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A special supplement produced and published by Rossiyskaya G azeta (Russia), which takes sole responsibility for the contents.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

MEET RUSSIA'S CROCODILE HUNTER NATURALIST LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION

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SCIENCE

Meteor explodes over Russia

PEOPLE

AIRCRAFT

Billionaire gives back

ONLY AT RBTH.RU The plug-in plane: coming to an airport near you?

GEOPHOTO

Residents of the Chelyabinsk region spent most of February looking for meteorite fragments.

More than 1000 people were injured when a meteorite exploded over the Chelyabinsk Region in Russia's Ural Mountains on February 14. The explosion blew out windows and debris damaged buildings in six cities. Scientists later determined that most of the meteorite, which they estimated at 20 metres in diameter, landed in a lake. "We have found tiny pieces, about 50 to 53 in all, and each is measured in millimetres. That was all we could find in the snow around the crater," said Viktor Grokhovsky, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Meteorite Committee. Nevertheless, local residents took to the streets looking for fragments and there were widespread reports of meteorite hunters buying pieces both in person and online. Scientists at the Urals Federal University identified the meteorite as a regular chondrite, a stone meteorite containing about 10 per cent iron.

tive of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. "I am joining the Giving Pledge because it is an outstanding initiative worthy of support. I hope that my example not only announces the revival of philanthropy in Russia to the world, but inspires my compatriots and others to do likewise," Mr Potanin wrote to the organisers of The Giving Pledge. The Vladimir Potanin Charity Fu n d d o n a t e s a b o u t $US10 million a year.

KOMMERSANT

Vladimir Potanin, chief executive of holding company Interros, will join a list of nearly 100 affluent people who have promised to give half of their wealth to charity as part of The Giving Pledge program. Mr Potanin says he wants to give away his fortune because he wants his heirs to be motivated to achieve success on their own. Mr Potanin is the first Russian businessman to join The Giving Pledge — an initia-

Vladimir Potanin wants his heirs to earn their own way.

ENTERTAINMENT

WEATHER

Theme parks to open

New site to study climate change

Dreamworks Animation's Russian partner, GK Regions, has announced plans to build three DreamWorks Animation indoor theme parks in Moscow, St Petersburg and the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, covering a total area of

100,000 square metres. The project will cost $US1 billion, with 30 per cent funded by the company itself and the other 70 per cent financed through bank loans. Two construction sites have already been selected.

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the beginning of the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia from 1613 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. Although Emperor Nicholas II and his entire family were killed by the Bolsheviks in 1918, descendents of his siblings are still living.

304 2 is how many years the Romanov family ruled Russia. Mikhail Romanov was elected tsar by a council in 1613 at the end of a period known as the "Time of Troubles".

Russian company Aviatsionnoe Oborudovannie (AviaEquipment) is moving forward with the development of a fully electric aircraft for both the civilian and military aviation industries. The firm has already presented its most recent electric and hydrostatic engines, which increase the efficiency of the plane’s electrical power unit by 10 to 15 per cent. "The preliminary result is the fusion of two areas: hydraulics and electrical engineering. The co-operation and joint efforts of companies working in related fields will lead us to our objective," said Alexander Levin, research and development director of the company’s design bureau. The results of future tests will be incorporated into the MS-21 prospective long-haul aircraft.

people currently claim to be the head of the family — Maria, a great-great-granddaughter of Alexander II, and Nicholas, a great-great-grandson of Nicholas I.

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Soon, Russian children will be able to see Shrek in the flesh.

A new automatic meteorological station will be set up in the Sayano-Shushensky nature reserve in southcentral Siberia this northernsummer to study climate change, according to reserve employees. The station will begin monitoring air temperature, soil, solar radiation and wind velocity and direction in Chul-Aksy, a remote part of the reserve, in May or June. The meteorological studies are taking place in the framework of the Gloria program, a long-term project run by the UN Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility.

ROYALTY COULD THE RUSSIAN MONARCHY RETURN?

Russian scientists are working on an electric plane.

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Lawmakers After removing one of their own on corruption charges, parliamentarians are on the warpath

A noble cause corrupted for selfish ends? Following a high-profile case last year, accusing a fellow lawmaker of corruption has been an easy way to solve some intra-party squabbles in the Russian State Duma.

Living within their means A new law went into effect on January 1 requiring government officials to account for "purchases of land or other real estate property, vehicles, securities and stocks, if their amount exceeds the income of the purchaser and his or her spouse for the three years immediately preceding the transaction", according to the legislation. Officials will have to declare not only their own spending, but also the spending of their spouses and underage children. The source of funds for the acquisition of any property will need to be justified. Failing to do so will result in the official being fired and the property confiscated.

OLGA DORONINA

Experts say the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, opened a can of worms in the form of an anti-corruption campaign after fellow deputies stripped Gennady Gudkov of his parliamentary seat last September. Never before has a Duma had so many accusations levelled against its deputies for violations of the law. Accusations run the gamut — from illegal entrepreneurship, to hiding property, to gross fraud. Deputies raising the suspicions of law enforcement agencies have been increasingly losing their parliamentary immunity; some have even had to resign from their posts. Even Vladimir Pekhtin — head of the parliamentary commission on ethics and a prominent member of the ruling party United Russia — fell victim to a corruption scandal. After the wellknown Russian blogger and opposition politician Alexei Navalny claimed that the lawmaker owned real estate in Florida, Mr Pekhtin was forced to announce he would vacate his seat. Mr Navalny cited documentary evidence to accuse Mr Pekhtin and his son, Alexei, of owning two apartments in Miami, as well as a house

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State Duma Deputy Vladimir Pekhtin (United Russia) was forced to resign his seat.

evant Duma commission to look into his case to see if he is guilty of any wrongdoing. Nonetheless, he was eventually forced to resign. The deputy’s real estate scandal is just one of many similar stories, albeit the most high-profile. Almost concurrent with the Pekhtin scandal, opposition politicians Konstantin Shirshov of the Communist Party and Oleg Mikheev from A Just Russia were stripped of their parliamentary immunity at the request of the prosecutor general’s office. Mr Shirshov is suspected of attempting to sell a seat in parliament, while Mr Mikheev stands accused of failing to repay a large loan he helped

IN NUMBERS

450

deputies serve at any one time in the Russian State Duma. They come from all of Russia's 83 regions.

parties are represented in the State Duma, but the United Russia party holds a majority with 238 seats.

years is how long a Duma deputy serves, according to amendments made to the Russian Constitution in 2011.

Even the head of the parliamentary commission on ethics has fallen victim to a corruption scandal.

and a plot of land on Ormond Beach worth $US2.2 million. Mr Navalny’s mudslinging blog-post was shared more than 10,000 times on the Internet, garnering 3100 likes on Facebook and more than 2000 retweets. Mr Pekhtin denied all allegations and asked the rel-

obtain. Both lawmakers deny any wrongdoing. Parliamentary immunity guarantees that State Duma deputies can only be held criminally liable with the State Duma’s consent. Gennady Gudkov, a prominent member of the opposition and A Just Russia representative, was stripped of his status in September after law enforcement agencies accused him of illegal entrepreneurship. Experts believe the deputies themselves are to blame for the campaign against them after the expulsion of Mr Gudkov. "There were bound to be some repercussions for the State Duma following the

Gudkov incident," said Alexei Mukhin, general director of the Centre for Political Information. These situations do, however, have different origins, he added. The Pekhtin scandal is the opposition’s response to the "screw tightening" by the ruling party, while Mr Shirshov and Mr Mikheev fell victim to intraparty squabbles. The vice-president of the Centre for Political Technologies, Alexei Makarkin, agrees. "Although Gudkov paved the way for the possibility of prosecuting lawmakers, the three latest cases are not linked. "The sixth Duma showed from the outset that parliamentary immunity could no longer be taken for granted. Deputies used to baulk at letting their peers go, even if the culprit belonged to a different political party. "There was an understanding that everybody should band together and that lifting the immunity of any one deputy would put the others at risk, too. But the expulsion of such a prominent politician as Gudkov has opened Pandora’s Box," said Mr Makarkin. "A 'permissibility factor' has since been at play: if you can get rid of one deputy, then why not another?" Mr Makarkin said. Various players have started using this to their advantage. Unable to achieve the dissolution of the Duma, the opposition has decided to knock deputies off one by one, Mr Mukhin contends.

Officials Russian lawmakers and some civil servants might be prohibited from holding foreign bank accounts or stocks

Senior officials may be banned from holding foreign bank accounts in an attempt to keep them loyal to Russia and to fight allegations of corruption in their ranks. ALEXEI BAUSIN RBTH

President Vladimir Putin has proposed banning senior officials from having bank accounts outside Russia, along with foreign stocks, bonds or shares issued by foreign firms. The restriction would also apply to officials’ spouses and children, as well as the attorney-general and his deputies, senior managers of the Central Bank and public corporations, members of the State Duma and the Federation Council (the lower and upper

houses of Russia's parliament), and officials appointed by the President and governors. The bill would not apply to foreign service personnel overseas or representatives of federal agencies working abroad. According to the proposal, foreign bank accounts must be closed and securities alienated within three months of the law’s coming into force or within three months of the official's appointment. The penalty for non-compliance is dismissal. The purpose of the ban is to "increase national security, regulate lobbying activity, and promote investment in the national economy," according to a memorandum accompanying the bill.

Law enforcement agencies, government agencies, political parties, civil society organisations and the media will be able to initiate a review of employees’ compliance with these requirements. The idea of limiting the financial activity of Russian officials abroad was formulated by President Putin last year in his annual address to the Federal Assembly. "Who can trust an official or politician who waxes poetic about the good of Russia, but tries to squirrel all his loose change abroad?" President Putin said in his speech. Some politicians believe such a law will help strengthen national security.

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Proposed law aims to boost national security

Swiss bank accounts might be a thing of the past for officials.

"If an official or members of his family own foreign bank accounts or shares, it provides leverage. Foreign practice is replete with instances of freezing and sequestrating accounts," said Alexander Torshin, deputy speaker of the upper house of parliament, in an interview with Voice of Russia radio.

"Second, it is a powerful anti-corruption tool, since the biggest corruption schemes are not confined to Russia. Foreign accounts are always involved. Also, if an official keeps his money here in Russia, he'll be more concerned about the state of the domestic economy." Lawyers say the ban will

help prevent conflicts of interest. "I think the idea is correct. In respect of entering the civil service and discharging duties in that capacity, it acts as a preventive measure to avert conflicts of interests between public servants and the citizens, society and state that they represent," lawyer Elena Ovcharova said, according to RIA Novosti. However, there are those who believe the adoption of such a law would contribute little to the fight against corruption. Some have noted that the bill does not include a ban on ownership of foreign real estate; as before, such assets only have to be declared in tax returns. "The initiative has nothing to do with tackling corruption; it stems from the concept of state sovereignty as understood by the present authorities," Ivan Ninenko, deputy director of Transparency International Russia, told Gazeta.ru.

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INTERVIEW VLADIMIR MOROZOV

Towards stronger trade, cultural ties RUSSIA'S AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA SPEAKS ABOUT THE STATE OF BILATERAL RELATIONS – FROM SHARING SPACE ON THE WORLD STAGE TO BRINGING THE STARS OF THE BOLSHOI DOWN UNDER In February this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new version of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, which focuses, among other things, on "intensifying relations with Australia" and "maintaining regular contacts and harmonious ties" with the island nations of the South Pacific. In an exclusive interview, Russia's ambasaddor to Australia, Vladimir Morozov, spoke about the positive dynamics of his country's relations here, and in Fiji, Nauru, Tuvalu, andVanuatu – regions for which he is also responsible.

Asia-Pacific context How is the relationship between Russia and Australia developing in the Asia-Pacific region (APR), the world’s most dynamic area? We have established close coordination across the main elements of the political landscape, and regular ministerial consultations are held on APR matters. In the short term, the region could transform into one of the

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Vladimir Morozov has been Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Commonwealth of Australia and to the republics of Fiji, Vanuatu and Nauru since 2010. He graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Un-

most influential poles in the global co-ordinate system. Even more important is to neutralise the very real potential for conflict by creating a robust architecture of regional security and co-operation based on the principles of equality, the rule of international law, and the inadmissibility of securing one's own security at the expense of other states. These provisions, which are laid out in the RussianChinese initiative (September 2010), are fully under-

ion in 1972 and has been in the diplomatic service since then. He has occupied various diplomatic positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has mainly focused on South-east Asia and the Pacific Rim. He served two tours in the Soviet Embassy in Indonesia, and in 2000 was appointed Ambassador of Russia to Malaysia and concurrently to Brunei Darussalam. Morozov is married and has an adult son and daughter. He speaks English and Indonesian.

stood by our Australian colleagues.

Trade and Economy To what extend has the potential for bilateral economic cooperation been realised? Our potential has not been fully realised, but bilateral trade is growing steadily, rising from $A718.1 million in 2006 to $A1.662 billion last year. In 2011, Russian exports nudged over the billion mark for the first time. Russia's principal exports

are crude oil and chemical fertilisers, while from Australia we import non-organic chemicals, cattle meat, and pedigree livestock. Last year, Russia made the first trial shipments of Australian-produced uranium fuel. With favourable global market conditions, this could significantly increase turnover. Is the Australian market open to Russian arms and dual-use technologies? The modern arms market is no longer determined by political allegiances, but product competitiveness. Australia has been closely following the latest Russian developments. Last year saw the certification of a fire-fighting modification of the Ka-32 helicopter. Russian delegations participated in land warfare and naval exhibitions as well as Avalon Airshow recently held in Geelong, Victoria.

Traditional ties Russia and Australia's diplomatic relations date back to the alliance under the anti-Hitler coalition (the Arc-

tic Convoy). Does Canberra today support Russia's efforts to accurately portray the history of the Second World War? Every year, meetings are held in Australia for World War II veterans, at which they recall the difficult war period and honour the memory of their fallen comrades. We greatly value the contribution of the Australian sailors and pilots who took part in the Arctic Convoy to deliver military and economic assistance to the Soviet Union. In matters of diplomacy, Russia practises the "2+2" format of interaction, whereby bilateral negotiations are held simultaneously between the countries' foreign and defence ministers. Will this format be used in Russian-Australian relations? In March 2012, following a visit to Australia by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a new mechanism was launched to establish a strategic dialogue at the level of first deputy foreign ministers. It will allow us to regularly "synchronise watches" on many regional and

international issues. The plan is to involve military experts, i.e. to work towards a fully-fledged "2+2" format.

The global picture Do Russia and Australia, the latter a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2013-14, coincide in their approaches to UN reform? Canberra recently hosted consultations at the deputy foreign minister level on matters regarding the UN. Our two countries hold similar views: the final prescription of reform should be determined through negotiations with all countries. We do not support the idea of putting it to the vote, because that could polarise the international community. Are the countries in unison in the context of Russia's current and Australia's future presidency of the G20? I am pleased to note that we have established and maintained good contacts with the Australian departments responsible for G20 participation. In December 2012, Australia joined the "troika"

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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Conservation Joint Russian-Australian project focuses on the environment

Investments by Russians in Australia and Australians in Russia are not what they could be, said Vladimir Morozov, Russia's ambassador to Australia. But Mr Morozov was quick to point out that the investment climate is not to blame. Rather, the lack of interest in investments is more a result of the geographical remoteness of the two countries, the focus on traditional markets, and the poorly developed "information feed" regarding business opportunities. The mining sector dominates Russian investments in Australia. Russia's aluminum giant Rusal owns 20 per cent of Queensland Alumina Ltd, one of the largest aluminum plants in the world, while Norilsk Nickel controls Lake Johnston and a number of other nickel assets. Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) owns nearly 5 per cent of Australia's Fortescue Metal Group. Experts value Russia's overall investment in the "green continent" at almost $A4 billion. Russian Uranium holding

Atomredmetzoloto is extremely interested in the Australian market, having increased its assets in the Honeymoon uranium mine through the purchase of Canada's Uranium One and a 100 per cent stake in Mantra Resources Ltd. Australian companies, meanwhile, are attracted to Russian infrastructure projects. For example, the bilateral initiative Macquarie Renaissance Infrastructure Fund has been set up with the backing of various Russian financial institutions. Tigers Realm Coal Ltd is developing the Amaamskoe coking coal deposit in Chukotka, and International Petroleum Ltd is involved in oil and gas projects in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District. Amcor Ltd owns a number of subsidiaries in Russia, and Worley Parsons is engaged in some long-term projects in Russia, mainly related to engineering services and oil and gas development in Sakhalin. Overall, Australian investments in the Russian economy amount to about $A1 billion.

mechanism (a loose alliance between the previous, current, and future holders of the presidency), which allows us to compare notes on key issues and ensure continuity of the agenda. Our vision and long-term objectives for the G20 have much in common. For instance, one of Russia's priorities — promotion of economic growth and jobs — will be one of the main issues tackled under the Australian presidency.

contribution to the promotion of Russian culture. Thanks to its members, every state has Russian schools, theatres, and folk groups. The main purpose is to preserve one's native language, culture and traditions. In that regard, I should mention the major role played by Orthodox parishes.

Naturalist, explorer and professor Nikolai Drozdov revisits a 1970s journey to Australia as part of Russia's Year of Environmental Protection. ROSALIA SAMIGULLINA SPECIAL TO RBTH

Nikolai Drozdov could be called Russia's Crocodile Hunter. He is known and loved by millions in Russia as an author and the host of the popular TV show In the World of Animals. A professor at Moscow State University and a member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Professor Drozdov does not go in for armchair science. Lively and inquisitive even at the age of 75, he has twice navigated the globe, visited every continent, and conquered Mount Elbrus — the highest mountain in Russia. Now he is using his place in Russia's scientific community and popular culture to advocate for conservation. "Fifty years of my professional career have been devoted to the study of Mother Nature. The time has come to defend her," Professor Drozdov said. Russia has declared 2013 to be theYear of Environmen-

'Our relationship with nature is like a boomerang,' says Professor Nikolai Drozdov.

tal Protection. In conjunction with this, Professor Drozdov has embarked on a new international project in the field of culture, ecology and geography, called Flight of the Boomerang. "Our relationship with nature is like a boomerang; whatever mankind does, good or bad, gets repaid a hundredfold," he said, explaining the initiative. "The project looks at Russia and Australia. The world's fifth continent has great experience of nature reserves and national parks. It is important to adopt the best practices from our Western colleagues, especially since the country is open to the entire world, including Russia." As part of the project, a book Professor Drozdov wrote after a visit to Australia in the early 1970s — also called Flight of the Boomerang — will be republished in Russian and English. At the time, he was engaged in practical fieldwork at the zoology department of Australian National University, and spent many days and nights "out in the eucalyptus forests, savannas, deserts, mountains and tropical islands, searching for kangaroos in the glades or observing a slug-

gish koala atop a eucalyptus tree." However, the book is not just about a journey across the continent. It expounds his philosophy of love for nature, which is at the centre of his life and work. He writes of his "deep respect for the Australians, who cherish their land and in doing so have created a unique system of wildlife preservation". Australian poet, artist and scientist David Wansbrough will supplement the book with poems and vivid illustrations of Australian animals. "I made Nikolai Drozdov's acquaintance many years ago, but only recently managed to read his book Flight of the Boomerang in English translation," he said. "It was a real discovery; I saw my beloved country through the eyes of this amazing scientist and was captivated by his portrayal." The joint project will continue in the form of a documentary about nature and people. Filming will take place in both Russia and Australia. In the film, Professor Drozdov and Mr Wansborough will talk about the need to respect and care for nature, and use natural resources carefully. "We, as professional ecologists, together with the project organisers, will do everything possible to make this a landmark year in improving the quality of the environment in Russia and worldwide," said Wansborough.

Cultural exchange

Culture New production of classics specially devised for Australian tour

Russia is fond of establishing years of cross-culture with other countries. Will there be any such exchange between Russia and Australia? The interest here in Russian culture and art has never abated. Every year, Australia's major cities host the Russian Ressurection Film Festival, which is already one of the largest Russian movie events abroad. In 2012, the Imperial, Eifman, and Russian National ballets all toured here. Currently showing to wide acclaim at the Australian Museum in Sydney is the Alexander the Great: 2000 Years of Treasures exhibition, from the State Hermitage's collection. This year will see the Bolshoi Ballet perform in Brisbane and [in the future] another Hermitage exhibition, Catherine the Great, in Melbourne. I would like to take our cultural co-operation one step further and establish a year of cross-culture in Russia and Australia, but it is not easy to implement. Incidentally, the Russian public would probably be interested in a presentation of Aboriginal art.

Moscow opera headed to Oz

Prepared by Katerina Labetskaya

Seventy musicians and dancers from one of Russia's finest opera companies will perform in Australia next month in a new production, OperaMania.

Festival puts out call for ﬁlms

ROZALIA SAMIGULLINA SPECIAL TO RBTH

Moscow's Novaya Opera will bring its latest project, OperaMania, to seven Australian cities in April. This mix of opera classics was specially devised for the tour, and includes arias and duets from the works of Mozart, Rossini, Bellini, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Puccini and other great composers, along with several ballet numbers. Founded in 1991, Novaya Opera is a comparatively young theatre, but in just over 20 years, it has joined the Bolshoi and Mariinsky in the ranks of Russia's finest opera companies. "Novaya Opera will be offering thousands of Australians the chance to experience the miracle of the highest art of musical theatre, as performed by Russian artists," said Simon Crean, Australia’s Minister for Regional De-

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How does the embassy engage with Australia’s Russian diaspora, which has been replenished by several waves of migration? In conjunction with the Council of Compatriots, we are doing all we can to ensure that expats from Russia and the former Soviet Union feel a historical and spiritual connection to their motherland. Australia is home to a large Russian and CIS community, which is actively involved in Australian society and making an invaluable

With nature, what goes around comes around

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Moving beyond mining, metals and infrastructure?

Australia is a multi-ethnic country created by immigrants. Can Russia, with its waves of migration, learn from Australia's experience? For decades, Australia has consistently maintained a multi-level system of national and ethnic associations, which, through their representatives, closely collaborate with government bodies, provide information, and find solutions to problems. We are studying the system and believe that Russia can draw a lot from it.

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Novaya Opera stars performing Tchaikovsky's Iolanta.

velopment, Local Government and the Arts. Mr Crean added that the tour "will make a significant contribution to strengthening human contact and friendly relations between Russia and Australia." Gennady Pollak, the producer of tour organisers Global Market Communications, said: "We’re certain that we will not fail the high expectations of the Australian public."

The St Petersburg international Message to Man festival for documentary, short fiction, animated and experimental films invites Australian filmmakers to compete for its $5000 prize. Message to Man, founded in 1989, is one of Russia’s two internationally recognised film festivals. Entries for the 2013 competition should be submitted by May 31. Rough cuts are also accepted.

TOUR DETAILS

Sydney

Melbourne

Season: Saturday April 13, Tuesday April 16 and Wednesday April 17 at 7.30pm. Venue: Sydney Recital Hall, Angel Place. Tickets: from $135. Bookings: 02 8256 2222. Website: cityrecitalhall.com

Season: Friday April 19 and Saturday April 20 at 7.30pm. Venue: Hamer Hall, Victorian Arts Centre, St Kilda Road. Tickets: from $79. Bookings: 1300 182 183. Website: artscentremelbourne.com.au

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Apps Digital diary aims to help users be more in touch with their emotions

Happy? Sad? Indifferent? Check-in to track your mood become happier. In 2008, he left the company for which he was working and launched his own business, creating the InFlow app for iPhone. "Logging your mood should be simple, quick and easy. No diaries or pens, and no pro-

An app that asks users to log their feelings is prompting them to consider the connection between their daily routine, their energy levels, and their mood. CAMILLA SHIN RBTH

"InFlow won't serve as a life coach, but it will give you a reason to think," said app developer Denis. crastination. That’s how we came up with the InFlow app, which soon rose to second place in the Lifestyle category of the Russian AppStore," he said.

How happy are Russians?

NATALIA MIKHAYLENKO

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Regularly posting online about your mood, location or the people you are with is hardly an unusual concept, but Bayram Annakov, the chief executive of InFlow, maintains that his app not only makes this process easier, but that he has learned a plethora of interesting facts about himself since he started doing it. "Several years ago, I read Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life. It discusses a methodology of self-awareness through regular logging of one’s state of mind and location," said Mr Annakov. "I wasn’t sure I would be able to do this on a regular basis, so I asked my friend to take part in an experiment with me. We would text each other the words 'piu-piu' several times a day to signal the need for logging our mood." The results of this practice of self-observation were transformative for Mr Annakov, and he wanted to help others use self-awareness to

According to Denis, a professional psychologist who helped Mr Annakov develop the app, most people aren't very aware of their own emotions. "Of course, emotions often take over from rational thinking and determine a lot. But once we become aware of them, we can be in control of ourselves. InFlow helps people log emotions and view their mood statistics. InFlow won’t serve as a life coach, of course, but it will give you a reason to think about the interconnection between your daily routine and your mood,” said Denis. The app’s home screen is divided into two parts. The user’s avatar, with an indicator of the latest logged mood, sits in the upper-left corner. On the right side, there is a chart tracking mood and energy, each on a scale from 3 to -3. Below are four blocks labelled "Friends", "My Predictions", "Get a Tip" and "Best & Worst". "Friends" is a timeline showing friends’ moods, with the possibility of viewing a

SOURCE:RUSSIAN PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH CENTER (VTSIOM)

list of moods from both actual and potential friends. "Best & Worst" shows ratings of friends, places and activities. while "Get a Tip" shows nearby places users can visit to improve their mood. "My Predictions" is the most controversial function: it is supposed to generate mood projections based on check-in statistics. "The idea is very simple," said Mr Annakov. "As you use the app, you answer questions about where you would rather be and who you would rather be with – this is your personal opinion. This section will contain stats and comparisons of what you’re thinking about and how you’re feeling based on your check-ins. This provides an insight into thought and reality." Right now the app is working through some growing pains. The team’s priority is to implement registration via email rather than exclusively through Facebook. Additionally, they need to keep users interested. Some are attracted by the novelty but don't see the long-term need to continue using InFlow. "An app like this has the potential to become extremely interesting," said Antonina, a psychologist and former user. "It just needs a more sophisticated system for displaying a person’s mood, as well as more detailed mood charts that can go back a month, for example. I was excited about the app when the developer first told me about it. But after using it for a couple of days, I lost interest, because I didn’t see any practical value for myself. The idea is nice, but it should be implemented properly."

Innovation The Russian tech scene is not as intimidating as many foreign investors believe

Nothing to fear, plenty to gain in Russian startups Like their American, European and Asian counterparts, Russian innovators are globally connected and modernminded entrepreneurs. ADRIEN HENNI EAST-WEST DIGITAL NEWS

As a new generation of startup entrepreneurs emerges in Russia, the local startup scene tends to look more like its Western counterparts, and foreign business angels and venture capitalists are learning to regard Russian startups in the same way as those from other countries. "The fundamental criteria for investing are the same in Russia," said Igor Taber, of Intel Capital, a pioneer in Western venture investment in Russia. "An excellent management team, a large market, high barriers to entry, disruption potential, in particular, are just as valid here as anywhere else in the world."

Some specific issues, nevertheless, require additional attention in Russia and emerging markets specifically. Ironically, these issues are not always what many foreign investors imagine they are. Many investors worry about how to identify investment targets, but a number of tech-oriented contests, media and databases have emerged over the past few years to navigate the Russian start-up ecosystem, some of which are in English. Additionally, a number of technoparks, incubators and accelerators have sprung up over the past few years, with dozens of such structures now competing in Moscow alone. Many seek to attract foreign investors, solving the sourcing issue and offering coinvestment opportunities. While threats from aggressive local business people or corrupt courts undeniably exist in Russia, luckier entre-

preneurs and investors tell another story – at least for tech startups in their early stages. Esther Dyson, a US business angel who has invested in 15 Russian startups, as well as in search giantYandex, said she had to date not witnessed any serious threats of that kind. "Tech companies tend to be more transparent, with value that depends on the people who work there rather than on natural resources or assets that depend on some favourable regulatory conditions," Ms Dyson said. The Russian startup scene seems largely to have been spared the scourge of corruption. "In the digital sphere, greedy civil servants don’t know what to look for – or where," said Gleb Davidyuk, managing partner at iTech Capital, a Moscow-based venture fund. "This helps startups to stay below various radar screens."

Tech contests in Russia

Local technoparks

Startup accelerators

- BIT, the leading innovation contest in Russia and neighbouring countries: bit-konkurs.ru/English - TechCrunch Moscow, a tech event held in December: tc.digitaloctober.com

- Ingria, a prominent technopark and incubator in St Petersburg: ingria-park.ru/english/ - Skolkovo, the state-sponsored tech hub in south-west Moscow: sk.ru/en

- Farminers: farminers.com - Plug and Play Tech Centre Moscow: plugandplayrussia.com - Texdrive: texdrive.com/eng

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Money Cash economy plays a major role in illicit financial transactions

INTERVIEW

Russia still affected by illicit capital flows

PETER GERENDASI

KOMMERSANT

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov (centre) recognises the problem of the shadow economy.

The size of Russia’s shadow economy undermines recent efforts to improve the business climate and makes it difficult to track actual capital flow. BEN ARIS SPECIAL TO RBTH

Russia has lost $US782.5 billion in illicit capital flight over the past 18 years, while $US552.9 billion of illegal money has entered the country over the same period, a recent study by Global Financial Integrity (GFI) has found. "These figures could be a gross underestimation, however, as they don’t include estimates of money transferred by criminal groups engaged in things like drug smuggling and prostitution," GFI director Raymond Baker wrote in the report. "Russia ranks sixth globally for the size of illegal out-

Making it easier to do business Overhauling Russia’s customs service is one of the 22 roadmaps for reform the government launched last year as part of its effort to improve its ranking on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business sur-

vey. Russia hopes to rise from its current placing of 112 (out of 185 countries) to 20 by 2018. Of the eight factors taken into account to formulate the rankings, Russia’s performance on customs is one of the worst.

flows behind India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Nigeria. "Russia has a severe problem with illegal flows of money. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been lost that could have been used to invest in Russian healthcare, education and infrastructure. At the same time, more than a half-trillion dollars has illegally flowed into the Russian underground economy, fuelling crime and corrup-

IN NUMBERS

per cent of Russia’s money mass is cash, compared with the 7 to 10 per cent average in OECD countries.

tion." The GFI report said the cause of the outflows was corruption, financial crime and inefficient customs administration.

VEIWPOINT

Capital outflow overstated as a measure of country's economic policies Andrei Movchan RBC DAILY

apital outflow from Russia features prominently among the economic indicators bandied about in the media. It supposedly demonstrates the weaknesses of the country’s economic policy.Yet net capital outflow cannot be simply distilled into the formula "the bigger the worse, the smaller the better". Capital outflow is determined by examining three

components. First is foreign investment by domestic economic agents, which is generally beneficial for the economy. Then there is the amount of capital that is exported, particularly the yield from a local investment. This is generally bad for the economy because capital starts working for another country. Finally, there are payments made to balance prior transactions, such as repaying existing foreign loans. Clearly, not all forms of capital outflow can be considered negative, even in theory. It is no secret that Russia’s

Clearly, not all forms of capital outflow can be considered negative, even in theory. economy is massively underinvested. Russia lacks trillions of dollars in investment in infrastructure, communications, efficient technology and production of added value. Under these circumstances, the "type one" capital outflow

is a negative factor. Yet its size is insignificant in terms of the economy’s needs. Losses to outflows over the past six years have amounted to less than 8 percent of Russia’s international reserves — about $US33 billion, according to the World Bank’s methodology. Of course, this sort of outflow comprises illegally accumulated capital (mainly as a result of corruption) being moved abroad, as well as capital saved from excessive risks. Naturally, it hurts, because it is proof of how well the country is run. But "hurt" and "economic relevance" are not the same. Andrei Movchan is a managing partner at the Third Rome Investment Company.

Doing business in Russia: "fast-paced and never boring" Peter Gerendasi's time working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Moscow led to the creation of the Australia-Russia desk when he returned home to Melbourne. Mr Gerendasi spoke to Artem Zagorodnov of RBTH. You headed the PwC office in Moscow for several years. What brought you to Russia? I arrived in Moscow in early 2007 to lead our business in Russia. Russia, as one of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries, was going through an incredible period of change as an economy, and this presented our firm with many exciting opportunities as well as challenges. It was great to be a part of this change. PwC's business more than doubled during that time in Russia and leading this growth phase was tremendously exciting. How would you describe the business climate in Russia? Which aspects most impressed or shocked you? The business climate in Russia is dynamic and fastpaced. While the economy is heavily impacted by what happens in the oil and gas sector today, Russia does offer opportunities in a number of other sectors of the economy, and I expect the level of business mergers and acquisitions to remain high over the next few years. Russia remains one of the top 10 countries for growth opportunities, according to PwC's most recent survey of global chief executives. Australian companies have not traditionally been big investors in Russia, but there is a growing level of interest in both directions and I would very much encourage CEOs of both Australian and Russian companies to look at opportunities together. What are the most common problems companies encounter doing business in Russia? What should foreigners be prepared for? I believe that doing business in Russia is not that different from doing business in many other countries around the world; for example, in many parts of Asia. First, a strong understanding of the local laws and business culture is critical. This means hiring good-quality local staff and training them in the company's ethics and business standards. Second, a strong management team with an understanding of Russian/international business is very important. Doing

PRESS PHOTO

"This flow is the proceeds from crime, corruption, tax evasion," said the report, which used the World Bank’s methodology to calculate both declared and undeclared outflows. Of the total, 63.8 per cent was made via unrecorded wire transfers. Transfer pricing — selling commodities to shell companies registered overseas at knockdown prices — is another favourite way of sending money offshore. The government has been concerned, as even the visible capital outflow spiked following the onset of the 2008 crisis. At the start of the last decade, capital flight had fallen to $US18 billion a year, but ballooned as the economy went into freefall to $US133.7 billion by the end of 2008. In the next two years, the amount of capital flight fell again, but alarmingly jumped back up to $US80.5 billion in 2011, compared with $US34.4 billion in 2010. The outlook for this year is better, with analysts and the government expecting capital flight to fall to about $US50 billion. But the report found that things are slowly improving; the size of the shadow economy fell to 35 per cent in 2011. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said part of the problem is that 25 per cent of Russia’s money mass is cash, compared with the 7 to 10 per cent average in OECD countries, and suggested such changes as encouraging salaries to be paid by bank transfer, promoting the use of bank and credit cards, and setting a limit to the size of allowed cash transactions. "It is essential to reduce the level of cash payment in the economy, which currently comprises 25 per cent of all turnover, over 100 per cent more than in developed markets, and even 50 per cent more than in other developing markets," Mr Siluanov said in an interview with business daily Vedomosti last year.

HIS STORY NATIONALITY: AUSTRALIAN LIVES IN: MELBOURNE STUDIED: ECONOMICS

Peter Gerendasi is a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Australia, where he is head of the firm's AustraliaRussia desk and has responsibility for PwC Australia's Asian strategy. He served as managing partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Russia from 2007 to 2011. During his time in Moscow, Mr Gerendasi worked with the Russian government on economic and business reform initiatives. business in Russia is different from doing business in Australia and relationships count for a lot. It is also important to understand the role of government in the economy, which is very different to that in Australia, with a high degree of government ownership in some of Russia's largest companies. Do you notice any similarities betweenAustralianand Russian ways of doing business? Would an Australian business person feel comfortable in Russia, and vice-versa? There are a number of Australian business people based in Russia including at companies such as Macquarie, Shell, Citibank and other well-known names. Managing a business or a division of a business in a Russian setting is typically fast-paced and never boring. There is a great deal to achieve and the growth prospects are tremendous for most businesses. Many times the main challenge is finding the right people to harness the opportunities in front of you. I very much enjoyed the time I spent in both Moscow and in the regions of Russia.

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RUSSIAN STYLE THERE'S MORE TO RUSSIAN WOMEN THAN THE STEREOTYPE OF THE SLAVIC BEAUTY

fortable clothes and light makeup that underlines natural beauty. But Russian women are thought to want to look their best 24/7, preferring to see women in ads with the kind of make-up and attractive clothes they see on the streets in Moscow. Natalya Tsel, a linguist from St Petersburg who studied in the US, said many Russian women found it hard to

The beauty industry is considered a growth area in Russia, where women place high value on presenting a polished appearance at all times. IRINA FORD, NATALYA NEMCHINOVA SPECIAL TO RBTH

The international advertising agency DDB once worked on a campaign for a cream by RoC skin care to air in several markets. The commercial the agency created, which showed a woman looking at herself in the mirror smiling at the results of her skin cream, won acclaim in France, but was a failure in Russia, scoring low on believability and likeability. But when the DDB team introduced a man looking at the woman in admiration, the attitudes of Russians towards the ad changed. DDB's experience is an example of what beauty experts consider the key difference between Russian and Western women. Ads directed at European women emphasise that a product can make the user feel comfortable in her skin; they often show women wearing com-

The reason Russian women dress the way they do is because of their background. comprehend Americans' love for casual style. "How do American women dress and apply makeup? They’d use the words 'comfortable' and 'practical', but we’d say 'careless' and 'dull'," said Ms Tsel. Stylist Natalya Tan explained the difference this way: "The reason Russian women dress the way they do is because of their background. Our art, our nation-

al costume and architecture build on the heritage of the Scythians, Mongols and Byzantines. Look at the Orthodox churches, their luscious painting and the shining domes. This is the cultural code that defines our taste." Studies show Russian women spend generously on cosmetics. Indeed, Euromonitor notes they devote a higher proportion of their income to cosmetics than European women. Citizens of Spain, Portugal and Greece spend about €100 ($A128) on cosmetics a year; French women spend €200 ($A256); Swiss women €180 ($A230); and British women €150 ($A198). A Russian woman is ready to spend about €70 ($A89) a year, but that is still considered high given that monthly salaries in Russia averaged $A760 in 2012, compared with $A2715 in Spain and $A2521 in Greece. The beauty industry in Russia is considered one of the most potentially profitable, and analysts note that since Russia joined the World Trade Organisation, the country has become more attractive for beauty salon chains.

SHUTTERSTOCK/LEGION-MEDIA

PUT YOUR BEST LOOK FORWARD

Armed forces Will women be subjected to conscription to meet the shorfall in Russia's military personnel?

Duma deputies propose military service for women Some State Duma deputies believe women should be recruited into the Russian army, but the reaction to the initiative has been far from positive. YULIA PONOMAREVA

Tatiana Moskalkova, a member of the Russian State Duma from the party A Just Russia and a major-general in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is part of group of deputies preparing a bill under which women will join men in being subject to conscription for one year into the Russian army. The idea was taken from the Israel Defence Forces, in which a third of military personnel are female. Women already have the right to serve in the armed forces, either as civilians or as contracted officers, sergeants or soldiers. As of 2012, there

RBTH

Almost 50,000 women serve in Russia's armed forces, including 11,000 warrant officers.

were almost 50,000 women serving in the Russian armed forces, including 11,000 warrant officers and about the same number in civilian positions. However, the United Russia party, which controls 53 per cent of the State Duma, re-

acted with scepticism to the initiative. "We already have departments where women can receive military training to serve as doctors, translators and in other specialist areas," said Deputy Speaker Sergei Zheleznyak. Viktor Averkov, an expert at

the Problem Analysis Centre, believes Russia has no need to call up women. "We do not face an immediate external threat of war requiring total mobilisation," Mr Averkov said. Igor Korotchenko, editor-inchief of the newspaper National Defence, said Israel's experience is not indicative of Russia's situation: "Israel is encircled by enemies, and maintaining a combat-ready force is for them a matter of national survival. Russia's armed forces can manage with just male recruits." Valentina Melnikova, chairman of the advocate group Committee of Soldiers' Mothers, described the idea of calling up women as crazy. "We don't have the facilities to call up women. Under contract, yes, it's possible, because they are accommodated in barracks with separate sections for

women," she told the radio station Russian News Service. Ms Melnikova added that Russian officers are not ready to be subordinate to women. Ms Moskalkova proposes that, as in Israel, female soldiers in Russia should enjoy preferential treatment. "In Israel, girls are allowed to sleep

Soldiers' advocate Valentina Melnikova described the idea of calling up women as crazy. at home, but in the morning they go and serve, for which they receive good money. In addition, they are given preference in college enrolment, and they also receive professional training during their time in uniform," she said, adding: "Female recruits would

help set up medical or psychological services, which would make military service more humane." Anna Ukolova, a spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces, claims female recruitment produces good results. "The effect is only positive, regardless of the troop specialisation. Women here can be tank instructors or fighter pilots," Ms Ukolova said of the experience in Israel. However, she is not sure that the positive experience would be repeated in Russia. "Because Israel is a small country, women are free to tend to family matters while serving in the army. In Russia, as far as I know, military service often takes people far from home," she said. Based on reporting from Izvestia, Vedomosti and RIA Novosti

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BEAUTY

Seniors After working and raising kids, Russian retirees are ready for the good life

Use egg and honey for full, shiny hair

In later life, these grannies are kicking up their heels

Natalia Kovaleva RBTH

RUSSIAN WOMEN TO KNOW

The highest-ranking woman in Russian politics is Valentina Matviyenko, the deputy speaker of the Federation Council and former St Petersburg mayor.

Ksenia Sobchak first became known as a socialite and television star, but today she is recognised as a savvy busiesswoman and a leader of Russia's nascent opposition movement.

Construction magnate Yelena Baturina is Russia's richest woman, although she now lives mostly in London. She is reportedly worth $1.1 billion.

• 1 tablespoon of honey • 2 egg yolks • 1 teaspoon of lemon juice • 1 teaspoon of cognac (to make the hair grow faster) • 1 teaspoon of castor oil Preparation and application: 1) Wash your hair first — the mask will be absorbed better by your hair and scalp if your hair is clean. 2) Separate the egg yolks from the whites and mix the yolks with the honey and lemon juice. 3) Apply the mask to your hair while standing over a sink; the mask is liquid and will drip. 4) Put a shower cap on your head and cover it with a towel. 5) Leave the mask on for 30– 60 minutes, then wash it out carefully with warm water. It is the egg yolk that makes this mask so effective. The protein in the egg not only strengthens hair, but also makes it voluminous and shiny. You will begin to see the effect of the mask after several applications.

SPECIAL TO RBTH

Olga Kuznetsova, who graces the floor of a dance studio in an elegant dress and heels, can hardly be described as a babushka, the Russian word for grandmother.The 55-yearold's recent retirement has given her the chance to do something about which she has long dreamed: learn to dance the tango. And she is not deterred by being the oldest in her group. Kuznetsova’s new routine involves meeting friends after class, and she is planning a trip to Europe with them in April. "I raised a child, worked three jobs, and now just want to live for myself," she said. While such activities might be common for retired women in other parts of the world, in Russia this is a novelty. The traditional image of Russian grannies is of old ladies sitting on benches outside apartment buildings, watching their grandchildren play nearby as they discuss the latest news and gossip. But exposure to other globetrotting retirees – both in person and through movies and magazines – has given Russian women some new ideas for what to do with themselves after they escape the daily grind. Today, retirement can mean taking up a new sport or hobby, chatting online and helping not just their families, but also society. "My mother is 62 years old, and she is by no means a babushka," said Yulia Bushueva, managing director of Arbat Capital’s New Kremlin Fund. "She retired a couple of years ago, started driving, and is now thinking about courses in photography and English." Others are using technology for a new take on old hobbies. "My grandmother downloads computerised embroidery patterns and uses them in a special sewing machine," said student Yulia Vedinina. "If she doesn't understand something, she takes a video tutorial on Skype." Body-and-soul courses aimed at older people are suddenly popping up everywhere in Moscow. A dance

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Fitness classes are just one of many new activities older women are embracing.

school for seniors recently opened at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (VVTs) in northern Moscow. And the Mitino social service centre in the Moscow region now hosts an amateur puppet theatre. Under the Age of Happiness project, set up by VladimirYakovlev, founder of the business daily Kommersant, seminars are held on how to live, eat and stay busy, regardless of age and social stereotypes. And this more active type of retirement is not only on the rise in Moscow and St Petersburg. Gertruda Pankrushina, a former anaesthesiologist from Novosibirsk, enrolled in a computer course at the age of 70. "It wasn't easy, but I got through it," she said. "I now Skype my grandchildren, write emails, and get recipes online."

Not your average girl group

Ingredients: Russian women spend a high percentage of their income on cosmetics.

NATALIA YAMNITSKAYA

The Buranovskiye Babushki (The Grandmothers from Buranovo), a folk collective with an average age of 75, showed the world that growing older doesn't have to mean slowing down when they represented Russia in last year's Eurovision song contest. The

Two women for every man According to the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), women outnumber men in Russia by 16.2 per cent. Although there are about equal numbers of girls and boys born in Russia, the country has a high rate of premature deaths among men. The average lifespan of Russian women is 73, while for men it is 60. Currently one in eight Russian citizens — 12.8 per cent — is aged 65 or older, and in this age group there are more than two women for every man.

group, from the Republic of Udmurtia in the Volga region, dance in traditional birch-bark shoes and rehash hits by Russian and foreign performers into the Udmurt language. They took second place in the competition with their rousing song Party for Everybody.

Paying for retirement

ALYONA REPKINA

ALAMY/LEGION MEDIA

A "babushka" used to spend her time babysitting grandchildren and gardening, but today's retirees are taking advantage of a wide range of opportunities.

Shiny, strong voluminous hair is a true sign of female beauty in almost any culture. And Russian women have been famous for their long thick braids for centuries. The traditional Russian saying “Lovely maiden, braid to the waist” still holds true. Hair treatment secrets have been passed from mother to daughter for many generations, and Russian women discovered long ago that rinsing hair with herbal infusions or egg yolk significantly strengthens the roots, while acidified milk or kefir make hair stronger and shinier. Our grandmothers especially liked yolk and honey hair masks. Such masks will not only restore and strengthen weak and brittle hair, but also give it more volume.

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Opinion

MOST READ A weaker West would hurt Russia rbth.ru/22165

TOWARDS A NEW EURASIA Dmitri Trenin

A RETURN TO IDEOLOGY

VPK DAILY

n Russia, Eurasia is usually assumed to mean the post-Soviet space. The integration project Moscow has been promoting over the past four years is even called the Eurasian Union. But the interpretation of Eurasia as the territory of the former Russian Empire and the Soviet Union is now outdated. The "little Eurasia" of Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union is only a part of the increasingly crowded region that is set to become the centre of world development in the 21st century. At the turn of the 21st century, Eurasia — which had always been a primarily geographical notion — was transformed into an increasingly interconnected economic, political and strategic concept in the context of globalisation. Today, the dynamic centre of the region is moving eastward, while the conflict zone is actually and potentially moving to the south and to the east. This circumstance has far-reaching consequences for all countries, but especially Russia. The emergence of a "new Eurasia" calls for a revision of established concepts. The collapse of the Soviet international system at the turn of the 1990s brought about a major redistribution of power in Eurasia. Numerous power vacuums appeared. The United States, which emerged as the sole superpower at the end of the Cold War, became an active player on the territory of the former

Fyodor Lukyanov

ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA

NATALIA MIKHAYLENKO

The future will see increased Chinese influence in regions rich in resources that its economy needs. Soviet empire, while in the east of the region a new economic giant — China — is rapidly growing. The relationship between Washington and Beijing — which are major economic partners and, simultaneously, geopolitical rivals — has become the most important bilateral relationship in the modern world, around which Eurasian and, to a large extent, world politics are beginning to revolve. The future will involve increased Chinese influence in those regions rich in resourc-

es that China’s economy needs: the Middle East, Central Asia, strategically important transit routes from the Gulf of Aden to Malacca Strait and, later, the Northern Sea Route via the Arctic. India is also in a difficult period of emergence as a regional power centre. At present, it is still a regional power in South Asia; nonetheless, New Delhi obviously seeks to go beyond this framework. India has staked a claim to a greater role in world affairs, but the country’s political class has yet to form a hierarchy of interests, a distribution of resources and a strategy to really match this new role. In the context of the upheaval in the Middle East that began in 2011 with the Arab Spring, Turkey is playing a greater role and assuming

greater responsibilities. The inability of the EU to integrate Turkey (or at least work out a coherent policy with regard to the country) has shown that Europe is unable to act as a strategic player in the region. During the 45 years of its existence, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has emerged as an effective model of economic, political and cultural integration — the only one in Asia. So far, the association has been a community of equals. ASEAN countries have created a regional forum in which the US, China, the European Union and Russia are partners. It remains to be seen if the model can hold in the future. Dmitry Trenin is the director of the Carnegie Moscow Centre.

A HARD LOOK AT SOFT POWER Alexey Dolinsky SPECIAL TO RBTH

he Russian media constantly reports about growing government interest in increasing Russia’s soft power. Existing public diplomacy instruments reach a growing global audience, but Russia’s international image does not seem to be improving. The problem might be that people around the world understand Russia’s values but still disagree with its policies. There are two main approaches to a country’s international image. One approach is through "soft power" — achieving political results by attraction rather than by coercion or money. Another popular approach is called JAVIER AGUILAR

n a document recently presented by President Vladimir Putin, the priorities of Russian foreign policy have been clearly established and aligned. First of all, they concern relations with the countries of the former Soviet Union. The document highlights the importance of cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in terms of foreign policy priorities. It underscores the need to strengthen the proposed Eurasian Union and multilateral ties between members of the former Soviet Union, from which we can conclude that Russia's approach to global and regional issues places the accent on relations with its immediate neighbours. As for relations with the West, the emphasis is more on strengthening Russia's economic potential. Despite the ongoing talk in recent years of the need for Russian diplomacy to reorientate itself towards Asia, relations with Western countries are still prioritised in the hierarchy of Russian foreign policy objectives — in first place is the CIS, followed by the West, and only then comes the Asian vector of co-operation. In my view, the tonality of the present concept highlights the fact that the world is full of threats. The document highlights in particular that the risks are becoming harder — sometimes almost impossible — to anticipate. In these conditions, the fundamentals of each indi-

"nation branding". The same way a product brand brings with it certain perceived qualities, a brand of country impacts national exports, investment, talent and tourism attraction. There is no evidence that either Russia’s soft power or its brand have improved in the past few years, which raises questions about the effectiveness of its public diplomacy efforts.

Neither public opinion polls nor investors’ interviews demonstrate significant progress. Ironically, Russian public diplomacy has not focused on culture and values, which could create an atmosphere of trust. Instead, Russia’s public diplomacy mainly concentrates on policy coverage, which might be helpful but insufficient. According to the Pew Research Global Attitudes Project, between 2007 and 2012, the number of people saying they are largely favourable towards Russia decreased in 17 countries and increased in only three. Meanwhile, the number of people who have an unfavourable view of Russia increased in 20 countries and decreased in just two. This

cannot be explained simply by a lack of mutual understanding or by media bias. In trying to revive the Soviet international communication experience, modern Russia forgets a very important part: it was not the propaganda that made the Soviet Union popular in certain parts of the world. It was the policies — international development, construction, education. Communication tools were only a means of spreading the message. Rebuilding sophisticated communication mechanisms can help Russia promote its culture and values, but not the policies. Russia has built an effective mechanism of distributing a message. Now it needs to enhance it by considering outsiders’ opinions in the policy development process. Alexey Dolinsky is a partner at Capstone Connections consultancy.

vidual country take precedence, namely the idea of national identity. To a large extent, global security today depends on a precise formulation of this concept. The document expressly notes that the world is a place of interaction, which might entail clashes and competition between different national identities. This, in my opinion, is what distinguishes Russia's new foreign policy from the old. For a long time, Russian diplomacy, and the Russian authorities in general, focused on pragmatism: less ideology, more targeted action and interests. Now some rethinking is being done. Yes, pragmatism is important, but without a value-based, ideological foundation foreign policy cannot develop. At this stage, the question of framing a set of specific principles to define national identity remains open. Only the contours have been outlined. Of all the new regulations, the introduction of the concept of soft power stands out; in actual fact, it is a projection of one's own identity onto other countries and the rest of the world. The strong accent on soft power is indirect evidence that Russia intends to shape its ideological and moral baggage in such a way as to be able to offer it as an alternative in the global market of values. Economics in this respect will not play second fiddle. Russian diplomacy, as framed in the concept, will continue to work actively to promote Russia's national economic interests. Fyodor Lukyanov is chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy.

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MOST READ Adoption made easier for Russian families rbth.ru/23465

Cigarettes The State Duma has banned smoking from public places, including railway stations and government offices

A ban on smoking in public places from June 1 is seen as a step towards reducing disease, but some fear the law promotes corruption — and has not gone far enough. OLGA DORONINA SPECIAL TO RBTH

About 40 per cent of Russia’s adult population smokes, according to a recent study by the country’s Ministry of Health. In response to these findings — and to obligations under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control — Russia's State Duma has passed a law that bans smoking in public places from June 1. The ban covers hospitals, production facilities, public transport, suburban trains and government offices. A 15-metre-wide smoke-free area will be enforced around subway and railway stations and airports. Residents of apartment buildings will no longer be able to light up in stairwells and elevators unless the property owner equips the building with a special ventilated smoking area. As of June next year, smoking will also be banned in hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars, on passenger trains and cruise ships, and at commuter rail platforms. Cigarettes will not be available at railway stations and airports (except in duty-free). Many people see the bans as just another opportunity for corruption. "Prohibiting

smoking on long-distance trains is next to impossible," said journalist Galina Padysheva. "I simply cannot imagine a smoker capable of surviving several days without a single cigarette. So, that will be another source of income for train conductors, who can always turn a blind eye to the ubiquitous smoking between cars." Retailers might also be reluctant to abide by the law, as cigarette sales are a lucrative business. The new laws prohibit cigarettes from being openly displayed at counters; customers will order them from a price list. Cigarette ads will also be banned. Nonetheless, Russian AntiTobacco Coalition co-chair Darya Khalturina says tobacco lobbyists managed to make the law less stringent than officials had hoped. For example, the minimum price of cigarettes will be set by tobacco companies, and not the government; duty-free shops have been exempted from the ban; the new law does not apply to tobacco products that are not smoked, such as snuff and chewing tobacco; and the digital cigarette sales tracking system will be based on the data provided by tobacco manufacturers. "The key victory for the Ministry of Healthcare was the introduction of 'smokefree' programs for public spaces. According to best global practices, this measure alone can reduce the number of heart attacks by

SHUTTERSTOCK/LEGION-MEDIA

Two-stage law to curtail deadly habit

15 per cent, while removing cigarettes from display counters can bring teenage smoking rates down by 10–15 per cent," said Ms Khalturina. Most Russians disapprove of a total ban on smoking in public places. A survey from the independent Levada Centre shows that about 70 per cent of Russian citizens support partial restrictions instead of a complete ban. In particular, 16 per cent of respondents believe smoking should be prohibited in bars, while 17 per cent hold the same opinion with regard to restaurants. About 73 per cent of respondents only want to limit smoking, whereas 10 per cent think cigarettes should be allowed in bars and 7 per cent are in favour of smoking in restaurants. About 400,000 Russians die from smoking-related diseases every year.

Smoking in Russia

Rankings A new indicator shows conditions across the country might help move corporations out of Moscow

Russia to launch its own doing business survey RBTH

Russia might soon develop its own rating to rank its 83 regions on local conditions for doing business. The initiative was proposed by Galina Kurlyandskaya, general director of the Centre for Fiscal Policy, at this year’s Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum, held in Siberia last month. "We’ve reached the point [in our development] to provide regions greater freedom from the federal centre and not dictate every move [to them]. Our federative state offers the opportunity for regions to compete between each other; competition will lead to higher rates of eco-

nomic growth," Ms Kurlyandskaya said. However, Vladimir Mau, rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, argued that high growth rates should not be

the only priority. "We need structural modernisation, and it doesn’t always correlate with high growth rates. We need not so much a domestic competition between regions as an increase in competitiveness," said Mr Mau.

THE NUMBERS

112 16 7 is Russia’s position in the World Bank Doing Business rating, the highest the country has ever been ranked.

road maps have been prepared to help Russia improve its business climate — and its ranking — even further.

days is how long it should take goods to clear Russian customs after reforms, down from the current 25.

REUTERS

ELENA SHIPILOVA

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Culture

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ELENA POCHOTOVA

Yevgenia Alpeeva designed the Khokhloma style paint job on her car.

THE FUTURE MEETS THE PAST

Slide Show at rbth.ru/22989

TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN FOLK ART DESIGNS ARE CAPTURING THE ATTENTION OF 21ST-CENTURY TRENDSETTERS

RUSSIAN FOLK ART INVADES POP CULTURE Traditional designs are everywhere, from Porsches painted with motifs from Russian lacquer boxes to refrigerators painted with blue Gzhel porcelain patterns. SOFIA RAEVSKAYA SPECIAL TO RBTH

Now and then, visitors to Moscow see a city bus decked out in the blue-and-white patterns of 19th-century Russian Gzhel porcelain. Then there are the public bathrooms painted in the red, gold and black colour scheme of traditional Russian Khokhloma lacquer-work. Putting these kinds of tra-

ditional designs on everyday objects is not new. In the 1990s, they were often spraypainted onto motorbikes. However, their current mass appeal is something slightly different and wider-ranging. More and more young Russian women are wearing dresses with prints that not long ago would only have been found on senior citizens. Even major international stars such as Gwen Stefani have become enamoured with dresses based on designs from traditional Pavlovsky Posad scarves. Despite the enormous variety of patterns in old Rus-

sian designs, the trend in Russian fashion centres primarily on just two traditions: Khokhloma-style lacquerwork and Gzhel porcelain. Experts generally agree that the return to traditional patterns was first championed by designer Denis Simachev when he released his 2007 spring/summer collection. However, it is unlikely the designer expected the patterns to then turn up on public transport and in public restrooms. Following limitededition Khokhloma iPhones came custom paint jobs for Porsches or Ducatis. Nevertheless, Mr Simachev has embraced the trend, even decorating appliances with his "signature" traditional patterns. "Sure, you can buy a white fridge, but how boring is that? Instead, you can buy a Khokhloma fridge! And it’s patriotic, too. It’s up to you — you can be boring, or you can be patriotic!" said Mr Simachev. "I love things that have their own special style," said Alexander Belov, who has a Khokhloma laptop. "The ideas of Russian tradition are very close to me. I love stuff that expresses those ideas."

What is Russian folk art? GZHEL porcelain is a craft that originated in the 16th century. The patterns are characteristically cobalt-blue designs on a white background. The name originates from a small village near Moscow that produces ceramics. The traditional subjects of Gzhel porcelain were birds and flowers. KHOKHLOMA lacquer-work is multicoloured lacquered wooden tableware. It is usually black with a red and gold pattern. Its name derives from Khokhloma — a large trading settlement in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Even international stars have become enamoured with traditional Russian designs.

Palekh boxes are made entirely by hand.

Palekh artisans fight to preserve craft Palekh artists, who switched in the early 20th century from painting icons to producing lacquer boxes, are now trying to find ways to resist cheap imitations. TATIANA KHOROSHILOVA ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA

From a population of 6000, the central Russian village of Palekh boasts some 600 artists, and the secrets of their art have been passed down from generation to generation. The village appeared in the 15th century and gradually became home to icon painters well-known to the tsar’s court. Their work was beautiful,with countless details. However, after the Russian Revolution of 1917, the painters were forced to find other uses for their talents. They decorated wooden spoons, nesting dolls and boxes. The result was a genuine renaissance. The work of the Palekh masters was exported, bringing the

Soviet state hard currency, and their work won prizes at the 1928 Paris World Expo. Today,Viktor Paramonov, a hereditary artist and chairman of the Palekh Artists Association, supervises the work of about 120 artists as they create new lacquer miniatures. "The technique of preparing these boxes from papier-mache is a long and laborious process," Mr Paramonov said. "The work is all done by hand. In Palekh we do not make copies; every box is unique. But selling our goods is a problem. Palekh fakes comprise 80 to 90 per cent of the market." Mr Paramonov would like to see artists who make fake works put in jail, but Mikhail Belousov, director of the Palekh Art School, has a different idea. "The main thing for us, I think, is to preserve the art, not to descend to the level of souvenirs — to raise the level of our specialists, then let them raise Palekh back up," said Mr Belousov.

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NUMBERS

Ethnicities Tiniest grouping has just four people

1 million

Indigenous languages at threat as they are increasingly assimilated

shawls and kerchiefs are produced annually by the textile factory at Pavlovsky Posad.

600 are employed at the factory. It employed 4500 people in the years leading up to 1917, and 2500 during the Soviet era.

80% of all shawls are sold in Russia, 10 per cent in Turkmenistan and 10 per cent elsewhere, including several countries in Europe.

is the distance between Pavlovsky Posad and Moscow, making it an easy destination for a day trip.

Textiles Company's modern approach

Pavlovsky Posad shawls: more than just pretty patterns

STEFANIA ZINI SPECIAL TO RBTH

The Pavlovsky Posad shawl factory is an exception to the rule for Russia: it is more than 200 years old. It survived the Russian Revolution and civil war, two world wars and perestroika. In 1795, Ivan Labzin, a farmer from the village of Pavlovo, founded a small workshop for producing silk shawls. At the time, it was one of more than 70 such operations in the Moscow region. Since then, woollen shawls and silk kerchiefs from Pavlovsky Posad have become an important part of Russia’s cultural heritage. The factory’s longevity might be attributed to its ability to change with the times. In 1860, under the leadership of Ivan’s descendent,Yakov Labzin, and his assistant, Vasily Gryaznov, the factory adopted modern methods of production, printing patterns on to the shawls. Vasily Gryaznov died in 1869, and until the October Revolution the factory was run by descendents of both the Labzin and Gryaznov families. By the beginning of the 20th century, Pavlovsky Posad was the largest producer of shawls and kerchiefs in Russia. After the 1917 October Revolution, the factory was

Culture

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Many tourists to Russia have searched through stacks of Pavlovsky Posad shawls looking for the right pattern, but the factory itself has a history worth exploring.

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nationalised. During World War II, the factory kept working, but instead of making printed shawls, it produced fabrics for the Red Army. Life during the war years was difficult, but the factory’s biggest challenge was yet to come. "In Soviet times we had no competition, but in the current market economy conditions, including competition

The Pavlovsky Posad factory is the only one in Russia that produces the fabrics for its end products. from cheaper alternatives from Eastern Europe, we had to introduce some alterations and gradually upgrade the production, largely thanks to the state support and subsidies for the craft industry," said deputy directorVyacheslav Dolgov. "Now we use Italian-made lines of printing machines. Our enterprise has a complete pro-

SLIDESHOW View the gallery: shawls and kerchiefs from Pavlovsky Posad Find more at: rbth.ru/17447

duction cycle, except for sheep breeding." At present, the Pavlovsky Posad shawl factory is the only textile factory in Russia that produces both the fabrics it works with and the end product. Dolgov notes one other way the factory has embraced modernity: "We sell our products through our internet site as well; over 200,000 people used this option to buy our shawls," he said. "There is a forum on the site, which led to the rise of virtual communities of shawl fans — women of different ages, who constantly buy shawls, exchange the latest news and give us advice. We are especially happy to see young girls wearing our shawls. It means that we managed to conquer the prejudice that shawls are made solely for elderly women,” he said. Pavlovsky Posad shawls are always visible on Russian Orthodox women on their way to church, and not just because they are attractive — Vasily Gryaznov is actually an Orthodox saint. "Vasily Gryaznov was not only a forward-looking manufacturer, but also a very charitable person," said Dolgov. "Although the enterprise is secular, protection of this great person is felt until now. Probably, it is his presence to be thanked for the fact that our products are sold well in the Orthodox world, transmitting a magic aura of our factory to Orthodox women through our shawls."

About 250 languages are spoken in Russia, including Russian itself, which is used by some 150 million, and the Ket language, known to only about a thousand speakers. DMITRY SUKHODOLSKY SPECIAL TO RBTH

No one knows for certain how many languages are actually spoken in Russia, although responses from the 2010 census identified as many as 250 within the Russian Federation. The most widely spoken of these are Tatar, Bashkir, Chuvash and Yakut – which all happen to be Turkic-group languages. This last group, Yakut, boasts more than 1.5 million speakers scattered across one of Russia’s largest regions, the Sakha Republic, in the far east. Books are published in Yakut; it is taught in schools and colleges; there is aYakut-speaking mass-media and artistic culture; and it’s studied by linguists and ethnologists. This is in dramatic contrast to the languages of Russia’s indigenous peoples. Such languages are dying out all over the world, not only in Russia. In most cases the reasons is neither bureaucratic neglect nor chauvinism, but harsh environmental conditions. Here, Russia is no exception. Russia is a sub-polar country in which huge tracts of land are covered by barely traversable taiga and tundra, making it difficult for ethnological researchers to visit these areas to determine if there are still living speakers of a particular language. From the northern Saami to the far south-eastern Udegei, indigenous peoples in Russia struggle for survival, communicating in unwritten languages. Russian government statistics suggest there are 47 lowpopulation ethnic minority peoples in Russia. Many of these number just a few dozen people. Another reason why lan-

guages die out is the peaceful assimilation of their speakers into populations of a majority-language group. Such factors as television, the internet and military conscription have exacerbated the demise of minority languages in recent years. This has been the fate of some dialects of Karelian. "Karelian" is a collective name used for the FinnoUgric peoples remaining in the European part of Russia and for the descendants of the Orthodox inhabitants of what today is Finland, who fled religious persecution to Russia. According to the census of 1897, the last Karelians living at Valdai, now a popular lake resort halfway between Moscow and St Petersburg, self-identified as Russians. However, Karelians living further from cities have kept their language alive until the present. And a majority language does not have to be particularly "big" to assimilate one that is minor. The tiniest ethnic grouping to be identified in the 2010 census was the Kerek, of Chukhotka in Russia's far east, of whom there are just four people. The last field recordings of the Kerek language were made in the 1970s, and in the 2002 census there were eight people who identified themselves as Kerek. None of the Kereks alive in 2010 have a full working knowledge of their language — they know some of its vocabulary, but only in a passive way. The Kereks have been almost wholly assimilated by the Chukchi, another group of low-population indigenous people, among whom they live. But there are also linguists who would say that Kerek is in fact a dialect of Koryak – a minority language, of 9000 speakers. This lack of clarity, even among experts, makes it difficult to direct resources in the right direction to preserve endangered languages.

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MOST READ Remembering the final surrender at Stalingrad rbth.ru/22467

RUSSIA'S MOST SOVIET CITY ONCE KNOWN AS STALINGRAD, VOLGOGRAD WAS DEVASTATED BY A BATTLE THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF WORLD WAR II.

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF STALINGRAD KSENIA BURMENKO

Volgograd is sometimes called Russia's most Soviet city. Its role in World War II has anchored it forever in the annals of Soviet legends and the many monuments to the city's defenders — particularly Mamayev Kurgan and the Battle of Stalingrad Panorama — are symbols of Soviet power and accomplishment. The city centre is also one of Russia's best examples of the Stalin Empire style — a result of the entire city's reconstruction in the years immediately following the war. Most visitors to Volgograd arrive by train and the city's main railway station is itself a monument to the Soviet era. Murals on the station's ceiling retell major events from early Soviet history. Exiting the station, visitors find themselves on Station Square, which features a clock tower with basreliefs dedicated to the Russian Civil War and the Battle of Stalingrad. This year, the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad is a leitmotif for the city. The exhibitions, events and activities dedicated to the anniversary, which was officially marked at the beginning of February, will continue throughout the year. One ofVolgograd's most emblematic symbols is the Battle of Stalingrad Panorama Museum (stalingrad- battle. ru, 47 Marshal Chuikov Street). In addition to the enormous canvas of the battle panorama itself, the museum holds the largest collection of documents and artefacts relating to the Battle of Stalingrad. Original banners and battle-standards from the different units and divisions who took part in the battle hang in the central Triumphal Hall. There is also an

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The Motherland Calls dominates the city skyline.

(39 Sovetskaya Street), which became a symbol of the battle. The four-storey building was an important vantage point, and both the Russian and German forces sought to hold it. During the fighting it was defended by 25 Soviet soldiers for 58 days.Today the building, decorated with relief carvings, is once again a normal residential building.

The murals on the ceiling of Volgograd's main railway station retell major events from Soviet history. Mamayev Kurgan, the massive memorial site that best symbolises the pain and pride of the city (47 Marshal Chuikov Street), is best approached by foot.Visitors can turn down the Poplar Avenue and pay a visit to the Square of the Last Stand or pass by the Ruined Walls and take a break by the Lake of Tears. Other paths lead to the Pantheon of Glory and the Bereaved Mother. The culmination of the memorial experience leads to the massive statue named The Motherland Calls. A magnificent panoramic view of the city and the Volga River stretches out from her feet. Visitors should also keep in mind that Mamayev Kurgan is also a burial site; the bodies of about 36,000 Soviet soldiers found after the city was liberated lie buried in two mass graves, one of which lies directly under The Motherland Calls. More recently, a Russian Orthodox Church, dedicated to All Saints, was constructed on the site so that all those who come to honour the memory of those who fell in battle can also have a place to pray. This year on February 2, the day officially recognised as the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, a commemorative obelisk bearing the names of 17,000 of Stalingrad's defenders was unveiled at the War Cemetery at Mamayev Kurgan. A team of researchers spent the past decade pain-

ULLSTEIN BILD/VOSTOCK-PHOTO

attractive collection of gifts made to the city in recognition of the resolute bravery of its defenders sent from people all over the world. Among these gifts are bronze author’s copies of the sculptures The Kiss and Jealousy by Auguste Rodin, which were donated in 1945 by Lady Margaret Westmacott. Here, too, is the sword of King George VI, presented to the citizens of the city in 1943 in recognition of their victory. A special museum display entitled "One for All..." was created at the Battle of Stalingrad Panorama Museum in honour of the 70th anniversary of the battle. The display focuses more on human emotion than grandeur and contains uniforms, weaponry, trophies, domestic items, documents and letters of the city's defenders. Alongside the Panorama Museum is the Dom Pavlova

The 70th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad has refocused attention on Volgograd, which inherited the history, if not the name, of the famous conflict.

Tour guides

Where to stay

Dining out

It's now easy to find an English-speaking guide in Volgograd, after a local university held courses to train guides for tourists in the lead-up to the 70th anniversary of the battle. Book a guide at turizm-volgograd.ru

The Volgograd Hotel (hotelvolgograd.ru) is housed in a restored historic building. Another option is the Hotel Intourist (volgograd-intourist.ru). Field Marshal Paulus was captured in what is now its courtyard.

Italian cuisine is quite popular in Volgograd. Locals recommend Rimini (trattoria-rimini.ru) and Grand Pizza (grand-pizza. shiremir.ru). For Russian food, check out Fasol (fasol.pro34. ru).

stakingly confirming the involvement in the battle of those listed on the monument. While tourists to the city focus on these major shrines, the whole of the city centre serves as a memorial to those who died defending the city, those who survived the bat-

level ground. Although the tree causes major problems for pedestrians, it is in no danger of being removed. As far as anyone can tell, this is the only tree — in fact, it is the only piece of greenery — that survived the battle. No other tall vegetation remained after the months of fighting. The long recovery of the city's green space from the burned and blackened soil that remained after the battle might be why much of the city centre — including the whole of the river embankment and the Avenue of Heroes — was made over as a park zone. Lenin Avenue, Volgograd's main thoroughfare, is more of a leafy boulevard than an avenue, with a broad pedestrian stretch down its centre, dividing the two streams of traffic. In spring the city is lined with flowers — first come the apricot blossoms known as "Volgograd Sakura". Next are lilac and acacia blossoms, Catalpa and horse-chestnuts. These are particularly beau-

MULTIMEDIA

The local planetarium features Zeiss optical lenses, a birthday gift from East German workers to Stalin. tle and those who rebuilt the city after the fighting was over. It's worth taking a long walk through the streets of such a city, where every lamppost could be a memorial. One such lamppost stands on the square in front of the train station beside the Memorial Museum (10 Gogol Street). There's a memorial tree as well – a poplar on the Avenue of Heroes, growing straight out of the asphalt paving, almost warping the

Check out a re-enactment of the pivotal battle of World War II

tiful along Peace Avenue. It was the first city avenue to be rebuilt after the war because its name recommended it ahead of others. The planetarium at the end of Peace Avenue is also an interesting spot to visit — and not just to learn about astronomy. The building features a dome topped by a sculpture made by the Soviet master Vera Mukhkina. And the observatory also has an unusual place in history— the equipment is fitted with Zeiss optical lenses — a g i ft f ro m Travel East GerTips at RBTH.ru/ man worktravel ers for Stalin's 70th birthday.

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The Mamayev Kurgan memorial site in Volgograd bears witness to the victims of war.

History A battle of epic proportion, symbolised by one man

The high price of holding the land before the Volga The story of the Battle of Stalingrad is one of unimaginable courage and determination. Amid an apocalyptic nightmare, few survived.

HIS STORY

Vassily Zaitsev

JOHN NAUGHTON

Dom Pavlova, a center of fierce fighting, was held by 25 soldiers for 58 days. It has since been reconstructed.

VIEWPOINT

Titanic struggle more crucial than El Alamein ARMY GENERAL

istorians tend to disagree about the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad for the outcome of the World War II. Many Western scholars claimed that it was not the Battle of Stalingrad, but the British victory at El Alamein, where Montgomery’s Eighth Army triumphed over Rommel’s Afrika Korps in November 1942, that marked the war’s biggest turning point. For the sake of fairness, it has to be said that El Alamein made a substantial contribution to Hitler’s eventual defeat – not least because it marked the first

defeat of Erwin Rommel, Germany’s legendary practitioner of blitzkrieg tactics, and because it came as a big morale boost for the Allies. But, strategically, the surrender of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad, less than three months later, was a much bigger blow for Hitler and the Wehrmacht’s morale. It marked the first major, decisive defeat on Hitler’s Eastern Front, and paved the way for the Red Army’s advance on Berlin in 1945. Stalingrad involved more than two million troops, lasted 200 days, and was virtually unprecedented in intensity and ferocity. Compared with El Alamein, where Rommel lost 55,000 men, at Stalingrad, some 144,000 Axis troops were

taken prisoner, and the 330,000-strong Sixth Army, which Hitler believed to be invincible, was destroyed. The Soviet army also suffered huge losses — 478,741 men dead. Even though many of these lives could have been saved, their tremendous sacrifice was not in vain. The Wehrmacht’s losses at Stalingrad – not just in men,

PRESS PHOTO

On Christmas Day, 1942, Radio Moscow broadcast a simple message to the members of Nazi General Friedrich Paulus’ Sixth Army besieged in the city of Stalingrad. To the background sound of a ticking clock came the message: "Every seven seconds a German soldier dies in Russia." Just over a month later, on February 3, 1943, Paulus (who had only recently been promoted to the rank of field marshal on the assumption that he would commit suicide rather than be captured) signed the surrender. Like the battle itself, the defeat was one of epic proportions. Two entire German armies, 22 generals and more than 90,000 men, along with what remained of the Italian, Hungarian and Romanian forces, were taken prisoner. Only 6000 ever saw their homelands again. The Russian victory at Stalingrad, as well as being the pivotal moment in World War II, also reflected the incredible renaissance of the Red Army, which, riven by Stalin’s purges and moralesapping defeats, had for 18 months seemed to have little answer to the Wehrmacht’s might. Bolstered by the rallying cry "There is no land for us beyond the Volga" and a ruthless discipline enforced

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Makhmut Garayev

RUSSIA BEYOND THE HEADLINES

LIVED: 1915-1991 PROFESSION: ACCOUNTANT IN THE WAR: SNIPER

Fittingly for a man decorated with the gold star of Hero of the Soviet Union, sniper Vassily Zaitsev’s lifespan almost directly matched that of the Soviet Union. His grandfather taught him to shoot as a child. Zaitsev helped to train scores of snipers and develop tactics still in use today.

by the fearsome NKVD, which executed 13,500 of its own side at Stalingrad, the Red Army found a new cohesion and purpose born out of a blend of patriotism, desperation and fear. Symbolic of this resurrection was the story of Stalingrad’s most celebrated hero, the accountant-turnedsniper Vassily Zaitsev. He landed in Stalingrad on September 22, 1942, and within a week, he was in a grave.

but in supplies of arms and equipment – brought Germany to the brink of a military, political and economic crisis. The debacle on the banks of the Volga River left a deep imprint on the Wehrmacht’s morale. The rate of desertion and executions of German servicemen increased markedly after their defeat at Stalingrad. While German

According to his memoir, Notes of a Russian Sniper, Zaitsev, in a deep post-battle sleep, had been dumped in a pit along with the newly dead. When he awoke, he managed to dig himself out of his tomb, and promptly killed two German machine gunners close by with grenades he’d secured from adjacent corpses. Zaitsev's exploits resulted in the new craze of "sniperism", which was also promoted by Soviet propagandists. In the enclosed, bombed-out surroundings of Stalingrad where German tanks could not pass, an expert marksman could exert a disproportionate influence. To soldiers who felt powerless before a better-equipped and relentlessly successful foe, the feats of a single man with a simple gun carried a potent, invigorating hope. While the German failure to capture Moscow the previous winter had signalled the first weakness in the Wehrmacht, their annihilation at Stalingrad left no room for recovery. German soldiers familiar with the notion of Götterdämmerung from Wagner’s Ring Cycle, had seen it brought to life amid the destruction of Stalingrad, which would, in turn, be replicated in Berlin. In 1944, two years on from that freezing Christmas of 1942, the Red Army was closing on the German capital. Here, according to historian Antony Beevor, a gallows humour prevailed. In anticipation of their beloved holiday, Berliners joked about the idealYuletide present. "Be practical," they said. "Give a coffin."

soldiers became less determined and came to fear being outflanked or encircled, some politicians and leading army officers even began plotting against Hitler. The Red Army’s victory in Stalingrad shook not just Hitler, but his Axis satellites. The pro-Nazi Italian, Romanian, Hungarian and Finnish leaders started looking for a pretext to pull out of the war and ignored Hitler’s orders to send troops to the Eastern Front. From 1943, whole Romanian, Hungarian and Italian units began to surrender to the Red Army, while Japan and Turkey also abandoned plans to declare war on the Soviet Union. Thus, it was Stalingrad that broke the back of the Wehrmacht and marked the key turning point for the Allies. Makhmut Gareyev, a highly decorated World War II veteran, is president of the Russian Academy of Military Sciences.

TIMELINE

The Battle of Stalingrad 1942 JULY 17 • German troops begin their offensive from a location on the bend of the Don River where it is closest to the Volga River, near the city.

AUGUST 23 • The Luftwaffe begins a concentrated bombing of the city. The conditions of the rubble-filled city centre force the parties into closequarter combat.

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NOVEMBER 19-23 • Soviet troops start their counteroffensive, condenamed "Operation Uranus".

DECEMBER 25 • German forces retreat, having lost more than 40,000 men.

1943 JANUARY 10 • Soviet troops launch "Operation Ring" to encircle and annihilate what remained of the Sixth Army inside the borders of the city.

JANUARY 17-22 • The assault is halted to realign Soviet forces. New attacks from January 22-26 split the Sixth Army in two, allowing Soviet forces to link up.

JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 2 • The Sixth Army commanded by Paulus is captured, and the German Northern Army Group surrenders. More than 90,000 prisoners are taken. ITAR-TASS

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SOCHI2014

TORCH UNVEILED SYMBOL INCORPORATES RUSSIAN TRADITIONS

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The Sochi 2014 torch designers were asked to convey the concept of the Olympic Games based on the idea of the convergence of Russian traditions and contemporary trends. The resulting torch resembles a firebird feather, which is traditionally used in Russian fairytales to light the

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Zenit St Petersburg player Alexander Kerzhakov celebrates after scoring a goal in a UEFA Champions League match.

A post-Soviet champions league? A proposal to create a new football championship has drawn criticism from FIFA. YEVGENY PROLYGIN RBTH

According to Valery Gazzaev, the creation of a new football championship in the countries of the former Soviet space is just a formality. "We are currently discussing the league format. Most likely, there will be two divisions, each of which will have eight or nine teams," said Mr Gaz-

with renowned clubs such as Dynamo Kiev, Spartak Moscow, Dinamo Minsk, Uzbek club Pakhtakor and Georgian club Dinamo Tbilisi all vying for the title. The latest initiative has been met with enthusiasm. Ukrainian billionaire and owner of Shakhtar Donetsk, Rinat Akhmetov, has expressed his interest in the idea, as has the management of Belarusian club Bate Borisov. Suleiman Kerimov, billionaire owner of Dagest-

zaev, the manager of FC Alania Vladikavkaz in Russia's North Caucasus, and the director of United Championship, the organisation tasked since November with formulating the plan for a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) league. A championship of the best CIS clubs evokes memories of the Soviet-era Supreme League, which existed from 1936 to 1991. The Supreme League was considered one of the world's top competitions,

an club Anzhi Makhachkala – home to superstar striker Samuel Eto’o – is a member of the organising committee. FIFA president Sepp Blatter, however, does not sound like a man ready to open discussions on the matter. "FIFA is not interested at all in this competition. Competitions between [clubs] take place within the framework and under the control of the national associations, within the borders of their country. The CIS championship is a wrong decision, and it can destroy the FIFA pyramid and cause enormous damage to the solidarity inside the family," Blatter said in January. But Mr Gazzaev remains optimistic. He says that the plan for a CIS championship does not conflict with any of the principles of FIFA and that the league could be up and running as soon as 2015.

TICKETS ON SALE WANT TO GO TO THE GAMES? GET OUT YOUR VISA CARD Tickets for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics went on sale to foreigners on February 11. About 70 per cent of tickets are expected to be sold to Russians and the remainder to overseas guests. The prices for Sochi tickets

will be slightly lower than for the London Games, however, tickets will be more expensive than for the last Winter Games, which were held in 2010 in Vancouver. The average ticket price in Sochi will be 6400 rubles ($A204).

ALYONA REPKINA

Football A new league hopes to bring back Soviet-era glory

way. The torch is made of cast aluminum alloy and the handle and central insert are moulded from high-strength polymer. The torch weighs 1.8 kilograms and is 0.95 metres long. The torch is designed to withstand high winds and frosts.

SOURCE: WWW.SOCHI2014.COM

Lacrosse Brought to Russia by Americans, the sport is now attracting interest from locals looking for something new

Lacrosse players in Russia hope to compete at the world championships next year. EKATERINA ZABROVSKAYA RBTH

Lacrosse, a sport invented by Native Americans, is still relatively unknown in Russia, but in recent years has been attracting more fans. Its growth in popularity can be traced to the arrival in Moscow in 2007 of American David Diamonon. "I first encountered this

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sport when I was studying at a school in Houston," Mr Diamonon said in an interview with RF-Sport. "When I was sent to Russia with my work, I took the opportunity to put a team together in Moscow." Thanks to Mr Diamonon, there are now two lacrosse teams in Russia: the Moscow Rebels and the St Petersburg White Knights. The backbone of each team is Americans living in Russia — but, according to Mr Diamonon, the situation is chang-

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'It's like something halfway between hockey and football'

Lacrosse is gaining in popularity among Russians.

Arctic chronicles Read in Travel section

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ing. "We have a growing number of pure Russian players. That really is the point. If this is going to live on, it has to be people who live here," he said. Alexei Chernyshev took up lacrosse in June last year. "I play in goal. I like the fact that lacrosse is more aggressive than the sports we traditionally play in Russia. It’s like something halfway between hockey and American football," he said. In 2011, Russia was admit-

ted to the Federation of International Lacrosse. Now there are plans to take part in the World Lacrosse Championship, to be held in Denver, Colorado, in 2014. One of the sport's challenges is that none of the equipment is sold in Russia. "I was travelling back and forth between Russia and the US enough to bring things in my luggage. Over time, I brought more and more equipment until we had enough," said Mr Diamonon.

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