The Russian Spectrum

This was a short-lived project to translate Russian language articles into English (reverse Inosmi) in 2013.

Translation: Going on the Campaign Trail with Navalny

This about Politics, tagged , , , , was written by for on August 25, 2013 .No Comments

According to gazeta.ru’s Olga Kuzmenkova tagging him, Navalny has a popular style and likes asking resonant questions, such as why Russia, despite its petrodollars, only builds as many railways in a year as China does in a week. “Where are my factories? Where is my Cosmos?” “Gazeta.Ru” observed Alexei Navalny as he went about meeting Zelenograd […]

Translation: Did Navalny Fail to Reach an “Understanding”?

This about Politics, tagged , , , , was written by for on August 15, 2013 .No Comments

Izvestia’s Sergey Podosenov queries political experts as to why a new case has been launched against Navalny. The concensus is that he is becoming too popular, or violated informal understandings. Navalny Violated Informal Arrangements “Izvestia” sources talk about the background of the Prosecutor General Office attack upon the opposition leader. Vladimir Zhirinovsky is known to […]

Translation: The 35 Cyber-Friends of Navalny

This about Politics, tagged , , , , was written by for on August 9, 2013 .No Comments

35 CEO’s of Russian Internet companies have signed a public letter supporting Navalny in return for his promise to ensure accountability and the rule of law. Navalny’s 35 Friends Small businesses get involved in politics. Thirty-five representatives of Internet businesses are to speak publicly in support of the candidate for post of Moscow mayor, Alexei […]

Translation: Provincial Court Grants Victory to Gay Partners

This about Society, tagged , , was written by for on August 4, 2013 .No Comments

The Gryaz city court in Lipetsk oblast has voided a Saint-Petersburg registrar’s refusal to accept the intention of Dmitry Chunosov and Jaroslav Yevtushenko to get a same sex marriage. In the Lipetsk region gays win a court decision in their favour Today the Gryaz City Court declared the refusal to register a same-sex marriage to be […]

Translation: Vladislav Surkov – “I Was by a Great Man’s Side” (part 2)

This about Politics, tagged , , , was written by for on August 2, 2013 .No Comments

The continuation of Surkov’s interview (2/2) with Andrei Kolesnikov, in which he expounds on the meaning of friendship, leisure, love for the fatherland, and life itself. See part 1 here. Vladislav Surkov: “I Was by a Great Man’s Side” Part II Russian Pioneer’s regular columnist Vladislav Surkov has, at the request of RP’s editor in […]

Translation: Eddie Limonov Tells Navalny Fans to Go See a Shrink

This about Politics, tagged , , was written by for on August 1, 2013 .No Comments

It is wrong to glamorize a political hustler with five criminal cases against him, says the National Bolshevik leader – who claims street cred on account of having done real time. You Guys Need to Go and See a Shrink! Eduard Limonov on why Navalny became a hero of the bourgeoisie. I pay a lot of […]

Translation: Assad Starts Winning in Syria

This about Geopolitics, tagged , , was written by for on July 31, 2013 .No Comments

As the Syrian Arab Army advances and discontent builds with jihadists, some anti-regime fighters begin thinking of taking advantage of an amnesty and going over to the other side, writes Alexander Romanov. Assad started to win not only on the battlefield, but in the battle for the minds Hundreds of Syrian rebels lay down their […]

Translation: Jews, Journalists, and Dead Kittens

This , about Society, tagged , , , was written by for on July 31, 2013 .No Comments

Battle of the hacks! In response to Alexei Pankin calling him an anti-Semite in The Moscow Times, Oleg Kashin pens a tongue in cheek response telling him to imagine a kitten dying every time he abuses an overworn cliche. On the Horrors of Anti-Semitism In which Oleg Kashin gives some advice to the politologists. The editors asked […]

Translation: Vladislav Surkov – “I Was by a Great Man’s Side” (part 1)

This about Politics, tagged , , , was written by for on July 29, 2013 .No Comments

In which the “gray cardinal of the Kremlin” Vladislav Surkov waxes philosophical about Putin’s holiness, the nature of freedom, and why mistakes are good in his first interview (1/2), conducted with Andrei Ivanovich Kolesnikov, since leaving office. See part 2 here. Vladislav Surkov: I was by a Great Man’s Side Russian Pioneer’s regular columnist Vladislav Surkov has, […]

Translation: Why Didn’t Transparency International Reveal Russia’s Bribery Data?

This , about Society, tagged , , , , was written by for on July 28, 2013 .No Comments

Why was there no bribery incidence data for Russia in Transparency International’s international survey of 2013? Andrey Kamenetsky at Odnako connects the dots to argue that it was simply because the results were too inconvenient to serve as propaganda. A Crisis of Zombification: How Transparency International failed on The Russia Corruption Rating Dear Readers! In July there […]

Translation: Is Putin a KGB Agent, a Hipster, or a Mensch?

This , about Politics, tagged , , , , was written by for on July 23, 2013 .No Comments

In his Odnako blog Evgeny Super asks why Putin’s image seems to be improving of late. Turned off by the propaganda against the Russian President, he argues, Westerners are beginning to give him grudging respect. The Russian President’s Demonic Image Collapses in the Western Media Literally from the very first day of President Vladimir Putin’s […]

Sobyanin vs. Navalny, in Figures

This about Politics, tagged , , , , was written by for on July 23, 2013 .No Comments

There has been some confusion about Navalny’s poll ratings due to the varying timing, phrasing, and options in the polls on the matter. The Russian Spectrum tries to clear things up. Navalny Gaining, Sobyanin Dominant Below is a summary of comparable polls on this subject by date from two of Russia’s three biggest polling agencies: […]