Comments for 19th-Century Russian Culture

Comment on Lermontov’s Image of Tbilisi by Last year’s Lermontov posts « 19th-Century Russian Culture

Last year’s Lermontov posts « 19th-Century Russian Culture — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:48:05 +0000

[...] There’s a map of Vladikavkaz up here, and a post on Lermontov’s Romantic Caucusus-themed paintings here. [...]

Comment on Demitry Medvedev by joshua walker

joshua walker — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:46:18 +0000

There’s a rough translation of this “veblog” post up at:

http://www.russiaotherpointsofview.com/2009/11/memory-of-national-tragedies-is-as-sacred-as-the-memory-of-victories.html

It’s hard to know what to make of this. Some commentators are suggesting it is another move in the struggle between two rival clans – the silviki (members of the security service) versus the civiliki (members of the more liberal leaning technocrats). Under this lens, this is a move by Medvedev for the civiliki against the siloviki.

A more skeptical point of view would be that Medvedev has released this statement in order to bolster his image abroad as a more “liberal” ruler than Putin – analogous to his much publicised love of rock music. These skeptics would point out that, despite the president’s words, it is still much easier for nationalists to assembles in Moscow than members of liberal opposition parties.

Comment on Tbilisi – Vladikavkaz by Last year’s Lermontov posts « 19th-Century Russian Culture

Last year’s Lermontov posts « 19th-Century Russian Culture — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:16:25 +0000

[...] a map of Vladikavkaz up here, and a post on Lermontov’s Romantic Caucusus-themed paintings [...]

Comment on Miliband in Moscow by joshua walker

joshua walker — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:17:48 +0000

Though according to sources in the French government, that was not the most colourful of exchanges during the war:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5147422.ece

Comment on Miliband in Moscow by declanpj

declanpj — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:54:22 +0000

It appears too that there’s a bit of personal bad blood between Miliband and Lavrov. During the Georgian War Lavrov is said to have treated Miliband to an angry obscenity filled phone call, that hasn’t been forgotten by either.

Comment on Miliband in Moscow by joshua walker

joshua walker — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:27:24 +0000

This is particularly interesting considering the British news media was reporting that this would be an opportunity for a “reset” in relations similar to the one attempted by the US earlier this year.

Comment on When mushroom-picking goes wrong… by pryantcd

pryantcd — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:08:25 +0000

did anybody check what kind of mushrooms they’re picking? No wonder everybody keeps getting lost…

Comment on Split in the Ruling Class over Stalin? by declanpj

declanpj — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:03:20 +0000

This clearly is a departure from Putin who personally influenced the decision to seize the materials for Orlando Figes’ book “The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin’s Russia”. In a wider historiographical context however, this is a brave move to be applauded. Ukraine for example has long been left waiting for an official admittance of culpability for the Holodomor, and this brave move by Medvedev may inspire a more self-critical national approach to history. In Europe today, the manipulation of history is still a widespread crime: Turkey still refuses to admit the Armenian genocide for which it was responsible for example, and any moves of historical honesty are to be applauded.

Comment on Heroin and AIDS in Russia by pryantcd

pryantcd — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:30:44 +0000

Found this article on Ria Novosti's website...discovery at Dagestan Customs of 200 kg of heroin being smuggled into Russia in a car!

Comment on Heroin and AIDS in Russia by joshua walker

joshua walker — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:13:35 +0000

Thanks for the links – both very interesting. The looming HIV epidemic in Russia is truly a frightening thought.