Russian slogans

Свободы слова нет, она частично замочена в сортире, частично принуждена к миру

He is no more

Muslim, I am so sad but also glad that you are back. Hey, even Brits wrote about you.

Let it be known that our soil is the soil to which you belong. Nothing is eternal and our nation will perish one day, but as long as we Azeris remain we will remember you, your sweet songs and your devotion to your Motherland will be remembered. I am happy there is Azerbaijan on the worldmap, for if there was not there would be so much less happiness out there.

Maybe there are better voices in the World and more known , but we do not care in the least. We have given Russia a son - and depth of Russia's love for Magomayev have suprised me - but he returned with his last wish to be buried near his famous grandfather, in whose opera he also sang.

Millions of Soviet women worshipped when You sang Figaro and danced twist. Hysteria of 1960s long past, but all of us remember You for being a Genius. Rest in Peace, Orpheus!

Allah Rehmet Elesim, Muslim Bey!

What to say. It is all in the song. This song.

Dismas and Gestas

Since we are talking Russia and religion here is an interesting factoid:

The names of the thieves crucified with Christ appear in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, the Acts of Pilate.

Book IX:5 reads
5 Then Pilate commanded the veil to be drawn before the judgement-seat whereon he sat, and saith unto Jesus: Thy nation hath convicted thee (accused thee) as being a king: therefore have I decreed that thou shouldest first be scourged according to the law of the pious emperors, and thereafter hanged upon the cross in the garden wherein thou wast taken: and let Dysmas and Gestas the two malefactors be crucified with thee.

They are very well known in the Orthodox tradition, where larger icons of the Crucifixion can show two crosses flanking Christ's. According to tradition, Dismas, on Christ's right, repents and eventually joins Christ in Heaven, while Gestas blasphemes and ends up in Hell. At the moment of Christ's passing, he writhes in agony and his feet jerk, pulling the lowest crossbar askew. On the traditional Russian Orthodox cross, the lowest crossbar is at an angle, with the right side up (Dismas went to Heaven) and the left side down (Gestas went to Hell).

However another most likely explanation is that the crossbar symbolizes the main saint of Russia (the most likely explanation), St. Andrew, who was crucified on a torture rack of diagonally crossed beams

Thus spake Voland

From Master and Margarita, which I have revisited;

Oh, I am sorry – sighed the stranger, looking Bezdomni in the eye, and continued: - But what I am concerned the question: If there is no God, then dare I ask who manages human life and all the general things on this planet and beyond?
-- People are managers of their fate – we are the best there is on this planet, - rushed angrily Bezdomnyj answer to this, confessing to himself he does not understand things well.
-- Again an objections - softly applauded the stranger - to manage, you need to, after all, have a precise plan for a period of time, any decent period. Let me ask you, how can a person control anything, if he is not able to compile any plan except for a ridiculously short period of time, well, years, say, a thousand; but can not vouchsafe for their own evening?
And, in fact – then he turned to an Berlioz - imagine that you, for example, begin to plan ahead and have people running around you in this large office of yours, so to speak, only gaining a taste of your future successes, and suddenly you discover... hm ... hm ... that you are terminally ill with sarcoma of lungs ... -- Here foreigner smiled sweetly, as if an idea of Berlioz having sarcoma brought him pleasure - yes, cancer, cancer – stretching as cat, he repeated the sonorous call - and here is your administration ends!

-And sometimes, it can get even worse: only now you think that you will travel in Kislovodsk, - here the foreigner pierced Berlioz with his menacing gaze – an easy bit, but this you can not commit because suddenly you stumble and fall under a tram! Do you say that it is communist government declared so? Maybe it is not the government of People Republic that ordered you to die, just maybe? -- And here he laughed….

Having said so he whispered to both the poet and the writer: -- Keep in mind that Jesus existed. -- You see, Professor, - with a forced smile retorted Berlioz - we respect your great knowledge, but Soviet citizens on this issue have a different perspective. --
We do not need any points of view! -- responded strange professor - he just existed, and nothing else.
-- But we require evidence ... -- began Berlioz.
-- I do not need any evidence - and the professor responded softly with his German accent disappearing: - I was there....

Shame, but I will get over it

I am not a war monger, nor an idiot. The politics always takes an upper hand to emotions. The reconciliation with Armenia is necessary, but painful - for memories of war still linger - no one wants a repeat of 1990s carnage. But greedy frontline still claims victims every day of the year. We are still at war, even if we chose to forget.

Turkey as a nation is still our greates ally, even if her politicians betray us from time to time . Our eternal brotherhood will never be broken, by Russia, political Islamists or Armenians. We are part of one nation and every Turk is just as much an Azeri as Baku is brother to Istanbul.

Russia acts on partition of Georgia.

Medvedev is either completely deluded or maniacally in pursuit of the imperialistic goal; both of these characterisitcs suit his Kremlin master Putin more. Recognizing "independence" of two mafia-run statelets puts Russia on a one-way track to destination unknown.

Mr Medvedev said relations with the West were deteriorating sharply and that a new Cold War could not be excluded, but that Russia did not want one.

Russia can not sustain yet another Cold War, in which it will be swiftly defeated; her people left destitute and all her other conflicts becoming incurable.

Russians have two choices - either take the jump straight into the Cold War and occupy all of Georgia cutting off supplies of energy from Azerbaijan - and in future - Central Asia, or submit to the role of supplier of hydrocarbons to the rich nations of the West and East.

Right now all the moves look to be deafeating for Russia, unless the West abandons NATO enlargement. Liberal newspapers aside, Europe (excluding ever-Russophile French) has taken an anti-Russian stance. Georgians, though, are set to become real losers from this game if things turn out badly.

The World is changing

The Russian tank columns rumbling into Georgia reveal the anger of a tiger finally catching the mouse that has teased it for years. The troubles in Georgia are not the equivalent of an assassinated archduke in Sarajevo. But historians may well point to this little war and the spectacular Olympic launch of resurgent China, as the start of the twilight of America's sole world hegemony and reassesment of the Western dominance as a whole. For example, if the second round of the Great Game is for the oil and gas in the heart of Asia, the West may be in the process of losing it - unless something is done to counter this trend.

To govern is to choose and to choose the West must - among option on all the fronts it is currently engaged (By west one means US – and not a Western Europe debilitated by inaction) . More at stake here, than some there realize; with each retreating move opposing sides get bolder and multipolar world moves closer into being. Power centers will form around China, Russia and they will start to attach client states around them. Even if countries like China and India declare themselves non-imperialist and tread very cautiosly on the World stage, their fast rise will force them to demand a change to current situation.

Why Western clientelle status is preferred for the former soviet satellites and ex-republics is quite simple. It boils down to access to cash, open trade, borders and intellectual resources, all unavailable from other sources. Ideas of democracy matter to a degree – but in the case of autocratic Azerbaijan and Central Asia less so. For Georgia, the West is also the only source of orientation that is hostile to Russian imperialism. Despite the unreliability of the West as a partner, and its failed attempts to spread democracy into unsuitable environments, it is still can be trusted more than Russia in matters of trade, economy and politics and relied upon as the only source of prosperity.

Bear is on the prowl

Russian bear has been awaken by an emboldened Georgia. I usually can find no justification for Russian actions of this sort, but in this case there was a clear enough provocation designed to attract World's attention during the Olympics.

To put it simply, Georgia - and her hyperactive president - has had enough of Russian "peacekeeping" effort in South Ossetia and decided to go through "non-diplomatic channels" to get their territory back.

I'm deeply surprised by the way people in the West interpret the conflict in South Ossetia. Can they really imagine that Russia will not react to this sort of deed in any other, non-Russian, way. For centuries Russia - monarchic, communist or capitalist - came down on her foes with unwarranted brutality at home and abroad. Vengeful Russians even had their enemies hunted like dogs and killed in other countries with impunity. Hunting down enemies - perceived or real - always counted more in Russia than saving lives of her own citizens. Of this mindset Beslan and Nord-ost tragedies are prime examples.

I only wonder what it is that president Saakishvili wanted from this little war, for recover territory he will not. Alliance with NATO is vital for Georgia's survival, however, to protect her westernized orientation, our pipeline routes and all of the West's Central Asian strategy.

The West needs to understand where real existencial threat is for them, but of course being consumed by fear and depression - including fear of Islam and terrorism - will not be able to distinguish a friend from foe and will continue to appease Russia. There is no easy solution.

The West needs Caspian? Not again!

New cry for help - this time from Guardian. They will not be heeded

I am getting really annoyed by European Energy policy which is incoherent bunch of nonsense. If EU countries want to rely on Russia and do not wish to have a conflicts then they should say so and not ratchet up anti-Russian rhetoric in public, whilst in reality kow towing to Russia. The trouble with EU Commission is that behind the arcane wording it does not really know what it wants. This maybe the difference between EU and US. US does know what it wants to achieve by her policies, however abominable. Europe lost this final target and with it, the ability to achieve.

I think i know the source of EU problems, and not just in area of Energy security. That is it - in the past Europe had a purpose, shared values and expansion, which acquired a momentum after destruction of Soviet block. It was a nice dream of a common European home for countries sharing liberal and democratic values in this corner of the globe. Now it has lost this purpose, and can not function properly, wandering aimlessly from one initivative to the next. This is Europe is fundamentally fearful of its future, it is becoming moribund and less dynamic, it is the organization creating more problems than solutions. It should find its soul again and re-discover the vision based on more than economic principles, and moral posturing to the rest of the world.

Does this Europe "need" the Caspian like a lover needs his beloved? Or is this "need" a more consuming need in the sense of acquisitiveness and of gaining proprietorship -- the fire of avarice? The fire which we will get nothing in return I am afraid - especially because Europe will not be able to provide us with this something, for it has lost the goodwill towards other nations. It is exhausted beast. But the beast still needs the energy to continue on living.

I still, still - for I am speaking from centuries of experiencing a heavy hand - prefer one consumer over the other, maybe just as treacherous, but shall I say - more civil in her manner. I have lost faith in our shared European values but i willl continue to believe that economy and laws of European Union members are worthy of emulation. I do not want us to copy any of the new Russia's ways, beside continuing to enjoy her great culture. Give me another decade to become completely disillusioned and hostile, for the fight is not yet over.

Yours truly,
Reluctant European.

Europe - are you there?

Even after 17 years of independence the bear on the horizon still looms large to some in the Caucausus and Central Asia. I wonder who will save us from capricious Mother Russia in her playground bully role which she assumes now more firmly. I never flinched in my conviction of importance of our European orientation for our long term socioeconomic gain. I am starting to have my doubts whether this orientation can be sustained.

Recently, Gazprom offered to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan at market prices. Azerbaijan must feel the same way Kazakhstan does about Russia in this respect, because the offer was refused. Events - and not least the rise in the price of oil making more possibilities economically feasible - have begun to accelerate the overtaking of Russia's near-monopoly on transport of Caspian Sea basin energy resources.

On the surface of it this may seem like we are still holding on against a short-term gain and desire Western transit. Laudable that we are still firm in desire to supply hungry Western markets with alternative sources of fuel. However the West is a weaker entity that it was even 10 years ago – European Union is a pathetic disappointment mired in constant petty infighting. In the issue of the Russian monopoly this unruly union of 27 countries is incapable of any series decision, to which impotence of Nabucco project certifies.

It is time for Europe – which has lost momentum in its drive eastward - to look once again at the stakes and realize what it is loosing. Reliable allies is one thing, but secure supply of energy which not all diverted to serve China’s needs is even more important. Central Asian resources will either be going to uncompromising Chinese or through a Russian monopoly. Countries like Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan will not wait for ever for opportunities that will never come.

Russia and China

An interesting responce of the European left which underestimates Russia and is ready to accuse Communist China of any sins at any moment. Shrill calls on the left about Tibet and human rights in China. About illegitimate nature of the Chinese regime. Expect them to go far and wide but lead to no result.

An opposite - almost - reaction can be expected from the right of the European political spectrum which loathes Russia and for some reason - maybe hidden - is cautiously optimistic about China. Expect shrieks from the right about Europe's energy dependence on Russia.

An interesting dilemma; this pits a country with vaguely European lifestyle that delivers - although grudgingly - its resources to the West, against Chinese behemoth which will take limited resources away from the West. Shouldn't the Right be worried too.

This is from Independent.

Russia has the advantage of a formal if imperfect democratic system plus a post-Soviet civil society. This should mean that high commodity prices lead to improved infrastructure and the diffusion of prosperity. It is easy to be cautiously optimistic about Russia's prospects.

China is more complex. Over the millennia, the Chinese have mastered every art, except politics. The current regime lacks legitimacy. The rulers are afraid of the ruled. At some stage, this will have to change. Will there be a careful transition guided by a statesman of genius so that the inevitable turbulence never breaks out of control? Or will there be breakdown, with hideous consequences? There are no guarantees.

Orthodox Christmas and Russia

I would like to congratulate my Orthodox Christian brethren with the Christmas Holiday, which is today and wish them all of God's blessings. In my country and beyond, these wonderful hard working people contributed to the development of Eurasian landmass, build where no one could, dared to go where no one would, and persevered during Dark Times as no one could have. Unimaginable suffering that befell on ordinary russians during last century is no consolation for the future.

I am beyond feeling any retribution or vowing revenge for whatever actions Imperial and Soviet Russia may have commited in the past. I am also quite easily able to distinguish between actions of Putin's Russia and russian citizens of this country and of Russia - I am born of this culture. Today, Russia witnesses a process of merger happening among Soviet, Imperial Russian and Orthodox identities - probably a more powerful and longer lasting than the one which ruled over the old Soviet Union. To be One against the World - both East and West - with not a friend in sight - is the destiny of new Russia as was prophesized by tsars and thinkers alike. Russia is on the verge of another big adventure - it is becoming big powerful and strong once again - there were too many wasted opportunities in the history of this unique country. It is very hard to be a prisoner of Destiny - I wish Russia well and and most of all happiness to its God-loving Christian People.