Browsing Tag
Soviet
14 posts
Why post-Soviet cities look so terrible, and how this can be fixed
Сertain districts in Ukrainian cities are more frequently the subject of local anecdotes than others. Amongst these are…
Rebellion against uniformity: documentary explores phenomenon of Ukraine’s hodgepodge balconies
The visuals — frightening, ugly, yet still somehow charming monolith apartment blocks — are the key elements of…
1990s last time when Soviet faith in sudden transformation was widespread in Russia, Kuznetsov says
“For many people of the older generation,” he writes, “any promise of a bright future or talks that…
Khrushchovka apartments: the French dream that became a Soviet reality
When Nikita Khrushchev, the ruler of the USSR in the 1950’s visited France, he had no idea that…
Documents reveal Soviet repressions against those resisting Holodomor genocidal famine
Previously unknown documents reveal the scale of Soviet repression against peasant dissenters against collectivization and forced expulsion of…
Will Russia soon cease to have a President… and have a Chairman or Tsar instead?
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the outrageous but often leading indicator of Kremlin plans, sang the Russian Imperial anthem “God Save…
Before and after: metamorphoses of Soviet architecture
Soviet architecture is notorious for its unappealing, monotonous appearance. The standardized multi-apartment blocks were designed for a classless…
Putin government now behaves like ‘any other occupation regime,’ Moscow commentator says
With its plans to reintroduce the Soviet tax on “parasites” and to restrict travel abroad, the Putin regime…
Soviet myths about World War II and their role in contemporary Russian propaganda
We often can understand what is happening today by looking at history. However, in the hands of Russian…
Ten myths about decommunization in Ukraine
On April 9, 2015, four laws of the so-called “decommunization package” were passed by the Ukrainian Parliament. These laws…
Defending decommunization: expert answers criticism
EP: The bills have met both criticism and approval, abroad and in Ukraine. How do you think Ukrainian…
Soviet dissident: Putin’s Russia like cockroaches, most petrified of the light
Today, I got a unique opportunity to talk with Pavel Mikhailovich Litvinov, one of the Seven who came…
Putin on Ukraine repeats Molotov on Finland
1) Putin on Ukraine and NATO = Molotov on Finland and “imperialists” Essentially, Putin repeats Molotov’s words. See…
Russian Interior Ministry wants to restore Stalin-style ‘Troikas’ to speed up ‘justice’
The Russian interior ministry wants to revive the troikas Stalin used to conduct the purges in the 1930s…