What you know about Russia?

I got the impression that many on this forum, do not know and do not understand what Russia.
You tell, even if your knowledge remain within: balalaika, vodka, bears on the streets.
I want to know ...... What you know about Russia?

 

I like watching the Russian Premier league on tv. Especially the Moscow derbies.

 

KGB, Oligarchs, 90 % of poor people, child prostitution, President Putin, corrupted officials, "cops"-gangsters, rusty nukes, sorry, but nothing good.

 

I'm from Poland, so i know quite a lot about Russia. My knowledge is mainly based on the Polish-Russian relations (current and past). And I know Russian language a little bit.

 

Its big and full of Russians, communists, bears and drunk people.

Beat that for stereotyping.

 

I know vodka...Yes.
Bears on the streets....ok, i can well believe it.
But tell me more about balalaika. Do you have one of them?

 

Look at the bright side. At least your bullying, ideologue leader is an unabashed nationalist who puts his own country first.

Wanna trade?

 

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHnv8Y24Hb4&feature=related"]YouTube- ‪Crazy балалайка‬‎[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdWPsfgecqo&feature=related"]YouTube- ‪Виртуозная игра на балалайке‬‎[/ame]

 

American leaders do not put their country first. All of them are altruists and help everyone in the world.

 

That is why he wanted to trade you know

 

Nice to meet Polish girl here!

C'mon guys, ask questions about Russia, make suppositions about Russia and we'll tell you what we consider to be true or not and try to explain why.

 

Not bad!

Yes, it is the biggest state in the world!

Its population is more than 140 million. Ethnic Russians make up the majority of them - about 80%. For example I'm not an ethnic Russian, I am a Chuvash (1.6 million or 1.1% of population).

Communist make up 11.57% voters in State Duma (Parliament). Not very many, you see.

Bear is considered the people's emblem of Russia and is associated with the image of Russia. Most brown bears of the world in fact live in Russia - 120 000 of world's 200 000. But I have seen them only in Zoo.

Drunk people. From the official data, the absolute consumption of alcohol in Russia is quite a modest 19-th place in the world (2006 data). First place in France, where consumption of alcohol per person per year is 14.8 liters (they really admire wine). Third place goes to Ireland with her love of pubs and beer. And etc.

Ask more!

 

People who speak out against Putin will find their well being in danger, true or false?

 

@ FROM THE USSR



kOOL! very traditional @ modern.


look here,there is some japanese stereotypes about russian life... with bears!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF7J78C3aRo"]YouTube- ‪Kusumi Koharu - Balalaika‬‎[/ame]

 

Well, since I live right next to the Russian embassy, I must admit, the amount of hot women that come out of there blows my mind. Are all Russian women that hot?

I think the Russian language is fascinating, seems to be a very brutal sounding language, if that makes any sense. Most of the women I have come across seemed very nice (mostly walking the dog). The men on the other hand seemed to avoid us if possible, lol.

Here is a question. Does it snow all year round in Russia?

 

They still have not abolished discriminating Jackson-Vanik amendment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson–Vanik_amendment What trade? Formally this amendment was accepted as reaction to an interdiction to Jews to immigrate from the USSR. All Jews which wanted to leave already have left for a long time ago. But amendment still works.

 

Today is 40 degrees above the zero according to Celsius. I am already tired from this heat. My brain boils, I do not want to do anything.

 

It is not an easy question. But I'll try to be sincere to express my personal opinion.
I know many people who speak out against Putin in internet-forums for a long time feeling themselves fine. I sometimes criticize our authorities including Putin at Russian forums and I'm o'k.
There are some gloomy pictures about Putin, his ruling party and Medvedev in Russian internet .



Medvedev, give back the crown!



Do you mind if Putin would be reelected?
1. Yes, I don't mind.
2. No, I don't mind.
The "United Russia" - the most democratic party.

Internet is not being obviously politically censored in Russia.

My office colleague is fond of criticizing Putin and Medvedev, he railes at them almost every day and nothing happens to him.
Probably we are too small to be bother the authorities but still activists like Nemtsov, Latynina, Kasparov, Novodvorskaya, communist leader Zuganov, all of them earn political points criticizing Putin. I also know Shenderovich, he is very witty. And others and more. But they are not really popular in Russia (except 10% voters Zuganov).

3 main TV channels belong to state owned structures, so it would be strange if they criticized the government. But there still present hard opposing media like famous radio station "Uho Moskvi" and some newspapers.

The statement you asked about, may apply to big business and very rich people. I can't answer for them cause I have no possibility to feel it. But I didn't hear about such occasions after the case with Mikhail Khodorkovsky that was set into prison for fraud and tax concealment that he definitely did cause it was nearly a usual practice in hard Russian 90-s.

You see, I try to be very sincere.

 

thx

I've heard that people from Russia and Poland can drink more alcohol than other nations ;d

 

Our nations are good judges of strong alcohol, esp. vodka.

Until now, a tense debate is held about who first discovered the 40-degree drink: Russians or Polaks. And if in Russia it is decided to attribute the norm of 40 degrees to great scientist Mendeleev, in the annals of Polish vodka was already mentioned in 1405.

 

At 1st I would answer your 2nd question.
Abnormal heat about 40 C* for a month period makes us dream about autumn coming soon.

 

...and also young Chechenian (*)(*)(*)(*)s who flee to EU, live on taxpayers' money and all day long write complete rubbish on forums - to enlighten their puny existence.

 

Yes. I am glad to meet you. To your health.

 

How funny. That is what I was thinking.

I gotta respect Putin. Don't trust him a bit...but he loves his country.

 

Vashe zdorovie! (is this correct?)
i don't drink much though.

It's funny, but for me Russian sounds soft and nice. German is the brutal sounding one.