Windows to Russia!

Windows to Russia Going to Israel!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:26:00 PST

Svet and I got "Places to go, People to See, Things to Do" in Israel. So from the 2nd of November 2009 to 18th of November 2009. Svet and I will be gone. We will still try to post a little bit and try to check on comments...

Boza has been left with a good friend who he really likes and will most likely not want to come home when we get back. :) We also are going to leave frozen, snowy and very icy Moscow, Russia! You take off in subzero freezer and land in a smelt furnace. (That is how it feels when you are use to Northern temperatures...)

We will take lots of pictures and that way we can show you all what we did.

(Goof Off - that is what!)

So see you all when we come back...

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Ukraine Has First H1N1 Swine Flu Death and they Shut the Country Down!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:42:00 PDT

Ukraine Shuts Schools, Bans Public Events Over Flu:

KYIV (Reuters) -- Ukraine has closed schools, banned all public events, and imposed restrictions on people's movements around the country for a three-week period after confirming its first death from H1N1 swine flu.

"All educational institutions without exception...will be switched on to a three-week holiday period," Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko announced. She indicated this period could be extended if it was deemed necessary.

"Apart from this, we will make the decision to cancel all mass meetings...for three weeks," she said at an emergency government session.

"We will introduce a special system to stop unnecessary travel by people from one region to another," she added.

Earlier, the Health Ministry confirmed that one of 30 deaths in Western Ukraine since mid-October that had been attributed to flu and pneumonia had been caused by the H1N1 strain, commonly known as swine flu.

"So far, not all the dead were tested [for H1N1]," a Health Ministry spokeswoman said. "However, tests on one dead [person] proved positive."

"We are considering [imposing] a quarantine not only in the west, but also across the country because the virus is spreading very fast," Health Minister Vasyl Knyazevych told a news conference, without giving details.

Glad I got in Ukraine and back out when I did a week ago. I may have been stuck for a while...

Think maybe this has to do more with control of people at election time than the flu?

Update: Seems that I hear that 11 have died from confirmed swine flu cases. That is eleven of the 30 or so reported deaths. Not eleven new deaths...

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Russia's Nikolay Valuev vs. Britain’s David Haye on November 7

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:14:00 PDT

I have ignored this long enough. I have waited to see if for some reason it gets called off like so many Heavyweight fights seem to have happen. As of right now it looks like this fight will happen.

Going to be held in Bern, Switzerland on November 7th, 2009 Russia's Nikolay Valuev vs. Britain’s David Haye in a sanctioned Heavyweight match.

David Haye (22-1, 22 KOs) vs Valuev (50-1, 34 KOs)

My money is going to the Russian Giant - He has trained very hard and I really think he is ready for this fight...

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Russia: Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:11:00 PDT

Remembering Stalin’s Great Purge victims:

On Friday Oct. 30th, 2009 - Russia marks the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions. Millions suffered from Stalin’s repressions from the 1920s through to the 1950s.

President Medvedev said attempts to justify the Stalinist repressions under the pretext of state interest are unacceptable:

“I am convinced that no development of a country, no success or ambitions of the state, should be achieved through human grief and loss. Nothing can be valued above human life, and there is no excuse for repression.”

Russian News From Russia: October 30th, 2009!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:08:00 PDT

“Nothing can be valued above human life” – Medvedev:
President Medvedev believes the dark pages of the nation’s history and its moments of glory should be remembered alike.

Somali pirates capture Russian sailors:
The Thai-flagged fishing trawler “Thai Unit 3” that was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean is crewed by 23 Russians, two Philippians and a Ghanian according to the EU naval force operating in the area.

Hiddink offered new Russian contract:
The Russian Football Union (RFU) has approached coach Guus Hiddink with a proposition to prolong his contract with the country’s national team.

Teens face trial over deadly police impersonations:
Five young adults, three of which under 18, are to go on trial accused of assault and homicide of three homeless people in southern Russia. The alleged attacks were part of a game in which the teens acted as policemen.

“Obama has sold the world on the idea that he’s pushing for peace”:
What Barack Obama has done is an incredible advertising campaign, David Swanson, an American writer and journalist, told RT.

To kill or not to kill, that’s the Supreme Court’s question:
Russia’s Supreme Court has asked the Constitutional Court to clarify whether the ban on capital punishment should be lifted on January 1, 2010.

Troubled “Arctic Sea” handed over to Maltese authorities:
The Maltese-flagged cargo vessel “Arctic Sea” – mysteriously hijacked in July 2009 and then freed by the Russian patrol boat “Ladny” – docked at the Maltese port of Valetta on Thursday.

Russians want political opposition – poll:
Seven people out of ten favor the existence of strong political opposition parties and NGOs in Russia, a new poll shows. The number has been growing over years.

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Windows to Russia: The Russian Blog!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:38:00 PDT

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking back to the start of Windows to Russia! It was brought on by the fact that I have well exceeded 1600 posts and really did not realize that we had.

The road has been long and not always very fun...

When I first started this blog I had a very strong group against us that was anti Russian and Anti Windows to Russia! I was attacked by multiples of Russian hate blogs, forums and sites and that has never ended but almost has stopped. What has definitely ended is that they all realize that Svetlana and I are not going away.

So many Russian blogs and Russian websites looked down their noses at us and we ignored them and kept going. Now we sit and watch these Russian blogs and Russian websites disappear one by one or slow their posting to a trickle.

We believe in what we are doing and will always strive to do better. Windows to Russia is a constant evolving process that never stops and never rests. If you read this you will be one of thousands that do. That is what we am proud of and hope one day that you will be one of ten thousands reading every day!

It was even important enough to us to set the blogs back a year by changing domains. In fact the move was much more successful than we could have imagined and in less than a month we have started back on the road to new territory.

The domain is easy now - just remember www.windowstorussia.com

Were else can you go and find such a conglomeration of blogs with Russian facts, news, photos, videos and everyday life in Russia under one roof? (so to speak)

I mean one thing that I have said many times: "My goal is to change one persons attitude at a time, about Russia!"

I have the rest of my life here to do that. :)

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

PS: I want to thank all of our readers and hope that you spread the word and get new people wondering - What is going on in Russia?

Is This the Beginning of the End of the Tale of the Arctic Sea Freighter?

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:18:00 PDT

As you all know I have followed this poor freighter from the beginning and now we seem to have at least a light at the end of the tunnel. It looks like the men can come home finally, that have been imprisoned (so to speak) on the vessel for a long time. Russia has lifted all restrictions on the vessel which is allowing it to port at Malta. (Which is the flag it sails under by the way!)

Tidbit of information:

MOSCOW, October 29 (Itar-Tass) -A group of Maltese experts of the Civil Defense Department who tested the Arctic Sea freight ship for radioactivity and presence of hazardous chemical particles have found nothing unusual, the Fairplay Maritime information provider reported with reference to a source in the Malta government.

Is this the end of the tale of a hijacked freighter called the "Arctic Sea"?

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Russia has Stood Firm With Iran and No More Sanctions!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:20:00 PDT

For a few days all you heard was positive about Russia and Iran. The sweet sticky bull came from the Western press and it did nothing but make Russia and Iran realize the folly of America.

I then watched a Western press that slid into their old habits, they started to degrade Russia and Iran because Iran was not giving answers fast enough. I watched articles from Big Western Media change their tone. The fact that Iran hesitated on an answer became an issue that Iran was reneging on the deal and that there was a power struggle in Iran that could destroy the regime. I read articles that said Russia does not deserve any more favors from America like dropping the missile shield or lets reinstate the missile shied, because they did not help the USA with Iran more... (Like that was really a favor...)

Then a couple of days ago Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had warned Western powers that they will gain nothing by trying to push and intimidate Tehran, and Russian officials have refused to publicly back the United States in threatening tougher sanctions against Iran. :)

This caused a complete reversal in Western press attitude. At that point out came the same ol - same ol that earmarks the Big Western Media!

Then after the West showed their true colors, Iran answered the questions. Everything is and was cool! Iran will do it and Russia knew this...

Remember the Kremlin always plays chess - Washington DC always plays checkers!

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

In Russia Have Tank - Who Needs Roads?

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:26:00 PDT

This is a great video and I wish it was in English. (The video that I found in English was terrible.) So lets watch a video about an off road race that included a few tanks.

These tanks were hand built from spare parts (don't ask what parts) and were very underpowered. They are not real tanks, not even of correct size and no real guns, but they function like a tank. These tanks won the race as all the other 4x4's were buried in up to a meter of snow. The tanks just kept on going. A young man in video said it was all good and everyone had fun!

From what I understand about this event, the regional officials kinda gave the man who built them the third degree. For the tanks are not registered for the road. As he says he has no plan to register them because they are not going to be used on the roads.

Looks like he does not need roads... :)

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

The French Auchan is Russia's King Retailer: Can it Keep Wal-Mart at bay also!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:37:00 PDT

Here in Russia the rumors of Wal-Mart breaking into the Russian market always float around. But the truth is: Russia has a fantastic retail giant called Auchan. I have been a Auchan fan since moving to Russia. It has the feel of Wal-Mart back when Sam Walton was still alive. A company that put people first...

Privately held French big-box chain Auchan is growing fast in China, Russia, and elsewhere as it challenges Wal-Mart, Carrefour, and Tesco.

Quick, what's France's answer to Wal-Mart? Until now, it has been Paris-based Carrefour, the global No. 2 retail chain. But increasingly, another French retailer, Auchan, is giving both Carrefour and Wal-Mart a run for their money.

Over the past decade, Auchan (pronounced oh-shon) has expanded rapidly into China, Russia, and Eastern Europe. Based near the northern French city of Lille, the privately held company is now the world's 14th-biggest retailer, with 1,200 stores in 12 countries and annual sales of $59 billion. (Link)

Just a few weeks ago Carrefour pulled out of Russia after a short try at going head to head with Auchan. Carrefour found that Auchan was a powerhouse in Russia just like they are finding the same in China. The picture above is from our collection of photos and believe me - This is what a Auchan looks like all the time when open.

Auchan reports that they have received a slight drop in sales but have maintained growth. This is a fact because Svet and I are avid Auchan fans. As of this writing I would say that Auchan has started a new growth period, because the stores are busier than I have ever seen them.

One thing that makes Auchan a favorite for me is that they have bought the home-improvement chain Leroy Merlin and I am here to tell you Leroy Merlin has it all for home improvement. Home Depot lovers would turn their heads and look twice.

What does Wal-Mart have in competition if they try to break into Russia? They might find the same thing that happened in Germany where Wal-Mart failed... (Russians like their Auchan)

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Seems Georgia Messed Up Again! (Woodcutters got confused?)

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:47:00 PDT

Georgia is really in a tissy over this one. South Ossetia caught 16 Georgians cutting lumber on their territory and the Russians have them in custody. Georgia is demanding immediate release of the woodcutters. Now what Tbilisi is not expressing very loudly is that they caused the problem.

As is known in this part of the world, Georgia regards the border with South Ossetia to be administrative only and considers any and all the natural resources of South Ossetia to be its own. The land in the frontier zone have many times been the reason for armed conflict situations.

So Georgia has been announcing that:

"Any Georgian has got the right to cross the border now as it had been before last August when the Akhalgori region was under control of the Georgian authorities and was part of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region." (Link)

This in effect caused a confusion to the woodcutters. They really think that they have a right to go to South Ossetia and cut all the wood they want.

Well maybe not - but it sounds good!

So Russia needs to let the guys go home and Georgia needs to quit playing games with South Ossetia - before someone gets hurt - again...

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Update:

16 detained Georgians chopped woods illegally:

"Russian border guards detained 16 citizens of Georgia, who illegally chopped valuable woods in the territory of South Ossetia, - the diplomat informed. – The woods subsequently were directed to the furniture factories in Georgia ".

Russian Military Robot Looking for a Military Job!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:33:00 PDT

This is an interesting video. It shows a Russian Military robot that is under development. In some ways it is very neat but in other it seems to be a little bit out dated. It seems I can remember some much more advanced models made by Japan.

Maybe that is because it is just a prototype. It seems to me that it has advanced technology on a weak frame and system.

It also seem top heavy with the armament. I think that they are on the right track and I would rather see one of these blown up than a human any day...

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Remember These Words From Ukraine: No 3rd "Gas War" With Russia?

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:33:00 PDT

A Ukrainian deputy prime minister expressed confidence on Tuesday that there would be no new end-of-year dispute with Russia over gas supplies, but conceded that meeting monthly bills was not easy.

Remember these words as we approach the end of the year and lets really hope that Ukraine means it.

The deal is that Ukraine is in an election for her president time! (Funny how that makes things work better.)

I lay the odds that there will not be a problem this year with gas supplies to Europe...

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Get a Russian Visa From Ukraine! (Part 2)

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:43:00 PDT

Svet and I had a good visa trip as I expressed in Part 1. We had gotten our visa in record time and the cost was almost cut in half. Svet and I looked at each other and said at the same time, "We could go home right now!" We laughed and decided to go to our hotel that we had reserved and regroup. This is where a bump in the road happened...

Svet and I went to the hotel and the hotel did not have our reservation. They also said that they had no rooms except for the most expensive rooms. Now I have been coming to this hotel for over three years now. I have watched a transformation of a good inexpensive hotel into a poor service expensive hotel. They have been remodeling rooms for years now and they have succeeded in removing all decent priced rooms from their roster. They simply want the high dollar people... (Keep in mind that I have literally been here every three months for three years and at some points have stayed a month at a time.)

I told Svet - lets go and search for a new hotel - And that is what we did.

Svet and I found a hotel called Tourist and it was next to a metro station. It cost the same as the other hotel's economy rooms and all the rooms have been refurbished. It had a fantastic breakfast included in the room price. To say the least we were very happy with the new accommodations.

So Svet and I have found a new place to stay in Kiev and it very conveniently located to public transport of all types.

Now after that escapade with hotels. Svet and I needed something to do. So we just got on the metro and I just picked a station to get off and we were going to walk the city. I happened to pick a familiar station with out realizing it. It was the station that lead to the Cave Monastery.

Now this is a cool monastery and I remembered that they had a great place to eat there. So we walked to the monastery and moseyed around for a few hours. We found the cafe that is run by the monastery and enjoyed a good home cooked meal. Svet and I also visited a WWII park near the monastery and got to see about a dozen weddings. Seems that everyone wanted to get married that day.

As we ended our day and trip in Kiev we got to see thousands and thousands of people marching in the streets. (We heard later it was 200,000 thousand.) After asking what was happening, we found out that Yulia Tymoshenko the Ukraine Prime Minister was speaking downtown Kiev that day. (We will tell you that she has a lot of supporters who talk very very highly of her.)

We had a blast in Kiev...

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Chicken Lapsha: A Russian Noodle Soup!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:00:00 PDT

Lapsha is Russian for noodles. Traditionally, the noodles are cooked right before adding them to the soup. This is a delicious soup that has more variations then you could count. Everyone has a secrete recipe that is handed down from Grandma. My recipe comes from my collection and this soup was used at many of my banquet functions in America. So lets make a wonderful soup that will warm any cold winter night...

Ingredients:

Whole chicken (try to use fresh not frozen - I like straight from the local market)
1 big onion
1 quart / liter of water per pound of chicken
salt
2 to 3 celery stalks (or root will do in a pinch - just use half the amount)

Noodle Ingredients:
5 egg yolks
10 table-spoons of cold water
salt
plain flour

Lets Make the Broth:

Boil the chicken and celery until done with the whole uncut onion (after onion is peeled of course) in a large sauce pan on medium heat. (It is done when chicken starts to fall apart)

After finished cooking, remove chicken and onion and celery. (I like to strain the broth)

Leave broth in sauce pan and remove bones and skin from chicken.

Put only the meat back into the saucepan with the broth. (Do not put skin, onion or celery back in broth. I also do not put any meat back in except the white meat.)

Lets Prepare the Noodles:

Mix yolks and water and salt to taste in a mixing bowl. (fork whipping is fine)

Then in mixing bowl add flour till the pastry will be not sticky and will be stretchable.

Continue to knead dough for at least 10 minutes.

Then roll it out like pie dough thickness into a circle shape and leave standing for 10 minutes.

After standing for 10 minute powder the top with flour and roll the circle up into a long tube. (Other words it looks like a skinny carrot)

Slice the rolled up dough into thin slices no more than one eighth of an inch thick and leave sitting for 10-15 min.

Prepare another sauce pan with water boiling (Three liters is enough water.) and add the noodles to the boiling water for no more than two minutes (2 min)

Also start reheating on low to medium heat the chicken broth that you made.

Then strain the noodles out of the water and add them to the chicken broth.

Cook till noodles will be finished and the broth seems to be thickening. Takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.

Notes:

The idea is to create a clear type broth and not have any veggies showing. The center stage of this recipe is the Lapsha noodles...

I also use carrots and garlic - just remember to remove them after cooking. If recipe seems large just cut all proportions equally and result will be the same.

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Russian News From Russia: October 27th, 2009!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:39:00 PDT

Russian cities. Novy Urengoi:
Novy Urengoy is a town in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District in west Siberia with a population of some 118.378 It was founded in 1975 after the discovery of the Urengoy natural gas field, one of the largest in Russia.

Russia, India, China set to forge energy ties:
The foreign ministers of Russia, India and China agreed on Tuesday to enhance energy cooperation.

Two sailors found dead on Russian cargo ship in South Africa:
A Russian and a Ukrainian sailor have been found dead in South Africa on a cargo ship run by a St. Petersburg-based firm, a Russian online edition said on Tuesday.

Russia reports first swine flu deaths:
Two women diagnosed with swine flu have died in eastern Siberia's Chita, the regional governor's press service said on Tuesday.

Russian missile cruiser to depart on visit to Singapore:
The missile cruiser Varyag, the flagship of Russia's Pacific Fleet, will sail on Tuesday on a month-long tour-of-duty, which will include a visit to Singapore.

Medvedev urges Russian defense industry to create superior weapons:
The Russian president said on Monday that the country's defense industry must ensure the effective modernization of the military and provide it with state-of-the-art weapons.

Russian Opel rolls off the line as Magna-Sberbank deal awaits sign off:
The first Russian produced Opel has come out of the Avtotor Kaliningrad plant, ahead of the finalization of the GM-Sberbank-Magna deal for the Russian Canadian joint venture to buy into GM’s German arm.

EU read Tagliavini’s report:
It includes many-sided relations with the countries of the region, as well as issues of conflict settlement, he specified.

EU Lifts Uzbek Sanctions Despite Rights Concerns:
The European Union has lifted sanctions on Uzbekistan, despite concerns about human rights in the former Soviet republic.

South Ossetia Detains 16 Georgians:
Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region has said it had detained 16 Georgian citizens for illegally crossing its de facto border, causing concern in Tbilisi and among European cease-fire monitors.

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

The Arctic Sea is Still Afloat! (Update Oct. 26th, 2009)

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:42:00 PDT

As you know I have been following this story on the Arctic Sea for quite some time now. This poor ship has been through the ringer so to speak and there still is a captain and three crew members who are still on board, along with Russian investigators.

The Russian-crewed and Maltese-flagged cargo ship at the center of a mysterious hijacking case is currently being towed towards Malta and may be handed over on Tuesday, the ship's Finnish owner said.

"The Arctic Sea might be there as soon as tomorrow, in the afternoon," said Viktor Matveyev, director of Solchart, which holds 100% in the Maltese firm that owns the vessel.

Matveyev earlier said he would travel to Malta to discuss details of the vessel's handover.

Matveyev said Malta's maritime officials intended to examine the ship before deciding whether to allow it to enter the port of Valletta or not.

It has not sunk yet and just might be let into the Maltese port... (Remember I said might, because it has not happened yet!)

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Link to Arctic Sea Articles by Windows to Russia!

Windows to Russia: Svets - Russian Video Blog!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:01:00 PDT

I am very proud of Svet. She has worked very hard on a blog named Russian Videos from Russia! This blog has now finally come into its own and has been recognized by Google as a major video source for Russian videos. It has reached the top of the list when it comes to the term Russian Video. (http://www.google.com/#q=Russian+Video&hl=en&sa=G&newwindow=1&fp=1&cad=b) Everything above her blog is either paid links or YouTube related links.

Svet has almost posted one video a day for a long time now. She has 500 videos and it looks like she loves the blog so much that we are going to see a lot more. Svet also has a weekend movie most every weekend that is usually an old soviet movie and is full length. These weekend movies take Svet a long time to do because many times she has to download, convert format and process her own movies.

Last full length movie that she posted was "Queen of the Gypsies", a made in 1975, by Moldavian film director Emil Loteanu and in 1976 "Queen of the Gypsies" won the Golden Seashell at San Sebastián International Film Festival. I found the movie really wonderful and was entertainment that we all need to stop and watch. The actors made a believer out of the audience and will make a believer out of you that the life of a Gypsy is carefree and interesting...

I stay out of the blogs workings unless I have to help her and she has gotten to where she needs very little help anymore. So I am very very proud of my Sweetie... :)

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Get a Russian Visa From Ukraine! (Part 1)

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:45:00 PDT

Hey everyone!

Svet and I had the most pleasant visa trip ever. It went like clock work and there were no bad surprises.

First of all - lets remember that I had a passport stolen last time and this trip finally cleared up all the loose ends from that trip. I now have a brand new passport from America and got back and forth across the borders with minimal hassle. (Due to having to show a total of three USA passports at one time to explain why this stamp was here and not there...)

The train trip to Kiev was really nice and peaceful. Left at 7pm Thursday night and got to Kiev at 7am Friday morning. Svet and I stopped at the McDonald's near the Russian Consulate and had a good breakfast. When the Consulate opened we got right in and proceeded with business. This is where the good surprises happened!

I have been coming to this consulate for umpteen visas. I am always there by 9am and done by 10am with paperwork. The visas always take one or two days to process and $400 dollars.

Then surprise number one happened - When we presented our paperwork the lady that we always give the paperwork to said that will be $250 dollars. (Huh - I thought: What did she say?) I looked at Svet and we both kept our mouths shut. :)

Then surprise number two happened - The lady said you can pick the visa up between 11am and 12 noon! (Huh - I thought: What did she say? [As I looked at the clock and realized that was only an hour away] I looked at Svet and we both kept our mouths shut. :)

Svet and I walked to the cashier station and were told the very same instructions again. ($250 dollars and in one hour we can get the visa!) (Cooooool!)

To make a long story short - Svet and I waited around and at 11am we had my passport and visa in it to Russia. We just got to Ukraine and we were done with business!

So being good little travelers like Svet and I are we decided to do some sight seeing after checking into the hotel. That is where part two of this story begins tomorrow....

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Windows to Russia - Articles on Visas:

http://www.google.com/visa This is a Google Link to all our articles on visa there are some 50 articles...

http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/10/visa-run-to-ukraine.html
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/10/in-russia-my-plans-neve
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/08/pickpocket-we-all-think-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/08/pickpocket-we-all-think-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/07/pickpocket-we-all-think-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/07/pickpocket-we-all-think-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/07/pickpocket-we-all-think-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/07/windows-to-russia-back-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/04/windows-to-russia-kiev-
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/04/getting-visa-to-russia-he
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/04/from-russia-kiev-ukraine

And on and on...

Radio Liberty/Free Europe: Broadcasting - Abkhazia and South Ossetia!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:16:00 PDT

Georgia is hot, bothered and steamy over a new radio broadcast that will start November 2nd, 2009! Georgia is threatening everything from destruction of the radio station to blocking the signal with devices to scramble the signal. I have watched this broadcast being developed for a few weeks now and I was not sure that it would be carried through with. And as we can see, it is going to happen...

I am using Georgia Times article because it is the most congenial of the Georgian sources that I have found. The rest from Georgia are a little rough and threatening.

On November 2nd Radio Liberty/Free Europe starts broadcasting the Echo of Caucasus program in Russian language orientated for listeners in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, on waves 9525 and 9780 - the Kavkazskiy Uzel.

The daily 1-hour program is planned to be prepared in Prague by Russian and Georgian editorial offices, the editor will be Andrey Babitskiy.

"There's a deficiency of information in the entire territory of the post-Soviet space, and in this region it's felt especially acute", Babitskiy said and mentioned that people in South Ossetia and Abkhazia have to suffice with Russian sources.

He promised that the radio Liberty would present the view from both Moscow and the West, and at the cross of the lines the talk will get both depth and sharpness.

Tbilisi assessed this step as "informational recognition" of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Previously Sergey Shamba, the Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, said the republic would approve the work of the radio station only in case the programs would have nothing to do with Georgia.

At the same time, the Georgian republic Department for Governmental Information is strongly against and promised to take drastic measures, up to suppression of the signal.

So once again we have an interesting issue that is developing in the Caucasus. One more slap in Sassy's face and one more reason for the Georgian people to send him back to America...

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Russia Bans Advertisments for Harmful Kid Foods Starting in 2010!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:26:00 PDT

The participating companies include Coca-Cola, Kellogg's, Kraft Foods, Bolshevik, Mars, PepsiCo, Unilever, Inmarko and Nestle to name a few. These companies will restrict their advertisement to children under 12. Russia joined the USA, European Union, Brazil and South Africa who already have similar agreements. Representatives of the World Federation of Advertisers agree that only the products that are considered unhealthy by the Russian Ministry of Health and the Consumer Union of Russia will be banned for advertising. The limitations include TV and radio commercials, print and online advertisement, and phone messages. The manufactures also promise not to distribute their advertising materials in elementary schools. (link)

I heard about this a few weeks ago and today I went looking for what Russian news was saying about this. I translated the above quote the best I could.

This is a great idea and Russia needs to do it now before it gets out of hand. Companies look at kids as their future sales....

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Iran To Ship Urainium to Russia for Enrichment!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:25:00 PDT

Looks like Russia was right and the need for diplomacy was the priority. Iran has agreed to multiples of conditions and now it is up to the West to play correctly and help keep the ballgame going in the correct direction...

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Tidbit of News From Russia about South Ossetia and Abkhazia!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:43:00 PDT

Looks like several more countries are going to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This comes from Georgian sources also and not just Russian sources. Of course the Georgian sources are not as happy about this news as the Russian sources are. :)

Eight more countries of Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) might recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after Nicaragua and Venezuela. The negotiation on the matter was the focal point of RF Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev’s visit to Bolivia. (News from Armenia)

These 8 countries could all recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia on top of Venezuela and Nicaragua who already have!

Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, Dominica, Honduras, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda.

Interesting tidbit of news...

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Islamic News Source: http://cnobbi.com/3406.html

Update on Magna-Sberbank's Buying General Motor's, Opel!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:26:00 PDT

Here is an update on a subject that I have followed from the beginning: The European Union has been causing Germany tremendous headaches over the GM / Opel to Magna / Sberbank with the threats of antitrust issues. The EU finally has said that they will not cause or plan any blocks of the transaction.

With Opel poised to run out of cash by mid-January, it was in nobody’s interests to reopen the bidding process for the car maker, and the EU was looking like they were going to force that very issue. So it looks like finally the deal will go through...

Articles from Windows to Russia on this subject:

http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/09/germany-finally-twisted-enough-arms.html
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/08/is-gm-dragging-feet-because-russia-is.html
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/05/opel-is-officially-sold-to-russia-and.html
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/05/russia-vultures-have-circled-and-await.html

You can always follow Windows to Russia for updates on your favorite articles.

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Volkswagen Makes it Clear that Russia is the Future for Car Sales!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:04:00 PDT

Not all car news is bad in the world and Russia has had her share of car industry collapse. Now Volkswagen who has not laid off even a single employee in Russia has been spending money like crazy and they aim it all at the future of car sales in Russia...

Despite the market slump, WV remains the biggest foreign investor in the Russian car industry with a 6% market share. €570 million has been injected into the Kaluga plant since 2006. Investment kept flowing even during the worst of the credit crunch – with almost one hundred million euro more to be ploughed-in next year.

VW has garnered Putin's attention (who is a staunch classic Soviet automobile supporter) and recently Putin paid a visit to the new plant in Kaluga: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has described the plant as an "industrial city". He said the smart management which created it gives inspiration that Russian car markers can steer their way out of the crisis.

Volkswagen says that they are number 3 in the Russia car market and that just is not good enough for them...

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