Unpacking Russia's performance at the 76th World Health Assembly
https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/moscows-who-masochism
Edward Slavsquat
Moscow's WHO masochism
Unpacking Russia's performance at the 76th World Health Assembly
St. Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov has extended COVID restrictions in the city until August 31. The "public health" measures include a ban on holding public rallies without special permission. [source: dp.ru]
“Ekaterina”, an expat and longtime Russia resident who gave up the comforts of the city for the blood, sweat, and kefir of village existence, detailed her quest for self-sufficiency in an exclusive interview with yours truly.
https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/living-off-the-land-in-rural-russia
Substack
Living off the land in rural Russia
An expat villager shares her journey of Russian self-sufficiency
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has introduced new "public health measures". In 10 districts of the Russian capital, public events with animals are now prohibited, as well as the transportation of birds, hatching eggs, and bird feed. Agricultural fairs (farmers markets, etc.) have also been banned. Goodbye COVID, hello bird flu? 🫠🥂 [source: News.ru / Mos.ru]
**The rift between Western “alt media” and Russian “alt media” is so massive that it’s almost as if they’re talking about two different wars. And they are. The problem is, only one of these wars actually exists. Which one?
All I ask for is a level playing field, where we can all work together, in good-faith and good cheer, to answer the elusive question: What the heck is going on in Ukraine?** https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/maybe-prigozhin-is-just-really-stressed
Edward Slavsquat
Maybe Prigozhin is just really stressed out?
Russian pundits say Prigozhin is stating the obvious, while Western "alt media" insists he's just stressed and needs a rest. There's a lesson here, somewhere.
Oil-for-rupees update: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has confirmed that Russian companies have "billions of rupees" stuck in Indian bank accounts: "We need to use this money, but for this, rupees must be converted into other currencies. This is being discussed." He said negotiations about settlements in rupees have run into problems, but haven't been completely abandoned. 🤷♂️ [Kommersant]
Do not feel sad about the end of oil-for-rupees. It was an awe-inspiring scam. https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/russias-de-dollarized-trade-with
Edward Slavsquat
Russia's "de-dollarized trade" with India is a face-melting farce
Good riddance to oil-for-rupees, the biggest scam of 2023 (so far)
**Herman Gref—colloquially known as “Russia’s friendliest banker”, “Klaus Schwab’s rentboy”, or sometimes “the Kabbalah-scholar who funded safe and effective Sputnik V”—has a friendly new chat bot.
Its name? GigaChat.** https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/gigachat-grefs-chat-bot-is-already
Edward Slavsquat
GigaChat: Gref's chat bot is already terrorizing Russia
Sber's "alternative to ChatGPT" is ... Russophobic?
Can we start discussing the realities of this conflict in a more open way, without the in-group amnesia and stubborn denialism (from all Sides)?
Aren’t people tired of the perpetual “just two more weeks” news loop—a phenomenon we’ve seen before, and one that definitely lasted longer than just two weeks? https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/russias-smo-a-timeline-of-premonitions
Edward Slavsquat
Russia's SMO: A timeline of premonitions
Warnings from pro-military hardliners were ignored. Is it time to start listening?
Igor Strelkov’s Angry Patriots Club (КРП) has published a list of questions it has about Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Most of their questions are highly pertinent; some of them are a bit superfluous; a few—in your correspondent’s humble opinion—are misguided and a bit silly.
But we decided to publish them all in hopes of starting a dialogue, and (this is really too hopeful) widening the abysmally narrow Overton Window that is asphyxiating “alternative media” coverage of this increasingly bizarre and precarious conflict. https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/39-questions-about-the-war-in-ukraine
Edward Slavsquat
39 questions about the war in Ukraine
From Russia's Angry Patriots Club. For your consideration.
