RUSSIA: Questions & Answers

All of your Russia-related questions have been answered, forever

photo credit: E. Slavsquat

Hello. Here are the answers to your Russia-related questions that I promised to publish seven days ago. Sorry about that.

If I missed a question please let me know.

Have a wonderful Friday.

—Riley

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Cherished reader “jt” asks:

Does anyone still wear masks in Russia, or are they completely gone apart from South-East Asian tourists?

I can safely say that mask-wearing is not currently in vogue in Russia. Even in the Moscow metro I’ve only encountered one or two face-diapered commuters.

Some regions require masks in hospitals and clinics but I don’t know how strictly these rules are being enforced.

There are still relics from the Age of Face Diapers, though (photo credit: E. Slavsquat)

I don’t foresee a return to mass compulsory masking in Russia—at least not in the run-up to the presidential election in March. But who knows? Stranger things have happened.

Cherished reader “Bernard D” asks:

Does a significant proportion of Russian people read alternative news media? Would you say that Russians are more (or less?) awaken to the reality of the global cabal agenda than the western world? Do they see their country Russia as a part of the plan or as an antagonist to it?

In Russia the most popular source for what we might call “non-mainstream” information is Telegram. Some of these channels operate as mini news outlets, even though they don’t have dedicated websites. Others are run by well-known commentators (sometimes anonymous) who weigh in on current events. Then there are channels operated by established alt media sites such as Katyusha.org or Nakanune.ru. I should add that many popular Telegram channels have chat rooms where Russians congregate and engage in lively banter.

However, I’m not sure if it’s accurate to say that a significant proportion of Russians are getting their news from Telegram/alt media. Like Americans, a lot of Russians don’t care about “current events” and spend their free time posting filtered photos of sushi rolls on social media.

Also, anyone over the age of 60 probably has a worldview that is partly, or possibly entirely, shaped by state-controlled television. This is a great tragedy.

But if I had to generalize—and that is exactly what I’m about to do—I would say that the average Russian is probably more cognizant of the global space lizard agenda than the average Dutchman.

Actually, a lot of the common sense skepticism directed at Davos-inspired shenanigans in Russia isn’t based on research or special knowledge. It’s purely instinctive and comes naturally after the devastating non-stop scams of the last thirty years.

Many Russians probably don’t even know who Herman Gref is, but they would immediately understand why it’s not such a great idea to allow Sberbank to develop biometric cattle-tags for schoolchildren.

I wouldn’t describe this “resistance” as political, though. It’s basically just Russians saying: “Thanks for the suggestion but I don’t think I’m going to do that.” This would be an outrageous position to hold in the West, where appealing to “the greater good” is still a wonderful tool of control. It’s much less effective in Russia.

As to whether Russians think their country is resisting or aiding the global crusade to crush our souls, it depends on who you ask. I don’t know what the result would be if you put this question to 50 Russians at random. But I’m sure the answers would be varied and highly colorful.

Cherished reader “Jim Parrish” asks:

Here are my questions: Are there Russian homeless people on the streets during warmer months or elsewhere in Russia like in the US? Where and how do the very poor live and what methods of survival do they have? What about drug addiction in Russia? How prevalent is it? Alcoholism?

There are homeless people in Moscow but there aren’t legions of street-dwellers like in Los Angeles or other large cities. I’d wager that it’s possible to walk around Moscow for an entire afternoon in May or June and not come across a single homeless person (you’d have to stay away from the railway stations though). It’s not like New York City where you have a 75% chance of encountering a homeless person every time you get on the subway.

That being said, Moscow (and Moscow Region) have plenty of poverty. The city and the surrounding region is full of elderly pensioners who may not technically be “homeless” but have been reduced to begging, because like most pension systems, the Russian pension system has been ravaged by neoliberal austerity. Even if you own your own apartment, living on a pension is … let’s just say it’s “challenging”.

Stroll around Moscow and maybe you won’t see someone sleeping on a bench, but I can guarantee that you will encounter a little old lady selling flowers or veggies from her garden, or hawking “antiques” (stuff taken from her apartment), in hopes of making a few rubles.

A photo from St. Petersburg but you get the idea. (Photo credit: E. Slavsquat)

I don’t know much about drug use in Russia but from what I’ve read heroin is still causing problems in certain parts of the country.

Moscow is infested with rich blowhards so obviously there must be mountains of cocaine somewhere. But where exactly I do not know. In the basement of the Metropol?

Alcoholism remains a formidable problem in Russia and anyone who tells you otherwise is fibbing.

Cherished reader “Samuel Abraham” asks:

Hi Riley, What do you understand of the occult networks that control Russia other than the chabad? Are the Martinists of the Romanov "St Nicholas" and Rasputin heritage the top dogs in Russia even today? Does Putin go into a lodge to take orders from the Grand Architect? Which lodge is it? Are the Martinists and the chabad tied at the hip like the Masons and Sabbattean Frankists are in the west?

I’m not trying to dodge this question but the truth is that I’m totally unqualified to answer it. If you are interested in the occult in Russia, or in strange sects of space lizards who have penetrated the Kremlin over the years, I would refer you to Rurik Skywalker, the guy who replaced infamous incel Rolo Slavskiy at the Slavland Chronicles.

Cherished reader “Babbelmouth” asks:

Do you have the “no meat” agenda in Russia? How available is local fresh food (in season) in urban areas? Is this better/worse in rural areas? What do normal Russians generally eat anyway? Looking forward to answers to all of the others’ questions too.

There are already companies in Russia that produce “cricket flour” and other insect-based horrors, but I don’t see lab-grown hamburgers or bug-bread becoming staples anytime soon.

Fresh food is available mostly everywhere, but it’s best to buy your fruits, veggies, and meat at the local rynok (market/bazar). Or in the case of veggies (and some types of fruit), just grow them yourself, which is what many Russians do.

Russians eat a lot of buckwheat, oatmeal-like porridge, meat cutlets, borscht and various other soups, blini (crepes), pickled vegetables, and all kinds of salads containing far too much mayonnaise and dill. Weather permitting, Russians also enjoy making barbecue.

They also eat cheeseburgers, pizza, fried chicken, and have a particular fondness for sushi.

Cherished reader “Tony Downes” asks:

What’s one thing that gives you hope that things can improve?

We are the inheritors of so much beauty, knowledge, and untapped potential—I am quite sure that the greatest obstacle to a brighter tomorrow is psychological in nature.

I’ll provide a seemingly mundane example.

My Moscow suburb has a Soviet-era “exercise park”—poles and bars and other stuff for doing calisthenics with. I’ve probably walked past this park a trillion times never once stopping to consider how it could improve my life. About a month ago I randomly decided to hang on one of the park’s pull-up bars—just for a laugh.

I loved it, and now every day I look forward to hanging on a bar. Just hanging on a bar brings me genuine joy. I can even do chin-ups.

How did I go from “that’s an icky Soviet-era park” to “that’s the nice place where I get to hang on a bar like a happy sloth”? It’s a mystery; something changed inside of me.

What other goldmines am I walking past each day, oblivious to their vast riches? An unsettling question but one that opens the door to all kinds of new adventures and opportunities for self-discovery and—dare I say it?—improvement.

If we really are Doomed—and we might be!—I would urge people to adopt a similar outlook, and also laugh more often.

It was America’s first neck-beard blogger Hank Thoreau who observed: “Things don’t change; we change”.

He’s right and that’s good news. Start today! Try a one-week free trial. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.

Hank Thoreau

Also: Bach.

Cherished reader “Pill Giigle” asks:

Is Dr. Gates still financing WEF-like agents in Russia, including but not limited to “Covid research”? That obviously includes digital ids, which we know Russia is trying to introduce in some way, but the question is whether any of that is financially supported by Gates or one of his friends? And if yes, how does Western money for that kind of “research” make its way to Russia, given that Russia has been disconnected from the SWIFT system?

I guess it would depend on who/what you consider “financed” or backed by Gates. Moscow remains a proud member of the WHO, which receives generous funding from Gates’ friendly philanthropic organization, so one could argue Gates is indirectly (or maybe even directly?) influencing public health policy in Russia—including “Covid research”.

Veronika Skvortsova—the lady who sits (sat?) on a Bill Gates-funded Pandemic Preparedness Committee alongside Dr. Fauci—is still shilling her Covid goo, so that’s bad.

On the cattle-tag front, Microsoft had all sorts of partnerships with companies and even government agencies involved in Russia’s “digital development”. In fact, as I reported last month, one of the firms tasked with tagging Russian schoolchildren still lists Microsoft as a “partner”. It’s possible this is no longer true though, because I’m pretty sure Microsoft—at least officially—is in the process of withdrawing from the Russian market.

Microsoft and Gates are so ubiquitous, and have so many tentacles in so many places, that it’s hard to determine where and in what ways they are pulling strings.

But as far as I know, Gates’ influence in Russia is on the decline. Or maybe it isn’t? If someone has better intel please share it.

Cherished reader “Rhiannon” asks:

On the photo you posted of the beautiful rock “pile” you made—I keep thinking about it! Could you elaborate? What again did you call it, and what was the inspiration for making it? Did you say it was in New Hampshire? How tall was it? How long did it take you to make it? Did someone teach you how to place/balance the rocks?

You must be referring to my stone condo. Yes, it’s located in the woods of New Hampshire. If you can geo-locate it you win a special prize.

A young Edward relaxing near his stone condo

I’ve always been fascinated by stone masonry (and architecture in general, excluding modern “architecture”, of course) and one day I decided it would be prudent to build myself a dry stone tower. It’s not actually a tower though because I fled to the Czech Republic before finishing the back end of it. It’s like a dry stone ruin. Whatever, it still looks cool.

The condo at night

The condo measures around 3 meters tall and took me nearly 3 months to build. Partly because I didn’t know what I was doing, and partly because I had to hunt for large and rather heavy granite stones and then drag/roll them into place. It was extremely labor-intensive and I’ve never had more fun in my entire life.

I probably should have gone into the construction biz because I love building things. For example, my lovely village neighbor had firewood in need of stacking so I made her this:

A woodpile by E. Slavsquat

I don’t know what it is but I enjoyed making it.

Cherished reader “Natalie” asks:

Has living in Russia changed you in any way?

Undoubtedly in all kinds of ways but I’m struggling with how to answer this question in a succinct and clear way.

It’s also difficult to distinguish between “I grew up and changed” and “Russia changed me in X ways”.

I’m violently pounding my head on my desk right now trying to think of a profound and insightful answer to your question. Thanks, Natalie.

Here’s my lame and somewhat cliché answer: In the United States, showing emotion that can’t be attributed to a zombie is considered a serious medical ailment that can only be cured with potent Big Pharma pills. Compared to Americans, Russians are much more comfortable with sharing how they feel at any given time.

I still keep all my feelings locked deep inside me but I guess Russia and her inhabitants have helped me to consider the possibility that it’s okay to be a human being and not merely a wage slave consumer with a credit score and a pie hole. I’m also that too, of course.

Reader “Hwynne” asks:

If there is a general evacuation order given by the Russian government to the residents of their major cities, can you please send your readership an “Emergency Alert” advising us of the possibility of the start of a major nuclear exchange about to start? I would be willing to pay extra for that service. Please advise.

If there is a general evacuation order I’m sure CNN will have the BREAKING NEWS ticker up before I do, but of course I’ll do my utmost to inform my readers before fleeing for my life. Free of charge.

Reader “Andy H.” asks:

Have you ever been alone in a room with Margarita Simonyan? Contextual details too please.

Some of my blog-colleagues have been spreading salacious rumors about me and RT’s editor-in-chief. Allow me to use this opportunity to set the record straight: I’ve never been alone in a room with Margarita Simonyan. The very notion that a blogger would be “alone in a room” with a woman is frankly absurd.

In all seriousness, I’ve actually never met Simonyan and I’m A-OK with that.

However, I did see her on a boat once.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was June 24, the day when Prigozhin launched his SMO against Moscow, and also the day when Ms. Simonyan stopped posting non-stop on social media because (as she later explained) she was on a boat and had no internet or cell service for 48 hours.

Millions of people accused Margarita of waiting for the dust to settle so she would know whose boots to lick. This is a very hurtful smear against her impeccable character.

I was strolling through Gorky Park on June 24 when I noticed Margarita paddling down the Moskva in a canoe. I guess she does this every week or something.

“Margarita! Hi!” I yelled at her.

“What? I can’t hear you. I’m on a boat,” she replied, as she paddled like the wind.

I’m not exactly sure how this interaction took place because I was smoking hookah in Tbilisi, Georgia on June 24. But it happened somehow. Probably thanks to magic.

These are the facts.

Cherished reader “JP” asks:

Where can a hairy man find Russia’s best borscht?

Men with and without large quantities of hair on their bodies should have no problems locating a tasty bowl of borscht in Russia. You can even try screaming “borscht!” in the street and I’m sure the police would be happy to recommend a good borscht spot once they’re done processing you at the station.

In Russia borscht is like pizza: it’s ubiquitous and rarely bad. Ironically, a lot of pizza in Russia is not so great. They put corn on it. No, I’m not joking.

But the borscht is solid.

Cherished reader “Paisios” asks:

Are there any notable Church figures in Russia who were publicly critical of the closure of Churches, masking in Churches, and any covid type procedures being done in Churches in general?

Several, and some were punished by the Church for daring to speak out against the government’s “public health” measures, which actually killed huge numbers of Russians—but that’s all water under the bridge.

Father Sergius Romanov, who publicly accused Herman Gref of waging spiritual war against Russia, was sentenced to almost 7 years in prison for “extremism” and “incitement to suicide”. Sergius’ legal troubles began after he was defrocked for his sermons and videos calling on Russians to resist Virus tyranny.

As RIA Novosti reported in January, Sergius, “found himself in the spotlight after he began to say in his sermons that COVID-19 is a ‘pseudo-pandemic’, that the authorities want to place Russians in an ‘electronic camp of Satan’, ‘are unlawfully forcing Russians into self-isolation’, and are depriving citizens of ‘freedom and work.’”

(He was also accused of refusing to vacate Church property and urging nuns at his convent to commit mass-suicide in protest after he was excommunicated.)

Sergius in one of his YouTube videos

Sergius is maybe an extreme example; there was plenty of “low key” resistance to the Church’s virus restrictions among parishioners and clergy. Once you left the city, most of these rules became optional. It was terrible in Moscow, though.

Cherished reader “Dieter Honboffer” asks:

I’d be interested in the “village Russia”—how do people make it on $1300 a year? Regular people stuff. I care little for elite culture. Like what is the vitality of the small towns and what could be done by a populist gummint

I’ve just returned from the village and will be filing a full report soon. So I ask for your patience while I type up my country tales, which will address your query in detail.

But, to summarize my findings: Village life is dirty, difficult, interesting, rewarding, exhausting, sometimes highly intoxicated, not for everyone, and beautiful but shouldn’t be over-romanticized; also, cities are prisons designed to crush your soul.

Where village cows graze (photo credit: E. Slavsquat)

Cherished reader “Michael D.” asks:

Is there a wartime mood in Russia or not really. In other words, is is the war, I mean Special Military Operation, on people’s minds as it regards them personally? Or is it just what is on the news?

This is also a topic that I plan to cover in detail in the near future. After roaming around Moscow, St. Petersburg, and several towns and villages, I can confidently say that there aren’t any obvious signs that Russia is currently engaged in a Not-War. The only clue are the millions of posters promising large cash bonuses to Russians who sign a contract with the MoD.

These posters are everywhere, in every city and town. Notice the conspicuous lack of Zs. (photo credit: E. Slavsquat)

I’ll explain my reasoning in more detail in a separate blog post, but I would not say there is a “war mood” in Russia right now. There are certainly moods, but I wouldn’t describe them as war-like.

Cherished reader “Ann K.” asks:

What are the funniest, most outlandishly decorated Russian nesting dolls you have seen?

The mecca of outlandish nesting dolls is Old Arbat, which is a very pretty but very tourist-trappy street in the center of Moscow. Probably one of the 10,000 souvenir shops on this street will have the nesting dolls of your dreams.

Anyway, to answer your question: I’d have to go with the Osama bin Laden nesting dolls. A great conversation piece for your next wine and cheese party.

Actually I just googled “outrageous nesting dolls” and this came up. Works for me.

Cherished reader “John Braby” asks:

What do we make of “The WEF is a legitimate military target”? I mean, I'm all for it. I think he should have showered Davos, but is this for Graf et al ? Or wut? …. Well I’ve been through the Sochi speech and q&a and can't find a single reference to the WEF. The People’s Voice launched this headline so I'll have to ask them....

It seems you’ve answered your own question, John. Yes, that “report” was total baloney nonsense fabricated out of thin air by Real Raw News, a website that makes stuff up and has a “satire disclaimer” on its About Page. For some reason people keep sharing and republishing these insane and 100% fake articles.

I tried my best to unpack this troubling phenomenon when people started claiming that Putin had executed all of Russia’s vaccine scientists (????????????); then I felt compelled to weigh in after Real Raw News “reported” that Putin had banned 5G, triggering all kinds of celebrations on social media.

I give up, and have passed the baton to Rurik:

BREAKING! Putin Declares WAR on Globalist NAZIS, Vows to Arrest George Soros, Charles Schwab and Tom Hanks!

Cherished reader “Andrea” asks:

Is it safe for Americans to travel to Russia right now?

Sure. I think so. Unless you are Victoria Nuland, I have no reason to believe it would be unsafe for an American to visit Russia. Just remember that you will be SWIFT-embargoed here.

Cherished reader “Tom Rockenfield” asks:

What is the take on the destruction of the Nordstream pipeline by the US? Do Russians even talk about it? Was it a big deal that has fallen off the radar or was it not really a big deal and part of a planned theatrical event?

I’m sure there are some who take personal offense to Gazprom’s pipeline being destroyed, but the vast majority of Russians do not materially benefit from oligarchs pumping Russia’s natural resources out of the country, and so I doubt most Russians care at the end of the day.

Judging from Russian-language internet forums, it seems Russians are more intrigued by the fact that Moscow wants to build a pipeline to China while leaving numerous regions in Russia “ungasified”. So it goes.

Cherished reader “ILDIKO” asks:

Do you think its a good idea to visit St Petersburg around the Xmas holidays?

Absolutely. It’s a beautiful city. Just make sure you have a Mir card or bring enough cash with you.

From a recent visit (photo credit: E. Slavsquat)

Cherished reader “streamfortyseven” asks:

How does Danill Orain keep going (see video below)?

Like not getting stuck in the Gulag? He’s in Moscow, perhaps you could interview him…

Why are you watching YouTube videos published by a Dangerous Liberal Agitator?!

My sincere hope is that the Russian government has better things to do than go after a guy with goofy hair who asks strangers questions on the street. Anyway, even if he selectively edits his videos and tries to steer conversations in a certain direction, most—if not all—of his videos contain a wide spectrum of views. I respect that.

Truth is, there are far more incendiary Russian commentators and YouTubers—and many of them are to the Right of the Kremlin.

As to why Danill isn’t languishing in a Siberian penal colony: Russia’s Thought Police strike at random. This is by design.

Arbitrarily punishing people for saying inconvenient things has a chilling effect on free speech, because if the citizenry aren’t sure what they’re allowed to say they probably won’t say anything at all. It works the same in your own country, I’m sure.

(Freedom of expression is guaranteed in Russia’s constitution but of course that’s just a piece of paper that can be ignored.)

Cherished reader “Lil’ Kremlin” asks:

Is the “non-full, slightly-partial mobilization” still going on in the form of random people being quietly picked up off the streets, or is it pretty much back to pre September 21st, 2022 vibes in Moscow? What's the general mood there, are fresh fears being stoked? Asking for a friend who was asking me for his friend’s friend.

Also some libs told me “Вкусно и Точка” (“Tasty and that’s it”) tastes worse than McDonald’s, but even some of their lib friends thought they’re biased asf. Any way to test “real McDonald’s” vs “Вкусно и точка”, or just sample the menu and go off memory—would be great!

From what I can tell, “quiet” mobilization in the regions has ended and the MoD is now relying on contract soldiers to fill its ranks. They’re offering quite a tidy sum too, especially when you consider that Russians who don’t live in Moscow or St. Petersburg are typically making 20-30k rubles/month.

I honestly don’t see strong evidence of the Russian government preparing the population for “fresh fears” or an “escalation” or whatever. On the contrary, it seems that a conscious effort is being made to keep the Not War out of the spotlight. As I mentioned earlier, I’ll have more to say on this topic in a future blog post.

As for the second part of your question: Okay, fine. I tried it. I ate a cheeseburger from Вкусно и Точка. The things I do for you people. The suffering and diarrhea you cause me.

I liked the digital diabetes kiosks. Very convenient.

I can almost see my reflection in that chemical grease

I don’t remember the last time I was at a McDonald’s so I have no point of reference.

But I didn’t die so 3 out of 5 stars.

The End.

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