vkontakte

Vkontakte (VK) is to Russia what Facebook is to Britain and America, and more besides...

Small Shops

For a lot of Russians, supermarkets are not the first port of call for their shopping. Instead, they tend to use smaller shops.

Open all hours

Tales of Russian Banks #1

One day, three intrepid teachers ventured into a bank in search of travellers cheques - even then an anachronistic means of cash transfer, but the best way for us in Russia in 2006. We left feeling lucky to escape with our lives...

Banking in Russia

I've never had a bank account in Russia (was paid cash and left to trust that it was all above board on the employer's part - Russia... what could possibly go wrong?!). I did have dealings with banks though for money transfers, currency exchanges and buying travellers cheques. If you only know British banks, those friendly places with smiling staff and complimentary tea or coffee, you're in for a shock...

Football: CSKA Moscow v Spartak Moscow (24/09/05)

I'd worked in Russia a year before I got to see my first match over there.

The Dinamo Stadium's imposing floodlights in the background.

Racism in Russia

Football-related incidents bring issues of racism in Russia to the attention of more people. But that sadly is not the limit of the problem's scope: according to the Levada Center, 28% of Russians feel hostility towards other ethnicities, 34% think that non-Russians hold varying degrees of responsible for Russia's problems, 45% have negative feelings towards people from 'southern republics' and 56% agree with fully or partially implementing policies of 'Russia for Russians'.

No to Halloween

With the end of October fast approaching and the accompanying annual festival, it is only appropriate that Russian politicians come up with some of their own appropriately creepy ideas. Russia Today reports on one such suggestion from the Public Chamber.