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Business&Economy Russia strives to find alternative for oil revenues P.03

Culture UAE hosts unprecedented exhibition of Soviet art P.06

Monday, October 26, 2015

International Kremlin's Middle East involvement may enter new phase after Russia holds talks with representative of anti-Assad forces

Is Moscow looking to make Syria’s opposition a deal?

Millions of refugees have left Syria in search of shelter from the four-year conflict that has destroyed their lives and homes. GETTY IMAGES

A recent meeting between a Russian presidential envoy and a Syrian opposition leader in Cairo has sparked much rumour and speculation. RBTH polled experts for their views on the reasons behind the meeting. NADEZHDA USTINOVA, YEKATERINA SINELSCHIKOVA, RBTH

Speculation of a possible move by Russia to win support from the Syrian opposition is growing following a recent meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Ahmad AlJarba, one of the leaders of the movement to oust Syria’s leader Bashar Al Assad. Little is known about the outcome of the meeting, which took place in Cairo on Oct. 17, yet observers suggest that Russia may be acting as an intermediary in talks between the Assad government and

the moderate opposition to unite against a common enemy.

Assad forced to become more flexible According to Vyacheslav Igrunov, head of the Institute of Humanitarian and Political Studies, Damascus can no longer ignore the Syrian opposition and is in no position to destroy it. “It is too weak to fight wars on several fronts at the same time, while the war with the opposition is making it difficult to build a single front against Daesh,” he said. Furthermore, the opposition enjoys the support some Middle East countries,Turkey and the US, which makes tensions even higher. In this situation, it would be sensible to join forces against a common enemy, but to do that, first agreement on the status of the Syrian

opposition has to be reached, said Igrunov, adding that Russia is ready to act as a key intermediary. The main problem lies in the reluctance of both the parties to reach an agreeable compromise. According to Igrunov, Assad has turned out to be more flexible, as he has – supposedly – announced that he is prepared to back down, which cannot be said of the opposition forces. “From them, we have not heard such sensible statements about the possibility of fighting Daesh together,” said Igrunov.

‘If you are not terrorists, then show initiative’ In fact, Russian diplomats have already had meetings with representatives of the Syrian opposition in different formats. According to Leonid Syukiyainen, a professor at the Higher School of Economics in

Moscow and an expert in Islamic law, “the only thing that has changed now is the situation on the ground in Syria. But the goal remains the same: to establish dialogue.” However, there is still no uniform opinion as to who this moderate opposition is. While there is little disagreement between Russia and the West that Daesh is the enemy, attitudes to the various rebel groups fighting against the Assad regime are rather more complex and far from uniform in regard to who is seen as a terrorist and who is not. “The meeting may have discussed exactly this: that there are structures and organisations that do not consider themselves terrorists, while Russia, on the contrary, does,” said Syukiyainen. It is quite possible, he added, that Russia put the issue point-blank: “If you are not terrorists, then show

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initiative in the political settlement of the conflict.” "If they are indeed guided by Syria’s interests rather than instructions from abroad, they will agree to a compromise. If not, they are not true patriots of Syria ," he said. “This is the objective behind the meetings our high-ranking diplomats are having,”said another Oriental Studies expert, Konstantin Dudarev.

Moderates or terrorists? Moscow’s efforts to involve moderate Syrian opposition figures in the peace process have been going on for a long time, according to Andrei Fyodorchenko, head of the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies under the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. “Since the start of the year, Moscow has already conducted two consultative intra-Syrian meetings,

while in April it came up with eight points for the Moscow platform with proposals for resolving the crisis. It contains an appeal to put more pressure on regional and international players to stop any actions supporting terrorists and an appeal to free occupied territories. That declaration was adopted by the moderate Syrian opposition,” he said. All that is happening now is an attempt to create a broad anti-terrorist coalition involving regional players and various Syrian forces – though how realistic this is remains an open question, according to Vyacheslav Igrunov. “The thing is that the Syrian opposition will not run counter to its sponsors. And they are so far not ready for a compromise with the Assad regime. So there are some tough negotiations ahead,” he said.

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Politics

GULF NEWS_MONDAY_OCTOBER_26_2015

Society Thousands of citizens of former Soviet republics come to Russia every year looking for work

Labor migrants: Life under the radar PHOTOXPRESS

As Europe questions how to cope with an influx of refugees from Syria and American presidential candidates debate the role of Central American immigrants, Russia faces its own challenges. VLADIMIR KOZLOV SPECIAL TO RBTH

Rashid came to Moscow from Tajikistan last year. He is 20, has no particular qualifications and speaks broken Russian. He lives in a two-room apartment in the city’s northern suburbs with his brother’s family and several other people. He works odd jobs, mostly as a loader in a market.“I make about 20,000 rubles a month, sometimes less,” Rashid said. It’s almost a third of the average Moscow salary, but more than he was making at home. As a citizen of Tajikistan, a

Difficult choices

member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S.), Rashid didn’t need a visa to enter Russia, and could stay without any additional permission for 90 days. Eighty percent of all migrants to Russia are citizens of countries in the C.I.S., a loose federation made up of all the former Soviet republics except for Ukraine and Georgia, according to Nikolai Kurdymov, who heads the committee on economic migration at business lobby group OPORA Rossii. But Rashid stayed longer, was stopped by the police, and fined for overstaying the 90-day limit. Additionally, his name was put on a Federal Migration Service blacklist, making him ineligible for a work permit. And so, like numerous others, Rashid takes whatever work he can find, paid under the table.

“The fact that the vast majority of migrants have no legal status in Russia is the most painful issue,” said Muhammad Amin Madzhumder, president of the Federation of Migrants of Russia, adding that of the 10 million migrants in Russia, only 1.5 million are in the country legally. A migrant who has overstayed his or her visa or been deported is ineligible for applying for a work permit. More than two million names are on the blacklist of the Federal Migration Service, and as many as 800,000 have been deported. Predictably, living in the country illegally hampers the ability of migrants to integrate into Russian society. “They’re hiding. They are often surrounded by criminals, some-

times their passports are taken away from them,”Kurdymov said. As Russia slipped into recession in late 2014, reports about migrants leaving Russia in large numbers began to appear. However, experts say that it is too early to talk about a mass exodus of migrants. “Most have stayed,” said Vasily Kravtsov, head of charity Migration XXI Century. “There is one telling indicator: the amount of money they send to their families back home. In rubles, this figure hasn’t declined; it has even gone up.”

Anti-migrant sentiment For years, there has been anti-migrant sentiment in Russian society, based on fears they steal jobs from Russians and commit crimes. The facts dispute this.

“It’s wrong to think that migrant workers are taking jobs from Russians,” said Kurdyumov. “Mostly, they work low-qualification, lowwage jobs that Russians are not interested in.”

Confronting the problem Russian authorities have made some changes intended to improve the situation for labor migrants from the C.I.S. who want to stay in Russia legally long-term. One major change came into effect this year 2015, allowing migrants from the C.I.S. to buy“patents” — a kind of green card — instead of applying for work permits. Unlike work permits, patents allow the holder to switch from one employer to another, and the procedure for obtaining one is simpler. But the new system also has disadvantages.

In Moscow, a migrant is expected to pay between 60,000–70,000 rubles ($950–$1,100) a year — well beyond the resources of most migrants. Migrants are also required to get medical certificates stating they don’t have diseases including H.I.V. and tuberculosis, and must pass a test on Russian history, language and law. According to Kravtsov, the new system has encouraged corruption in some cases. "Many migrants have continued to work illegally. They just bribe local police officers,” he said. Despite these issues, Nikolai Kurdyumov thinks the new system is at least a start toward tackling the problem.“If at least some migrants will move out of the gray economy thanks to the new system, that will be good,” Kurdyumov said.

Russia-UAE Entrepreneurs on the lookout for new opportunities in Russia's regions as first Dubai-Novosibirsk flights begin

UAE eyeing up Siberia’s business potential NATALYA REMMER BUSINESS EMIRATES

Representatives of UAE's business circles had an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the economic potential of the Novosibirsk Region earlier this month during a forum that was held to mark the launch of direct flights between Novosibirsk and Dubai. The Siberia-UAE business forum was organised by the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs in the UAE and the Novosibirsk Region Agency for Investment Development, with the support of the governments of the Novosibirsk Region and the city of Novosibirsk as well as the Flydubai airline, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Dubai Exports. At the opening ceremony, head of the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs in the UAE IgorYegorov said that the business forum was just the first step towards long-term partnership, since Novosibirsk is

a gateway to the huge Siberian Federal District, while the UAE is seen as a key to Middle Eastern and Gulf countries. “Interest is growing in developing bilateral trade in food, machine engineering, production of metals, construction materials and medical equipment," saidYegorov. Addressing the gathering, the general director of the Novosibirsk Region Agency for Investment Development,Vladimir Nikonov, described the region, which is located in the geographical centre of Russia, on the junction of trade routes between Europe and Southeast Asia, as a major transport hub and logistics centre, with over 12 million people living within a 600km radius. He went on to list the key benefits enjoyed by the region: an advantageous geographic and transport position, a high degree of diversification and an economy that is not solely based on natural resources, a powerful scientific and innovations potential. “We are interested in developing the construction materials industry," he said. "We see that there is every opportunity to develop the agricultural processing sector, as

THE QUOTE

Igor Yegorov HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN UNION OF ENTREPRENEURS IN UAE

We would like to see UAE companies setting up joint ventures in Russia. The current economic situation in Russia, including the depreciation of the ruble, is conducive to the development of export-oriented production. UAE entrepreneurs may also be interested in the development of technoparks and transport and logistics factors as well as the full range of tourist opportunities.

LORI/LEGION MEDIA

On Oct. 8, Novosibirsk hosted the first Siberia-UAE business forum, bringing together entrepreneurs from Russia and the United Arab Emirates to consider prospects for cooperation.

Novosibirsk hosts the biggest scientific hub in Siberia.

Novosibirsk is a gateway to the huge Siberian Federal District, while the UAE is seen as a key to Middle Eastern and Gulf countries.

the region is largely self-sufficient in most foods and even exports some of them, but the processing industry (mainly, grain processing) is in need of modernisation, for which investment is required.” Another promising area is biotech production, since the Siberian region has a lot of research and scientific experience in this

field, with many local production companies already operating in this sector. Another area attractive for potential investment is the logistics sector. “Over the past five years, we have put into operation over 500,000 square metres of modern warehouse space.Yet, there is still demand for more,” Nikonov said.

He went on to stress that whichever specific area is being considered, the Novosibirsk Region has created conditions for developing business and basing production facilities locally. For his part, the head of the CIS office of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sanan Nasibli, informed delegates at the forum about the business and investment opportunities offered by Dubai. He said that the delegates included representatives of private investment structures, banks, investment houses, and service companies, which assist with business development in the Emirates. Flydubai senior vice-president for commercial operations in UAE, Middle East, Europe and CIS, Jeyhun Efendi said that the airline had for a long time been planning to launch a flight between Dubai and Novosibirsk because the Siberian region is strategically important for the company. It is expected that the new route will enable UAE companies to supply electronic goods to Siberia and to import locally produced food from there. Flydubai began operating its Novosibirsk route on Oct. 4, with three flights per week.

RUSSIA BEYOND THE HEADLINES www.rbth.com GULF NEWS_MONDAY_OCTOBER_26_2015

Business&Economy

Economy Prime Minister outlines main principles of Kremlin's economic policy as crude and gas sales fall below 50% of budget

Medvedev: Russia must cut oil addiction Premier Dmitry Medvedev calls on Russia to reduce its dependence oil through reforms, stimulating manufacturing and cuts on spending at Sochi International Economic Forum. ALEXEI LOSSAN

For the first time oil and gas revenues have provided for less than half of the federal Russian budget, said Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, speaking at the Sochi International Economic Forum in early October. In his words, the fall in oil prices and Russia's flexible monetary policy are responsible for the trend, but nevertheless it has to be supported even when oil prices return to higher levels. According to Medvedev, oil and gas revenues should not be the main source for replenishing the budget, and windfall profits from oil sales should be directed towards sovereign wealth funds.

A hostage to globalisation Medvedev noted that many changes have taken place in the world and in Russia's economy in the last year. "Business must not divide countries, but on the contrary unite them and such contacts connect governments better than any policy," he said In his opinion, growth rates in the world remain rather low - even in the United States they are lower than experts expected, while the European Union is currently showing zero growth. Medvedev added that the instability in the global economy and politics has had the biggest impact on the positions of developing countries.

RBTH

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (right) and Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Alexei Ulyukayev (left) at the Sochi International Economic Forum in

"The Russian economy is a hostage to and beneficiary of globalisation. Russia cannot ignore global trends as it concentrates on its own development." Moreover, in Medvedev's view, "for the last year and a half the Russian economy has had to face unprecedented sanctions from the West and in many cases the sphere of technology has been completely closed to the country". However, the government had known of the consequences the sanctions would have, but still

went ahead and made a conscious political decision that led to the EU and the US imposing them.

Strategy for the future Medvedev said that Russia has begun involving the expert community to work on a development strategy for the country until 2030, focusing on four priorities: investment activity, import substitution, the quality of government administration, and budget policy. According to Medvedev, the stimulation of investment activity

THE QUOTE

Dmitry Medvedev RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER

The Russian economy is a hostage to and beneficiary of globalisation. Russia cannot ignore global trends as it concentrates on its own development."

NEWS IN BRIEF

Companies Yandex lawsuit forces US internet giant to unbundle Android search and apps

How Russia’s leading search engine beat Google in court Authorities have found Google guilty of violating the Russian law on competition. Now Google has to authorise manufacturers of Android devices to pre-install the applications of its competitors. ANTON KROKHMALYUK SPECIAL TO RBTH

What happened? In February 2015, following a complaint from Russia’s largest search engine Yandex, Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) started proceedings against Google.The Russian company accused the US internet giant of abusing its dominant position on the Android market. In September the Russian regulator ruled in favor of Yandex.

How did Google break competition rules? Android is Google’s free mobile operating system, which – with a share of 85 per cent – dominates the mobile OS market. In Decem-

ber last year, Google introduced a drastic change to how it works with the manufacturers of Android devices, banning them from preinstalling competitor applications, including search engines. If the ban was breached, Google threatened to prevent the offending devices from being able to use some of its most popular services, like Google Maps,Youtube, Gmail, and the Google Play store, the main source of apps for any Android user. As a result, several smartphone manufacturers – such as Fly, Explay and Prestigio – that used to work with Yandex had to give up their partnership with the Russian company.

Why does it matter to Yandex so much? ForYandex, Russia is its key market.Yet its share of the search market in Russia is steadily falling, while that of Google is rising. Unless this trend is broken, in two to

The Russian search market % 62.2 57.4

34.9 26.0

2013 – Yandex

2015

three years’ time, the US giant may become Russia’s most popular search engine. In September 2015,Yandex accounted for 57.4 per cent of the Russian search market, with Google’s share at 34.9 per cent (Liveinternet data). In September 2013, their shares were 62.2 and 26 per cent respectively. That is why it is essential for the Russian company to retain the opportunity to pre-install its apps and search engine on mobile devices – especially since Fly, Prestigio, and Explay have a considerable share of the Russian market.

– Google

The FAS ruling sets an interesting precedent and could become a starting point for other lawsuits

Who will now decide which search engine is to be installed on mobile devices? Yandex’s victory will reinstate the old rules of the game. All companies willing to pre-install their applications will have to agree directly with the manufacturers of smartphones and tablets, by offering them better terms.

will be one of the main directions in the strategy. "The objective is to remove the barriers that impede (private) money from entering the market," he said. In the course of the last year several institutes for attracting private enterprises to the economy have been created in Russia. One of these is the Industrial Development Foundation, which was established to help enterprises in their early stages. The government has also made financial instruments accessible for a broader circle of investors. According to Medvedev, socalled “import substitution” – replacing imported goods with domestically produced ones – is the most important element for structural reforms and competitive enterprises can make the economy more balanced. "Returning Russian goods to the market is the first step and the ultimate objective is the creation of competitive production," he said. In several sectors, for example, the food and pharmaceutical industries, products can be quickly brought onto the market, while in others, such as machinery, the investment cycle is longer. Medvedev underlined that all countries that have taken a giant leap in development carried out governmental reforms. Furthermore, in the near future, the reduction of revenues and the fall in oil prices will make budget policy even harder. "The 2016 budget is being prepared according to this principle and the only protected articles will be Russia's international obligations, security, agriculture and social policy," he said, adding that government spending would be reduced for the other fields.

In addition, Google must inform Android users of the functionality to deactivate pre-installed applications, replace Google Chrome as the default search engine and offer them competitor search widgets and services.

How much money could Google lose on the Russian market? Apart from Yandex, Google in effect has no other competitors on the Russian market. According to SPARK-Interfax data, in 2014 Google’s main legal entity in Russia made 18 billion rubles, or about $300 million (at the current exchange rate), while Google’s revenue globally amounted to $66 billion. In other words, Russia accounts for just 0.5 per cent of the company’s profits. Having said that, the FAS ruling sets an interesting precedent for the international community and in future could become a starting point for lawsuits by other companies. For example, the EU has for a long time been collecting evidence of Google violations and the story with Yandex sets a precedent. If Google’s guilt is proven, the European Commission has the right to fine the internet giant to the tune of 10 per cent of its sales, which would amount to a record-breaking $6 billion.

Flights between Russia and Ukraine will be terminated Direct air communication between Russia and Ukraine will be terminated on Oct. 25, Russian Transportation Minister Maxim Sokolov has announced, adding that reciprocal flights between the two countries are ending on Ukraine's initiative. "The Russian government's attempts to talk with its Ukrainian counterpart were not successful. Recently we received official notification that all Russian airlines will be prohibited from using Ukraine's airspace," said Sokolov. "The decision to ban Russian airline flights to cities in Ukraine, as well as restricting transit, is linked to Kiev's grievances about the these airlines' flights to Crimea," said Oleg Panteleyev, director of the analytical service of the Aviaport Agency, who added that after Oct. 25 sanctions will be imposed on all Russian airlines. "Ukraine's decision, however, has a political implication since it violates the Agreement on Air Communication Between Two Countries," he said.

RUSSIA BEYOND THE HEADLINES www.rbth.com

Science&Technology

GULF NEWS_MONDAY_OCTOBER_26_2015

Software How grasshoppers inspired developers to create a breakthrough hi-tech product with big potential

Competition between Facebook and the Russian social network Odnoklassniki has given the visual recognition technology start-up Kuznech a chance to enter the global market. DINARA MAMEDOVA SPECIAL TO RBTH

Founded just four years ago, Russian-American startup Kuznech is poised to take a bold step onto the world market with its own visual recognition technology Kuznech’s success story began in 2012 when Facebook bought the face detection technology provider, Face.com. The latter then recalled its licence from the Russian social network, Odnoklassniki, a popular competitor to Facebook on the local market. Kuznech, whose 2014 revenues reached $700,000 moved quickly to occupy that niche.

Technology inspired by insects The name of the company, based in Boston and San Francisco, derives from the Russian word for grasshopper, and the technology it uses has much in common with the green insect. Grasshoppers have multiple eyes and they see

the world as a picture consisting of numerous dots. "Our technology is powered by neural networks that represent simplified models of the nervous system of living organisms," said company co-founder, Michael Pogrebnyak. "In other words, the principles that our technology is based on are very similar to the processes that take place during visual recognition in the human brain: learning, generalisation, abstraction." The idea behind the technology belongs to one of the company’s co-founders, Alexander Valencia Campo. He was developing computer games and constantly came up against the problem of searching for similar images of illustrations. Initial investment in the project was $500,000, with a further $750,000 invested in 20112012 by the Moscow-based Skolkovo Foundation. Kuznech, which has already won 10 international IT awards, currently offers eight products, with the main ones being visual search and recognition for images and videos, as well as mobile recognition. The company holds four patents; one in Russia and three in the US.

PRESS PHOTO

Russianmade face recognition technology goes global

The main Kuznech product is visual search and recognition technology for images and videos.

Future in medicine THE NUMBERS

500,000 U.S. dollars of initial investment in the project was followed by the investments of the state-sponsored Skolkovo Foundation.

700,000 U.S. dollars of revenues in 2014.

Kuznech’s main clients are news agencies, online stores, and social networks. The company’s development centre is based in St. Petersburg, and the big names on Kuznech's client list include Mail. ru Group (Russia), and PartsTown (U.S.). On the world market, especially in North America, many competitors, such as Idee, offer similar technology. According to Pogrebnyak, however, the advantage of Kuznech's technology is that it is practically universal and can be built into different applications. Pogrebnyak is convinced that this technology has huge potential for analysing medical images. "We are trying to detect melano-

The advantage of Kuznech's technology is that it is practically universal and can be built into different applications.

rbth.com/49681

mas and other skin growths, and we plan to set up a melanoma cell detector for doctors," he said. "However, things have been rather slow as investors like the idea but are in no hurry to put money into it." Konstantin Vinogradov, an analyst with the Runa Capital venture fund, believes one of the most crucial challenges for startup companies in this field is lack of scalable, profitable and unoccupied market niches. "Kuznech can capture a part of the international market if it focuses on a few cases that its competitors haven’t, but it will be difficult because there are already a lot of players on the US market and local players from Southeast Asia," he said.

Education This year 13 Russian academic institutions were included in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

Russian universities start to make global mark Moscow State University jumps 35 places to 161st in the latest THE World University Rankings. The total number of Russian universities listed increased from two to 13. GLEB FEDOROV

The World University Rankings 161 Lomonosov Moscow State University

RBTH

201-250 Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University 251-300 Tomsk Polytechnic University 301-350 Kazan Federal University and the MePhi National Nuclear Research University 401-500 Novosibirsk State University and St. Petersburg State University 501-600 Bauman Moscow State Technical University 601-800 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, the MISIS National University of Science and Technology in Moscow, the Southern Federal University in Rostov-on-Don, Tomsk State University and the Ural Federal University in Yekaterinburg.

Russia has made huge efforts to improve its higher education system in recent years.

The Lomonosov Moscow State University (MGU) was ranked 161 out of 800 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2015-16, which were released on Oct. 1. Thirteen Russian academic institutions made the list this year, compared to just 2 in the 2014-15 rankings. MGU was once again ranked highest among the Russian universities. Last year, MGU was ranked 196 out of 400 (the list was expanded to 800 universities this year). The only other Russian university that was in the list last year was Novosibirsk State University, ranked in the 301-350 position. This year, it fell in the rankings to 401-500. In the 2015-16 rankings, the Russian top 5 also included the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (201-250), Tomsk Polytechnic University (251-300), Kazan Federal University (301-350) and the MePhi National Research Nuclear University (301-350). "It's great that Russia has 13 institutions in this list, with five of its universities sitting within the top 400," said Phil Baty, Editor, Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Moscow State University steadily outperforms all other Russian competitors.

“Russia has made huge efforts to improve its higher education system in recent years, including the launch of its Project 5-100 initiative,”Baty told RBTH. He added that the country would have to continue to work hard to ensure it can compete with China and other global rivals, who according to Baty “are also investing heavily in higher education". Russian Deputy Minister of Education Alexander Povalko praised the fact that more Russian universities had entered the rankings, and said he was hopeful of even better results next year. "Universities are investing in their scientific research base and are recruiting the best people to enhance their

international competitiveness," Povalko told RBTH. Novosibirsk State University (NGU) Rector Mikhail Fyodoruk said his university has been rising in the ranking by subject category because of the quality of fundamental research work it carried out. He attributed the fall in the general ranking of the university to a slight change in methodology. Nikolai Kudryavtsev, Rector of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIFT) also cited the change in methodology for a lack of progress in the ranking and added that this year, THE apparently did not take into account scientific publications that have many co-authors.

According to both rectors, when it comes to physics, it is impossible to carry out fundamental research with a small group of scientists. For major results, substantial investment and big teams are required. Another obstacle that comes in the way of Russian specialised universities, like NGU and MIFT, climbing quicker in the general rankings is the limited number of humanitarian courses they offer. "We only have three specialisations in our institute: physics, mathematics and informatics,”Kudryavtsev told RBTH. “It's very hard for us to deliver a better result in the general rankings.” He added that the institute's ambi-

tion is to get into the top 25 of the physics ranking. Last year's THE Physical Sciences Ranking included MGU (56), NGU (85) and the MePhi National Research Nuclear University (95). A major factor that contributed to the success of Russian universities this year was cooperation with international companies like Boeing and Siemens. Victor Koksharov, Rector of the Ural Federal University, said such cooperation plays a major role in the development of regional economies. The Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, which has built the best university engineering centre in Russia, cooperates with companies like Porsche. "Our research in the field of innovation is used in shipbuilding, aircraft building, aviation and transport systems," the university’s rector Andrei Rudskoi told RBTH.

Global trends THE rankings reveal universities in continental Europe are catching up with their Anglo-American counterparts. ETH Zurich (9) is "leading the pack as the first institution from outside the US and UK to make it to the world top 10 in a decade," THE said in a press statement. Asia showed mixed results this year, with Japan and South Korea falling and China remaining stable. Japan has 41 institutions on the list, China has 37, South Korea and Taiwan both have 24, while India has 17.

RUSSIA BEYOND THE HEADLINES www.rbth.com

Culture

GULF NEWS_MONDAY_OCTOBER_26_2015

Russian art A new exhibition in Abu Dhabi tells the story of Russia in the 20th century through the works of some of its realist painters

Russian and Soviet realism on show Abu Dhabi has become the first Middle Eastern capital to host a large exhibition of Russian and Soviet art of the 20th century. The show comprises works showing the best of Russian realist art of the last century.

Russian art on a global scale The private fund Art Russe was set up in 2012 and is based in London. Its aim is to promote Russian art “through organising and supporting exhibitions, publishing books, and contributing to museum collections abroad," explained Art Russe director Rena Lavery.

DMITRY SMOLEV SPECIAL TO RBTH

in the title: the allusion to Leo Tolstoy’s great novel implies the epic nature of this visual tale. Indirectly, this sweeping ambition is supported by the presence of Mai Dantsig’s monumental painting “And the World Remembers the Saviours”, which depicts WWII scenes with“The Sistine Madonna”(the Rafael painting which Soviet soldiers saved from destruction in 1945) in the foreground. Some of the smaller-size exhibits also imply a monumental scale take for example, the models of the cult Soviet statues by Vera Mukhina and Yevgeny Vuchetich. The exhibition consists of four sections:“Legacy of War”,“Nature and Beauty”,“Reflections”,and“La-

Russian realism is presented in a range of different genres, emotions and meanings.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development attended the opening ceremony.

PRESS PHOTO (2)

The United Arab Emirates pursues a policy of openness on the international art scene. It was this openness that largely decided the location where the Art Russe fund could carry out its ambitious new project, aimed to present Russian art not only to a local but also to an international audience. Businessman Andrei Filatov, founder of Art Russe, explains it thus: “The Emirates are quickly turning into a global art centre and Russia, with its rich cultural heritage, should be present in that country alongside European nations that are trying to open branches of their museums in the UAE and promote their art there.” Art Russe has several large international projects under its belt. For instance, in the spring of 2015, the Saatchi Gallery in London held, to great acclaim, an exhibition of works from the fund’s collection called “Exploring the Legacy of WWII in Russian Art." Now the fund has made a strategic step towards the Gulf. The purpose of the exhibition, which will be held at Emirates Palace till Dec. 10, is to familiarise the local public with the works of artists who were household names for millions of Soviet people. The exhibition “Art Russe Collection of Russian and Soviet Art of the 20th Century: War and Peace”features over 120 works, representing a wide range of styles and

The history of the country is the thread running through the whole exhibition.

genres and reflecting different stages in the development of the Russian artistic school of the last century. The emphasis is clearly on realist art, in line with one of the main priorities in the fund’s collection policy.

The organisers did not seek to illustrate every twist and turn in Russia’s turbulent 20th century history. And yet it is the history of the country that is the thread running through the whole exhibition. Hence the “War and Peace”

Concerts A landmark figure in classical music comes to the UAE

ANNA GALAIDA SPECIAL TO RBTH

Yuri Bashmet is a landmark figure in classical music. Not only has he earned international acclaim, for his performances but he has also restored the viola to its rightful place among the major musical instruments for which leading contemporary composers create new music. Bashmet became the first musician in the past 200 years to have been allowed to play Mozart’s viola in the composer’s house in Salzburg.These days, very few people may remember that in the past students were transferred from the violin to the viola class if considered not talented enough. The future musician was born far from musical capitals, in the city of Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, in a family that had no professional connection to music. However, his parents and grandparents on both sides loved to sing, while his mother, a lin-

guist by training, was working at a conservatory. It was she who first brought her youngest son to music school. As a child Bashmet preferred football and fencing, and when he first saw a musical instrument in his hands, he – as he himself recalls –“thought that life was over”. Yet, studying music turned out to be by far more exciting that one would have thought. Within the Soviet education system, the talented boy was soon spotted and after he graduated from a music school in Lvov (in modern-day Ukraine), he was invited to study at the Moscow Conservatory. In the mid 1970s, the viola was not widely seen as a soloist’s instrument, yet Bashmet’s striking performing style made him stand out among other young musicians. Right after he graduated from the conservatory, Bashmet was invited on his first tour, with Rudolf Barshai’s Chamber Orchestra, to Germany. Bashmet’s virtuosity, his passionate delivery and interest in works by old masters who composed music for the viola opened the doors to the world’s leading concert halls, which until then had

Yuri Bashmet is a leading violist.

Grammy winning Russian violist and conductor, Yusri Basmet and his orchestra, Soloists of Moscow to perform in the UAE with a programme of 17th-21st century classics.

Russian works to shine at Sharjah book fair On Nov. 4-14, 2015, the city of Sharjah will host the 34th International Book Fair, which will feature a Books of Russia programme and exhibition. Sergei Kaikin, director of the General Directorate of International Book Exhibitions and Fairs, will present the St. Petersburg Book Salon and the Moscow International Book Exhibition. The Russian programme is focused on the translation of Russian literature into Arabic. On Nov. 5, Dr Khaba Abdullah M. Khasan, a prominent literary translator from Russian into Arabic who was educated in Russia and has been living there for more than 50 years, will present his new translations of Mikhail Bulgakov’s “The Fatal Eggs”,“Heart of a Dog”

and “A Country Doctor’s Notebook” as well as stories by Russia's beloved poet and author Alexander Pushkin, and will discuss the difficulties of translating Russian classics. Members of the Russian delegation will present a large translation project, which envisages a thorough selection of top-quality Russian books and professional translators to render them into Arabic. A new Russian textbook for Arabic speakers is being prepared for publication. On Nov. 7, its author Ayman Kanafani Gaziyevich will present the teaching method behind the textbook. Igor Rozin RBTH

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Musical 'voice of Russia' to perform in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

not staged solo viola performances: Carnegie Hall in New York, the Barbican in London, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, La Scala, and the Bolshoi. Even more importantly, Bashmet’s mastery and talent with the instrument inspired many outstanding contemporary composers to write pieces for the viola. Shnitke and Gubaidulina, Denisov and Kancheli, Eshpai and Raskatov – all have composed music for his viola. Passionate about what he is doing, Bashmet has created a musical universe of his own. One part of it is the Soloists of Moscow orchestra that he formed in 1992 out of talented young musicians: graduates, students and postgraduate students at the Moscow Conservatory. In more than 20 years, the orchestra has given over 1,400 concerts in more than 50 countries. Critics rate the Soloists of Moscow as one of the best orchestras in its class. It combines impeccable ensemble playing with the striking musical individuality of each performer. The complete understanding between the conductor and the musicians creates an atmosphere of harmony and a feeling that the music is being born right there on the stage. The Soloists of Moscow are frequently described as“the voice of the whole country”.

bour”. This structure has allowed the curators to complement official paintings with other works, like for example, the colourful portraits of young peasant women by Abram Arkhipov or the scenes of northern villages by Vladimir Stozharov. Furthermore, although Soviet art takes centre stage in this exhibition, there are also works by artists who could by no stretch of imagination be described as Soviet. For example, a series of portraits painted by Nicolai Fechin in the US, to where he emigrated soon after the Bolshevik revolution. It was in America too that Nikolai Rerikh created his allegorical painting “And We Are Not Afraid”,depicting Russian Orthodox monks taming a wild bear. The phenomenon that the organisers of the exhibition define as “Russian realism” is presented in a range of different genres, emotions and meanings. Although this range does not cover all the shades, in particular those characteristic of underground art in Russia, it is still broad enough to reflect the past and present tastes of the people. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, said: “This exhibition uses different ways to put across to us the genius of the Russian soul.”

This year Russia will present new translations for an Arab audience.

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Travel

GULF NEWS_MONDAY_OCTOBER_26_2015

Resorts Just natural mountain slopes

Dagestan Russia's oldest city has seen civilisations come and go over almost 2,000 years

Dombai: Alpine skiing with a Caucasian flair

Dombai Derbent

Dombai, a famous ski resort situated not far from Krasnaya Polyana, offers breathtaking landscapes, winter entertainment, and unforgettable cuisine at reasonable prices. KATERINA MUKHIMA SPECIAL TO RBTH

LORI/LEGION MEDIA

Derbent, the oldest and the southernmost city in Russia.

The Gates of the Caspian: A whirlwind of architecture and history

The new winter sports complex at Roza Khutor may have stolen the show at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, but Russia has more than just one world-class ski resort in the Caucasus. Dombai is one of the most popular ski resorts in the region. The Dombai mountains are located in Karachay-Cherkessia, at the foot of the main Caucasus ridge in the Dombai meadows. Here you can get a taste of alpine skiing in real, natural mountains free from trendy cafes and boutique hotels. This is the real Caucasus - hospitable, beautiful, and fiercely independent. The Dombai resort offers a variety of ski runs for any skill level, with a total length of about 25 kilometres. All of the runs are on the wide face of Mount MussaAchitara ("Lament of Moussa") at an altitude of 1,630-3,168 metres. While at the top of the slope the pitch is gentle, the lower part is steep, with bumps.

People were living in this city long before the Slavs arrived.

People were living in this city even before the Slavs were known on the world stage.The names of those who tried to take the fortress alone would fill a history book: Caucasian Albania, the Scythians and Khazars, the Persians and the Arabs, the Turks and Persians again, the Huns, Tokhtamysh, Tamerlane and Peter the Great. Derbent's prominence can be explained relatively easily: it sits in an important military and trading position, spanning the narrow strip of land between the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea. Caravans following the Silk Road would pass through Derbent.

A citadel of contrasts The Great Caucasus Wall

Right at the entrance to the NarynKala Fortress is a fountain with water from the mountains that is shaped in the form of some fantastic beast, and a small zindan, which is basically a hole in the ground used for confining prisoners. Actually "zindan" means "pitcher." It is a stone bag with a narrow opening at the surface so the prisoners couldn't climb up its sheer walls. The floor is covered with coins. For some reason this is the spot that all tourists want to return to. The zindan is right next to the khan's office. It was here that defendants waited for the court to hand down its decisions. If someone was found guilty he was transferred to the large dungeon. "Pris-

Derbent's value as a border outpost is visible to the naked eye. The mountains end just a kilometre from the sea and the Naryn Kala fortress ("Sunny Fortress" it really is very sunny here) looms over the shore.The two almost parallel walls of the fortress stretch down to the sea. In the 20th century they were partially dismantled, but their footprints can still be made out today from the air. The streets that run across Derbent were built right along the walls. Long ago the walls went a few hundred metres into the sea, forming a convenient harbour. In modern times, archaeologists have found the remains of the wall at the bottom of the Caspian Sea. Besides this, the walls of the fortress went even further, they stretched for 70 kilometres into the mountains, forming a Caucasian version of the Great Wall of China.

Currently there are five aerial lifts at Dombai (including a sixseat Doppelmayr) going from 1,600 to 3,000 metres.The ski season here opens in December, with snow lasting until April.

Freestyle

Medieval Arab geographers wrote enthusiastically about how thick the Derbent walls were. Old Derbent is squeezed between the two walls of the fortress, and the distance between them is less than 500 metres.

oners were held here for life," said one tour guide. "However, they usually lasted about three months." Naryn-Kala has an eclectic mix of architecture from previous eras, including Iranian baths from the 17th century, arranged so they could be heated by a single candle, and the khan's palace with its dried-up pool. There are also the western gates of the fortress, rebuilt in the 10th century. Derbent residents called them the "gates of shame" because if the fortress was in danger, the ruler could escape through them into the mountains.

A tight squeeze

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5,000 years of history Archaeological excavations have shown that the first settlements appeared here in the Bronze Age, at the beginning of the third millennium BC. Derbent was first mentioned by Hecataeus of Miletus (6th century BC), who called it the Caspian Gates. The fortress that can be seen today - a mountain wall and fortified port - was built by the Per-

Dombai also has freestyle terrain, but it is open to skiers only when there is enough snow. Steep couloirs, wide virgin fields, and forest skiing are available from January to March. Most off-trail runs go along the northern slope of Mussa-Achitara and end in the Gonachkhir gorge. Backcountry fans can descend from the top of Semyonov-Bashi (3,602 metres). The runs here are about 3-4 kilometres long.

Old Derbent is squeezed in between the two walls of the fortress.

The main competitor resort is Prielbrus, located in KabardinoBalkaria. But the Dombai mountains offer a wider variety of apres-ski activities, with entertainment available day and night.They offer all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and segways, as well as horseback riding in the mountains. In good weather you can paraglide with an instructor. Not so long ago a new winter sport appeared in Dombai - speed riding, which is a combination of paragliding and alpine skiing. In addition, almost every hotel has a sauna, and many have indoor pools. There is an ice skating rink hear the GornyVershiny hotel. The most popular time for locals and tourists to skate is late in the evening when the sky is dotted with stars, music is played over the speakers, and everyone is offered hot beverages. It is impossible to miss the Dombai market, which gives the resort a special flavour. It is located near all of the ski lifts. Here they sell woollen sweaters, scarves, handmade hats, jam made from pinecones, walnuts, rose petals and of course, the region's fragrant Dombai honey. There are many restaurants on the slopes where you can "thaw out," but unfortunately in Dombai there are only a few dishes to choose from. The resort serves only Caucasian cuisine - tasty, filling, but very fatty. Or try Dombai tealeaves. Picked locally, they make for a tea that is considered very relaxing. The tea brews for a long time, which is why it is so strong. Then they add berberis, thyme, hawthorn, and plenty of rhododendron, which helps people acclimatise in the mountains.

The people of Derbent maintain their ancient traditions and arts.

The route from there to the Old Town goes down a very long medieval staircase. There are exactly 211 steps. Old Derbent is squeezed in between the two walls of the fortress, and the distance between them is less than half a kilometre. Judging from photos from the 1970s, the entire city fit between the two walls at that time. That's probably why the cobblestone streets are so crooked. A person can get lost here even with a map, and the streets are so narrow that the only thing that can drive along them are three-wheeled motor scooters. In the Old Town the whirlwind of architecture continues.You can find a caravanserai, the mausoleum of Persian Hanshi Tuti-Bike, and an Armenian church. There are a couple of medieval baths. But the most interesting building is the Juma Mosque, the oldest mosque in Russia, built in the 7th century. In its quiet courtyard is an 800-year old plane tree.

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RIA NOVOSTI

Entertainment

Dombai is one of the most popular ski resorts in the region.

LORI/LEGION MEDIA

DMITRY VINOGRADOV

This is the real Caucasus - hospitable, beautiful, and fiercely independent. © VLADIMIR VYATKIN / RIA NOVOSTI

sian Shah Khosrau I (531-579) of the Sasanian dynasty. It is interesting to note that he built it using money from Byzantium. Justinian I assisted his neighbour in defending itself from the northern nomads. After strengthening his defences, Khosrau went to war against Byzantium. The walls, up to 20 metres high, are built of huge blocks of yellow limestone, which was used to build the rest of the city. Medieval Arab geographers wrote enthusiastically about how thick the Derbent walls were, each trying to outdo the other. One calculated the thickness in the number of wagons that could drive along the top at the same time. Another, for example, swore that 20 horsemen in a row could ride along the top of the wall. In fact, the walls are about 5-7 metres thick. A cavalry unit would not fit on top, but it was enough to impress in its time.

There is a city in Russia whose history is closely connected with the Arab Caliphate, the Persian kingdom and the Seljuk Turks. This is the Dagestan town of Derbent.

The freestyle terrain is extremely prone to avalanches, and the Caucasus Mountains are not safe for lone skiers, so everyone takes a guide to avoid getting lost, flying off into rocks, or getting stuck in an avalanche. Professional guides can be found at the firstaid station located near the Austrian ski lift. There you can also find out about the ski conditions. Heli-skiing is also available at Dombai, with runs starting from Alikbek glacier and from the slopes of Mount Semyonov-Bashi.

It is an authentic resort free of trendy cafes and boutique hotels.

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Opinion

GULF NEWS_MONDAY_OCTOBER_26_2015

SYRIAN CAMPAIGN: THE RISKS AND BENEFITS FOR RUSSIA Nikolai Kozhanov ANALYST

DORMIDONT VISKAREV

aving decided to get involved in the Syria war, Moscow has considerably strengthened its positions on the world stage but it has also taken on serious risks, including that of getting stuck in Syria for a long time. Overall, the decision taken by the Kremlin fits in with the wider strategy adopted by the Russian leadership as regards Syria. Its goal is to resolve the conflict in that country in line with the Kremlin’s vision. Moscow, while recognising the need for changes in Syria’s political setup, consistently maintains that any change should take the form of a gradual transformation of the existing state institutions rather than their instant demolition through military or any other means. For the Russian leadership, Bashar al-Assad is a guarantor of Syria’s survival as a country and of a successful fight against Daesh. Russia continues to see him as a player in the transition process and negotiations between the regime and what the Russian authorities describe as “healthy” elements of the opposition. Therefore, any talk of Assad’s removal as a prerequisite for the negotiation process is unacceptable to Moscow. For a number of reasons, this approach does not work for the West and some Middle Eastern countries.Yet Moscow clearly intends to change their view of the situation in its favour and is trying to achieve this along two tracks.

Russia’s military presence in Syria considerably increases the survival chances of the current regime.

On the one hand, since spring this year it has stepped up, along diplomatic channels, the dialogue with the international community to try and change its stance on Syria. On the other, since August it has been building up its military support of Assad to guarantee his survival till the negotiations begin and also to increase Russia’s capability of influencing the situation in Syria and beyond. In that sense, the decision to carry out air strikes and to deploy (albeit a limited) military presence in Syria has landed Moscow with a strong trump card in its hands.

Firstly, Russia’s military presence in Syria considerably increases the survival chances of the current regime. Secondly, the chance of a military intervention against the Assad regime by third-party countries is now close to nil. Previously, Russia was concerned that the US-led coalition or Turkish forces could be used to deliver a strike against the Syrian army to weaken it and to depose Assad. Now this scenario is unlikely. At the same time, by promoting the idea of an alternative anti-Daesh coalition that would in-

ON THE EVE OF A PROXY WAR? Georgy Bovt ANALYST

f anyone had any hopes that Russian-American relations would somehow improve after Russian PresidentVladimir Putin's recent meeting with his US counterpart Barack Obama in New York, it is safe to say that now they can be forgotten. And even if Moscow's military intervention in Syria did slightly change the agenda with Washington toward a decrease of "toxicity" concerning Ukraine, it still has not helped to build cooperation – even when it comes to the crucial issue of fighting terrorism represented by Daesh. The disagreements between Russia and the US over Syria's future have turned out to be too great. Washington has perceived Moscow's actions in the fight against various terrorist and Islamist groups in Syria (not only Daesh but also groups such as Jabhat al Nusra, which essentially is an Al-

Qaida branch) not only as excessive autonomy, but also as a challenge to US policy in the region. And all this despite the fact that not only has the broad international coalition's months-long bombardment of Daesh forces not achieved any serious results, but on the contrary, the group has increased the territory under its control. Mass media have begun saying that Obama has handed the advantage to Putin, something that obviously has only worsened the emotional background for improving dialogue, especially since personal relations between the two presidents have never been marked by amicability. If in the first days of the Russian bombardments in Syria the US administration was still making statements that could have been interpreted as relatively positive, now it is only voicing criticism and condemnation: The Russians are bombing the wrong formations, they're playing their own game in Syria and their main objective is not fighting Daesh but

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helping the regime of Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad. There is no more discourse about how Assad could play a role in the transition of power. The US refuses to have any consultations with Russia on issues of political regulation in Syria. Moscow's proposals to hold

Washington's refusal to engage in political talks on Syria's future can be interpreted by Moscow as a challenge. high-level talks with the participation of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (who actually had decent relations with Obama) have been refused. The only thing Washington is willing to do is hold talks between the countries' militaries in order to prevent any accidental combat collisions in Syria's airspace. After three videoconferences, both Rus-

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sia's Defence Ministry and the Pentagon are speaking about the convergence of positions on key issues for the preparation of a memorandum of understanding on flight safety over Syria. Will such contacts lead to talks on political issues? In the near future, obviously no. America does not want to discuss with Russia its support for the so-called "moderate opposition" or even explain which groups, besides the semimythical Free Syrian Army (FSA), which is divided into tens of motley brigades, it considers moderate. Furthermore, with the failure of the $500-million programme that prepared "moderate" fighters on location, the Pentagon has started sending massive arms supplies to Assad's enemies. But there is no guarantee that these weapons will not end up in the hands of Daesh or other "moderate" terrorists. This has already happened with a shipment of offroad Toyotas that had originally been sent to the FSA but wound up with Daesh – a scandal that

clude the Assad regime too, Moscow is trying to bring the Syrian leader out of isolation and once again legitimise him as a player. Thirdly, Moscow’s own position in the diplomatic arena is strengthening. From now on, it will be hard to take any considerable decision on Syria without Russia's involvement. Since Russian airstrikes began, contacts between Moscow and the West have only increased. Furthermore, it appears that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was pleased with the outcome of his talks with his US counterpart John Kerry. However, Russia’s decision to start a military operation in Syria has its drawbacks too. To begin with, Moscow’s drastic action on Syria right after Putin’s speech at the UN General Assembly caused some embarrassment for the West and some Middle East countries thus complicating attempts to reach an agreement. Difficulties also await Russia on the path of building relations with the “healthy” section of the Syrian opposition. Moscow has confirmed – in the perception of the opposition forces – its image of a participant in the conflict fighting on the side of Damascus. Now any attempts by Russia to assume the role of an intermediary between the Syrian regime and its opponents will come up against far bigger obstacles than was the case when talks on the issue in Moscow were being prepared. Finally, there is a practical consideration: Does Russia have enough money for this? Even if Moscow’s actions remain limited to an air force operation, it will still be rather costly. Whereas the war with Daesh may drag on for years, not just months.

DECODING SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN RUSSIA Despite the steepest drop in incomes since 1998, Russians remain highly optimistic, and President Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings have skyrocketed. As the “fat 2000s” have given way to the current economic downturn, Russian society has somehow swung from protest to civic apathy. Can this all be explained by domestic propaganda and the authorities’ grip on public debate? If not, then what?

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First published in Russian by Voenno-Promyshlenniy Kurier

The author is a consultant with the Foreign Policy and Security programme at the Carnegie Moscow CenterPolicy, a non-governmental think tank.

flew around the internet. It seems that the US is gambling on a decisive change in the battlefield, one that favours a broad coalition of anti-Assad forces proclaimed as moderate. And then, if necessary, the US will start negotiations. Especially since, with the support of Russia's air force, Syria’s government troops are now in a more offensive position, which obviously Washington would like to prevent. In Syria the different groups are constantly forming and reforming alliances, including Daesh, and fighters migrate from one alliance to another – together with their weapons. In Hama province there is an army with several dozens of thousands of fighters that includes terrorist groups such as Jabhat al Nusra, Ahrar ash-Sham and others. Now there is the risk that they will receive, even if indirectly, through third parties, American arms. At least for now we are not talking about antiaircraft systems. The US' refusal to coordinate its distribution of weapons from the air onto regions occupied by terror groups means it is creating the prerequisites for starting a proxy war between Damascus, with its Russian support, and terrorists.This threatens to further worsen rela-

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tions between Russia and America on all the other issues, to the point of the US considering the introduction of new sanctions against Russia. The fact that Washington has momentarily diverted its attention away from Ukraine and the strengthening of NATO forces in Eastern Europe is meaningless.The main battle ground has shifted to the Syrian desert. For now this still cannot be called a confrontation in the form of a proxy war. It seems the US believes the Russian campaign and Assad's worn-out army, which has been fighting a four-year war, will fizzle out. Extremist websites are already showing U.S. missiles burning Assad's tanks in the provinces of Hama and Idlib. This is not the coordination on Syria that the Kremlin would like from the US. Also, Washington’s refusal to engage in political talks on Syria's future can be interpreted by Moscow as a challenge, one that will result in Russia strengthening its alliance with Iran, which is also set on supporting Damascus with military force. The author is a political analyst and member of the Council on Domestic and Defense Policy

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Sport

GULF NEWS_MONDAY_OCTOBER_26_2015

Sport How a late rally in the qualification campaign under a new manager helped turn Russia's fortunes around and take them to France

Russian team qualifies for Euro 2016 TIMUR GANEEV SPECIAL TO RBTH

The language barrier According to football agent Sandor Varga, the language barrier was the main reason for the failure of Capello, who is regarded as one of the greatest club managers

A new psychological approach

REUTERS

Russia’s national football team has recovered from an alarming slump in form under previous manager Fabio Capello to reach the finals of the UEFA 2016 European Championship, winning its last four games to overhaul Sweden in Group G. The Russians beat Montenegro 2-0 in their final game of the qualification campaign on Oct. 12 to seal second place in the group behind surprise runaway winners Austria, erasing Sweden’s fourpoint advantage and securing Russia’s qualification to next summer’s tournament in France. Since CSKA Moscow manager Leonid Slutsky took the reins of the national side, the team has witnessed a remarkable recovery in form, beating Sweden (1-0), Liechtenstein (7-0), Moldova (2-1) and Montenegro. Interestingly, under Capello, who was fired in August 2015, the team won just once against the same opponents (beating Liechtenstein) and was defeated twice by Austria, leaving its hopes of qualifying for the tournament in peril.

ing the winning goals in the matches against Sweden and Moldova, and later a quadruple against Liechtenstein. According to former Russian international midfielder Igor Yanovsky, Slutsky called up the players who most merited selection, winning the support of both fans and pundits alike. “Capello constantly made surprising decisions in this regard,” said Yanovsky. “First, he brought in players who hadn't even been part of their respective clubs' first teams, then he refused to bring in Artyom Dzyuba, the Russian championship's best goalscorer.

only assemble the athletes for three or five days. Capello could not establish contact with the players in such short intervals.” “Slutsky, on the other hand, knows all the guys well and can communicate with them easily. A glance and a couple of words is all he needs to get his athletes up and running.”

Under new manager Leonid Slutsky, who replaced Fabio Capello, the Russian football team have secured second spot in their group and thus qualified for the 2016 European Championship.

Russia's manager Leonid Slutsky (centre) and players Vasily Berezutski (left), Oleg Kuzmin (2nd right) and Dmitry Kombarov celebrate the victory over Montenegro in their Euro 2016 group G qualifying match at the Otkrytie Arena stadium in Moscow, Oct. 12.

Russia at the European Championships If the results of the USSR are taken into account, Russia's national soccer team has qualified for its 11th European Championship. Russia’s best performance to date as an indepen-

dent nation was the semi-finals in 2008. The Soviet Union won the European Championship once, beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in the final in Paris in the inaugural tournament in 1960.

of all time, having won seven league titles in Italy and Spain and coached AC Milan to Champions League victory in 1993-1994. “It is difficult to get your ideas across using an interpreter,” said Varga.“Capello was able to do this while managing clubs, but when one works with clubs, one works daily. But with national teams, you

“My mission both in the national team and in my club is to draw the guys out,” said Slutsky in an interview after Russia's match against Liechtenstein.“Only a very happy person can get creative on the field. And I try and set up pockets of happiness for them.” According to sports reporter Edvard Serzhan, Slutsky's approach was like“a breath of fresh air”after Capello's “iron discipline.” “The players were allowed to play video games in the training camps, to laugh during the sessions and to communicate with the press,” said Serzhan. “The Italian ‘Iron Curtain’ was finally down. Slutsky also got a psychologist who held a fullyfledged coaching session with the team. Prior to important matches, Slutsky had psychological profiles of all his players.”

Euro 2016 prospects Nevertheless, neither the team nor its fans should not be too happy about Russia's qualification just yet. As Syomin points out, the team was in a weak group to begin with and far tougher trials await in the intense atmosphere of the tournament itself. “We've got those four wins, but, apart from Sweden, all our rivals were weaker than Russia. Slutsky was able to get the team to win during a difficult moment, but the final tournament will be much harder,” he said. “Firstly, Slutsky does not have experience in preparing the team for a big tournament, secondly, he might exhaust himself after the club season with CSKA. Working two jobs has never been good for any manager.”

A change in tactics Unlike Capello, Slutsky did not use the qualification matches to test young players, but instead selected his best team. Igor Denisov of Dinamo Moscow was brought back as a midfielder, and Zenit St. Petersburg's Artyom Dzyuba became one the main attackers, scor-

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Sport The Russian tennis player only earns $6.7 million of her annual income while actually on court

The woman worth $250 million Maria Sharapova is the highestpaid female athlete of the last decade. Where does the Russian star make all her money? Off the court, is the answer.

Record-breaking contract with Nike

ALEXEY MOSKO RBTH

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Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova is one of the 20 highest-paid athletes of the last decade, according to Forbes magazine. Sharapova is the only woman in Forbes magazine's list, where she is ranked in 18th place. The list is led by American golfer Tiger Woods. Sharapova’s income for the last 10 years is estimated at $250 million – enough to leave the likes of British Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning in the dust. Most of her income comes from endorsements. According to

Sharapova signed her first promotional contact at the age of just 11. In 1998, Nike became the technical sponsor of the Russian, who at that time had already moved to the United States. The American sports giant and the Russian star have been inseparable ever since: in 2010 the parties signed a new deal that broke all records for women's tennis – eight years in exchange for $70 million.

Wimbledon effect In 2004, the 17-year-old Sharapova brought home a sensational victory from Wimbledon. This breakthrough opened the doors into the

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Maria Sharapova has endorsement deals with several luxury brands.

Dolce vita

Forbes' estimates, the Russian earns $6.7 million actually on court, while endorsement revenues bring her $23 million.

Sharapova signed her first promotional contact at the age of just 11.

world of big money. Just a month after the victory the young tennis star signed a contact with Motorola, estimated at $1 million per year, according to unofficial sources. The company is not doing so well as a decade ago, but Sharapova is still on a roll: In 2008 she swapped Motorola for Sony Ericsson, and in 2012 she became the face of Samsung, the market leader in smartphones.

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In no time Sharapova became a star not only on court, but also in social life. The Russian athlete’s new status sparked the attention of luxury brands, and she is now the face of the Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer and American jewellery house Tiffany & Co. Not long ago the designers of Tiffany & Co even created a jewellery collection specially for Sharapova. Under the terms of the contract, she must wear Tiffany jewellery during all major matches. The giants of the automobile industry haven't left Sharapova unattended either. Since 2006 she has been collaborating with Land Rover, and in 2013 she signed a contact with Porsche. The invitation to collaborate came from the Germans after Sharapova won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart in 2012.

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