladimir Putin has called yesterday for one-off cash payments to be awarded to Russia’s pensioners ($135 each) and military service personnel ($200). These two categories represent about 40% of people eligible to vote in the coming Duma election.
So, Putin can spend about $7bln in one pre-election move. Not during Covid, when Russians needed support and many called for it, but now, one month prior to the elections in order to buy some votes. There are no usual worries about the inflation, Nabiullina is keeping silence.
Russians are indeed very poor because of practical social Darwinism of its elites, but Russia as a country certainly isn’t. Money isn't the problem, greed of the elites is.
Alexei Rakhmanov, the head of United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) of Russia, acknowledged that the corporation is struggling more and more due to Western sanctions.
According to Rakhmanov, foreign companies are cutting ties with USC which makes it hard for Russians to meet their deadlines. Unnamed German company, Rakhmanov said, refused to repair an engine for a steamship. The problem is getting worse day by day.
USC has been put on the list of Specially Designated Nationals by the US Treasury in 2014 after Crimean case. It had an immediate effect on its business. Russia is historically dependent on Western technologies.
Almost 30% of critically important technologies are being imported to Russia from abroad.
The technological gap between Russia and the West is seemingly uncoverable. State-owned tech corporations like USC or Rostech are known for their notorious budgets and corruption more than for successful research&development.
According to Rakhmanov, foreign companies are cutting ties with USC which makes it hard for Russians to meet their deadlines. Unnamed German company, Rakhmanov said, refused to repair an engine for a steamship. The problem is getting worse day by day.
USC has been put on the list of Specially Designated Nationals by the US Treasury in 2014 after Crimean case. It had an immediate effect on its business. Russia is historically dependent on Western technologies.
Almost 30% of critically important technologies are being imported to Russia from abroad.
The technological gap between Russia and the West is seemingly uncoverable. State-owned tech corporations like USC or Rostech are known for their notorious budgets and corruption more than for successful research&development.
Russian telegram is thinking about the absence of Dmitry Medvedev at the Putin's United Russia party assembly.
We think that it is much ado about nothing: Medvedev was practically absent even when he was a President under Putin.
https://publielectoral.lat/T34newsfeed/4339
We think that it is much ado about nothing: Medvedev was practically absent even when he was a President under Putin.
https://publielectoral.lat/T34newsfeed/4339
Telegram
T34
В прицеле:
- Дмитрий Медведев.
@prezident_2024 Отсутствовал на знаковой встрече Путина с представителями «Единой России». Не сигнал, а сигналище.
@skipetrrf После уже полутора месячного исчезновения из информационного пространства говорить о преемничестве…
- Дмитрий Медведев.
@prezident_2024 Отсутствовал на знаковой встрече Путина с представителями «Единой России». Не сигнал, а сигналище.
@skipetrrf После уже полутора месячного исчезновения из информационного пространства говорить о преемничестве…
Russian Evacuation: The Background
Russia announced today that it had created a four-plane group to evacuate more than 500 citizens of Russia and former Soviet republics from Kabul.
According to the Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoygu gave the order as directed by President Vladimir Putin. It's not completely true.
Actually the order was directed by the fact that abandoned Russian citizens desperately tried to leave the country on American planes.
Kazakh envoy to the US Yerzhan Ashikbayev tweeted a week ago that Russian citizens were among the people evacuated by Kazakhstan with the help of Americans.
Abandoned Russians applied for assistance to Kazakhs while Russian officials were making silly statements about American catastrophe and future presence of American military in the region, as if it depends on Russia.
Prestige matters were always more important in Russia than human lives. Thank God there is America, it sometimes makes Kremlin actually do something in the interest of Russian people.
Russia announced today that it had created a four-plane group to evacuate more than 500 citizens of Russia and former Soviet republics from Kabul.
According to the Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoygu gave the order as directed by President Vladimir Putin. It's not completely true.
Actually the order was directed by the fact that abandoned Russian citizens desperately tried to leave the country on American planes.
Kazakh envoy to the US Yerzhan Ashikbayev tweeted a week ago that Russian citizens were among the people evacuated by Kazakhstan with the help of Americans.
Abandoned Russians applied for assistance to Kazakhs while Russian officials were making silly statements about American catastrophe and future presence of American military in the region, as if it depends on Russia.
Prestige matters were always more important in Russia than human lives. Thank God there is America, it sometimes makes Kremlin actually do something in the interest of Russian people.
Mental Bunker
Speaking on the United Russia party’s assembly, Vladimir Putin said that prosperous families with 2-4 children are Kremlin’s top priority.
Levada pollster’s survey published yesterday showed that 40% of Russians cannot afford necessities and have forgone basic groceries and other essentials in the past six months.
The aging Russian President either forgot that children have to eat or he just doesn’t seem to care. Russian poverty is scary mainly because it is hitting even those who have jobs.
Anyway, we think that the aging Russian President shouldn’t even talk about any family values, considering circumstances of his personal life.
Perhaps, Putin thinks that the poorer the people are, the more children they will have. Like in failed states of Africa or Afghanistan. Russian poverty under Putin makes sense then – Kremlin is just trying to boost Russian demography.
Perhaps, this is the strategy.
Speaking on the United Russia party’s assembly, Vladimir Putin said that prosperous families with 2-4 children are Kremlin’s top priority.
Levada pollster’s survey published yesterday showed that 40% of Russians cannot afford necessities and have forgone basic groceries and other essentials in the past six months.
The aging Russian President either forgot that children have to eat or he just doesn’t seem to care. Russian poverty is scary mainly because it is hitting even those who have jobs.
Anyway, we think that the aging Russian President shouldn’t even talk about any family values, considering circumstances of his personal life.
Perhaps, Putin thinks that the poorer the people are, the more children they will have. Like in failed states of Africa or Afghanistan. Russian poverty under Putin makes sense then – Kremlin is just trying to boost Russian demography.
Perhaps, this is the strategy.
Thirteen years ago Russia recognized two former Georgian republics – South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Time showed the cultural incompetence of Russia and its inability to export not only oil, gas and weapons, but ideas and effective political institutions – which is a sign of a true superpower.
South Ossetia’s President is a Russia-supported criminal Anatoly Bibilov, who plunged his nation into a devastating political crisis caused by a killing of local citizen Inal Dzhabiyev by policemen. The Parliament of South Ossetia is pushing for no-confidence vote against the government.
Neither of Abkhazia’s presidents after 2008 was able to serve his full term because of a permanent political turbulence in the country. Khadzhimba overthrew Ankvab only to be ousted by Bzhania.
Russia is failing culturally in both republics and cannot do anything about it. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are turning into little copies of the stagnating ineffective Russian political model.
Time showed the cultural incompetence of Russia and its inability to export not only oil, gas and weapons, but ideas and effective political institutions – which is a sign of a true superpower.
South Ossetia’s President is a Russia-supported criminal Anatoly Bibilov, who plunged his nation into a devastating political crisis caused by a killing of local citizen Inal Dzhabiyev by policemen. The Parliament of South Ossetia is pushing for no-confidence vote against the government.
Neither of Abkhazia’s presidents after 2008 was able to serve his full term because of a permanent political turbulence in the country. Khadzhimba overthrew Ankvab only to be ousted by Bzhania.
Russia is failing culturally in both republics and cannot do anything about it. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are turning into little copies of the stagnating ineffective Russian political model.
Natalia Poklonskaya, former Crimean prosecutor under Ukraine and the symbol of Crimea’s reunification with Russia, will be sent out of the country to represent Russia as an envoy to Cape Verde.
Poklonskaya was the MP from the United Russia, but clearly wasn’t used to putinism in sense that all the MPs vote the way Kremlin orders them to. Poklonskaya opposed the notorious “pension reform”, which was actually a robbery of Russian pensioners, and some other federal initiatives.
Kremlin couldn’t just destroy Poklonskaya the way it usually does with people who oppose its plans inside the country because of her symbolic connection with Crimean case.
Exile to Africa and comfortable life is not that bad for a hero of Russian Reconquista.
Poklonskaya was the MP from the United Russia, but clearly wasn’t used to putinism in sense that all the MPs vote the way Kremlin orders them to. Poklonskaya opposed the notorious “pension reform”, which was actually a robbery of Russian pensioners, and some other federal initiatives.
Kremlin couldn’t just destroy Poklonskaya the way it usually does with people who oppose its plans inside the country because of her symbolic connection with Crimean case.
Exile to Africa and comfortable life is not that bad for a hero of Russian Reconquista.
Kadyrov Is Russia
Russian police is using leaked personal data from projects linked to Aleksei Navalny to investigate people who have watched Navalny’s anticorruption videos or simply subscribed to his youtube channel.
Journalist of St.Petersburg’s “Fontanka” talked to a local police officer on behalf of one of those who got a call from police. According to the policeman, they have been ordered to contact every person from the leaked data because Navalny’s FBK is designated by Kremlin an extremist organization.
We all know, that fighting corruption in Russia is an extremism, but it is really too much.
What is even more ridiculous, not the police or, for that matter, Russian courts have to prove that all people from the leaked lists are extremists. No, it’s up to people: all of them are guilty until proven innocent, not vice versa.
When we talk about human rights violations in Russia, Chechnya comes to mind instantly. Ramzan Kadyrov has created himself a personal lawless feudal republic with no regard for human rights and lives.
Russians like to point fingers on Chechnya, but we challenge anyone to name us one thing Kadyrov does which is not done by Kremlin all over Russia. One thing.
Russian police is using leaked personal data from projects linked to Aleksei Navalny to investigate people who have watched Navalny’s anticorruption videos or simply subscribed to his youtube channel.
Journalist of St.Petersburg’s “Fontanka” talked to a local police officer on behalf of one of those who got a call from police. According to the policeman, they have been ordered to contact every person from the leaked data because Navalny’s FBK is designated by Kremlin an extremist organization.
We all know, that fighting corruption in Russia is an extremism, but it is really too much.
What is even more ridiculous, not the police or, for that matter, Russian courts have to prove that all people from the leaked lists are extremists. No, it’s up to people: all of them are guilty until proven innocent, not vice versa.
When we talk about human rights violations in Russia, Chechnya comes to mind instantly. Ramzan Kadyrov has created himself a personal lawless feudal republic with no regard for human rights and lives.
Russians like to point fingers on Chechnya, but we challenge anyone to name us one thing Kadyrov does which is not done by Kremlin all over Russia. One thing.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said today that attacking Joseph Stalin is attacking the history of WWII.
Stalinism as a form of etatism and personalist cult is Russia’s curse. Poor country just cannot get rid of Stalin and get a life the way Germans got rid of Hitler, only because Hitler lost the war.
It is a perfect example of how even a great Victory could be turned into a long-term loss. Putin's Victory cult is taking its toll on Russia’s future.
Lavrov would have to put his own spokesperson in line now: Maria Zakharova isn’t that enthusiastic about the bloody notorious dictator.
Stalinism as a form of etatism and personalist cult is Russia’s curse. Poor country just cannot get rid of Stalin and get a life the way Germans got rid of Hitler, only because Hitler lost the war.
It is a perfect example of how even a great Victory could be turned into a long-term loss. Putin's Victory cult is taking its toll on Russia’s future.
Lavrov would have to put his own spokesperson in line now: Maria Zakharova isn’t that enthusiastic about the bloody notorious dictator.
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