RussiaIC: January 2010

Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Sheremetyevo to City

We can offer you fast transfer service to and from any Moscow airport, railway station and bus station. Our driver will await you with a sign bearing your name. The driver will transport you in comfort and safety to your destination. All our drivers are experienced, polite and know Moscow pretty well. Don’t worry about anything!

New service – Russian visa support online.

To apply for a tourist visa to enter the Russian Federation foreign visitors need to provide an official tourist invitation and corresponding travel voucher with visa application.
Now providing the vouchers and invitations became a simple, fast and secure online process. The visa support is delivered by email as a single page document and is recognized by Russian Consulates worldwide allowing foreign visitors to apply for the visa with the consulate of their choice. Russian Tourist visas can be applied for within 90 days of the entry date requested on the visa support documents. With a tourist visa, generally you may stay in Russia for 30 days maximum during any one visit and only up to the maximum validity period of the visa in any event.
Russian visas issued by Russian consulates in Europe now have a five day “waiting period” before entering Russia, i.e. a person cannot travel to Russia for at least five days after the visa is issued. This rule has appeared sporadically and it seems to depend on a consulate you intend to apply to.

Vladivostok Fortress: labyrinths of defensive constructions

Vladivostok is a well-known Russian port on the Pacific Ocean, the destination point of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. It was closed for all the foreigners from 1958 until 1991. The city is rather young (founded in 1860), but it disposes an architectural monument which is worth to be visited anyway if you are found of industrial and military tourism or not. It is defensive constructions, visible from the city, the theme for numerous legends and rumors. Everybody who has ever been in the city noticed the strange concrete constructions on the tops of the hills, on the feet of the rocks, along the roads and on the seashore. If you look attentively, you can recognize direct lines of breast works, made of concrete. You can walk around them all alone with your camera, or address to the local diggers’ club: they give you a real tour. It is rather interesting, even if you are not a fan of military tourism. >>>

255th Anniversary of Moscow State University

Today the oldest Russian university, MSU, celebrates its 255th anniversary.

New Technology for Wireless Monitors

Engineers from St. Petersburg developed an innovative technology for wireless monitors, which transmits images from a computer to a high-definition TV screen.

Transfer of international flights to the Sheremetyevo Terminal D delayed once more

Moving of international flights to the new Terminal D of the airport of Sheremetyevo from Sheremetyevo 2 (Terminal F) which should begin in February is delayed for an indefinite term by the Aeroflot Air Company. Now the schedule of the moving flights disappeared from the Air Company’s site.

Pavel Lungin Opens Exhibition Dedicated to Metropolitan Philipp

An exhibition-fair dedicated to Metropolitan Philipp has started at the All-Russian Exhibition Centre (VVTs) in Moscow. Film director Pavel Lungin who portrayed him in the film Tsar attended the opening ceremony.

Naked in metro for a dare

A naked passenger was arrested in the Moscow metro. Three absolutely naked young men were dancing on the metro station of Novogireevo. They were laughing and taking photos of each other with handies.

Laser Makes Artificial Heart Valves

Russian physicists used solid-state laser to create a unique facility to make artificial heart valves.

Pancake Week Monument to Appear in Moscow

Moscow State Duma has approved of the idea to set up a sculpture composition dedicated to the Russian Pancake Week – Maslenitsa – in Moscow.

Ukrainian sailors on strike in Primorye

6 sailors from Ukraine, crew members of the Sea Star vessel which stays in the port of Nakhodka are on strike because of the wages held back. They have given their complaint to the representatives of the Russian Sailors Guild to hand it over to court. The sailors claim to arrest the vessel until they get their money.

Businessman, coming from Armenia shot down in the Moscow café

An unknown murderer shot down a man, coming from Armenia. The incident took place on the north of Moscow, in the café on the Dmitrovskoe Avenue, 133. The murderer took several shots to his victim sitting at the table with a woman and left the café.

Monday, 25 January 2010

Visa Information

Most foreign citizens are required to have a valid visa to enter the Russian Federation. Russian visas must indicate entry/exit dates written in a European way (date/month/year). To get a visa several documents need to be presented to the Russian Consulate or Embassy in a visitor’s country. The set of documents will differ according to the type of visa a person is willing to get. Required Documents The type of visa depends on a stay length, purpose of visit and an invitation form that a visitor has at his or her disposal. The most frequently used are tourist, business and guest visas. Another differentiation is based on the numbers of entries to the country: there could be single-, double- or multi-entry visas.Despite the differences in visas’ characteristics there are general document requirements for getting any visa:
National passport

. What kinds of Russian visas do exist? How long does it take to obtain a Visa?

1. What kinds of Russian visas do exist? How long does it take to obtain a Visa?
There are 5 common visa types: diplomatic, tourist, business, guest, and transit. Obtaining a visa usually takes you a month or so. In order to obtain a Russian visa you need to submit a valid passport, a tourist voucher, an invitation and other documents depending on the desired visa type to the Russian Consulate in your home country.
If you order a Russian visa through our site, our Visa Support Service managers will contact you the same working day. You can send your request for a Russian visa through our online form.

Reindeer safari: Evenki style

Every country, disposing territories on the north like Finland, Sweden and Norway cannot help but offers reindeer safari among its winter tourist services. Russia is not exception. In Russia you can choose between Karelia, Murmansk Region, Yamal peninsula and so on along the north of the country down to Chukotka which is separated from North America by the Bering Strat. There are also such tourist services in America, but we are talking about Russia. And all the small peoples of the North living on this huge space use reindeer teams as traditional mean of transport. Each region has its own national color, and it I’ve chosen Sakha Republic and Evenki people. I have selected them in hazard because all these people with their reindeer teams are equally worth to be described.
First of all, a little ethnography, because such tours are not only adventure ones, but ethnographical as well. Evenki are a Tungusic people of Northern Asia. In Russia, the Evenki are recognized as one of the Indigenous peoples of the Russian North. They live in many Russian regions, including Sakha Republic. >>>

Russian baths: ethno spa

Tour operators, providing adventure, ecological, ethnographical tours, especially the winter ones, include the Russian baths into their services. The Russian traditional baths have a long history and combine washing with spa procedures like massage, conditioning and aromatherapy. When properly used, Russian baths can prevent some diseases and otherwise, it can do ill if used not properly. Consulting a doctor is anyway appropriate, because there are some contraindications.

Tips for renting a flat in Russia

Foreigners coming to Russia on business or for sightseeing have to decide where to stay: in a private apartment or a hotel. On the one hand hotels are reliable and, what's more important, they are in charge of registering your visa upon your arrival. On the other hand, the price they want for a room, no matter single or double, is often too high for the service given. Renting a flat turns out to be more beneficial if you travel with friends, besides, many people see it as the way to be more independent.
Here are some tips, which can make the procedure of renting a flat easy and safe.

Russia-IC / Services / Apartments for rent

Booking apartment accomodation in Russia's largest cities is easy with Russia-IC Apartments For Rent service. Here you can find a great variety of short-term apartments located in four Russian cities: Moscow, St Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Samara. Our apartments are carefully selected and most of them are situated in the city centres near tourists attractions. Russia-IC constantly extends the number of cities with the apartments available for booking. If you cannot find an apartment to your taste among our available offers, please specify your needs in the form, and we'll do all that lies in our power to help you.Tips for renting a flat in Russia

Painters from the Hermitage, world-famous museum of St. Petersburg, developed a new technology for restoration of art works, which were made of metal. The technology is based upon a recently developed compact laser, which became a reliable instrument in restorer’s hands.

Igor Ilyinsky

I can act on the roof of a train carriage, on the radiator of a moving car, on back of a galloping horse, or while swimming in the sea” – famous Russian film and theatre actor Igor Ilyinsky wrote. He invented lots of the gags and tricks himself. But cinema gave scope not only for acrobatic rolls and numerous gags. Close-up was the actor’s major tool: unforgettable face expressions that changed so quickly or just a raised eyebrow – the things already made it all so funny!

Aerospace System of Global Monitoring to Appear in Russia

Russian scientists are working on an international space system for global monitoring of technological and natural disasters. Among other purposes the system will protect the Earth from asteroids.

Russia to Take No Oscar This Year, No Wonder

Members of the American Film Academy have selected nine works that will go on competing for the Oscar in the category The Best Foreign Film.

Airport Sheremetyevo as an exhibition

The exhibition Flight Over The City is opened in the international airport of Sheremetyevo, in the business-class lounge of the Terminal C. The exhibition has been prepared by the creative association of Art-Impress under the project Flight Over The City.

First Big Premier of the Year - Our Russia: The Eggs of Fortune

January 21 saw the general release of the Russian comedy Our Russia: The Eggs of Fortune, which is a sequel of the popular comedy series Our Russia (Nasha "Russia").

14 persons bitten by a rabid homeless dog

14 persons were attacked and bitten by a homeless rabid dog in the Moscow Region. All the people are being vaccinated now. Moreover, medical care is being delivered them comprehensively

New Medical Technology to Be Used In Russia

Russian medics received permission for performing sampling, transporting, extraction, cultivating, cryoconservation and storage of dermal fibroblasts for autologous and allogenic transplantation.

Classic of Children’s Cinema Leonid Nechayev Passes Away

The film director Leonid Nechayev, a classic of the children’s cinema, died after a stroke on the night of Sunday, aged 70.

Nikolai Klyuev Monument to Appear in Tomsk

Tomsk Mayor’s Office decided to set up a monument to the famous Russian poet Nikolai Klyuev in Tomsk.

Friday, 22 January 2010

Trans-Siberian Railway tickets

Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest continuous rail line on earth, each run clattering along in an epic journey of almost six thousand miles (or about ten thousand kilometers) over one third of the globe. For most of its history, the Trans-Siberian journey has been an experience of almost continuous movement, seven days or more of extraordinary train travel through the vast expanse of Russia. It runs from Moscow to Vladivostok via southern Siberia. While it attracts many foreign tourists, it is widely used by Russian people to travel around the country.Highway Chita-Khabarovsk awaited in 2010 The Trans-Siberia Railway: Moscow to Beijing Trans-Siberian Railroad and the wars of 20th century

Apartments for rent / Moscow

Apartments for rent / Arbat-Levshinsky 3 Moscow
SLEEPS: 4
ADDRESS: metro Smolenskaya
LOCATION: The building is located in the downtown area of Moscow, not far from the Church of The Christ The Savior. The area has many embassies and it is well controlled by police. There are many stores, bars, restaurants within walking distance (New Arbar, Prechistenka and Osozhenka streets). Pushkin Art Museum, Rerikh museum, Old Arbat street offers an excellent opportunity to explore the city history. Metro station Smolenskaya is 7 minues walk, Kropotkinskaya - 10-15 minutes walk. The building is easily accessible from the Garden Ring, Boulevard's Ring, and from Komsomolsky Prospect.

Scandal with Russian Acrobats at Circus Festival in Monaco

The only Russian participants of the world’s largest circus festival in Monaco left the festival driven by a conflict with the circus administration.

Soft Drinks Protect from Disease of Breast

Disease of breast or mastopathy is a benignant change in female mammary tissue. Russian scientists developed soft drinks, which help preventing this disease.

Visa-free ferry transportation St. Petersburg – Helsinki awaited

Visa-free ferry boat transportation St. Petersburg – Helsinki is to be opened in the April, 2010. New service will be carried out on the modern ferryboat of Princess Maria, taking on board 1638 passengers and 395 vehicles.

An integrated railway hub to connect all the Moscow airports

An integrated railway hub is supposed to be created in Moscow on the base of the railway station of Kalanchevskaya. It would connect all the Moscow airports, and the passenger will be able to reach each of the Moscow airports, having taken an electro train on the Kalanchevskaya station. The project is to be turned into reality in 2012.

Stem Cells to Help Curing Ischemia of Lower Extremities

Russian scientists brought to light results of long-term clinical trials of stem cells treatment of ischemia of lower extremities, which helps avoiding amputation or surgical vessel removal.

Apartments for rent

Tips for renting a flat in Russia

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Apartments for rent / New Arbat Moscow
ORDER THIS APARTMENT
BEDROOM: 2
SLEEPS: 4
ADDRESS: metro Arbatskaya
LOCATION: The building is situated in the street Novy Arbat, 5 minutes walk from Arbatskaya metro station. The surroundings: wonderful places for having a rest and walking – Stary Arbat street, Nikitsky and Gogolevsky boulevards, Oktyabr cinema, Moscow Book House.
CONDITION: The flat is decorated in light tones: beige, pastel. Due to large windows in the kitchen and in the sitting-room, the flat is naturally sun-lighted all over the daytime. Tile on the floor of the WC-and-bathroom unit and the kitchen, plastic windows. Equipped with everything necessary: ironing board, linen drier, washing machine, air conditioner, fridge, microwave stove, TV-set. Metal door. Secure entrance. Concierge.
CABLE TV & INTERNET: Satellite TV, unlimited high-speed Internet, CD and DVD players. Internet WIFI.

Apartments for rent / Krasnaya Presnya 1 Moscow

ORDER THIS APARTMENT
BEDROOM: 2
SLEEPS: 4
ADDRESS: metro Ul. 1905 goda
LOCATION: 2-room apartment, total size is 64 sq.m. (20 sq.m., 14 sq.m. and the kitchen is 14 sq.m.), 15 meters from the metro station 1905 year, on the 6-th storey of the new 16-storeyed block house. There is a door intercommunication system at the house.
CONDITION: The apartment has been cosmetically repaired, it is clean and light. There is wall-paper on the walls and laminated flooring. There is all the necessary furniture. The sitting-room: the folding twin sofa, TV-set, the buffet, 2 cases. The bedroom: the twin bed, the bed-side table, the wardrobe. The kitchen: the kitchen furniture, the folding sofa, dishes, the electric stove and the microwave stove, the electric kettle, the cafetiere, the refrigerator. The bathroom: the bath, the washing machine. The sanitary facilities are separated.
CABLE TV & INTERNET: YES, Internet: LAN – unlimited access.

Apartments for rent / Nevsky prospect, 79 Moscow

BEDROOM: 2
SLEEPS: 4
ORDER THIS APARTMENT
ADDRESS: metro Nevsky prospect
This suite is located a couple of minutes away from Mayakovskaya metro station, close to pl. Vosstanya (Moscow train station).The area provides with the wide range of attractive places: restaurants «Magrib» and «Sushi planet», Internet cafe, Cinema, Museum of Wax Figures, etc.It includes two bedrooms (26+26 sq.m) with a balcony onto Nevsky pr. and a spacious eat-in kitchen (12 sq.m.). Each of the bedrooms is furnished with a double bed and a cupboard, and a sitting area, with armchairs and TV.Color TV, bathtub, washing machine, stove and oven , great view.

Apartments for rent / Arbat-Levshinsky 2 Moscow

BEDROOM: 1
SLEEPS: 3
ADDRESS: metro Smolenskaya
LOCATION: The building is located in the downtown area of Moscow, not far from the Church of The Christ The Savior. The area has many embassies and it is well controlled by police. There are many stores, supermarkets, bars, restaurants within walking distance (Prechistenka and Osozhenka St.). Pushkin Art Museum, Rerikh museum, Old Arbat street which offer an excellent opportunity to explore the city history. Metro station Smolenskaya is 7 minues walk, Kropotkinskaya - 10-15 minutes walk. The building is easily accessible from the Garden Ring, Boulevard's Ring, and from Komsomolsky Prospect.
CONDITION: The apartment is located on the 9th floor of a 9-storey brick building. The entrance is clean, well-kept, with new elevator, intercom system installed. The apartment windows face the Church of Christ The Savior, the statue of the Peter The Great, and clean yard with parking opportunity. Total size is 40 square meters. The room is 20 sq. m. kitchen - 10, there is a balcony of 8 sq. m. The apartment is newly renovated. The walls are painted in white color. The floors are covered with parquet. The apartment is nicely furnished.
CABLE TV & INTERNET: CNN, BBC, TV5, Eurosport et. c. in original languages. High speed internet access.

Tips for renting a flat in Russia

Designers of Amphibian Plane Awarded

Russian engineers were awarded the prestigious prize for their contribution to creation of the multi-purpose amphibian aircraft Be-200.

Apartments for rent / New Arbat 2

Apartments for rent / New Arbat 2 A 3-bedroom (four- room) apartment in the centre of Moscow for short-term rent, located in the well-known house of the Moscow Chehov art theatre, dwelling of many outstanding Russian actors. Spacious four-room apartment on the 8th floor, with beautiful views of old Moscow, Tverskoy boulevard, Kremlin stars, the dome of the Temple of Christ the Savior, Moscow city-hall, State Duma, ITAR-TASS building, Ostankinsky television tower. Ideal place to go for a walk, for Kremlin is only 5 minutes away, same 5 minutes to Pushkin Square on the central city street Tverskaya along Tverskoy boulevard, 2 minutes to the Old Arbat street, 7 minutes to the Patriarchal ponds, slowly passing Gogol boulevard within 10 minutes you will reach the Temple of Christ the Savior. Each room of the apartment is different, with highlight and interesting interior, the living room is so equipped that even a big company will feel comfortable in it. Total area - 107 square meters, number of sleeping places (2+2+2+2), plasma TV, DVD, satellite TV, unlimited Internet access, built-in kitchen, microwave oven, washing machine.

Apartments for rent / New Arbat 2

Apartments for rent / Kazanskaya ul.,5 In few steps from the very heart of Nevsky prospect you will find a cozy and very stylish street - the Kazanskaya street named after the Cathedral located in the beginning of the street. The street begins at Nevsky prospect and almost at the corner our apartment is located in a closed and quite yard on the 4fth floor of an ancient house which is considered to be an architectural memorial.A minihotel is situated in the same yard downstairs. Also you will find very good and tasty restaurant on the 1st floor of the building.A living room with 2 fold out sofa's measures 30 meters. A petit kitchen with all you need to cook a dinner. Bathroom with water heater washing machine and electric clothes dryer measures 7 meters. Toilet is separate.Two bedrooms - both 12 meters has very comfortable beds made from cospine tree and decorated in natural wood style.You can enjoy 400 sattelite channels on TV. Apartment has a telephone as well.Cleaning and linens changed 2 times a week.

Russian tourists stuck in Egypt spent a day without food and water

300 Russian citizens still can not depart home from the Egypt. Several tourist buses happened to be blocked on the highway Cairo – Sharm el-Sheikh because of the flood. The passengers of these buses, the tourists from Russia have spent a day without food and drinking water. The situation has changed for the better only when the Russian embassy in Egypt had got involved.

World's fastest tractor made in Russia

A Russian company headquartered in Rostov, focusing on farming machinery production, has represented the world's fastest tractor

Vandals in Petersburg Attack Open-Air Exhibition of Russian Museum

The open-air exhibition of the Russian Museum on Griboyedov Canal in Saint Petersburg was again attacked by vandals

Swindlers got 15 million rubles using 50 credit cards

Two men were arrested next one of the Moscow ATMs on the Amundsen Street. They are suspected in committing Serious Fraud with plastic cards. The swindlers have retrieved about 15 millions rubles from the ATMs, using 50 plastic cards, supposedly false ones, titled in the different people’s names.

Andrey Tarkovsky Would not Approve Mass Construction of Shopping Centres in Ivanovo

The famous actor Nikolay Burlyaev stated at a press-conference on January 15 that he is very anxious about the present condition of the town of Ivanovo.

Designers of Amphibian Plane Awarded

Russian engineers were awarded the prestigious prize for their contribution to creation of the multi-purpose amphibian aircraft Be-200.

RTS intruduces a new cash equity market

RTS Standard operation opened on January 18th with trading in the most liquid stocks of the Russian market including Severstal, Gazprom, Sberbank, NLMK, MTS, etc.

Hotel in Saint Petersburg Named after Dostoevsky’s Character Sonya Marmeladova

The Reval Hotel Sonya named so after Sonya Marmeladova, the characters of Dostoevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment, has been opened today in Saint Petersburg.

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

World's fastest tractor made in Russia

A Russian company headquartered in Rostov, focusing on farming machinery production, has represented the world's fastest tractor

Vandals in Petersburg Attack Open-Air Exhibition of Russian Museum

The open-air exhibition of the Russian Museum on Griboyedov Canal in Saint Petersburg was again attacked by vandals.

Swindlers got 15 million rubles using 50 credit cards

Monday, 18 January 2010

A little porno in the street

Ridiculous incident took place in Moscow on the Thursday’s evening. A porno video clip was being demonstrated on 2 advertising screens on the Garden Ring street since 23:05 till 23:23. The investigation is already begun and there are some versions, how could it become possible, that this clip appeared on the screen instead of video commercial.

A little porno in the street

Russian aircrafts to transport humanitarian assistance to Haiti

The Russian MES aircrafts with Relief consignments on board depart to Haiti on the January16 and 17, reports Sergey Shoigu, the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia (MES).

Bell Ringing Festival Starts Near Arkhangelsk

The 6th festival of bell-ringing art Chrystal Chimes opened in the old town of Kargopol, the Arkhangelsk Region, on Sunday.

Mariinsky Theatre Opens its Own Label

From January 17, 2010 the famous Mariinsky Theatre starts subscription for production of its new sound-recording label Mariinsky.

Friday, 15 January 2010

Physics and Mathematics to Help Fighting Tumors

Russian physicists developed a physical and mathematical model of a malignant tumor, which can help telling whether anti-tumor therapy would be effective or not and predicting behavior of cancer cells.

Half of Russians Ready to Use Energy-Saving Lamps

According to the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Centre, over 55% of Russian citizens support Presidential initiative on using energy-saving lamps instead of incandescent bulbs.

Paintings by Famous Russians Put up for Charity Auction in Petersburg

A charity auction in Petersburg on January 16 will crown the caravan of New Year’s celebrations.

Newest IP-Telephony Technologies for Russian Hospitality

Russian engineers together with famous Cisco company equipped working spaces of “Grand Hotel Europa”, one of the oldest hotels in Russia, with unified communications system.

Russia 88 Movie about Russian Skinheads Found Extremist

In the feature film Russia 88 a gang of skinheads is shooting agitation videos to post them on the internet. Along with that the camera captures the gang’s life.

Thursday, 14 January 2010

Moscow Events Playbill. January, 2010

Russia's demand for Bentley surpassed that in the USA

Russian fans of luxurious cars such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati and Bugatti purchased 188 vehicles amid the crisis of 2009.

Rural tourism becoming popular in Altai Territory. Welome!

Many tourists have chosen spending the New Year holidays in the country side in the Altai Territory. It can be a result of the program of development of the rural tourism being realized in the region under the public support.

Left off trains in the port of Vladivostok making its functioning difficult

A few container trains stand in the port of Vladivostok left off, making its functioning difficult. They arrived there a few days ago and are disturbing the processes of the mode of loading and discharge in the port.

Analyzer of Rail Transport Safety Developed

Russian engineers developed a portable device, which provides information about defects in railroad bed.

Russian Contextual Ad System and Google make a deal

Begun, a Russian contextual ad system, and Google signed an agreement making Begun the authorized reseller of Google AdWords in Russia.

Much Ado about New Russian TV Series ‘The School’

The TV series The School directed by the scandalous film director Valeriya Gai Germanika and exposing cruel everyday life of a Moscow school caused indignation of teachers and officials.

Helicopter made an emergency landing in Irkutsk Region

A private helicopter Robinson R44 with two crew members on board has made an emergency landing on Thursday, January, the 14th in the morning not far from the city of Ust Kut (on the north of the Irkutsk Region).

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Moscow Events Playbill. January, 2010

Children to Name a New Spaceship

A spaceship of the new generation will be named by winners of the child contest, head of RosCosmos recently announced. The contest for spaceship naming was opened by Russia’s Federal Space Agency, and only children were allowed to participate in it, because only little ones have open minds and no limits in imagination. The rocket carrier for launching new spaceships from the new launching site Vostochniy, which is being constructed in the Amur Region, already has a name “Rus-M”.

Mosquitos to Fly to Mars

Results of the “BioRisk” experiment, which took place at the ISS, will soon tell Russian scientists, which “passengers” are ready for traveling to Mars’s satellite Phobos within “Phobos-Grunt” scientific mission. The mission will carry to Mars’s moon about 60 hermetically sealed capsules with biological objects, microorganisms being two thirds of them. Among confirmed passengers there are plant seeds and wigglers. Other “crewmembers” will be selected according to results of the third stage of the “BioRisk”, experiment, which currently takes place at the International space station and is expected to end this week

Cosmonaut Training Centre – 50th Anniversary

Yesterday the Cosmonaut Training Centre, which is the main “space university” of our country, celebrated its 50th anniversary. On January 1960 the Commander-in-Chief of Soviet Air Force ordered to establish the Cosmonaut Training Centre (CTC), which is now named after Yuri Gagarin. Not only Russian cosmonauts train in the CTC, the Centre also works with international astronauts from USA, Europe, Japan and other countries. After half a century of hard work, the Centre trained over 100 Russian and tens of foreign cosmonauts on unique facilities for practicing all possible and impossible situations.

RUSSIAN NEW YEAR

New Year Celebrations in Pagan Rus’
The tradition to celebrate the year’s beginning goes back to hoary antiquity. The ancients usually timed the New Year to the beginning of nature’s revival and so it mainly fell on March.
In Old Rus’ there was for a long time the so-called pre-summer, i.e. the first three months of the year, starting with March. It was celebrated as avsen’, ovsen’ or tusen’, which later turned into the New Year. So, the first six months of the year formed pre-summer and summer, whereas the last six months were winter time. The transition from autumn to winter remained in the background, just like the turning of spring into summer. Initially the New Year was supposedly celebrated on March 22, the day of vernal equinox. Thus, Maslenitsa (Shrovetide) and the New Year celebrations coincided: winter was driven away, thus giving way to spring and the New Year.

Director of Circus to Get away with Fine for Perished Animals

The director of the Krasnodar circus Mechta, where eight tigers and a lioness died in December, will not be taken to court. The Yakut Environmental Prosecutor's Office decided that the head of the circus did not bear direct fault for the death of the animals. The worst thing the circus director might face is a fine. Eight Indian tigers and an African lioness perished on the night of December 22 in an animal transportation trailer. They were being delivered for a New Year show from Khabarovsk to Yakutsk. Earlier the predators had made a successful tour across the country. The workers decided to go to the most northern circus of Russia by cars. But 800 kilometers in a hot refrigerator turned fatal to the animals. The driver was drunk and forgot to switch on the air-conditioner in the trailer, and so the tigers and the lioness died there in stuffy heat.

Monday, 11 January 2010

Voronezh Mentioned as Ukrainian City in History Textbooks

History textbooks used by senior school students in Crimea claim that Russia is an occupant for Western Ukraine, Ukrainian rebel army fought successfully with the German troops, and Voronezh is situated on the ethnic territory of Ukraine. Moreover, the textbook New History of Ukraine for the 10th form asserts that World War I was “predatory” for Russia and the nature of its intentions “were covered by Russian propaganda as the striving to unite all the Russian lands”. “The Russians behaved as occupants…” The textbook’s map “Ukrainian lands in the early 20th century” alleges Voronezh, Kuban and Crimea to be among the ethnic territories of Ukraine. Source: moe-online.ru
Russian Visa Rent a falt in Moscow Rent a flat in St Petersburg Russian trains tickets Trans-Siberian Railway tickets

Militiamen Return 12 Icons Stolen on the New Year’s Eve

Militiamen in the Rostov Region have returned to an orthodox church 12 icons, which were stolen on the New Year’s Eve. Two suspects were detained. The icons stolen from the St. Martyr Parasceva Church in Manychskaya Settlement date back to the 17-18th cc. Their price amounts to 200 million rubles on the black market. One of the detained suspects was on the federal wanted list, and another one is suspected of being earlier accessorial in similar crimes. Both suspects are not local residents of the Rostov Region. The local archpriest Oleg Dombinsky expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers for solving the crime within a short time and “curing the wound incurred to the parish by those who committed the crime”. Source: lenta.ru
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Charter flights Georgia – Russia finally begun

Charter flights of the Georgian air carrier AirZena have finally begun after a series of delays and cancellations, taken place for variety of reasons. The first Boeing – 737 is awaited in the Moscow airport of Domodedovo today, on the January, 8. AirZena will carry out two more flights Tbilisi – Moscow, on the January, 9 and 10. The air carrier voices a hope that the Foreign Ministry of Russia allows two more flights, on the January, 11, 20 and 22. The flights have begun later as it was supposed. Unfortunately, the flights to St. Petersburg were cancelled. Director of AirZena wishes that the regular air service between Georgia and Russia will be resumed, because such service is on demand and the only alternative of it, different transit flights are very uncomfortable and expensive. Russia-InfoCentre can offer you fast transfer service to and from any Moscow airport.

Avalanche blocked traffic on the federal road in Altai Republic

An avalanche descended on the Federal Road M-52 near the settlement of Chibit (Altai Republic ) and blocked the traffic. It was restored in about one hour, reports the pres service of Russian Emergency Ministry, Altai Republic Department. The avalanche descended in the morning, at 7. 25 a.m. (local time) (4. 25 a.m. MSK). The length of the road section, covered with snow was rather small, about 8 metres. That’s why the consequences of the avalanche were liquidated rather fast, by 8.30 a.m. (local time) (5.30 a.m. MSK). It is not reported if anybody was hurt. Russia-Info-Centre provides Russian Visa ServiceRussian Emergency Ministry for the tourist and business purposes and train tickets for all Russian trains as well.

150 Dogs Freeze in Animal Shelter near Kazan

An animal shelter for homeless dogs appeared in the settlement Stolbishche of the Kazan Region in 2003. It was built by enthusiasts on charity funds. Now the shelter has 30 open-air cages, but no warm premises where the animals could be settled for the frost period. “Thanks God, the dogs have hot food and warm matting, but we still need help from kind people” - the head of the shelter Airat Zamaleyev says - “If somebody can bring unwanted things that we could winterize the doghouses with, or give meat byproducts and cereals, we will be happy to get their help”. The volunteers also need building materials to continue construction of winter premises. Today the shelter takes care of about 150 dogs. These are mostly crossbreed dogs that are adopted from the street or abandoned to the shelter by owners. Since the opening of the shelter its staff managed to find new homes and caring masters for almost 600 dogs. Everybody who can help the shelter are asked to contact the staff over the phone +7 950 323 55 19

Famous Writer of Fairy Tales Passes Away in Moscow

Sergey Kozlov, the author of fairy tales and poems loved by both kids and grown-ups, has died today, aged 70, in Moscow. The writer died of pneumonia, his close friend - children’s poet Yuri Kushak - reported. Sergey Grigor’evich Kozlov was born on 22 August 1939 in Moscow. He started writing poetry as a schoolboy, and later graduated Literature Institute as a poet. Before becoming a professional writer, he worked for several years as a turner, a singing teacher, a guide in Pushkin’s Museum Mikhailovsko, a printer, and even a stoker. The poet started writing fairy tales in the 1960s, when he came up with adventures of the Hedgehog and the Bear, who were later featured in the prize-winning animation Hedgehog in the Fog by Yuriy Norshteyn.

Ancient Heart of Tmutarakan Descends to Sea

In the recent half a century more than 40 thousand sepulchers of Hermonassa (Tmutarakan) - one of the oldest cities of modern Russia - have collapsed into the sea, Russian archeologists find out. Archeologists have been studying Hermonassa for many years. Representatives of various civilizations inhabited that place for over 2500 years. Today the capital of Taman is situated there. The steep shores, on which Taman stands, have been descending to the sea for many tens of years. This year archeologists have decided to make it clear to what extent the ancient monuments are damaged by that natural process. As the tentative assessment shows, just in the recent 50 years more than 80 thousand square meters of the ancient necropolis of Hermonassa have collapsed into the sea. However, these are not only powers of nature that destroy the archeological monuments. “Black archeologists” are frequent guests there, while exploration of new resort area is connected with modern construction and destruction of ancient monuments. Diggings of the necropolis will continue in May, though archeologists have no financing. Mostly volunteers are into study and rescuing of the ancient legacy. The most interesting finds will be exhibited in the Taman Museum in the near future.

Flight Moscow – London interrupted because of a drunk passenger

The flight Moscow – London has landed in Amsterdam because of a passenger whose behavior was not adequate and disturbed carrying out a flight. It was flight 894 of BMI Air Company. According to the sources, the behavior of one of the passengers of the flight Moscow – London N 894 was aggressive and it looked like he was very drunk. Nevertheless he was trying to fight, crying aloud. The staff managed to pacify him before landing. Booking apartment accomodation in Russia's largest cities is easy with Russia-IC Apartments For Rent service.

Reactor of Volgodonsk power plant shut down because of emergency

Some troubles in the Block 1 at the nuclear power station of Volgodonsk on the January, 10 caused shutting it down. The background radiation is within the mark, so there are no reasons for panic. Now the block is shut down for maintenance. It is supposed to resume functioning in 4 days. The failure of the steam generator happened at 9. 20 a.m. (local time) on the January, 10. According to the preliminary data, the reason for maintenance is a leakage in the steam generator pipes. The atomic power plant of Volgodonsk in the first one built in Russia after the Chernobyl disaster, more properly, in 2001. It disposes two reactor units; the second one began functioning last December. Get Russian visa support without much ado. Try our Russian Visa Service.