The following open letter is making the rounds of the Russian blogosphere these days. As October 13 is Svetlana Bakhmina’s birthday, we thought we’d do our part and publish an exclusive translation of it here on our blog to help bring attention to the outrageous plight of this innocent person. Sep. 25th, 2008 04:13 pm APOLOGIES FOR APPEALING TO YOU …Dear friends, I have never asked, but now I’m asking: help me to disseminate [this letter] so as to increase the chances that it will get to the addressee. If, of course, this text does not enter into contradiction with your life position. I will not get into discussions. If you want to express dirt about Sveta or to tell me that a thief should be sitting in jail, go take a hike. Sorry. ABOUT SVETLANA BAKHMINA Esteemed President of the Russian Federation! Esteemed user of the Internet Dmitry Anatolievich Medvedev! Apologies for distracting you from the affairs of state. I wanted to write an official letter, but it, naturally, will not get beyond a low-level employee of the Administration, while writing a letter in the name of this same employee is something I am fully capable of doing myself. All the arguments are completely understandable. But hope for a miracle does not leave me, and therefore I write nevertheless.