Bolotnoe Delo: case of 6th May, Repressions in Russia

On the 22 of April in the Concert Hall of the Moskva Hotel the results of public investigations of Bolotnoe Delo are being presented. Everyone is welcome.

Vladimir Putin has been enforcing the system of repressions and that is not a secret. The system in which people can't speak their mind unless their mind is completely the same as what is officially declared.

What's happening now gives an impression of surreal performance, only the difference is that real people are involved in this seemingly impossible for acting play.

Khodorkovsky, Pussy Riot and many more. Last year on the 6th of May there was a demonstration, the one in a row of demonstrations after the State Duma elections (Russian Parliament) which had been shamelessly rigged.

There was a fight between the police and the demonstrators. Since the 6th of May some demonstrators have still been kept in prison without a verdict. Most of them are young people of about 20 years old:students, office managers, etc. They have been kept there as if they are killers or thieves , they are not allowed home detention.

An absolutely respected actor Alexander Philippenko is speaking in defence of one of the suspects, Stepan Zimin. Stepan, 21 years old, is a student of the Historical Department, is fond of historical reconstruction performances.

Ice rain in December, Moscow: crystal park

It was ice rain last year in Moscow region. The trees were all in ice crust. Lots of them broke under the weight of ice. You can still see them bent in the forests.

Restaurants in Moscow

We've recently been to a very interesting restaurant, Oblomov.

 Oblomov is a famous Russian character of a novel by Ivan Goncharov. Like most Russian literature, "Oblomov" novel (1859) is very versatile and profound. However, in a nutshell, the protagonist, Oblomov,  is a symbol of dwindling and lapsing into idleness  Russian nobility.

The three-floored mansion in the city center houses the restaurant. There are 3-4 rooms designed in the 19th century style. Having entered Oblomov, you're immediately find yourself in the atmosphere of the 19th century. They tried so hard to restore the atmosphere that they succeeded. Being there is an unforgettable experience. Which I would not apply to the food.