Category Archives: strange

Real men frolick

Posted on August 3, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

Yesterday, Russia celebrated Paratrooper Day. Or, if you want to be accurate, the paratroopers celebrated Paratrooper Day, the anniversary of the formation of the Russian Airborne Troops in the Soviet Union. The paratroopers, known for their distinctive light blue berets, … Continue reading →

Posted in strange, world | Tagged Alcohol, border guards, Dagestan, fountains, Miriam Elder, paratroopers, russia, VDV, Zyalt | 2 Comments

Hello, goodbye

Posted on July 30, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

This is my last True/Slant post for, as of tomorrow, True/Slant will be no more. You will be able to read more of my bloggery, if you so choose, at themoscowdiaries.wordpress.com but for now here my last T/S post. A … Continue reading →

Posted in strange, Uncategorized, world | Tagged George W. Bush, History, Kremlin, Mark Adomanis, Moscow, russia, Russian Empire, Russophobe, Soviet Union, United States | 9 Comments

Moscow airport hijacking

Posted on July 29, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

Reports this evening that a hijacking has been stopped at Domodedovo airport in Moscow. Yesterday afternoon. Apparently, a passenger on a Moscow-bound flight from Mineralnye Vody “made demands” of the crew and held up the plane for two hours. One … Continue reading →

Posted in strange, Uncategorized, world | Tagged Air traffic control, Aircraft hijacking, Federal Security Service (Russia), Komsomolskaya Pravda, Mineralnye Vody, Moscow, police, russia | 1 Comment

Peredayz

Posted on July 28, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

Y’all, it is so hot in Moscow. There are peat-bog fires in the countryside so the city is choked with a visible, and pungent, white smoke. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve beaten every record ever set since they … Continue reading →

Posted in strange, Uncategorized, world | Tagged Administrative Regions, Aleksandr Revva, Business, Finance Ministry, Moscow, russia, Temperature, Travel and Tourism | 1 Comment

Plot twist: Battle against corruption produces more corruption

Posted on July 27, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

The Interior Ministry’s Department of Economic Security reports today that as President Dmitry Medvedev’s war on corruption heats up, so has corruption. In the first six months of 2010, the size of the average bribe has nearly doubled, from 23,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in strange, Uncategorized, world | Tagged Asia, Bribery, corruption, Dmitry Medvedev, Interior ministry, Medvedev, Moscow, President of the United States, Real estate, russia | 21 Comments

Real Housewives of Moscow

Posted on July 27, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

Because you guys seem to enjoy discussions about Russian women and money, I figured I would repost my latest article, from Slate, here. It is about how corrupt Russian bureaucrats use their wives as offshore bank accounts to hide the … Continue reading →

Posted in strange, world | Tagged Asia, BMW 3-Series, corruption, Dmitry Medvedev, Fur clothing, Government, India, politics, racism, Real Housewives, russia, Slate, Soviet Union, Subaru Outback | 3 Comments

Harley Freedomson

Posted on July 26, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

This Saturday found Vladimir Putin in Sevastopol, a city made famous by Tolstoy and the fact that this Ukrainian Black Sea port has a large Russian population that once spoke openly of seceding. The press has mentioned this historic visit because, … Continue reading →

Posted in sports, strange, Uncategorized, world | Tagged Black Sea, Harley Davidson, Motorcycle, Prime Minister of Russia, russia, Russian language, Sevastopol, United States, Vladimir Putin | 3 Comments

Today in Russian decadance

Posted on July 23, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

On this hot Moscow Friday, I bring you two jewels of Russian decadence: One. Miss Russia, known also by her mortal name Irina Antonenko, will soon depart for Las Vegas to represent her country in the Miss Universe competition. In … Continue reading →

Posted in food, strange, Uncategorized, world | Tagged 2014 Winter Olympics, amethysts, caviar, corruption, fur coat, gold, Hennessy, Irina Antonenko, Louis Vuitton, Miss Russia, Miss Universe, Moscow, Road, russia, sable, sapphires, Sochi | 43 Comments

Ffffffresh

Posted on July 14, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

Courtesy of my buddy Mike Schwirtz, we have this little ditty because it’s too damn hot in Moscow to think of a proper blog post: [youtubevid id="i-k9Dq0Yazs"]

Posted in strange, Uncategorized, world | Tagged Administrative Regions, Darin Shapiro, Dmitry Medvedev, Jimmy Fallon, Moscow, russia, Soviet Union, Transportation, Travel and Tourism, United States | Leave a comment

Your spy fix for the week

Posted on July 13, 2010 by themoscowdiaries

Just when I hoped it was over, the scandal returns with the detainment of the 12th spy in the US. The 23-year-old’s name is as yet unknown and, though his American visa was nullified on June 26 (one day before … Continue reading →

Posted in strange, Uncategorized, world | Tagged anna chapman, England, Espionage, Igor Sutyagin, Interfax, Moscow, russia, russian spies, SVR, United States, Yabloko | 29 Comments