Bangladesh Victory Day

Today, 16 December, Bangladesh celebrates national Victory Day.

It is the 39th anniversary of the victory of Bengalis over Pakistan aggression and massacre which lasted from March to December, 1971. On 16 December the allied forces of the Indian army and Bengalis’ Mukti Bahini (freedom fitters) crushed the West Pakistani forces deployed in the East.

That victory gave people of former East Pakistan (after 1947, when British India was partitioned into the states of India and Pakistan, modern-day Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan and was called East Pakistan) not only freedom but a new state Bangladesh. Declaration of Independence was announces by Bengal political leaders (declaration was signed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Father of the Nation) in March, 1971. Officially 26 March is considered the Independence Day of Bangladesh, when the name Bangladesh was in effect henceforth. Though, unofficially there is controversy on who and when did the first announcement of the declaration of independence over the radio (which is a question of political manipulations actually).

Commenting on the achievements of the country after winning the Liberation war, President Zillur Rahman in his statement said, "We could not yet attain that objective after four decades of independence. The anti-liberation force as well as the vested quarters created obstacle in the way of democracy and development by killing Father of the Nation. Or democratic advancement has been jeopardized afterwards in absence of a people's government. As a result, we lag far behind in anticipated development", bdnews24.com reports. This speech was supported by the words of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Thirty nine years have passed since independence but the desired dreams and aspirations of independence are yet to be achieved," she said in her statement, according to news agency.

In one voice with ruling party sounds the opposition this day. As bdnews24.com quoted the opposition leader Khaleda Zia speech, "Even though our motherland was freed from enemies in 1971, their sharp eyes are still on us. An imperialist force is working to turn us into a subjugated race. We will have to unite nationally to fight it."

As for harp imperialists’ eyes, needless to say that in 1971 USSR helped Indian army as main ally of Bengalis’ Mukhti Bahini. The Soviet Union was interested in strong India. So independence of Bangladesh which could make India’s rival Pakistan weaker, played into USSR hands. Soviet authorities gave assurances to India that if a confrontation with the United States or China (which supported Pakistan) developed, it would take counter-measures. Officially this  was enshrined in the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty signed in August 1971.
USSR recognized Bangladesh as new state in January, 1972, and after 2 month, in March, 1972, father of nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made his first diplomatic visit to Moscow.
Almost forty years later, this fact of assistance during the war is the only fact which Bangladeshis can recall about Russia or former Soviet Union. Still it’s amazing how strong the memory is.
Today many families in Bangladesh and abroad think of other memories, though. Dead brothers and fathers, raped women, killed babies, the millions of refugees, millions of destroyed lives. This song, the greatest Bangla songs of all times, is for them.

Ek shagor rokter binimoye Banglar shadhinota anle jara amra tomader bhulbo na amra tomader bhulbo na...
(We will not forget the ones who liberated Bangladesh by spilling a sea of blood, we will not forget you... – I’m sorry for the incorrect translation, if it is so)

And some personal memories of last year V-day (2009) in Dhaka (full set is here)

CNN presented riots in Moscow as "protests over time zones"

CNN FAKE REPORT

On 12 December CNN showed video of the riots in Moscow with following comments: “Russian protests targeting time zones”. According to CNN, 3 000 people protested against changing time zones in some eastern city of Russia...

In reality the riots caused by the death of football fan happened in Moscow on December, 11. The video shown by CNN had been taken at well recognized central square of Moscow city.

A piece of newscaster’s text accompanied the video of clashes in Moscow:
<….> Chanting "give us our time back," thousands of people in eastern Russia Saturday protested proposed changes to the country's time zones, state media reported.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has proposed time zone reforms that would further cut the time difference between the region and Moscow, the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency reported.
Already, similar reforms implemented earlier this year have led to dark winter skies in the middle of the day in the region, the news agency said.
More than 3,000 protesters flocked to the central square in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, RIA-Novosti said.
<….>
Is that just a human’s foolishness or black PR of very bad quality, I wonder?

Riots in Moscow: Football fans and nationalists against Caucasian diaspora (Part II)

(continued )

Russia for Russians

Moscow, Manezh Square, Dec, 11, Ilya Varlamov

Young people, faces covered with scarves, one hand is lifted to the sky (the famous Roman salute, a gesture in which the arm is held out forward straight, it was made compulsory within the Nazi party since 1926,  and was also adopted by other fascist movements), shouting nationalistic slogans “Russia for Russians”.
Discussing the clashes in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, government authorities, football clubs’ leaders and different Caucasus diaspora representatives altogether named current events a provocation of ultra radical, nationalistic movements forces.

To say the truth, it is quite difficult to determine any exact political force in Russia, especially speaking about the political minorities. Whatever you call them, democrats, liberals, communists, radicals or other, the faces will be the same. It’s very easy in Russia. One can be with the majority, ruling party “Edinaya Rossia” (United Russia) or with the “rest”. More over, even those who attach themselves with majority can often be seen participating in the actions of the “rest”. As it probably happened this time (LJ user palmoliveprotiv http://palmoliveprotiv.livejournal.com/130086.html noticed a known provocateur, attached with ruling powers, being arrested be police at Manezh Square).

Media mess
Holding a speech at Ceremony formalizing promotion of officers to higher command positions, on December, 13, President Dmitry Medvedev commented on the recent events: “The recent riots and assaults in Moscow should be qualified as crimes, and the people who committed them must pay the penalty. I say this not just to the Interior Minister, but also to the Prosecutor General and Chairman of the Investigative Committee”.
 “Acts that seek to incite hatred and enmity on ethnic or religious grounds are especially dangerous and threaten the country’s stability. The police can and must use all lawful and necessary means and powers at its disposal – and I stress this point – to counter such acts. We cannot allow anarchy on our streets and public places”, - President added.

As opposed to official statements and reports of Russian TV channels, which can only reflect the official views of Kremlin, the bloggers community looks like anthill of conflicting opinions. People ask whether what is going on is the sign of democracy? Whether for these Nazi slogans, advanced by youth at Manezh Square our grandfathers fought with fascists during the World War II? Whether the powers and police are able to protect the citizens? Whether justice and law procedures become pointless in the face of corruption?
The internet community is filled with calls for new riots, from both sides – Russian nationalists forces and the Caucasian diaspora.

http://niova.livejournal.com/62919.html
“Salam, brothers and sisters.
I want to appeal to all who consider themselves Caucasians, dzhigits, abreks, and so on, or has some kind of positive attitude towards our great nation. Perhaps it is not a secret to you that in Moscow there was a case of riot with our brother, a native of Kabardino-Balkaria - Aslan Cherkesov, namely a fight with the Russian on one of the stations in the city where a Russian boy Egor Sviridov was killed. Perhaps someone feels sorry, personally I feel sorry for this Russian guy. But as always, we are exposed in the wrong way. I personally, on the site of Aslan, may have done exactly the same. And what else to do when the jackals attack from the back, and you have a gun for self-defense - of course you will defend our honour and dignity and our lives and health. When you are being attacked by a group of drunken, frostbitten <…> fans,  there is nothing left but to defend from them. <…..>
It is also not a secret for you that fans (nationalists and fascists) are gathering in huge crowds to have a large "peace" campaign in Moscow. Of course, we will be <…> the object of these action.
I call upon all our fraternal peoples of Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Ossetia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia to resist this actions <…> I call to you to arm yourselves AS POSSIBLE  * ... without collapsing and being afraid and sitting snug at home. I just want to say to our girls - our dear beauties, in the time interval from 10.12.2010 to 30.12.2010 please do not go out to the streets of Moscow without need, it is not difficult to understand the reason I think.
On this occasion, I suggest to gather on 15th  (15/12/2010) near Mall "European" at 18:00. WE will decide on further actions at place..
<…>
This post was named as “one more provocation”, though, as we mentioned above, the police kept a closer watch over the center of Moscow.

The next post appeared a bit earlier in one of the nationalists (or pretending to be such) blogs.
 “Ruling party today let the Caucasians go to the Manezh Square where they tried to dance a “lezghinka” while the funeral ceremony was holding by football fans in memory of E.Sviridov. FUNERAL. RF ruling authorities showed their attitude towards the problem….Its obvious that it’s a cheap provocation. Try to bring a pig’s head into the mosque – the reaction will be unequivocal  <…>  More over, ruling regime finally decided on priorities, took the side of Caucasian mobs. This is the official declare of war on Russian nation <….>”.

These two entries can only give the brief idea of the public mood here in Russia. There are more than 30, 000 posts of thousands of users. Every one has his own beliefs and his own truth.
That goes without saying, what happened at Manezh Square was not the single example of ethnic confrontation. The killing of a football fan was not at all the first killing. The major violence over Caucasians and Central Asians in Underground is just an echo of savage reprisal continued for many years.
An ethic conflict is one of the weakest points of the world’s largest country, which, by the way, won a rally for hosting the next FIFA World Cup just a week back. Seems like football is still the first to be in the news here in Russia. No matter, what colors the news, the blood, the petrodollars or both.

Riots in Moscow: Football fans and nationalists against Caucasian diaspora (Part I)

Moscow, Manezh Square, Dec, 11. Photo be Ilya Varlamov

Last Saturday, 11 December 2010, a riot broke out in Russia’s capital. More than 5 000 people gathered at central Moscow’s Manezh Square, not far from the Kremlin and nearby Okhotny Ryad metro station. There were football fans and activists of nationalistic organizations who gathered to commemorate the death of Spartak (Moscow football club) football fan Egor Sviridov, who was killed a week ago.
Sviridov died in the drunken brawl, crushed out on December, 6, between Spartak football fans and some men born in Russia’s North Caucasus. Later on, five detained Caucasians were released with recognizance not to leave. The fact gave rise to the mass riot in the city this weekend.

Funeral fires
Another action was held in the second capital of Russia, St-Petersburg, on Saturday morning. Around 2 000 people, football fans and other youth pour out into the central streets in sympathy with football fans in Moscow. The action was unauthorized, however the police could hold back the crowd.
The scenario in Moscow was different. Police seemed not to be ready for such clashes, though the actions in memory of killed Egor Sviridov were announced before by Spartak fans.  In the morning several thousand of football fans came to the place where Sviridov was killed, then moved to Manezh Square. Soon the movement went out of control and came to clashes with OMON (Special Purpose Police Unit in Russia).

Some eyewitnesses blamed police to be rude and brutal while neutralizing the riot, from another point of view, one can clearly see in photo and video reports how OMON soldiers protected several Caucasians from infuriated crowd. After getting the reinforcements special units started attacking the crowd.

Moscow, Manezh Square, Dec, 11. Photo be Ilya Varlamov

According to official statistic, 32 people were injured in the riots. Later several people of  different nationalities (Russian, Caucasians, Central Asians) were injured and several killed in Moscow’s Underground. One more football fan, Sergey Kazakov, 19, was killed on December, 10, near Volzhskaya Underground station. Though, his death was overshadowed by the latest developments.
On Monday afternoon, December, 13 police closed Manezhnaya Square and a nearest shopping mall. The measures were prompted by reports received by police about new possible gathering of football fans and members of the North Caucasian diaspora, Interfax news agency reports. However, nothing abnormal happened in the center of Moscow that night.


Photo reports here
http://novayagazeta.livejournal.com/282234.html#cutid1           Vadim Sidorov, “Novaya Gazeta”
http://www.facebook.com/novgaz#!/album.php?aid=30256&id=132740460101983  Vadim Sidorov, “Novaya Gazeta”
http://zyalt.livejournal.com/330396.html                                        Ilya Varlamov (user zyalt)
http://yellow-reporter.livejournal.com/                                           Sergey Kazakov (user yellow_reporter)
http://aleshru.livejournal.com/                                                         Mitya Aleshkovsky (user alershru)
http://taek.livejournal.com/16390.html#cutid1                                LJ user TaEk
http://community.livejournal.com/live_report/795557.html#cutid1   LJ user martin_sqare

From russia with love. And from heart, my dear friends

Football is the main news-maker in Russia nowadays, since our motherland won the race to host  FIFA World Cup in 2018.

International media just fired with discussions about racism (russian racists will attack "black" football players), corruption and "football" mafia, and of course spending millions of petrodollars for construction of whole infrastructure to host the world's main football event.

Meanwhile russian media and bloggers community discuss mostly the shame of out great mother country. I'm talking about official speech of Vitaly Mutko, Russian Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy in Zurich, FIFA headquarters...

Wanted to hear the pure Russian English? Get a chance! 
Vitaly Mutko from his heart:

Plaistow magic sounds

What a sweet evening! I’m holding a well-designed CD titled “the Crow” by great jazz band from Switzerland, the Plaistow.

These 3 guys inspired me tonight:
Cyril Bondi, drums
Raphaël Ortis, bass
Johann Bourquenez, piano

from official Plaistow web page

Plaistow is a station of London Underground  (west Ham, east London). If I knew that before I met the musicians, I would obviously ask them what is so nice in London Underground. Our St-Petersburg underground is considered as one of the most beautiful in the world, by the way. I wonder if guys will make a new composition devoted to Russian metro.
Oh, holly… What do I see in the content of new CD “The Crow”, presented by the musicians one hour ago? Track#2 “Mayakovskaya”. That’s the name of underground station in St-Petersburg. As well as in Moscow metro. Which one they mean, I wonder?

Last year, December 2009, they played in Ufa and Ivanovo, two very different from geographical and cultural point of view cities. This December, 2010, they started from Dubna, Archangelsk, then Moscow, and, at last, St-Petersburg.
As Raphael told me, he fell in love with Archangelsk, this most northern town of Russia, well known by its developed sense for experimental and alternative culture.
These Swiss guys (oops, Johann is from Toulouse, France) play very strange jazz. Professional critics will call it post-jazz with elements of fusion. Anyway, it’s the music full of improvisation, as well as academic school marks, pretentious minimalism and aggressive presentation.

Just  listen and enjoy!





Official download from Plaistow website:
http://www.edogm.net/plaistow/downloads.html

Умерла Белла Ахмадулина

Предутренний час драгоценный
спасите, свеча и тетрадь!
В предсмертных потемках за сценой
мне выпадет нынче стоять.

Взмыть голой циркачкой под купол!
Но я лишь однажды не лгу:
бумаге молясь неподкупной
и пристальному потолку.

Насильно я петь не умею,
но буду же наверняка,
мучительно выпростав шею
из узкого воротника.

Какой бы мне жребий ни выпал,
никто мне не сможет помочь.
Я знаю, как Грозен мой выбор,
когда восхожу на помост.

Погибну без вашей любови,
погибну больней и скорей,
коль вслушаюсь в ваши ладони,
сочту их заслугой своей.

О, только б хвалы не восстраждать,
вернуться в родной неуют,
не ведая - дивным иль страшным -
удел мой потом назовут.

Russians made their own "Prison Break"

OMGO!!!!
yesterday evening I was about to choke on my dinner when I saw it...



The official or non-official fan page http://pobegru.ucoz.ru/

The embarrasing fact is the great actor Uriy Chursin in the key role.
I really came to love him after "Playing the victim" by Kirill Serebryannikov....

Disappointed.

Bangladesh PM will make an official visit to Russia in early 2011

Short visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Russia in the network of "Tigers summit" was a dress rehearsal of her official visit next year. Two countries are expected to discuss the upcoming nuclear power plant project.

The transcript of a short meeting between russian PM Vladimir Putin and Sheikh Hasina, PM of Bangladesh in St Petersburg, Russia.

Vladimir Putin: Distinguished Ms Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to warmly welcome you again.
Ms Prime Minister, you are worthy of continuing what your father began, as he not only fought for the independence of Bangladesh but also took the first steps to establishing friendly cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia. Just such relations have emerged between our countries over recent years but there is still much more to do to bring our trade and economic ties on a firm basis and raise them to the proper level. There are many opportunities to do so. We have already granted tariff preferences for many of your traditional exports but more can be done in the specific areas of practical activities – energy, agriculture, mineral fertiliser trade, and military-technical cooperation. Our two countries are already cooperating in some of these areas.
I am very glad to have the opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations with you today, and I think that we should really take practical steps, especially with your upcoming visit in mind – I mean your official visit to Russia early next year.

Sheikh Hasina (as translated): Mr Prime Minister, first of all, I would like to thank you for the warm reception given to me and my delegation, and for the invitation to participate in the Tiger Forum.
It gave me a fine opportunity to see this historic city. We have heard so much about the magnificent city of St Petersburg, which has played an important part in Russian history, so we treasure this experience.
Traditionally, we have had a great respect for the Russian people since long ago – since the struggle for independence. When my father was rebuilding our country after the war, he always received support from Russia and could count on cooperation with it. In particular, the Russian military helped to clear mines on our land. Many Russian soldiers gave their lives for our country, and we will always be grateful to Russia for that.
Unfortunately, I was not able to visit Russia over the last ten years, but I think that these ten years have made our relations friendlier and stronger.

source: official web-site of Prime Minister of Russian Federation, http://premier.gov.ru

I wanna be a tiger!

If I was a tiger, i would receive (among other 3200 tigers, left on the planet) a piece of $1 million USD donation, promised by sweet Leonardo DiCaprio. 

Mr DiCaprio was one the world known celebrities, along with Naomi Campbell, to attend Tigers summit in St-Petersburg, Russia, last week.

“If we don’t take action now, one of the most iconic animals on our planet could be gone in just a few decades. By saving tigers, we can also protect some of our last remaining ancient forests and improve the lives of indigenous communities.", - calls DiCaprio through his website. His Leonardo Dicaprio Fund At California committed $1 million USD to WWF to save tigers.

Actually, only two facts remained in peoples' minds after the summit: the visit of DiCaprio and cruel jams. For 3 days the city was blocked because of diplomatic escorts. First, Mr Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, arrived, then political leaders and experts’ delegations from 13 countries, where tigers still alive: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Russia itself.

(Sourse: WWF)

Geographic puzzle

 

Why the city of Peter the Great was decided to be the best place for discussing the problem of saving tigers? Nobody knows for sure. St-Petersburg is the most European part of Russia, and no tigers were seen in this area ever.

That's Russian East, mainly Primorye and Khabarovskiy kray (the south of Far East of Russia, which is near China, North Korea and Japan), where tigers can still be found.

The way from St Petersburg to Vladivostok (the capital of Primorye) takes 7 days by train...Anyway, that was decided by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to hold the Tigers’ Summit in St-Petersburg, his home place.  «And let nobody accuse us that we are talking nonsense, that we gathered all political executives to discuss cats», - said Mr Putin opening the forum, so that nobody dare to ask such questions. 

Cats mathematics 

The numbers of tigers worldwide have dwindled to 3,200 from about 100,000 a century ago, according to WWF research. Tigers' problem wounded World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick, who organized the Global Tiger Initiative in 2008, targeting the summit in 2010 as the time when tiger countries must figure out a plan for solving the problem. 

 

That was actually the idea of todays' summit in Russia - to endorse the 12-year Global Tiger Recovery Program. According to the plan, 13 participating countries are going to double the number of tigers by 2022 by developing conservation programs and cooperating across national boundaries to stop poaching and illegal trade.

To handle the program, each country allocates fund from national budgets, but also more $350 million USD is needed over the next five years to pay for the program of saving tigers. WWF undertook to contribute $50 million USD and decided to increase this figure up to 85 million. The same amount, $50 million USD, was promised by WCS. International organization based in India, Global tigers forum, will send $250 000 USD for saving tigers in Nepal.

USA also plans to grant $9,2 million USD for fighting with illegal trade of tigers' parts. Germany plans to allocate $17,2 million USD for saving tigers in Russia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam

World Bank is ready to credit of around $100 million USD for nature conservation programs to Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. And Global Environment Facility(GEF) will allocate $12 million for tiger conservation programs as well as programs decreasing greenhouse effect. 

Russia itself will spend around $45 million USD for conservation of Amur tiger (or Siberian tiger) in Russia, according to Yuri Trutnev, Russia's Natural Resources Minister. He also said that Russia and China will create a protected area for tigers alongside their border and pool resources to combat poaching. 

«The main thing is to integrate our plans in the plans of economic development of Russia, - Mr Putin said. - The great Humanist Mahatma Gandhi once said that where tiger feels good, a man feels good. If a human can take care of the nature, he can take care of humans also. The country should be developed on the base of such principle as stable and responsible attitude towards nature and its resources».

WWF’s 12 Priority Landscapes for Saving Tigers

Attention! Rabbits!

Studying all these figures above, one can get confused. And Mr Putin's statement about the importance of the occasion doesn't work actually. To host such summit, with celebrities, business and political elite, diplomats, it costs a pretty penny. Air transfers, best hotels, evening treats in Strelna (President's residence), concerts in Mikhailovkiy theater...

As a journalist of Fontaka.ru counted, the annual expenses for only one tiger in the whole city of St Petersburg, which is leaving in a zoo, do not exceed $15 000 USD (food and medical treatment). That doesn’t cover the expenses even for one foreign delegation at Tigers summit, I suppose.

There are only 450 tigers left in Russia, considering 50 000$ which you will get for one killed tiger in black market, it comes $22,5 million USD. Russian country leaders are ready to spend almost 2 times more for saving the cats. If I was a tiger…

But I’m a human and I’m a citizen of this country. And my people are dying  from cold, diseases, poverty and drugs. It seems that's not a "pussy" topic to discuss, isn't it?

We, people, better prepare for upcoming Rabbit year (according to Chinese calendar). Rabbits are tigers' meal as far as I know, so maybe out political leaders would like to gather again and discuss how to spend little more money to increase the rabbits population?

Photo source: WWF, Official web-site of the Prime minister of RF 

Eid ul Azha … Russia VS Bangladesh

Eid Mubarak everyone!

This year Eid al-Adha or "Festival of Sacrifice" was celebrated in Russia 1 day before Bangladesh, on 16^th November (which is, I suppose, because of time and probably moon calendar difference. I might be mistaken)

This Eid reminds us the story of Abraham (Ibrahim) who was supposed to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah according to God's command, sent to Abraham in a dream. Abraham shared the dream and its intent with his son and Ismail showed his love and commitment for Allah, as well as his own father and obeyed to sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah… That was the test by Allah. When the God saw both Abraham and Ismail ready for a cruel demonstration of their faith (Ismail was already lying under his father’s knife), Allah told Abraham to replace his son with a ram. 

The tradition of Eif is followed by all Muslims in the world more or less in the same way. Prayer, then gathering together with the whole family, killing an Eid ram, cooking. Meat is divided in three parts, one remains with the family, second goes to the  relatives, friends and neighbors, and the last third is given to the poor.

In Russia (as in Turkey and some other Central and East Asian countries) it is called Kurban Bairam. There are around 15 million Muslims in Russia according to official statistics (Rosstat), other sources mention 20-25 millions. The Muslim population increased 40% in last 15 years.

Below you can see a video by 1^st TV channel (“Pervij kanal”) from celebration in Moscow (language is Russian, so just see the video)

 

Photos from Moscow taken by Leonid Varlamov. The full report is here (LiveJournal of Leonid Varlamov) It’s worth seeing!!!

Photos from Dhaka taken by photographer Shuvo Das (from this source http://www.demotix.com/news/510439/eid-ul-adha-celebration-dhaka)

Moscow, 16th Nov 2010

Dhaka, 17th Nov 2010

Dhaka, Family shares the prayer

In Moscow prayer is shared with police

And here one can find photos from St-Petersburg.

The photos belong to Valentin Ilushin, photo reporter of Fontanka.ru (online newspaper)

http://www.fontanka.ru/2010/11/16/038/picture.1.html

Also some photos from DP.ru http://www.dp.ru/a/2010/11/16/Baranov_dlja_Kurbanbajram

(Unfortunately I can’t find the author of the photos)

The main mosque (very beautiful one, by the way) is situated in the centre of St-Petersburg. Muslim’s gathering caused jams and definitely gave rise to condemning comments from townspeople…

1-day Barbarian

As you can understand, for those people who are not aware about Eid and its traditions, killing of animals becomes a cruel act of “those Muslim barbarians”. However, an honest person will admit that the same had been happening in each and every Russian village for ages and still happening, of course. And at last, meat factories all over the world do not look better at all.

Anyway, here we are in Moscow, witnessing Russian style of sacrifice…

Photoes by Leonid Varlamov 

It is also worth seeing for those especially who wonders why I eat only vegetable. 

Nothing personal :)

 

And this is how the victims of holy sacrifice were sold just in the open place in the center of Russian capital: http://www.echo.msk.ru/blog/ottenki_serogo/726873-echo/

Photos were taken by Sergey Muhhamedov, the  source is “Eho Moskvi” FM station webpage.

And here we see the trace of Eid celebration in Kazan, traditionally Muslim place in Russia. Animals’ remains on the backyard of the mosque scare both non-muslim and muslim people, especially kids on their way to school.

 

As one of the locals tells the author of the article (“Komsomolskya pravda” newspaper), the remains used to appear here every year after Eid and stay until local people would not through them out or bury them

Not only animals’ killing is discussed regarding Eid in Russia. One of the most commented videos in the net was taken at Gorkovskaya Metro station in St-Petersburg (just opposite the mosque). 

 After praying hundreds of people had taken the metro entrance by storm, jumping over the turnstiles…..

I would say, even if these Muslims are “newcomers” in our city, the intellectual capital of Russia, even if they are less educated or not educated at all (as many of “Slovenian” Russians coming from other parts of Russia by the way!), NORMALLY they would not do like this. They would by a ticket and go as all other people do...Who doubts?

At the end of the day,  why shall not we recall those huge events taking place in the city fro tie to time, like New Year or 9 May (Victory Day in Russia) or Paratrooper’s day or ZENITH (St-Petersburg’s football team) games, for example.

I bet, same video with very white Slovenian faces, doing same bloody things one could have taken on these days, couldn’t he?

The use of tolerance

This Eid celebration got me back to one of the most complicated topics in my journalistic practice. It’s tolerance and how it works, or I must say, doesn’t work in Russia. (Does it work anywhere in general?)

This time our society divided into several groups. The majority is definitely condemns the open celebration of Eid. The minority suggests authorities to arrange celebrations such a way that nobody would feel insulted, neither muslim society, nor non-muslim citizens.

What do I mean by “open” celebration? Open means thousands muslims’ crowd in the center of largest cities, open means selling animals and killings just in the middle of the street (last year the killing was seen in Apraskin Dvor, the biggest center city market in St-Petersburg, this time they did it somewhere out of the city). All this frightens people and pours oil on the flames of the popular in Russia and most of all other “white” countries idea that a Muslim is a terrorist. Unfortunately, I would repeat, unfortunately, it happens.

Though, I would say, while reading forums and blogs, I picked up a lot of reasonable comments from those who follows the idea of humanity and respect for a human being (which comes before respect to any religion). However, these people are in minority and would stay a minority. In my opinion.

Here in Russia we’d been speaking about tolerance for last 10-15 years, right after the ruin of Soviet  Union. Naturally, Russia in times of Soviet Union or earlier, in times of Russian Empire, was always a multinational country (due to its size of course). Then, after the collapse, when all the former soviet republics, donated from the center, became independent and poor, the huge wave of migration started… It sees like since then Russians forgot about recent fraternity. 

So what do we have today? Injuring and killings of both classes – migrants or just “persons of Caucasian origin” (this is how all people with dark skin and slanting eyes are called in Russia)  and, on the other hand, those Russians who fights for human rights and against fascism. 

We still have those celebrated cases in our memories…9-years old girl from Tajikistan family, cruelly killed by a group of 11 youngsters  in St-Petersburg (later they were sentenced under “hooliganism” article…). On 13th November 5 years ago a 20-years old student of Faculty of Philosophy, State University, an anti-fascist  activist and “Food not Bombs” movement member Timur Kacharava was killed in the central street of the city – Nevsky prospect. He was Georgian by origin. Then lawyer Stanislav Markelov and a journalist Anastasia Baburova, killed in  Moscow in connection of the “antifascist” views and activities…

But this is a new story which I will definitely tell you in future.

And for know, I wish happy Eid vacation for those who celebrate it.

Especially for those who is doing it in St-Martins’ :P

Я плачу...SkyExpress жжет

15.11.2010

Оргазм на высоте!

С 2006 года в день зимнего солнцестояния 22 декабря отмечают День всемирного оргазма, когда все люди на Земле испытывают оргазм. Скай Экспресс призывает присоединиться к глобальной акции, поделившись друг с другом любовью, и дарит специальную скидку ……..

Expences of changing food habits

Today at supermarket (the good one in terms of assortment ) I have found some "delicacy"...

I want back my Banani Bazar!!!!


 1 Gyava (very small and bad looking) = 194 taka

 tamarind, 500 gr = 518 taka

 mango 1 (left) = 635 taka for 1 piece
mango 2 (middle) = 763 taka for 1 piece

 DAL
mash dal (left) = 206 taka (for 350 g)
whole green mung dal (middle) =  197 taka (for 350 g)

gram dal = 229 taka for 350 gr

little joys of Veggie life

yes! Shwarma (in russia we all it SHAVERMA) can be veg! And bellieve me taste and outlook even better!
I bet!

Actually shwarma for russian drunkers is something...magical..
This sharma was eaten in between of two bars, approx at 2am..
Hm, the ending of the evening with a bottle of champagne was too much, no? 

Accepting the difference

My family's trying to adopt all those things I brought from BD in my suitcase and mind also
Couple of days back Grandma offered to lit a candle for Ganesh..

 
Today she penetrated into my wordrobe and found salwar kameez.....

LOLzz

My city by proper eyes

CLICK HERE!!!!

Good girl and good lomo photographer
It's a pity I donnow her
THank you Masha for good-looking piter...

BACK HOME

Sudden coming back home to Russia
was marked with several everlasting attributes...

FLowers

Woollen socks!

First snow!

Silent streets..

Nacked trees..

And an old buddy dog who's ready to play 24 hours a day)

1ST TIME IN MY LIFE

To give a quick resume of last 1 year far away from home, I'm making a list of things which I did 1st time in my life witgin this 1 year:

1. tried fuzka
2. lived with a lizard and made friend with her
3. saw a kingfisher (bird not beer)
4. wore saree
5. danced salsa
6. drove a car in Dhaka
7. bought and destroyed Canon 7D
8. Visited 17 cities in India, 3 in China and 7 in Bangladesh
9. lost my passport and got new one
10. made cottage chease\courd myself
11. tried all types of coconut
12. eat real mango and lichi
13. became a vegetarian
14. learned to understand 47,929609709728098270% bangla
15. Collected money bought and distributed warm clothes and blankets in Dhaka and surroundings
16. Swam in 6 different seas
17. Opened and closed a bar in Russia
18. LEARNED TO RIDE A BYCYCLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20. Started and broke 3 love affairs…….
21. Used mosquito net
22. Swam in hill river
23. Had a birthday party in a train
24. Didn’t see snow within 1 year
25. Learned to write 12 bangla alphabets)
26. Learned to eat chilly
28. Learned to cook russian pancakes
29. tried to give up smoking after 11 years of following this cruel habit
30. Fed up with enumerating

1 Year Anniversary

This is one of the strangest anniversaries which I’ve ever heard about
It’s “1 year staying in Bangladesh”.

Sounds funny? Sounds convincing at least

Let this anniversary be a start of a this blog, though its idea was hovering over my head for last one year.

There is a sad side of the coin also. This is my last day in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, before returning back home in Russia for unknown period of time.

Remembering all those things, happened with me last one year, I’m realizing what a wonderful and colorful year I’ve left behind.

Contrary to all rules, I’ll start my story, flavored with Asia, from its latest page.

Latest, but not last.