russiainsider--2020-02-04--Spring Break, Russian Style - Moscow Students Party in the Snow, Wholesome Fun Not Degenerate Like i

Spring Break, Russian Style - Moscow Students Party in the Snow, Wholesome Fun Not Degenerate Like in Florida (Video)

Compare and contrast the crass debauchery of American student 's Spring Break , and this revival of an old Christian @ @ @ @ @ by the state .
Interesting how Christian culture is impacting society in Russia .

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russiainsider--2020-02-04--Russia Looks to Extend Tourist Visa Stay Period to 6 Months from the Current 30 Days

Russia is considering extending the maximum length of tourist visas from 30 days to six months to attract tourism , the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper reported Wednesday , citing the Foreign Ministry .
The relaxed visa rules would allow visitors from anywhere in the world to apply with a hotel reservation , the ministry was cited as saying .
Current legislation only allows tourist visas for those who apply with an invitation letter from a tour agency listed in the Russian government ’ s database .
The Foreign Ministry is expected to submit the legal changes easing tourist visa rules to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government ’ s legislative schedule .
Tourists around the world have frequently cited difficulties with obtaining visas as a barrier to visiting Russia .
“ Any action — whether liberalization , visa abolition or easing administrative barriers — will lead to an increase in tourism by 10-30 % or more , ” Yury Barzykin , the vice president of Russia ’ s travel industry union , was quoted as saying .
All but one political party represented in Russia ’ s lower house of parliament has reportedly backed the Foreign Ministry ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Izvestia reported , argued that lawmakers should prioritize improving the domestic tourism industry .
President Vladimir Putin has ordered to offer electronic visas to visitors from a limited set of countries by 2021 .

Russia is considering extending the maximum length of tourist visas from 30 days to six months to attract tourism, the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper reported Wednesday, citing the Foreign Ministry.
The relaxed visa rules would allow visitors from anywhere in the world to apply with a hotel reservation, the ministry was cited as saying. Current legislation only allows tourist visas for those who apply with an invitation letter from a tour agency listed in the Russian government’s database.
The Foreign Ministry is expected to submit the legal changes easing tourist visa rules to lawmakers in December 2020, according to the government’s legislative schedule.
Tourists around the world have frequently cited difficulties with obtaining visas as a barrier to visiting Russia.
“Any action — whether liberalization, visa abolition or easing administrative barriers — will lead to an increase in tourism by 10-30% or more,” Yury Barzykin, the vice president of Russia’s travel industry union, was quoted as saying.
All but one political party represented in Russia’s lower house of parliament has reportedly backed the Foreign Ministry’s proposal.
The Communist Party, Izvestia reported, argued that lawmakers should prioritize improving the domestic tourism industry.
President Vladimir Putin has ordered to offer electronic visas to visitors from a limited set of countries by 2021.


russiainsider--2020-02-05--Twitter Bans Zerohedge For Investigative Journalism About the Coronavirus - Zerohedge Responds

First it was Facebook , then all of New Zealand ; now Twitter has decided to suspend Zero Hedge .
Just as in the prior bans , which were eventually overturned , it is unclear what prompted Twitter 's abrupt censorship : the only notification we received from twitter was the following : It is news to us that this website has ( ever ) `` engaged in the targeted harassment of someone . ''
What appears to have happened is that twitter received a complaint from the website best known for publishing the discredited Steele dossier when no other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making cat slideshows of course , Buzzfeed , in which someone called Ryan Broderick ( who appears to have a rather `` colorful '' history ) , writes that Zero Hedge `` has released the personal information of a scientist from Wuhan , China , falsely accusing them of creating the coronavirus as a bioweapon , in a plot it said is the real-life version of the video game Resident Evil . ''
in a plot it said is the real-life version of the video game Resident Evil . ''
A few points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Is This The Man Behind The Global Coronavirus Pandemic ?
`` , is as the title implies , a question , and one which considering the huge significance and life or death import of the Coronavirus pandemic , has to be answered , especially since even the establishment 's Foreign Policy magazine writes bat soup , which is widely being cited and circulated by the mainstream press as the cause of the coronavirus breakout , is not the cause of the Wuhan virus .
The widely read website Health.com also chimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not Caused by 'Bat Soup ' '' .
Meanwhile , Business Insider writes `` Experts think the Wuhan coronavirus jumped from bats to snakes to people .
Bats have been the source of at least 4 pandemics . ''
So considering that Peng Zhou , who currently works at the Wuhan Institute of Virology , is the Leader of the Bat Virus Infection and Immunization Group at the Institute , the question certainly is a reasonable one and , in a normal world , would demand an answer from the established media ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lucrative Chinese funding ) instead of leaving it to `` fringe '' websites .
The impetus to ask the question if the disease originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology is especially relevant in light of social media reports such as this one which claims to `` have evidence here that the outbreak originated from Wuhan P4 Research Institute .
You need to find a truly patriotic journalist to publish it to the public .
You can personally trust me to provide a complete chain of evidence .
Thank you . ''
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the question if there is an alternative version for the emergence of the Coronavirus pandemic , especially with hundreds if not thousands of lives at stake ?
Absolutely .
As for Broderick 's statement that Peng was `` accused falsely '' we wonder how he knows this : did he speak to Peng ?
Did he get any comments ?
Did he get an official denial ?
No , he did not : as he writes , `` BuzzFeed News has reached out to the scientist , whom it is declining to name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out that it is Buzzfeed that is once again presenting a false statement as fact , something Buzzfeed has been accused of doing over and over and over .
Meanwhile , those who wonder if Dr. Zhou has any link to the possible emergence of the Coronavirus following years of experimenting with bats , we urge you to read our full article instead of relying on the hearsay of ideologically biased journalists .
Second , and contrary to the claims presented by Buzzfeed , we did not release any `` personal information '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a public figure , and all the contact information that we presented was pulled from his publicly posted bio found on a website at the Wuhan Institute of Virology which anyone with access to the internet can pull from the following URL : http : //sourcedb.whiov.cas.cn/zw/rck/201705/t20170505_4783973.html , which is also the information we used .
So about Buzzfeed 's allegation , which was adopted by Twitter , that somehow we incited `` targeted abuse '' , here is what we said : To which we then added the information obtained from his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Are we then to understand that we have now reached a point the mere gathering of information , which our colleagues in the media may want to eventually do as thousands of people are afflicted daily by the Coronavirus , is now synonymous with `` abuse and harassment '' ?
According to Twitter , and certainly our competitors in the media , the answer is yes .
In any case , we have emailed Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey , who incidentally happens to follow zerohedge ... ... for the answer .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share it with our readers .
We are n't holding our breath , however , as we realize how important it is to today 's media giants not to ruffle too many Chinese feathers or lack losing access to the Chinese market .
After all , who can forget the following report from the New York Times about another of our media competitors that several years ago was itself engaged in `` doxing '' us ( yet oddly was n't suspended by Twitter ) : The chairman of Bloomberg L.P. said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have reconsidered articles that deviated from its core of coverage of business news , because they jeopardized the huge sales potential for its products in the Chinese market .
The comments by the chairman , Peter T. Grauer , represented the starkest acknowledgment yet by a senior Bloomberg executive that the ambitions of the news division should be assessed in the context of the business operation , which provides the bulk of the company ’ s revenue .
They also signaled which of those considerations might get priority .
Acknowledging the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world ’ s second-biggest after that of the United States , Mr. Grauer , said , “ We have to be there.
” “ We have about 50 journalists in the market , primarily writing stories about the local business and economic environment , ” Mr. Grauer said in response to questions after a speech at the Asia Society .
“ You ’ re all aware that every once in a while we wander a little bit away from that and write stories that we probably may have kind of rethought — should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data and news company , relies on sales of its terminals , which are ubiquitous on bankers ’ desks around the world , for about 82 percent of its $ 8.5 billion in revenue .
But sales of those terminals in China declined after the company published an article in June 2012 on the family wealth of Xi Jinping , at that time the incoming Communist Party chief .
After its publication , officials ordered state enterprises not to subscribe to the service .
Mr. Grauer did not specifically mention the article about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Being in China is very much a part of our long-term strategy and will continue to be so going forward , ” Mr. Grauer said .
“ It occupies a lot of our thinking — Dan Doctoroff , our C.E.O .
; me ; Mike ; and other members of our senior team.
” Some current and former Bloomberg journalists , who spoke on condition of anonymity , said they had hoped the controversy surrounding Bloomberg ’ s China reporting would prompt the company to reaffirm its support for investigative efforts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with dismay , particularly because he is regarded as close to Mr. Bloomberg and would be unlikely to voice views that were not broadly accepted at the top of the company .
Unlike Bloomberg , or anyone else in the mainstream media , we do n't plan on `` rethinking '' any of our articles just to curry favor with the powerful and we certainly will continue our own `` investigative efforts '' , even if it means we lose some of our inbound traffic .

First it was Facebook, then all of New Zealand; now Twitter has decided to suspend Zero Hedge.
Just as in the prior bans, which were eventually overturned, it is unclear what prompted Twitter's abrupt censorship: the only notification we received from twitter was the following:
It is news to us that this website has (ever) "engaged in the targeted harassment of someone."
Jack Dorsey, Twitter CEO - He basically just does whatever the government and financial elites (his stockholders) tell him to do
What appears to have happened is that twitter received a complaint from the website best known for publishing the discredited Steele dossier when no other media outlet would touch it, and making cat slideshows of course, Buzzfeed, in which someone called Ryan Broderick (who appears to have a rather "colorful" history), writes that Zero Hedge "has released the personal information of a scientist from Wuhan, China, falsely accusing them of creating the coronavirus as a bioweapon, in a plot it said is the real-life version of the video game Resident Evil."
in a plot it said is the real-life version of the video game Resident Evil."
Ryan Broderick✔@broderick I’ve reached out to Twitter for clarity on this but it looks like ZeroHedge may have been suspended following my piece about them doxing a Chinese scientist and accusing him of weaponizing the https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/a-pro-trump-blog-has-doxed-a-chinese-scientist-it-falsely
A few points: the article referenced by Buzz Feed, "Is This The Man Behind The Global Coronavirus Pandemic?", is as the title implies, a question, and one which considering the huge significance and life or death import of the Coronavirus pandemic, has to be answered, especially since even the establishment's Foreign Policy magazine writes bat soup, which is widely being cited and circulated by the mainstream press as the cause of the coronavirus breakout, is not the cause of the Wuhan virus. The widely read website Health.com also chimes in: "No, Coronavirus Was Not Caused by 'Bat Soup'". Meanwhile, Business Insider writes "Experts think the Wuhan coronavirus jumped from bats to snakes to people. Bats have been the source of at least 4 pandemics."
So considering that Peng Zhou, who currently works at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, is the Leader of the Bat Virus Infection and Immunization Group at the Institute, the question certainly is a reasonable one and, in a normal world, would demand an answer from the established media (assuming it wasn't afraid of risking lucrative Chinese funding) instead of leaving it to "fringe" websites.
The impetus to ask the question if the disease originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology is especially relevant in light of social media reports such as this one which claims to "have evidence here that the outbreak originated from Wuhan P4 Research Institute. You need to find a truly patriotic journalist to publish it to the public. You can personally trust me to provide a complete chain of evidence. Thank you."
So did we have a right to ask the question if there is an alternative version for the emergence of the Coronavirus pandemic, especially with hundreds if not thousands of lives at stake? Absolutely.
As for Broderick's statement that Peng was "accused falsely" we wonder how he knows this: did he speak to Peng? Did he get any comments? Did he get an official denial? No, he did not: as he writes, "BuzzFeed News has reached out to the scientist, whom it is declining to name." So, it actually turns out that it is Buzzfeed that is once again presenting a false statement as fact, something Buzzfeed has been accused of doing over and over and over.
Meanwhile, those who wonder if Dr. Zhou has any link to the possible emergence of the Coronavirus following years of experimenting with bats, we urge you to read our full article instead of relying on the hearsay of ideologically biased journalists.
Second, and contrary to the claims presented by Buzzfeed, we did not release any "personal information": Peng Zhou (周鹏) is a public figure, and all the contact information that we presented was pulled from his publicly posted bio found on a website at the Wuhan Institute of Virology which anyone with access to the internet can pull from the following URL: http://sourcedb.whiov.cas.cn/zw/rck/201705/t20170505_4783973.html, which is also the information we used.
So about Buzzfeed's allegation, which was adopted by Twitter, that somehow we incited "targeted abuse", here is what we said:
Something tells us, if anyone wants to find out what really caused the coronavirus pandemic that has infected thousands of people in China and around the globe, they should probably pay Dr. Peng a visit.
To which we then added the information obtained from his own bio page on the Institute's website:
"Or at least start with an email: Dr Peng can be reached at peng.zhou@wh.iov.cn, and his phone# is 87197311"
Are we then to understand that we have now reached a point the mere gathering of information, which our colleagues in the media may want to eventually do as thousands of people are afflicted daily by the Coronavirus, is now synonymous with "abuse and harassment"? According to Twitter, and certainly our competitors in the media, the answer is yes.
In any case, we have emailed Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who incidentally happens to follow zerohedge...
... for the answer. If we get one, we will promptly share it with our readers. We aren't holding our breath, however, as we realize how important it is to today's media giants not to ruffle too many Chinese feathers or lack losing access to the Chinese market. After all, who can forget the following report from the New York Times about another of our media competitors that several years ago was itself engaged in "doxing" us (yet oddly wasn't suspended by Twitter):
The chairman of Bloomberg L.P. said in a speech here on Thursday that the company should have reconsidered articles that deviated from its core of coverage of business news, because they jeopardized the huge sales potential for its products in the Chinese market. The comments by the chairman, Peter T. Grauer, represented the starkest acknowledgment yet by a senior Bloomberg executive that the ambitions of the news division should be assessed in the context of the business operation, which provides the bulk of the company’s revenue. They also signaled which of those considerations might get priority. Acknowledging the vast size of the Chinese economy, the world’s second-biggest after that of the United States, Mr. Grauer, said, “We have to be there.” “We have about 50 journalists in the market, primarily writing stories about the local business and economic environment,” Mr. Grauer said in response to questions after a speech at the Asia Society. “You’re all aware that every once in a while we wander a little bit away from that and write stories that we probably may have kind of rethought — should have rethought.” Bloomberg, the financial data and news company, relies on sales of its terminals, which are ubiquitous on bankers’ desks around the world, for about 82 percent of its $8.5 billion in revenue. But sales of those terminals in China declined after the company published an article in June 2012 on the family wealth of Xi Jinping, at that time the incoming Communist Party chief. After its publication, officials ordered state enterprises not to subscribe to the service. Mr. Grauer did not specifically mention the article about Mr. Xi or any other articles. “Being in China is very much a part of our long-term strategy and will continue to be so going forward,” Mr. Grauer said. “It occupies a lot of our thinking — Dan Doctoroff, our C.E.O.; me; Mike; and other members of our senior team.” Some current and former Bloomberg journalists, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had hoped the controversy surrounding Bloomberg’s China reporting would prompt the company to reaffirm its support for investigative efforts. Mr. Grauer’s comments were met with dismay, particularly because he is regarded as close to Mr. Bloomberg and would be unlikely to voice views that were not broadly accepted at the top of the company.
Unlike Bloomberg, or anyone else in the mainstream media, we don't plan on "rethinking" any of our articles just to curry favor with the powerful and we certainly will continue our own "investigative efforts", even if it means we lose some of our inbound traffic.


russiainsider--2020-02-05--Stalin Burned 100s of 1000s of Russian Peasants' Homes, But Everyone Blames Germany - Another WW2 An

Stalin Burned 100s of 1000s of Russian Peasants' Homes, But Everyone Blames Germany - Another WW2 Anti-German Slander Goes Up in Smoke

It 's a very Jewish trick - do something incomprehensibly evil , and then blame your enemy for it .
The NKVD at the time was dominated by Jewish revolutionaries , and they hated these deeply Christian , salt of the earth peasants , and were happy to destroy them .
Russians frequently cite this alleged war crime as Exhibit A of German brutality during the war .
The peasants were subsistence farmers , barely scratching out a living .
Burning their homes and barns almost ensured that they would perish over the harsh winter .
Now it turns out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Very few people know the detail of Joseph Stalin ’ s notorious Torch-Man Order .
As a consequence people little realise that images depicting German atrocities are falsified .
Filmed atrocities were the responsibility not of the Reich , but of England and America ’ s Soviet allies .
There can be no excuse for using images of one ’ s own crimes to stigmatise one ’ s enemy .
To do so to justify war is a war crime .
The banality of evil is that the Torch-Man Order is censored in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ index Order Number # 0428 .
The detail of this disreputable Order is confirmed as accurate by the Russian government .
Stalin ’ s Order # 0428 authorised November 17 , 1941 , instructed Bolshevik irregulars to destroy everything within 40 to 60 kilometres of the rapidly advancing German forces .
Stalin ’ s burnt earth policy was not what is claimed to be a strategy of depriving the Axis armies of sustenance .
Stalin realised that communities terrorised by the Bolsheviks over twenty-five years welcomed the invading Reich armies as liberators .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon liberation entire Central European communities would assist the German occupiers .
In Stalin ’ s eyes , the peasantry were already collaborators .
The Order ’ s purpose was to indiscriminately slaughter communities before their being caught up in the German advance .
The Order gave specific instruction that trained irregulars , wearing uniforms of captured and killed German troops , would indiscriminately kill peasants on an industrial scale .
Especially sought for this purpose were uniforms of the Waffen SS .
Western media claims such suggestion is Nazi propaganda .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reich controlled Europe between Moscow , Finland and the Black Sea .
Why were these atrocities carried out only on Soviet territories before their being occupied by the Reich ?
2 ) Why would any army film and widely distribute images of atrocities that would reflect badly on them and later indict them on war crime charges ?
3 ) Where is the logic in an advancing army destroying its means of sustenance and support as it advances ?
These are questions of logic that simply can not be answered in a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For such reasons open debate by Western media is off-limits .
In fact , the German policy was precisely the opposite to that of Britain and America ’ s ally .
The function of the Reich ’ s Ostacker Program ( Eastern Fields Program ) was to restore the lands and return rural property to the peoples of the regions occupied by the German forces : ( Archive Series 429 , roller 461 , General Use Division , Foreign Units East li H 3/70 Fri 6,439,568th Filed : National Archives Washington ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ released by the Russian government .
The Order specifically carries instruction that it was ‘ important to leave a few survivors who would report the supposed German terror attacks ’ .
This strategy was confirmed by Axis troops who , having taken into captivity partisans wearing Reich uniforms , conceded their reason for doing so .
Order Number # 0428 is quite specific and uncontested : All settlements , in which German troops are found , up to a depth of 40 60km from the main lines of battle , are to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too all such situated 20-30km from the roads .
For the total destruction of the settled areas , the Soviet Air Force will be made available .
Artillery and rocket launchers will be used extensively , as well as intelligence units ’ skiers and Partisan divisions equipped with bottles with flammable liquid .
These hunting expeditions in their activities of destruction are to be dressed to the greatest extent in German soldier ’ s uniforms and uniforms of the Waffen SS looted from the German Army .
This will ignite hatred toward all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisans from the outlying areas of fascist territories easier .
It is important to have survivors who will tell about German atrocities .
For this purpose , every regiment is to form hunter units of about 20-30 men strong with the task to detonate and incinerate the villages .
We have to select brave fighters for this action of destruction of settled areas .
These men will be especially recommended to receive bravery awards when working in German uniforms behind enemy lines and destroying those settlement outposts .
Among the population spread the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to punish the partisans .
The images distributed by the Soviets and their American and British allies depict graveside images of captives being shot in the back of the head .
This method of execution was exclusively a Soviet CHEKA / NKVD method of mass killings .
The forces of the Reich used conventional means to dispose of those marked for execution and did so within the constraints of international law .
Cui Bono ( the legal term for ‘ who benefits ? )
: Again , logic suggests that only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , photographing , filming and distributing images of these atrocities .
The intention was to create an anti-Reich psychosis and encourage partisan recruitment .
The strategy was also useful in providing the Soviets Western allies with propaganda that would assist their war against the Workers Reich .
In other words , these crimes are solely and exclusively the responsibility not of Hitler ’ s Germany but of the Soviet Union , England and the United States .

It's a very Jewish trick - do something incomprehensibly evil, and then blame your enemy for it. The NKVD at the time was dominated by Jewish revolutionaries, and they hated these deeply Christian, salt of the earth peasants, and were happy to destroy them.
Russians frequently cite this alleged war crime as Exhibit A of German brutality during the war. The peasants were subsistence farmers, barely scratching out a living. Burning their homes and barns almost ensured that they would perish over the harsh winter. Now it turns out Stalin's Jewish henchmen did it.
Very few people know the detail of Joseph Stalin’s notorious Torch-Man Order. As a consequence people little realise that images depicting German atrocities are falsified. Filmed atrocities were the responsibility not of the Reich, but of England and America’s Soviet allies. There can be no excuse for using images of one’s own crimes to stigmatise one’s enemy. To do so to justify war is a war crime. The banality of evil is that the Torch-Man Order is censored in the West and disguised behind the bland index Order Number #0428.
The detail of this disreputable Order is confirmed as accurate by the Russian government. Stalin’s Order #0428 authorised November 17, 1941, instructed Bolshevik irregulars to destroy everything within 40 to 60 kilometres of the rapidly advancing German forces.
Stalin’s burnt earth policy was not what is claimed to be a strategy of depriving the Axis armies of sustenance. Stalin realised that communities terrorised by the Bolsheviks over twenty-five years welcomed the invading Reich armies as liberators. Churchill’s ally also knew that upon liberation entire Central European communities would assist the German occupiers. In Stalin’s eyes, the peasantry were already collaborators.
The Order’s purpose was to indiscriminately slaughter communities before their being caught up in the German advance. The Order gave specific instruction that trained irregulars, wearing uniforms of captured and killed German troops, would indiscriminately kill peasants on an industrial scale. Especially sought for this purpose were uniforms of the Waffen SS.
Western media claims such suggestion is Nazi propaganda. This begs three questions:
1) The Reich controlled Europe between Moscow, Finland and the Black Sea. Why were these atrocities carried out only on Soviet territories before their being occupied by the Reich?
2) Why would any army film and widely distribute images of atrocities that would reflect badly on them and later indict them on war crime charges?
3) Where is the logic in an advancing army destroying its means of sustenance and support as it advances? These are questions of logic that simply cannot be answered in a way that would support victors’ spin. For such reasons open debate by Western media is off-limits.
In fact, the German policy was precisely the opposite to that of Britain and America’s ally. The function of the Reich’s Ostacker Program (Eastern Fields Program) was to restore the lands and return rural property to the peoples of the regions occupied by the German forces: (Archive Series 429, roller 461, General Use Division, Foreign Units East li H 3/70 Fri 6,439,568th Filed: National Archives Washington).
The Torch-Man order signed by Stalin was released by the Russian government. The Order specifically carries instruction that it was ‘important to leave a few survivors who would report the supposed German terror attacks’. This strategy was confirmed by Axis troops who, having taken into captivity partisans wearing Reich uniforms, conceded their reason for doing so.
Order Number #0428 is quite specific and uncontested:
All settlements, in which German troops are found, up to a depth of 40 60km from the main lines of battle, are to be destroyed and set on fire; so too all such situated 20-30km from the roads. For the total destruction of the settled areas, the Soviet Air Force will be made available. Artillery and rocket launchers will be used extensively, as well as intelligence units’ skiers and Partisan divisions equipped with bottles with flammable liquid. These hunting expeditions in their activities of destruction are to be dressed to the greatest extent in German soldier’s uniforms and uniforms of the Waffen SS looted from the German Army. This will ignite hatred toward all fascist occupiers and make the conscription of partisans from the outlying areas of fascist territories easier. It is important to have survivors who will tell about German atrocities. For this purpose, every regiment is to form hunter units of about 20-30 men strong with the task to detonate and incinerate the villages. We have to select brave fighters for this action of destruction of settled areas. These men will be especially recommended to receive bravery awards when working in German uniforms behind enemy lines and destroying those settlement outposts. Among the population spread the rumour the Germans are burning the villages in order to punish the partisans.
The images distributed by the Soviets and their American and British allies depict graveside images of captives being shot in the back of the head. This method of execution was exclusively a Soviet CHEKA / NKVD method of mass killings. The forces of the Reich used conventional means to dispose of those marked for execution and did so within the constraints of international law.
Cui Bono (the legal term for ‘who benefits?): Again, logic suggests that only the Soviets would benefit from carrying out, photographing, filming and distributing images of these atrocities. The intention was to create an anti-Reich psychosis and encourage partisan recruitment. The strategy was also useful in providing the Soviets Western allies with propaganda that would assist their war against the Workers Reich. In other words, these crimes are solely and exclusively the responsibility not of Hitler’s Germany but of the Soviet Union, England and the United States.
Fackelmännerbefehl von Rußland bestätigt!
Stalin’s Torch-men-Order finally confirmed by Russia itself
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Fackelm%C3%A4nnerbefehl


russiainsider--2020-02-05--UN Rapporteur for Torture: Assange Being Set Up To Be ‘Burnt at the Stake’

“ It is obvious that what we are dealing with here is political persecution , ” he said .
“ The case is a huge scandal and represents the failure of Western rule of law.
” The detention and potential extradition to the US of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is an attack on democratic principles and the freedom of the press , says the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture , the Swiss Nils Melzer .
In an interview with news outlet Republikexternal link , Melzer delivered a damning indictment of the legal and political systems in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is obvious that what we are dealing with here is political persecution , ” he said .
“ The case is a huge scandal and represents the failure of Western rule of law.
” Assange is currently in a high-security prison in Britain fighting extradition to the US .
In 2010 the whistleblowing website Wikileaks published material from former intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning of alleged US war crimes in Iraq .
Melzer got involved in the case last year but was dissatisfied with answers to his enquiries to the Swedish and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in jail and says that the 48-year-old is being denied legal rights and is being subject to psychological torture that could cost him his life .
Melzer , who has previously criticised the Swiss government ’ s stance towards Assange , tells Republik that he has documentary evidence that Swedish police made up evidence to accuse Assange with rape , an investigation that was subsequently dropped .
“ Four democratic countries joined forces – the US , Ecuador , Sweden and the UK – to leverage their power to portray one man as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be burnt at the stake without any outcry .
If Julian Assange is convicted , it will be a death sentence for freedom of the press , ” Melzer said .
Assange is wanted for trial in the US to face several charges , including breaches of the Espionage Act .
He continues to divide public opinion , with some accusing him of being a dangerous narcissist who endangers lives and others believing him to be a defender of democratic freedoms .

“It is obvious that what we are dealing with here is political persecution,” he said. “The case is a huge scandal and represents the failure of Western rule of law.”
The detention and potential extradition to the US of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is an attack on democratic principles and the freedom of the press, says the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, the Swiss Nils Melzer.
In an interview with news outlet Republikexternal link, Melzer delivered a damning indictment of the legal and political systems in the United States, Britain, Sweden and Ecuador.
Assange divides public opinion: some think him a dangerous narcissist and others a defender of freedom. (Keystone / Facundo Arrizabalaga)
“It is obvious that what we are dealing with here is political persecution,” he said. “The case is a huge scandal and represents the failure of Western rule of law.”
Assange is currently in a high-security prison in Britain fighting extradition to the US. In 2010 the whistleblowing website Wikileaks published material from former intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning of alleged US war crimes in Iraq.
Melzer got involved in the case last year but was dissatisfied with answers to his enquiries to the Swedish and British authorities. He has visited Assange in jail and says that the 48-year-old is being denied legal rights and is being subject to psychological torture that could cost him his life.
Melzer, who has previously criticised the Swiss government’s stance towards Assange, tells Republik that he has documentary evidence that Swedish police made up evidence to accuse Assange with rape, an investigation that was subsequently dropped.
“Four democratic countries joined forces – the US, Ecuador, Sweden and the UK – to leverage their power to portray one man as a monster so that he could later be burnt at the stake without any outcry. If Julian Assange is convicted, it will be a death sentence for freedom of the press,” Melzer said.
Assange is wanted for trial in the US to face several charges, including breaches of the Espionage Act. He continues to divide public opinion, with some accusing him of being a dangerous narcissist who endangers lives and others believing him to be a defender of democratic freedoms.


russiainsider--2020-02-05--One of the Most Charming Northern Russian Regions, Rich in Culture and History - Vologda (Video Repo

One of the Most Charming Northern Russian Regions, Rich in Culture and History - Vologda (Video Report, Economy)

This 30 minute in-depth look at Vologda is mostly about its economic renaissance , which is typical for such Russian regions , but it also touches on the cultural riches of this region .
Vologda is one of the most unspoiled and charming Russian northern regions with rolling countryside , beautiful churches and monasteries and 18th and 19th century architecture .
By Russian standards it is relatively unspoiled , and is known today for its high quality agricultural products , particularly dairy .
We 've arrived in Vologda Oblast to show you how its economy is developing .
Expectedly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made , how Vologda lace is woven into patterns , how the Severyanka blast furnace burns it fires .
There are also unexpected things like products from fertility stones .
And , literally , a sweet life .
But first things first .
Let 's find out how the economy feels , to begin with .
We 're going to ask Governor Oleg Kuvshinnikov about this .
- Oleg Alexandrovich , I did my homework .
A few years ago , the region was in a difficult economic situation .
A lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was made .
I 'd like to know what decisions made it possible .
: “ What happened to the region — in 2008 , the region was in a deep economic crisis .
All regions with a monostructured economy have suffered from the crisis because revenues from systemically important enterprises fell sharply .
For us , it was the metal industry .
We were in 81st place in the country in terms of public debt .
This was a disaster .
We started with ourselves .
We reduced the number of state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of municipal officials by 34 % .
We started working with the federal center and attracted more than 26 billion rubles ( $ 418 million ) of budget and commercial loans.
” Over the years , there are loans .
But they are not commercial with a monstrous rate .
They 're from the federal budget , at 0.1 % .
It was n't limited to just such a financial aid .
The development of production bore fruit .
: “ Revenues to the budget reached almost 100 billion rubles ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as it was in 2011 .
Today , we 're in 6th place in terms of growth rates of tax and non-tax payments to the budget .
There used to be a deficit of 10 billion , now there 's a surplus of 14 billion ( $ 160 mln and $ 224 mln ) .
We 're in 20th place in terms of investments .
This suggests that we have balanced the budget and the economy , and we have an opportunity for the development and implementation of major infrastructure projects.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Who gives the region money and what will be the development ?
There are many companies that export their products to approximately 120 countries .
It means incomes and , as it was proved in 2008 , risks as well .
That year , steel prices crashed .
The giant Cherepovets steelworks operates in the region .
What is the situation there now ?
By the way , the governor used to work at the Cherepovets steelworks as a simple worker .
This is not only the largest enterprise in the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest in the world .
This is a kind of industrial city .
Let 's have a look .
The heart of any metallurgical industry is , of course , the furnace .
Special furnaces are given proper names .
Meet Severyanka , a record-holder blast furnace .
- Is it true this blast furnace is in the Guinness Book of Records ?
- Absolutely .
April 12 , 1986 , blast furnace number 5 was launched at the Cherepovets steelworks .
At that time , it was the largest blast furnace in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records .
- Now it 's the largest in Europe , right ?
- Now Severyanka , blast furnace number 5 , retains the status of the largest metallurgical unit in Europe .
The work goes around the clock .
It 's 2,200°C inside the furnace ( 4000°F ) .
It produces more than 9 tons of pig iron per minute and over 4 million tons per year .
There are several more furnaces at the factory .
Each of them is now more efficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an amazing picture even for the industry in modern Russia .
A new blast furnace is being built .
And all this is without suspending the work at other facilities .
- A blast furnace is expensive as far as I know .
What is the amount of investment ?
By the way , new technology is being used , investing in environmental protection over 11 billion rubles ( $ 176 million ) .
- If we look back at the times before 2018 , we have reduced dust emissions by 17 thousand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're talking about dust only .
- Is it true that Red Book birds live around here ?
- Yes .
Red Book birds live on our sludge collectors .
in particular , the white-tailed eagle .
which is listed in the Red Book .
The eagles eat fish that are not afraid of a scary word `` sludge collector '' .
They seem to like it there .
Another unusual feature is the service for forecasting possible accidents .
: “ We try to find out in advance all the defects that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them by timely intervention .
We have about 4,000 sensors installed .
We plan to increase the number up to 10,000 in the near future .
Over the next ten years , we plan to spend about 2 billion rubles ( $ 32 million ) on this digitization.
” Sergey also told us that they are going to introduce exoskeletons .
So that the workers wo n't hurt their backs when carrying heavy things .
The social burden of 25,000 personnel turns out to be serious .
The company spends 300 million rubles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone .
And this is education .
The factory museum , where , by the way , we found photos of Oleg Kuvshinnikov and his father , is part of a large program for the development of industrial tourism .
r : “ The museum is interactive .
You can see here the whole process of metallurgical production .
All stages are presented graphically , beginning with ore and coal , what nature gives us .
Such industrial tourism is only in its infancy .
This is great .
We 're one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a look at the production .
There is a special area at the hot rolling mill .
— Behind my back , you can see a slab about 100 meters long ( 330 feet ) .
We can roll it 1.2 millimeters thick ( 0.047 inches ) and it will be about 2 kilometers long ( 1.2 miles ) .
— So , it 'll be a roll , right .
The Severstal factory has a complete cycle .
Here , ore is smelted , steel is cast , and even finished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widest assortment among metallurgical enterprises in Russia .
A large part of the product will be exported but domestic demand is also growing which adds even more confidence .
This polymer-coated material has a poetic name : steel velvet .
It has some resemblance .
It 's used for roofing .
In general , the enterprise produces a lot of different useful metals .
It can be used to make ships , bridges , refrigerators , or mining equipment .
Speaking of equipment .
This is the products of another enterprise in Cherepovets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extracted in the bowels of Murmansk Oblast .
These are fertilizers .
In the depths of the Murmansk mountains in the city of Kirovsk , as if in a fantastic dwarf city , there are hundreds of miles of tunnels .
With the help of modern equipment , some of which is controlled remotely , the Fosagro company extracts a fertility stone — apatite-nepheline ore .
It contains phosphorus , one of the main components of fertilizers that will be produced at a factory in Vologda Oblast .
: “ In total , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for different seasons and export them to 100 countries of the world.
” Producing fertilizers is difficult and expensive .
For example , ammonia is needed .
A new installation with a capacity of 760 thousand tons per year costs 64 billion rubles ( $ 1 billion ) .
— The temperature here is 900°C ( 1650°F ) .
— This process is considered the most technologically advanced in the world .
Carbamide is also produced on the new equipment , a type of fertilizer , in the amount of 500 thousand tons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polystyrene .
— It 's extracted from gases , basically from the air .
Money out of thin air .
These are environmentally friendly fertilizers .
An ammonium sulfate facility is being built here .
More raw materials are needed to expand production .
A warehouse with a corrosion-resistant wooden roof is ready .
: “ About 30 billion rubles ( $ 482 million ) of investments are spent annually on the development of all our mining and processing departments.
” As for construction , the company is not engaged in industrial construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — residential buildings , hospitals , and churches .
: “ The annual budget of our company for social initiatives is several billion rubles .
Suffice it to say that we have invested about 3.5 billion rubles ( $ 56 million ) in the ski resort alone over the past 5 years.
” Production volumes increased by 10 % per year .
It 's planned to reach 11 million tons compared to the current 6 million tons .
With such numbers , Fosagro is the largest producer of mineral fertilizers in Europe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ company has more customers inside the country .
: “ Almost 30 % of all our produce goes to the Russian market .
The number increases by 6-7 % per year.
” This company is a vivid example of diversification .
Vologda Oblast should not depend heavily on steel prices .
Expanding production means taxes , investments , jobs .
When fertilizers sell well , the region feels well .
Moreover , as soon as the economic situation improved , foreigners came here .
— Is the region interesting to foreign investors ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results of 2018 , we took 20th place in the volume of investments per capita among 85 regions of Russia .
The total investment amounted to 150 billion rubles ( $ 2.4 billion ) .
” Speaking of foreigners .
Did you know that Vologda was unofficially called the diplomatic capital of Russia ?
In February 1918 , the Germans were advancing on Petrograd .
It was decided to evacuate diplomatic missions of the Entente countries .
For example , the American embassy was located in this building .
Today , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business .
One of them is the territory of advanced social and economic development .
: “ Today , there are already 13 residents .
The volume of investments is 3 billion rubles ( $ 48 million ) .
500 jobs have been created .
This is going to be the country 's biggest territory of advanced development where there will be 40 residents , 10 billion rubles of investments ( $ 160 million ) , 2,500 jobs.
” Now , we continue the topic of fertilizers .
When in Vologda , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , literally and figuratively .
There is someone to sow , there is someone to reap the crop , to milk the cows and make some Vologda butter .
The recipe for Vologda butter , in which hundreds of herbs of flood meadows mix , was made up by nobleman Vereshchagin in the 19th century .
Nothing has changed since that time .
Except for the equipment , of course , which is used to make other products as well .
: “ Together with butter , we produce milk powder and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Therefore , what is produced here is a continuation of the tradition .
And it 's just high-quality products that have established themselves in the market.
” This is not just an enterprise .
This is a scientific-experimental dairy plant .
—This is the unique equipment .
There 's no such equipment anywhere else in Russia .
Here 's a canned milk production line .
This is a flash film concentrator and a spray dryer .
There is no such equipment anywhere else .
— That is , specialists are trained here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceeds the number of graduates .
Practice is key .
Starting with the basics of the production of the famous butter .
— People are trained at this quite simple unit .
— So the lid goes on top , right ?
— Yeah , some cream is put in there , then it 's covered , and a student starts spinning this thing .
— Until they learn the basics , I got it .
By the way , the plant management is afraid they wo n't be able to maintain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enterprise is privatized .
: “ The general tendency to take over businesses has n't spared us .
We have been excluded from the privatization plan until the end of 2019 .
But an unhealthy interest in the plant still persists .
Starting next year , they want to include us in the privatization plan .
To date , I think , it will all depend on what the governing bodies will think on this matter and it will decide the fate of the plant .
And whether we can maintain the production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintained over the past 20 years.
” It is interesting that the butter and other products of Vologda , which we are going to tell you about later , have become a regional brand , Soul of the Russian North .
So that people could know , just like that Veliky Ustyug is the home of Ded Moroz .
Also , there 's industrial tourism .
All this promises a 6 % increase in the tourism flow for the year .
This is more than 3.2 million people .
But the potential is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed .
: “ The first thing we started to do was reconstructing the airport .
The next task is the expansion of railway communication and to increase the throughput of the Northern Railway .
The third task is the reconstruction of federal and regional routes .
This includes the construction of a bridge over the Sheksna River in Cherepovets .
The volume of investments is 16.5 billion rubles ( $ 265 million ) .
This is the largest infrastructure project in Vologda Oblast.
” Speaking of tourism , we have to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just look at this beauty .
What is the secret ?
Let 's have a look .
— I mean you ca n't tell the volume , everything 's sold by the piece , right ?
: “ Right .
We do n't even set the goal to expand the production volumes .
Fabergé eggs have never been measured in pounds and feet.
” There are more than 30 items : tablecloths , napkins , scarves , vests , bedspreads , blankets .
People from all over Russia and from abroad buy them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ During the visit of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama to Moscow , we prepared a gift for Michelle Obama and made the table decoration for the dinner of the two presidents.
” Lace is expensive .
Large pieces can cost hundreds of thousands of rubles .
But if you have a look at the work of the lace-makers you 'll get the reason for this .
— What was your largest work ?
- We made curtains to order .
They were huge , and the whole team had to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you show me the simplest pattern so I could try ?
— I 'm going to show you the easiest element of lace-making .
It 's called `` pleteshok '' ( weft ) .
— Maybe , another 20 hours and I 'll be able to do it a little bit faster .
There 's another fine piece of work at this enterprise to have a look at or , to be more precise , to have a look through .
Now , the Vologda Optical and Mechanical Plant , part of Schwabe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the largest manufacturers of aiming optics in Russia .
But since 1971 , there have been several crises at the enterprise .
There were many troubles , workers here even were given sewing machines as salary .
For example , this is the world 's largest microwave oven .
This is another experiment .
But now the plant works only in the field of its expertise .
: “ We manufacture sighting systems , fire control systems for our armored vehicles .
Our latest Armata tank also looks at the world through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devices .
There are 40 kinds of sights for fans of shooting and hunting .
They are sold under the brand of Pilad in 32 countries .
: “ Last year we grew by 13 % .
According to preliminary estimates , this year the growth will be 15 % .
This year , for the first time , we will hit the milestone of 10 billion rubles ( $ 160 million ) in commodity output .
Over the past 5 years , we have invested more than 2 billion rubles ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our company.
” Here is the very beginning of the creation of a sight .
First , a 3D model is built , and then a blueprint is made .
Here 's one of the next stages .
After grinding and polishing , this optical component is made from a workpiece .
The plant produces thousands of types of such parts .
Together with making lenses , the plant also produces other parts of sights .
They cast and process metal right here .
These are before and after .
Then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied on a special galvanic line .
Now the share of innovative products is more than 40 % .
They come up with new products : holographic sights , digital sights , infrared imagers .
They will also be cheaper than foreign ones , but no worse .
Thus , a new question arises — accurate sights , new steel grades , fertilizers .
All this ca n't be produced without specialists .
The region is experiencing a shortage of personnel .
Colleges increase the number of state-funded scholarships .
Enterprises themselves train @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another necessity .
Therefore , new houses are built and mortgage loans are subsidized .
: “ We have just introduced a new measure of state support .
At the birth of the first child , we provide a preferential mortgage , we pay 3 % of the mortgage at the expense of the regional budget.
” We want to tell about the older generation as well .
Elderly people are very active here , even during an interview .
— We 've been talking about you .
That you 're doing everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of you .
— We 're in our 80s .
— Oh really ?
We will always help and support you .
There is a Demography national project .
One of its tasks is to improve the quality of life of elderly people .
Social centers are being created all over the country .
There are already several of them in Vologda .
“ Initially , the center was created under the slogan `` old age wo n't make you stay at home '' .
Life only begins when you retire .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainly pensioners .
We have more than a hundred hobby groups .
Therefore , we have about 3,500 visitors .
Their composition is changing constantly.
” Tatyana decided not to stay at home and be an active pensioner .
At first , she came to the sports section .
But it turned out she was n't satisfied with table tennis and training devices .
— I saw people dance .
I came to the group leader and said that I had a dream .
He said it was n't a problem at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , you want to take part ?
— Absolutely .
We started rehearsing with my partner .
I think that my most cherished dream will come true and I will take part in the ball .
Every year , there are more and more rewards for participating in races , heats , hikes .
Some people dance in their 70s , some people sing , some people make dolls and stage plays for their grandchildren .
Most importantly , in their youthful spirit , pensioners are making plans on how to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are also new acquaintances .
Weddings happen quite often .
: “ Students of our Vologda State University began to write a thesis on factors affecting old age .
It turned out that those pensioners who go to our center now have their health and mood improved by 60 % .
” Speaking of active people , both young and old .
The authorities of the region began to conduct urban development councils .
The execution of orders is under the control of residents .
— For every day of delay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear apart the contractors .
54 billion rubles ( $ 867 million ) were allocated for the next three years to implement these orders .
It is very important that we have a surplus budget .
In October , we will begin a new wave of urban development councils which will take place at the end of this year and in early 2020 .
For these purposes , we allocate an additional 10 billion rubles ( $ 160 million ) .
Few people have the illusion that they can easily arrange a sweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even if it is literally sweet .
In 22 years , Atag confectionery in the village of Sheksna has gone from a small enterprise to a company whose products are sold throughout Russia , in the CIS countries , and even in China .
They produce 120 kinds of candies .
The secret behind this is to create something that no one can .
— I always wanted to do this .
Can I taste one right from here ?
— You 're welcome to it .
— For free , taking advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make such a candy ?
: “ Very difficult .
Large manufacturers do n't even undertake to produce small-sized candies because it 's just too small , about only 6 grams , meaning you have to put 4 grams of filling inside , and 2 grams of chocolate to cover.
” Up to 60 types of such small-sized candies are produced per year .
Seems a bit of a challenge to come up with a name for each of them .
— What names , for example ?
— Man 's Tear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — these are the well-known ones .
— Oh , because of the steel production in the region , I got it .
Here is a new stage of development — industrial tourism we talked about .
Children will be taken on an excursion , and then , of course , to a tasting .
— They 're going to eat everything .
— That 's fine .
That 's why , as I said , preparatory work is necessary .
We need to think everything through so that the children would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support small and medium-sized businesses ?
— We have opened a single platform , My business , where you can get all the necessary consulting , property , and credit support at lower rates .
And of course , we have a simplified tax system .
We reduce tax rates so that small and medium-sized businesses are profitable and in demand .
And we have the Development Corporation which supports all major projects in the region .
— How much have you reduced the tax rate ?
— We reduced the rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 6 % to 4 % for receipts less expenditure .
There is another initiative , the Vologda hectare which is issued not for rent , but for ownership to support agriculture .
People can come , maybe stay here , and , most importantly , work with the soul of the Russian North .
“ A blast furnace is feminine in Russian .
So , she 's treated like a woman .
Each of them has their own personality.
” “ Our production is just like the song — the salt of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's the lace was called Vologda lace.
” : “ We are proud to be Vologda residents and we love our small homeland .
”

This 30 minute in-depth look at Vologda is mostly about its economic renaissance, which is typical for such Russian regions, but it also touches on the cultural riches of this region. Vologda is one of the most unspoiled and charming Russian northern regions with rolling countryside, beautiful churches and monasteries and 18th and 19th century architecture. By Russian standards it is relatively unspoiled, and is known today for its high quality agricultural products, particularly dairy.
Transcript:
We've arrived in Vologda Oblast to show you how its economy is developing. Expectedly, we'll see how Vologda butter is made, how Vologda lace is woven into patterns, how the Severyanka blast furnace burns it fires. There are also unexpected things like products from fertility stones. And, literally, a sweet life.
But first things first. Let's find out how the economy feels, to begin with. We're going to ask Governor Oleg Kuvshinnikov about this.
- Oleg Alexandrovich, I did my homework. A few years ago, the region was in a difficult economic situation. A lot of people say that clearly, a breakthrough was made. I'd like to know what decisions made it possible.
Oleg Kuvshinnikov, Governor of the Vologda Oblast : “What happened to the region — in 2008, the region was in a deep economic crisis. All regions with a monostructured economy have suffered from the crisis because revenues from systemically important enterprises fell sharply. For us, it was the metal industry. We were in 81st place in the country in terms of public debt. This was a disaster. We started with ourselves. We reduced the number of state employees by 32%, and the number of municipal officials by 34%. We started working with the federal center and attracted more than 26 billion rubles ($418 million) of budget and commercial loans.”
Over the years, there are loans. But they are not commercial with a monstrous rate. They're from the federal budget, at 0.1%. It wasn't limited to just such a financial aid. The development of production bore fruit.
Oleg Kuvshinnikov : “Revenues to the budget reached almost 100 billion rubles ($1.6 billion) which is twice as much as it was in 2011. Today, we're in 6th place in terms of growth rates of tax and non-tax payments to the budget. There used to be a deficit of 10 billion, now there's a surplus of 14 billion ($160 mln and $224 mln). We're in 20th place in terms of investments. This suggests that we have balanced the budget and the economy, and we have an opportunity for the development and implementation of major infrastructure projects.”
There are a lot of questions though. Who gives the region money and what will be the development? There are many companies that export their products to approximately 120 countries. It means incomes and, as it was proved in 2008, risks as well. That year, steel prices crashed. The giant Cherepovets steelworks operates in the region. What is the situation there now?
By the way, the governor used to work at the Cherepovets steelworks as a simple worker. This is not only the largest enterprise in the region, it's also one of the biggest in the world. This is a kind of industrial city. Let's have a look.
The heart of any metallurgical industry is, of course, the furnace. Special furnaces are given proper names. Meet Severyanka, a record-holder blast furnace.
- Is it true this blast furnace is in the Guinness Book of Records?
Andrey Kalko, Head of Production Center, Severstal :
- Absolutely. April 12, 1986, blast furnace number 5 was launched at the Cherepovets steelworks. At that time, it was the largest blast furnace in the world, and, therefore, it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
- Now it's the largest in Europe, right?
- Now Severyanka, blast furnace number 5, retains the status of the largest metallurgical unit in Europe.
The work goes around the clock. It's 2,200°C inside the furnace (4000°F). It produces more than 9 tons of pig iron per minute and over 4 million tons per year. There are several more furnaces at the factory. Each of them is now more efficient after being upgraded.
And here is an amazing picture even for the industry in modern Russia. A new blast furnace is being built. And all this is without suspending the work at other facilities.
- A blast furnace is expensive as far as I know. What is the amount of investment?
Andrey Kalko : “Our company invests an amount exceeding 30 billion rubles ($482 million) in blast furnace number 3.”
By the way, new technology is being used, investing in environmental protection over 11 billion rubles ($176 million).
Mikhail Belov, ecologist at Severstal :
- If we look back at the times before 2018, we have reduced dust emissions by 17 thousand tons.
- 17 thousand tons of dust?!
- Yes, and we're talking about dust only.
- Is it true that Red Book birds live around here?
- Yes. Red Book birds live on our sludge collectors. in particular, the white-tailed eagle. which is listed in the Red Book.
The eagles eat fish that are not afraid of a scary word "sludge collector". They seem to like it there. Another unusual feature is the service for forecasting possible accidents.
Sergey Dobrodey, Repair Service : “We try to find out in advance all the defects that may occur at the equipment and prevent them by timely intervention. We have about 4,000 sensors installed. We plan to increase the number up to 10,000 in the near future. Over the next ten years, we plan to spend about 2 billion rubles ($32 million) on this digitization.”
Sergey also told us that they are going to introduce exoskeletons. So that the workers won't hurt their backs when carrying heavy things. The social burden of 25,000 personnel turns out to be serious. The company spends 300 million rubles ($4.8 million) on healthcare alone.
And this is education. The factory museum, where, by the way, we found photos of Oleg Kuvshinnikov and his father, is part of a large program for the development of industrial tourism.
r Lyudmila Guseva, Advisor to the General Director : “The museum is interactive. You can see here the whole process of metallurgical production. All stages are presented graphically, beginning with ore and coal, what nature gives us. Such industrial tourism is only in its infancy. This is great. We're one of the first.”
Tourists are allowed to have a look at the production. There is a special area at the hot rolling mill.
Artyom Tarasov, foreman :
— Behind my back, you can see a slab about 100 meters long (330 feet). We can roll it 1.2 millimeters thick (0.047 inches) and it will be about 2 kilometers long (1.2 miles).
— So, it'll be a roll, right.
— Yes, it'll be a roll.
The Severstal factory has a complete cycle. Here, ore is smelted, steel is cast, and even finished products are manufactured. It has the widest assortment among metallurgical enterprises in Russia. A large part of the product will be exported but domestic demand is also growing which adds even more confidence.
This polymer-coated material has a poetic name: steel velvet. It has some resemblance. It's used for roofing. In general, the enterprise produces a lot of different useful metals. It can be used to make ships, bridges, refrigerators, or mining equipment.
Speaking of equipment. This is the products of another enterprise in Cherepovets, the raw materials for which are extracted in the bowels of Murmansk Oblast. These are fertilizers. In the depths of the Murmansk mountains in the city of Kirovsk, as if in a fantastic dwarf city, there are hundreds of miles of tunnels. With the help of modern equipment, some of which is controlled remotely, the Fosagro company extracts a fertility stone — apatite-nepheline ore. It contains phosphorus, one of the main components of fertilizers that will be produced at a factory in Vologda Oblast.
Vladimir Davydenko, CEO of Apatit : “In total, we produce about 50 brands of fertilizers for different seasons and export them to 100 countries of the world.”
Producing fertilizers is difficult and expensive. For example, ammonia is needed. A new installation with a capacity of 760 thousand tons per year costs 64 billion rubles ($1 billion).
Vladimir Davydenko, CEO of Apatit :
— The temperature here is 900°C (1650°F).
— 900 degrees!
— This process is considered the most technologically advanced in the world.
— In the world?
— Yes.
Carbamide is also produced on the new equipment, a type of fertilizer, in the amount of 500 thousand tons per year.
— It looks like polystyrene.
— It's extracted from gases, basically from the air. Money out of thin air. These are environmentally friendly fertilizers.
An ammonium sulfate facility is being built here. More raw materials are needed to expand production. A warehouse with a corrosion-resistant wooden roof is ready.
Vladimir Davydenko, CEO of Apatit : “About 30 billion rubles ($482 million) of investments are spent annually on the development of all our mining and processing departments.”
As for construction, the company is not engaged in industrial construction only. It also builds social objects — residential buildings, hospitals, and churches.
Alexander Gilgenberg, First Deputy General Director : “The annual budget of our company for social initiatives is several billion rubles. Suffice it to say that we have invested about 3.5 billion rubles ($56 million) in the ski resort alone over the past 5 years.”
Production volumes increased by 10% per year. It's planned to reach 11 million tons compared to the current 6 million tons. With such numbers, Fosagro is the largest producer of mineral fertilizers in Europe. Just like the metal industry, the company has more customers inside the country.
Vladimir Davydenko, CEO of Apatit : “Almost 30% of all our produce goes to the Russian market. The number increases by 6-7% per year.”
This company is a vivid example of diversification. Vologda Oblast should not depend heavily on steel prices. Expanding production means taxes, investments, jobs. When fertilizers sell well, the region feels well.
Moreover, as soon as the economic situation improved, foreigners came here.
— Is the region interesting to foreign investors?
Oleg Kuvshinnikov, Governor of the Vologda Oblast: “It is indeed. According to the results of 2018, we took 20th place in the volume of investments per capita among 85 regions of Russia. The total investment amounted to 150 billion rubles ($2.4 billion).”
Speaking of foreigners. Did you know that Vologda was unofficially called the diplomatic capital of Russia? In February 1918, the Germans were advancing on Petrograd. It was decided to evacuate diplomatic missions of the Entente countries. For example, the American embassy was located in this building.
Today, there are measures to support foreign and Russian business. One of them is the territory of advanced social and economic development.
Oleg Kuvshinnikov : “Today, there are already 13 residents. The volume of investments is 3 billion rubles ($48 million). 500 jobs have been created. This is going to be the country's biggest territory of advanced development where there will be 40 residents, 10 billion rubles of investments ($160 million), 2,500 jobs.”
Now, we continue the topic of fertilizers. When in Vologda, you have a desire to grow something good, literally and figuratively. There is someone to sow, there is someone to reap the crop, to milk the cows and make some Vologda butter.
The recipe for Vologda butter, in which hundreds of herbs of flood meadows mix, was made up by nobleman Vereshchagin in the 19th century. Nothing has changed since that time. Except for the equipment, of course, which is used to make other products as well.
Sergey Molotov, CEO of the dairy plant : “Together with butter, we produce milk powder and an almost complete set of dairy products. Therefore, what is produced here is a continuation of the tradition. And it's just high-quality products that have established themselves in the market.”
This is not just an enterprise. This is a scientific-experimental dairy plant.
Vladimir Shevchuk, Dean in Vologda State Dairy Academy :
—This is the unique equipment. There's no such equipment anywhere else in Russia. Here's a canned milk production line. This is a flash film concentrator and a spray dryer. There is no such equipment anywhere else.
— That is, specialists are trained here.
— The number of applications for employment exceeds the number of graduates.
Practice is key. Starting with the basics of the production of the famous butter.
— People are trained at this quite simple unit.
— So the lid goes on top, right?
— Yeah, some cream is put in there, then it's covered, and a student starts spinning this thing.
— Until they learn the basics, I got it.
By the way, the plant management is afraid they won't be able to maintain the training base and original products if the enterprise is privatized.
Vladimir Shevchuk : “The general tendency to take over businesses hasn't spared us. We have been excluded from the privatization plan until the end of 2019. But an unhealthy interest in the plant still persists. Starting next year, they want to include us in the privatization plan. To date, I think, it will all depend on what the governing bodies will think on this matter and it will decide the fate of the plant. And whether we can maintain the production facilities and the traditions that we have maintained over the past 20 years.”
It is interesting that the butter and other products of Vologda, which we are going to tell you about later, have become a regional brand, Soul of the Russian North. So that people could know, just like that Veliky Ustyug is the home of Ded Moroz. Also, there's industrial tourism. All this promises a 6% increase in the tourism flow for the year. This is more than 3.2 million people. But the potential is much greater if the infrastructure is further developed.
Oleg Kuvshinnikov : “The first thing we started to do was reconstructing the airport. The next task is the expansion of railway communication and to increase the throughput of the Northern Railway. The third task is the reconstruction of federal and regional routes. This includes the construction of a bridge over the Sheksna River in Cherepovets. The volume of investments is 16.5 billion rubles ($265 million). This is the largest infrastructure project in Vologda Oblast.”
Speaking of tourism, we have to tell you about the famous Vologda lace. Just look at this beauty. What is the secret? Let's have a look.
— I mean you can't tell the volume, everything's sold by the piece, right?
Maria Agapova, Director of Snezhin lace company : “Right. We don't even set the goal to expand the production volumes. Fabergé eggs have never been measured in pounds and feet.”
There are more than 30 items: tablecloths, napkins, scarves, vests, bedspreads, blankets. People from all over Russia and from abroad buy them for themselves and as a gift.
Maria Agapova : “During the visit of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama to Moscow, we prepared a gift for Michelle Obama and made the table decoration for the dinner of the two presidents.”
Lace is expensive. Large pieces can cost hundreds of thousands of rubles. But if you have a look at the work of the lace-makers you'll get the reason for this.
— What was your largest work?
Tatyana Makarova, lacemaker :
- We made curtains to order. They were huge, and the whole team had to work from August to January.
— Can you show me the simplest pattern so I could try?
— I'm going to show you the easiest element of lace-making. It's called "pleteshok" (weft).
— Maybe, another 20 hours and I'll be able to do it a little bit faster.
There's another fine piece of work at this enterprise to have a look at or, to be more precise, to have a look through. Now, the Vologda Optical and Mechanical Plant, part of Schwabe Holding owned by Rostec, is one of the largest manufacturers of aiming optics in Russia. But since 1971, there have been several crises at the enterprise. There were many troubles, workers here even were given sewing machines as salary. For example, this is the world's largest microwave oven. This is another experiment. But now the plant works only in the field of its expertise.
Vasily Morozov, CEO : “We manufacture sighting systems, fire control systems for our armored vehicles. Our latest Armata tank also looks at the world through our sights.”
They also produce civilian devices. There are 40 kinds of sights for fans of shooting and hunting. They are sold under the brand of Pilad in 32 countries.
Vasily Morozov, CEO : “Last year we grew by 13%. According to preliminary estimates, this year the growth will be 15%. This year, for the first time, we will hit the milestone of 10 billion rubles ($160 million) in commodity output. Over the past 5 years, we have invested more than 2 billion rubles ($32 million) in the investment program of our company.”
Here is the very beginning of the creation of a sight. First, a 3D model is built, and then a blueprint is made. Here's one of the next stages. After grinding and polishing, this optical component is made from a workpiece. The plant produces thousands of types of such parts. Together with making lenses, the plant also produces other parts of sights. They cast and process metal right here. These are before and after. Then, after machining, a protective coating is applied on a special galvanic line. Now the share of innovative products is more than 40%.
They come up with new products: holographic sights, digital sights, infrared imagers. They will also be cheaper than foreign ones, but no worse.
Vasily Morozov, CEO : “Products undergo tests that simulate combat conditions, namely humidity tests, impact tests, fogging tests.”
Thus, a new question arises — accurate sights, new steel grades, fertilizers. All this can't be produced without specialists. The region is experiencing a shortage of personnel. Colleges increase the number of state-funded scholarships.
Enterprises themselves train personnel. But good living conditions are another necessity. Therefore, new houses are built and mortgage loans are subsidized.
Oleg Kuvshinnikov : “We have just introduced a new measure of state support. At the birth of the first child, we provide a preferential mortgage, we pay 3% of the mortgage at the expense of the regional budget.”
We want to tell about the older generation as well. Elderly people are very active here, even during an interview.
— We've been talking about you. That you're doing everything nicely.
Oleg Kuvshinnikov :
— That's very kind of you.
— We're in our 80s.
— Oh really? We will always help and support you.
There is a Demography national project. One of its tasks is to improve the quality of life of elderly people. Social centers are being created all over the country. There are already several of them in Vologda.
Lyudmila Kundina, Director of Zabota center: “Initially, the center was created under the slogan "old age won't make you stay at home". Life only begins when you retire. So it turned out that our visitors are mainly pensioners. We have more than a hundred hobby groups. Therefore, we have about 3,500 visitors. Their composition is changing constantly.”
Tatyana decided not to stay at home and be an active pensioner. At first, she came to the sports section. But it turned out she wasn't satisfied with table tennis and training devices.
Tatyana Belyaeva :
— I saw people dance. I came to the group leader and said that I had a dream. He said it wasn't a problem at all and invited me to join.
— So, you want to take part?
— Absolutely. We started rehearsing with my partner. I think that my most cherished dream will come true and I will take part in the ball.
Every year, there are more and more rewards for participating in races, heats, hikes. Some people dance in their 70s, some people sing, some people make dolls and stage plays for their grandchildren. Most importantly, in their youthful spirit, pensioners are making plans on how to hold an exhibition and perform a dance. There are also new acquaintances. Weddings happen quite often.
Lyudmila Kundina : “Students of our Vologda State University began to write a thesis on factors affecting old age. It turned out that those pensioners who go to our center now have their health and mood improved by 60%.”
Speaking of active people, both young and old. The authorities of the region began to conduct urban development councils. The execution of orders is under the control of residents.
Oleg Kuvshinnikov :
— For every day of delay, they are ready to…
— Tear apart!
— Yes, tear apart the contractors. 54 billion rubles ($867 million) were allocated for the next three years to implement these orders. It is very important that we have a surplus budget. In October, we will begin a new wave of urban development councils which will take place at the end of this year and in early 2020. For these purposes, we allocate an additional 10 billion rubles ($160 million).
Few people have the illusion that they can easily arrange a sweet life for themselves without any support. Even if it is literally sweet.
In 22 years, Atag confectionery in the village of Sheksna has gone from a small enterprise to a company whose products are sold throughout Russia, in the CIS countries, and even in China. They produce 120 kinds of candies. The secret behind this is to create something that no one can.
— I always wanted to do this. Can I taste one right from here?
— You're welcome to it.
— For free, taking advantage of my position. Is it difficult to make such a candy?
Svetlana Kartashova, Production Manager : “Very difficult. Large manufacturers don't even undertake to produce small-sized candies because it's just too small, about only 6 grams, meaning you have to put 4 grams of filling inside, and 2 grams of chocolate to cover.”
Up to 60 types of such small-sized candies are produced per year. Seems a bit of a challenge to come up with a name for each of them.
— What names, for example?
Svetlana Kartashova :
— Man's Tear, Woman's Bite, Fireman Petya — these are the well-known ones.
— Fireman Petya?!
— Yup.
— Oh, because of the steel production in the region, I got it.
Here is a new stage of development — industrial tourism we talked about.
Children will be taken on an excursion, and then, of course, to a tasting.
— They're going to eat everything.
— That's fine. That's why, as I said, preparatory work is necessary. We need to think everything through so that the children would be safe.
— What measures are taken to support small and medium-sized businesses?
Oleg Kuvshinnikov :
— We have opened a single platform, My business, where you can get all the necessary consulting, property, and credit support at lower rates. And of course, we have a simplified tax system. We reduce tax rates so that small and medium-sized businesses are profitable and in demand. And we have the Development Corporation which supports all major projects in the region.
— How much have you reduced the tax rate?
— We reduced the rate from 15% to 10% and from 6% to 4% for receipts less expenditure.
There is another initiative, the Vologda hectare which is issued not for rent, but for ownership to support agriculture. People can come, maybe stay here, and, most importantly, work with the soul of the Russian North.
“A blast furnace is feminine in Russian. So, she's treated like a woman. Each of them has their own personality.”
“Our production is just like the song — the salt of the earth.”
“It's amazing that's the lace was called Vologda lace.”


russiainsider--2020-02-06--The Shocking Disrepair of East Prussia's Historic Buildings, and the People Trying to Save Them (Koe

The Shocking Disrepair of East Prussia's Historic Buildings, and the People Trying to Save Them (Koenigsberg)

Koenigsberg was one of the great German cities and regions going back 600 years .
It was the home of Immanuel Kant , and many other great Germans .
Flattened by the Russians during the war , it is now Russian territory , strangely named 'Kaliningrad ' after Mikhail Kalinin , a top Bolshevik and Stalinist functionary with the blood of the Russian people on his hands .
One of the few top Bolsheviks who was n't Jewish , he was married to one .
ZALESYE , Russia – With a large metal key , Viktor Saltanovsky swings open the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building in this village some 70 kilometers northeast of the city of Kaliningrad -- formerly Koenigsberg .
The stone staircase is dark and dusty and leads to a narrow corridor on the second floor .
Through open doors , one can see small , empty rooms , each illuminated by an arched window still guarded by formidable iron bars .
The doors have numbers and peepholes .
A couple of ceramic stoves stand cold and crumbling in the corridor .
`` Germans come and see me , '' Saltanovsky told RFE/RL , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month or two , for various things .
One stole a cow or a horse , others for some other small infraction . ''
Saltanovsky , an entrepreneur who owns two stores in Zalesye and a guest house in a settlement outside of town , now also owns this hulking , 19th-century brick building -- the police headquarters and jail when Zalesye was the East Prussian town of Liebenfelde .
He bought it late last year .
`` You can imagine how my wife reacted , '' he laughed .
`` Imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying , 'Honey , I bought you a ruin . '
'' From the front , Saltanovsky 's jail does n't seem to be in such bad shape , if one does n't dwell too long on the scraggly birch trees growing between the roof tiles .
But walk around to the rear and the picture is more dire .
Half of the roof has collapsed into the building and the façade is badly scarred .
It will take 4 million to 5 million rubles ( $ 65,000 to $ 80,000 ) to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Obviously , everything has been destroyed , including by our generation , '' he said .
`` The windows are broken out .
It is a miracle that the iron bars have n't been pulled out and taken for scrap .
The roof has caved in .
The building is a good one , but it needs a lot of work .
My goal is to try to save at least something . ''
Rich Heritage The Liebenfelde jail is probably a lucky example of the rich heritage of stone and brick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it annexed East Prussia after World War II and created the Kaliningrad Oblast , a Montenegro-sized region sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea . '
When it was part of East Prussia , about 5,000 people lived in Liebenfelde .
It has a large railway station , a prominent church , a bank , a courthouse , and , of course , a jail .
But the tumbledown buildings and potholed streets present a different picture of this village of about 1,000 .
`` Once a German professor told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the war and this is all yours .
But why are you destroying it ? '
'' Saltanovsky recalls .
`` And another German told me this memorable phrase : 'When I came here , it was as if someone had poked me in the eye with a stick . '
It was that painful to him . ''
Just a bit down the street from Saltanovsky 's jail there is a complex of 19th-century buildings that now belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church .
`` Thirty years ago , that church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saltanovsky said .
`` At the time , it would have cost about 50,000 German marks ( $ 28,000 ) to restore it , and the Germans were ready to give the money .
But we refused .
They said we do n't need [ non-Russian Orthodox believers ] coming around . ''
`` So , we asked the priest what the church would do with the buildings , '' he concluded .
`` And he said , 'To tell the truth , we 'll take them apart for the bricks . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings , said Oleg Li , coordinator of the nongovernmental Prussian Cultural Heritage group .
`` The losses have been enormous , '' Li told RFE/RL .
`` But there are still places for such people to do their work .
Taking buildings apart for the bricks is done on a massive scale in the eastern and southern parts of the region , where the economy is bad .
In the coastal cities , and especially Kaliningrad , they are just knocked down to make way for new construction . ''
Li 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bridge , and one underground bunker were destroyed in 2019 alone .
None of them had protected status .
There is no official list of such monuments .
It was estimated that about 30 percent of the region 's buildings were in useable condition when the Soviet Union annexed the region in 1945 .
`` The war ended [ long ago ] , but we are still losing things year after year , '' Li said .
Success Stories The society has noted some important success stories , however .
Some 120 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a businessman named Ivan Artyukh who describes himself as `` a romantic adventurer , '' has taken a 20-year lease from the Russian Orthodox Church on Ragnit Castle .
He does n't have a plan , although he 's hoping to save at least some of the remaining walls .
Just outside of Kaliningrad , a couple from Belgorod named Nadezhda and Sergei Sorokin are working to restore Valdau Castle , which once hosted Napoleon .
`` We all need this place , '' Nadezhda Sorokina told RFE/RL in an interview in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living witness to 12 centuries of history .
Napoleon was here . ''
`` They need it , '' she added , pointing to her two sons , Savely and Pasha .
The repairs will cost millions of rubles .
`` There are n't many such examples , but they do exist , '' Li told RFE/RL .
`` The Langdorf Chateau has been restored and now is beautiful and working as a resort . ''
`` What we need is the goodwill of the state , '' said Viktoria Korneva , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Individual people ca n't solve these problems alone .
A state policy needs to be determined .
Either we want to save our history , or we do n't .
Considering that this is the main form of tourism [ in this region ] , it would be very stupid to lose all of this . ''
Viktor Saltanovsky is a perfect example of the idealist entrepreneur .
`` I 'm amazed at what a beautiful building it is , '' he said , looking up at his jail .
`` How well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this was a mad project .
There was n't even a plan , to be honest .
I live in a German house and I have German roots .
I wanted to leave something behind .
And you have to admit , owning a jail is pretty interesting . ''
Now he hopes to turn the ground floor into a café and a small museum .
He plans to turn the upper-floor cells into a hostel .
`` I can rent rooms for 200 rubles ( $ 3.25 ) a day to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There are n't many places to stay in this village . ''
For now , he has cleared the former jail exercise yard and plans to open a small store and a beer garden there .
`` This building is like an adopted child or a bedridden patient , '' he said .
`` It might not be a living thing , but it wants to live just the same . ''
Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson based on reporting by correspondent Yulia Paramonova of the North Desk of @ @ @ @

Koenigsberg was one of the great German cities and regions going back 600 years. It was the home of Immanuel Kant, and many other great Germans. Flattened by the Russians during the war, it is now Russian territory, strangely named 'Kaliningrad' after Mikhail Kalinin, a top Bolshevik and Stalinist functionary with the blood of the Russian people on his hands. One of the few top Bolsheviks who wasn't Jewish, he was married to one.
Entrepreneur Viktor Saltanovsky hopes to restore a dilapidated 19th-century building that he's bought in the Kaliningrad town of Zalesya.
ZALESYE, Russia – With a large metal key, Viktor Saltanovsky swings open the oversized wooden doors of an abandoned brick building in this village some 70 kilometers northeast of the city of Kaliningrad -- formerly Koenigsberg.
The stone staircase is dark and dusty and leads to a narrow corridor on the second floor. Through open doors, one can see small, empty rooms, each illuminated by an arched window still guarded by formidable iron bars. The doors have numbers and peepholes. A couple of ceramic stoves stand cold and crumbling in the corridor.
"Germans come and see me," Saltanovsky told RFE/RL, "who were in jail here -- for a month or two, for various things. One stole a cow or a horse, others for some other small infraction."
Saltanovsky, an entrepreneur who owns two stores in Zalesye and a guest house in a settlement outside of town, now also owns this hulking, 19th-century brick building -- the police headquarters and jail when Zalesye was the East Prussian town of Liebenfelde. He bought it late last year.
"You can imagine how my wife reacted," he laughed. "Imagine your husband coming home to you and saying, 'Honey, I bought you a ruin.'"
Zalesye's former police headquarters and jail.
From the front, Saltanovsky's jail doesn't seem to be in such bad shape, if one doesn't dwell too long on the scraggly birch trees growing between the roof tiles. But walk around to the rear and the picture is more dire. Half of the roof has collapsed into the building and the façade is badly scarred.
It will take 4 million to 5 million rubles ($65,000 to $80,000) to stabilize the structure, Saltanovsky estimated.
"Obviously, everything has been destroyed, including by our generation," he said. "The windows are broken out. It is a miracle that the iron bars haven't been pulled out and taken for scrap. The roof has caved in. The building is a good one, but it needs a lot of work. My goal is to try to save at least something."
Rich Heritage
The Liebenfelde jail is probably a lucky example of the rich heritage of stone and brick architecture that the Soviet Union suddenly possessed when it annexed East Prussia after World War II and created the Kaliningrad Oblast, a Montenegro-sized region sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea.'
When it was part of East Prussia, about 5,000 people lived in Liebenfelde. It has a large railway station, a prominent church, a bank, a courthouse, and, of course, a jail. But the tumbledown buildings and potholed streets present a different picture of this village of about 1,000.
"Once a German professor told me: 'I understand that you won the war and this is all yours. But why are you destroying it?'" Saltanovsky recalls. "And another German told me this memorable phrase: 'When I came here, it was as if someone had poked me in the eye with a stick.' It was that painful to him."
A Facebook post shows Zalesye (then called Liebenfelde) as it looked before the war. The picture above is how the town looks today.
Just a bit down the street from Saltanovsky's jail there is a complex of 19th-century buildings that now belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church.
"Thirty years ago, that church was in pretty good shape," Saltanovsky said. "At the time, it would have cost about 50,000 German marks ($28,000) to restore it, and the Germans were ready to give the money. But we refused. They said we don't need [non-Russian Orthodox believers] coming around."
"So, we asked the priest what the church would do with the buildings," he concluded. "And he said, 'To tell the truth, we'll take them apart for the bricks."
That sad fate is common for such buildings, said Oleg Li, coordinator of the nongovernmental Prussian Cultural Heritage group.
"The losses have been enormous," Li told RFE/RL. "But there are still places for such people to do their work. Taking buildings apart for the bricks is done on a massive scale in the eastern and southern parts of the region, where the economy is bad. In the coastal cities, and especially Kaliningrad, they are just knocked down to make way for new construction."
Li's group says that 35 buildings, one bridge, and one underground bunker were destroyed in 2019 alone. None of them had protected status. There is no official list of such monuments.
It was estimated that about 30 percent of the region's buildings were in useable condition when the Soviet Union annexed the region in 1945.
"The war ended [long ago], but we are still losing things year after year," Li said.
Success Stories
The society has noted some important success stories, however.
Some 120 kilometers from Kaliningrad in the city of Neman, a businessman named Ivan Artyukh who describes himself as "a romantic adventurer," has taken a 20-year lease from the Russian Orthodox Church on Ragnit Castle.
He doesn't have a plan, although he's hoping to save at least some of the remaining walls.
Just outside of Kaliningrad, a couple from Belgorod named Nadezhda and Sergei Sorokin are working to restore Valdau Castle, which once hosted Napoleon.
"We all need this place," Nadezhda Sorokina told RFE/RL in an interview in April. "This castle is a living witness to 12 centuries of history. Napoleon was here."
"They need it," she added, pointing to her two sons, Savely and Pasha.
The repairs will cost millions of rubles.
"There aren't many such examples, but they do exist," Li told RFE/RL. "The Langdorf Chateau has been restored and now is beautiful and working as a resort."
"What we need is the goodwill of the state," said Viktoria Korneva, director of the Khobbi-tur tourism firm. "Individual people can't solve these problems alone. A state policy needs to be determined. Either we want to save our history, or we don't. Considering that this is the main form of tourism [in this region], it would be very stupid to lose all of this."
Viktor Saltanovsky hopes to turn his investment into a cafe, museum, and hostel.
Viktor Saltanovsky is a perfect example of the idealist entrepreneur.
"I'm amazed at what a beautiful building it is," he said, looking up at his jail. "How well everything is built! From the beginning, this was a mad project. There wasn't even a plan, to be honest. I live in a German house and I have German roots. I wanted to leave something behind. And you have to admit, owning a jail is pretty interesting."
Now he hopes to turn the ground floor into a café and a small museum. He plans to turn the upper-floor cells into a hostel.
"I can rent rooms for 200 rubles ($3.25) a day to local agricultural workers," he said. "There aren't many places to stay in this village."
For now, he has cleared the former jail exercise yard and plans to open a small store and a beer garden there.
"This building is like an adopted child or a bedridden patient," he said. "It might not be a living thing, but it wants to live just the same."
Written by RFE/RL senior correspondent Robert Coalson based on reporting by correspondent Yulia Paramonova of the North Desk of RFE/RL's Russian Service