Русский
Our Look Back At Some Of The Weeks Most Bizarre Russo Political Moments
Democracy Rules, OK!
With the Russian elections over, the London-based real estate agency, in the (democratic) United Kingdom have fired a Russian employee for voting. The London real estate brokerage Egre announced her sacking after complaints from a Ukrainian activist, who argued that she should be punished for voting for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Yulia Vorobyova was dismissed from her job after casting her vote at the Russian Embassy.
We Want Chocolate Gelato!
The 68- year-old Italian pop singer Pupo has been banned from holding a planned concert of his music in Lithuania and declared an ‘undesirable person’ after he performed at a concert in Moscow. Pupo – real name Enzo Ghinazzi – has been performing in the country and the Soviet Union for 40 years. His best-known hit in Russia is the politically undesirable and socially subversive “Gelato Al Cioccolato” (Chocolate Gelato) which can be seen here. That idiocy aside, Vilnius’s decision has implications for the future freedom of travel for EU nationals within the EU itself.
Free Money! Free Money! Free Money!
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared that dividends earned from Russia’s frozen dividends in Europe “Don’t belong to anyone”. That is totally the opposite to what the Deutsche Bundesbank seems to think, who pay interest at rates at 8% to their customers with money on deposit with them.
More Free Money!
Ukrainian President Zelensky commented on Donald Trump’s statement about providing loans to Ukraine as all being in the small print. “We’ll see if there are any clauses about us not having to repay these loans. If there are, that’s acceptable.” Maybe Zelensky should open an account with the National Bank of Ukraine, and read their small print – they charge interest rates of 15%. The thought occurs to us that it’d be a bit of a money earner to borrow from the US then dump it into a savings account in Kiev and live off the difference.
Absolutely Fabulous Dahling!
Ukraine’s former infrastructure minister, Vladimir Omelyan, has suggested that Ukraine can repay its debts to the West if it wins the “war with Russia” by taking over Russia’s resources and repaying its debt by sending Russian natural resources for its support. “If we win, you will be paid back in Russian oil, gas, diamonds and furs” he told Politico. It is uncertain how the European non-profit PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have viewed this proposal.
Diplomacy: The Art of Telling People To Go To Hell So They Enjoy The Journey
Aleksey Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, referenced Li Hui, the Chinese Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs after the diplomat visited Kiev to discuss a proposed Peace Conference to be held in Switzerland. Li had previously served as the Chinese Ambassador to Russia and Kazakhstan, and as Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Danilov called him a “prick” on national TV on Wednesday.
Ee-Aye-Adio We’re Going To Win The League!
The “Football Federation of Russia” – a European title officially bestowed upon a national team who everyone else refers to as “Russia” and whose name exemplifies European bureaucracy at its best (using twenty-six letters when just six would suffice) beat Serbia 4-0 this week. Sendings off, penalties, disallowed goals, a sell-out crowd – its just the sort of thing UEFA TV ratings want to see on the pitch. But you can’t. Except for here.
USA! USA! USA!
The “Russian Olympic Committee” – another unwieldy name imposed upon what everyone else refers to as “Russia” (23 letters instead of 6) has had its ‘quota’ of athletes allowed to participate at this years summer Olympics in Paris set at just 55. The United States has been allowed to send 500. Even the Russian Olympic Committee (Russian) members that can participate will only be referred to as “Individual Neutral Athletes” which will be an amazing crowd pleasing chant around the Stade de France at the 100 meters sprint finals. Russians are also forbidden to participate in team events and can only participate in individual competitions.
Meanwhile, the current Olympic Gold Champion Men’s Wrestler Musa Evloev, has been banned from defending his title and attending the Paris games by the IOC after he was photographed standing next to a “No to Nazism” poster. You couldn’t make this up.
Food For Thought
A couple of recommendations from RPA readers to share:
- Ukraine’s Armed Forces Are Degrading While Its Economic Elite Grows Richer
- Putin Is A Dictator And A Tyrant, But Other Forces Sustain Him – The West Needs To Understand Them
Keep Safe.
And have a great weekend!
Russia’s Pivot To Asia
