Nezavisimaya Gazeta
Anna Chapman leaves home to run for parliament
Russian “spy” Anna Chapman is planning to run for parliament from a region other than Volgograd because of her dwindling popularity in her native city.
The alleged intelligence agent turned TV host seems to have lost confidence in her home city of Volgograd. A source in the local branch of the ruling United Russia party said party chiefs were considering relocating Chapman’s planned bid for parliament to a different region.
The original plan was to have her run on the Volgograd United Russia ballot, which seemed an obvious choice, given that she was born and grew up there. She also enjoyed public support there last summer after she was arrested in the United States on espionage charges.
She returned to Volgograd in early February for her first campaign trip. She met with the local branch of United Russia’s Young Guard movement and other youth activists and carried out a successful fundraising campaign to help a girl suffering from a severe eye disease. She unveiled plans to set up a children’s support foundation, which was to be the highlight of her election campaign.
However, after neglecting her home city in favor of the bright lights of Moscow for the past two months, her popularity rating has now frozen at 1%. She has probably had second thoughts about running for Volgograd, given that United Russia’s position is currently rather weak there. Political analyst Andrei Mironov said the party’s rapidly falling rating might jeopardize Chapman’s chances in the elections.
It is possible that Chapman’s change of heart was prompted by the resignation of Volgograd Region’s information chief, Alexander Yuzhny. His information policy and open support of United Russia would have given her a certain advantage. Incidentally, opposition parties in Volgograd have long lobbied for his resignation.
It is yet unclear which region Chapman will choose for a more successful campaign. It will probably become clearer after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s planned visit to the region on April 6 to chair a regional United Russia conference, which Chapman is expected to attend.
Moskovsky Komsomolets
United Russia criticizes modernization policy
Usually, members of the United Russia party meet after Vladimir Putin’s policy speeches to discuss what he said. So it is all the more surprising that Thursday’s meeting, which followed a key Putin speech on Wednesday, prioritized tourist industry development. Analysts tried to second guess what was afoot: surely party members were not so absorbed in “conservative modernization” and vacillating between the two members of the ruling tandem, that they could not summon up the courage to discuss the party leader’s speech?
The reality proved even more amusing. The party faithful were executing a rather clumsy PR initiative, as creative department head Yury Shuvalov said: “Having heard Putin’s report, the opposition started making groundless accusations. Our response is that we are working methodically through our agenda. Getting things done. Today: tourism.”
They tackled tourism, but there was more to it. “We have to preserve our national identity, so people want to come here. Otherwise tourists will lose interest; there’ll be nothing new for them to discover. Putin is guiding us along this sovereign road,” said Irina Yarovaya, adding “Now, by discussing tourism not politics, we are displaying our confidence in the future, in the fact that Russia will attract tourists.”
“Investors will not be afraid to invest in Russia because we guarantee at least another decade of stability and competent government. There will be no vacillation,” lawmaker Yury Sverdlov promised.
Then came something sensational. Igor Dyomin, editor in chief of the party paper Russian Conservative, slammed Dmitry Medvedev’s entire modernization policy. He started by the book – with tourism: “Why do we love visiting Europe?” His explanation lay in the fact that the Old World modernization theory of the 1950s never caught on in Europe, which instead evolved gradually. Attempts to put it into practice in Latin America failed. “What happens if we apply this modernization theory to Russia when all the markets have been apportioned?” Demin asked. “Take mass production of the Yo-Mobile. There is no market space for it. We sell other products, hydrocarbons, abroad. That’s our only way into those markets. Pavlovsky and Dvorkovich’s modernization is a revolution: talking, Socialist-style, of creating heaven on Earth ends up making things even worse. They want to wreck traditions and real markets. Pavlovsky is convinced that eating fish soup on Thursdays will get us there, and is imposing that idea on the president and society. That’s the tourism I want to talk about.”
“The tourism industry means we can preserve our national culture and traditional conservative values,” Shuvalov added.
Parliamentarian and former submariner Vladimir Gruzdev believes United Russia and its leader have helped expand the sector. “Our social programs have made people wealthier and enabled them to travel. That is why so many tourist industry specialists are here today at this round-table discussion.” The numerous tourist operators and insurance company representatives present looked surprised, unable to understand what was happening. They thought they would be discussing amendments to the federal law “On the Foundations of Travel Business Activity.”
RBC Daily
The French will kill Russian vodka
Throughout the world, vodka is traditionally considered a Russian drink. It is of course, also made in Poland, Scandinavia and the United States. But only Russian-made vodka can claim authenticity and unbeaten quality. Yet over the past decade its position has been shaken. And the French are to blame.
France has been producing very high quality drinks for centuries, primarily cognac, but also Armagnac, calvados and herbal liqueurs. Recently, elite vodka joined this list.
The idea originated outside France in the mid-1990s when U.S. businessman Sidney Frank set out to create an ultra-premium vodka with a “shining” taste. A vodka not just for drinking, but for enjoying too. This marked the birth of the Grey Goose concept, which has reigned triumphant for 15 years.
Others soon followed suit. Among the most interesting brands of recent years are Ed Hardy and Trapeznikoff. The first is named after the Tattoo King, Ed Hardy. Modern designer Christian Audigier developed the brand’s aesthetic concept: bottles featuring darkly bewitching tattoo pictures. The second brand was created by Russian, Sergei Trapeznikoff. It features Russian motifs – a white and blue color scheme reminiscent of Russian winter – and characteristic names like “Winter Palace” or “Men’s Hockey.”
The overwhelming majority of elite French vodkas are produced in Cognac Province, which has a long-standing tradition of distillation. Wheat, rye and barley grown in the best grain regions of France go into making the alcohol. Five-time distillation gives the vodka a mellow and sweetish flavor. The alcohol is diluted with water from natural springs.
Occasionally, new concepts are launched on the market. A few weeks ago, Liquoristerie de Provence started making vodka from grapes. It is distilled in rectification columns, like grain vodka. The process strips the alcohol of its offensive characteristics, but maintains its wonderful softness and striking aroma.
Modern French vodkas of the ultra-premium class boast a well-distinguishable and recognizable flavor. They possess a very clear and fresh taste, suggestive of traces of almond, honey and white flowers. These vodkas melt in the mouth, leaving a gentle aftertaste.
Another key feature of top French vodkas is that they can be drunk warm, like cognac or calvados, in small sips. Usually, they are savored without food. This makes Gallic vodka conceptually much closer to quality cognac than to its Russian cousin. Yet this is what seems to make it so popular outside France.
RIA Novosti is not responsible for the content of outside sources.
