The State of Affairs in Russia

[Syt]

http://rt.com/news/212891-sauron-moscow-orthodox-church/

'Eye of Sauron' on Moscow skyscraper to end up badly for city, Orthodox Church says

Russian Orthodox Church has slammed plans to erect a real-life 'Eye of Sauron' in Moscow, saying that the art project dedicated to the premiere of the final part of the "Hobbit" movie trilogy may have bad consequences for the Russian capital.

'Eye of Sauron' is "in any case, a demonic symbol," Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, a senior church official in charge of relations with the society, stressed.

"Such a symbol of triumphant evil rising above Moscow and becoming one of the tallest objects in the city...is it good or bad? I am afraid it's mostly bad. One shouldn't be surprised if something goes wrong with the city after that," Chaplin told Govorit Moskva radio station.

Russian art-group 'Svechenie' plan to create the scary installation which will be in place for some 9 hours is a tribute to British novelist J. R. R. Tolkien and film adaptations of his most famous works "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit."

A giant orb, with the projection of the fiery 'Eye of Sauron' on it, will be lit on the roof of one of the towers of the Moscow-City International Business Center on Wednesday, a day ahead of the Russian premiere of "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies."

According to Chaplin, such installations must be discussed "if not with the population of the capital, then with some cultural authority" before being erected.

READ MORE: Real-life 'Eye of Sauron' will open up over Moscow skyscraper tower

In Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" saga the 'Eye of Sauron' Eye was the symbol of power and fear through which the Dark Lord Sauron was able to exert his will over Middle-earth.

The epic fantasy adventure film trilogy based on Tolkien's novel was directed by New Zealand filmmaker, Peter Jackson.

The three movies, which were released between 2001 and 2004, won 17 Oscars and grossed $2.92 billion worldwide.

Following the global success of the "The Lord of the Rings," Tolkien's prequel novel "The Hobbit. Or There and Back Again" was also turned into a movie trilogy, with Jackson returning in the director's chair.

[Martinus]

Well, that's bonkers.

But then I am surprised at people constantly being surprised by churches saying something that is bonkers. These people believe in invisible God, angels and demons. Why is that not already enough to institutionalise them?

[Malthus]

Well, that's bonkers.

But then I am surprised at people constantly being surprised by churches saying something that is bonkers. These people believe in invisible God, angels and demons. Why is that not already enough to institutionalise them?

Well, this is the Russian Orthodox Church we are talking about - they mostly believe in an all-too-tangible Putin. 

[CountDeMoney]

Cockpit footage of fighters from the Royal Netherlands Air Force assigned to NATO's Baltic air policing mission that intercepted Russian fighter aircraft off the coast of Norway.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/europe/nato-jets-intercept-russian-military-aircraft-over-baltic-sea-n265266

[DGuller]

Well, that's bonkers.

But then I am surprised at people constantly being surprised by churches saying something that is bonkers. These people believe in invisible God, angels and demons. Why is that not already enough to institutionalise them?

I don't think that applies to Russian Orthodox Church.  KGB didn't hire theists.

[CountDeMoney]

But then I am surprised at people constantly being surprised by churches saying something that is bonkers. These people believe in invisible God, angels and demons. Why is that not already enough to institutionalise them?

How are the sessions with the therapist going these days?  Making any progress?

[Martinus]

But then I am surprised at people constantly being surprised by churches saying something that is bonkers. These people believe in invisible God, angels and demons. Why is that not already enough to institutionalise them?

How are the sessions with the therapist going these days?  Making any progress?

No, I quit.

[CountDeMoney]

Apparently. 

[Syt]

http://rt.com/politics/213407-russian-pensions-veterans-baltic/

WWII vets in Baltic countries to receive Russian pensions

The Russian government has ordered that all WWII veterans from Baltic nations who fought against Nazi Germany should receive lifelong pensions from the Russian state in the currency of their choice.

Veterans in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia can choose whether they prefer to receive their money monthly from Russian banks, or twice a year by wire transfer to accounts in local banks, reads the decree published on the government web portal on Thursday.

The document says that the Russian Foreign Ministry is responsible for compiling the full list of pensioners. It will include former citizens of the USSR, who fought against Nazism in the Soviet Army or in guerilla units as well as some defense industry workers, whose status during the war was similar to people in the military. The pensioners can be citizens of Baltic nations or hold a non-citizen status there. The payments will range from 500 to 1,000 rubles (about $10-$20) a month, depending on the recipients' military rank and service history, and the exchange will be calculated on the Russian Central Bank's rate for the day of payment.

The initiative to award state pensions to WWII veterans from Baltic countries comes from President Vladimir Putin who ordered the government to make the necessary moves on May 8, 2014 – on the eve of the Russian holiday celebrating victory over Nazism.

Authorities in the Baltic countries protested against the decree while it was still in the discussion phase. The country with the largest share of Russian-speaking population – Latvia – was especially vocal in denouncing the Russian document – its Foreign Ministry issued an official protest earlier this year and the Latvian defense minister accused Russia of attempts to split Latvian society.

Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia and the Baltic countries have regularly exchanged protests and accusations over the official history of the WWII and disputed honors and benefits to veterans who fought on different sides. Russia has repeatedly blasted its adversaries for honoring veterans of Waffen-SS units – Nazi troops manned with local recruits that were used for fighting against the Soviet Army, punitive operations against partisans and also in enforcement of the Holocaust.

How they illustrate the article:


Veterans of the WWII during Victory Day events by the Monument to the Liberators in Riga's Victory Park. (RIA Novosti/Oksana Dzhadan)


Estonian riot police arrest a Russian-speaking protestor demonstrating against the removal of a bronze statue of a Red Army Soviet soldier in Tallinn April 27, 2007. (Reuters/Ints Kalnins)


Riot policemen use tear gas during clashes with protesters demonstrating against the government's decision to close the entrance to the Bronze Soldier monument in downtown Tallinn April 26, 2007. (Reuters)


Monument to the Soviet Soldier the Liberator at the Tallinn military cemetery, that was moved here from the Tynismagi Square. (RIA Novosti/Ilya Matusihis)

[Martinus]

This is one thorny issue - much more so than in the case of Hungary, for example.

[CountDeMoney]

Xi chosen as 'Person of the Year' in Russia
By REN QI And SU ZHOU ( China Daily ) Updated: 2014-12-11 04:56:55

President Xi Jinping was named as "Person of the Year 2014" by the Russian Biographical Institute for the "strengthening of economic and political ties with the Russia", which reflects the rising influence of China and its leader.

It is the first time the institute has given the award to a leader of a country that doesn't belong to the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The Russian Biographical Institute, founded in 1992, is a nongovernmental and noncommercial organization based in Moscow. Its Person of the Year award acknowledges the recipients involved as being guided by the principles of social, spiritual and moral responsibility.

Besides Xi, four other national leaders have been given the award: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

In all, the institute handed out awards to 42 individuals, companies and institutions in areas including culture, science, charity, medicine and health, and national defense.

"China is a fast-developing country with growing global influence. It is natural that more and more attention is being attached to its leader and decision-maker," said Zheng Yu, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has said he is a fan of Xi. China.com.cn released a photo on Monday of Zuckerberg with a copy of Xi's book on governance on his desk. The website quoted him as saying that he had purchased several copies of the book so he and colleagues could learn about "socialism with Chinese characteristics".

The book, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, a collection of 79 speeches and 45 photos of the president, was released by China's Foreign Languages Press in October. So far, more than 260,000 copies have been bought by overseas distributors.

Zhong Xin, professor of Renmin University of China, said Xi's political ideas and style of language make it easier to communicate with the world.

"His language is very simple but contains a lot of information, and he doesn't mention a lot of ideological confrontation," said Zhong.

"There are a lot of overseas scholars who still believe in the China threat theory. At least, the popularity of Xi's book can help to eliminate the misunderstanding," the professor said.

[Martinus]

Even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has said he is a fan of Xi. China.com.cn released a photo on Monday of Zuckerberg with a copy of Xi's book on governance on his desk. The website quoted him as saying that he had purchased several copies of the book so he and colleagues could learn about "socialism with Chinese characteristics".

I can see some similarities. One is a sociopathic tyrant heading an oppressive machine bent on Big-Brother-style surveillance and the other is the President of China.

[Martinus]

Besides Xi, four other national leaders have been given the award: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

[Jacob]

This is one thorny issue - much more so than in the case of Hungary, for example.

How so?

[Martinus]

This is one thorny issue - much more so than in the case of Hungary, for example.

How so?

Well, nazis were the liberating army who kicked the Soviet occupants out. So many people who joined the nazis were not doing that out of love for nazism or hatred for Jews; and conversely many of those who joined the Soviets and fought the nazis were actually traitors.