RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Dec 22, 2009
TODAY: Communist Party asks Russia to hold the criticism on Stalin’s birthday, 30% of Russians would like a similar leader today, says VTsIOM; Moscow Mayor takes on the snow; Russia to revise its stance on Protocol 14? UN wants more Russian contributions to global food security; Yabloko party puts limitations on members; soldiers forced into service? Circus animals die; Cyrillic domains may not take off.
Yesterday was the 130th anniversary of Stalin’s birth, and the Communist Party asked the nation for a day-long moratorium on criticizing the Soviet dictator. The party organized numerous marches to remember him, with one party member estimating the crowd at 3,000-5,000. A VTsIOM poll says that more than 30% of Russians would like to see Stalin as a leader today, although, notes The Other Russia, this number is down 13% from 2005. Moscow’s snowfall yesterday beat a 100-year record, and caused record-breaking traffic jams. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov is trying to implement a plan to seed clouds with liquid nitrogen to keep the snow under control. ‘As we approach the end of the year, there is not much to celebrate on the political and economic fronts. In Russia, 2009 will be remembered for its increase in corruption and bloody catastrophes and for the country’s overall deterioration. Happy New Year, Russia!‘