Latest news with #SummerinMoscow
Hans India
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
India and Russia reaffirm commitment to strengthen cultural ties
Delhi: India and Russia on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral cultural and tourism ties during a high-level meeting held in New Delhi between Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Denis Alipov, the Ambassador of Russia to India. The discussions were focused on enhancing India's participation in upcoming cultural events in Russia, and broadening the scope of bilateral cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian realm. Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), were also present at the meeting. "On July 18, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov met with Indian Minister of Culture and Tourism G S Shekhawat. During the conversation, issues of bilateral humanitarian cooperation and intercultural dialogue, as well as prospects for expanding tourist exchange between the two countries were discussed," the Russian Embassy in India posted on X. The meeting was part of a broader diplomatic agenda to deepen cultural dialogue and facilitate greater people-to-people ties between the two nations. Both the sides expressed their interests in developing sustained engagement through joint cultural initiatives as well as boosting bilateral tourism. A nine-day 'Bharat Utsav' – or Festival of India - was recently held in Moscow's Manezhnaya Square from July 5-13, celebrating India's rich culture, yoga, cuisine and crafts. The event was held as part of the major project 'Summer in Moscow', that brought together the Russian capital's most vibrant events – more than 1,000 festivals and cultural events, workshops, sports and educational activities. India and Russia have deep and historic cultural linkages. The famous Russian artist and philosopher Nicholas Roerich eventually settled in Himachal Pradesh. Writers like Leo Tolstoy and Alexander Pushkin had a profound influence on Indian literature and thought. Leading Russian universities and institutions teach Indian languages. Indian cinema was especially popular in the Soviet period with screenings in most major cities and urban centres. The popularity and ubiquity of Indian movies and actors is remembered fondly even today. Yoga is also immensely popular across Russia.
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
In Putin's Moscow, a summer of death and distraction
WATCH RUSSIAN television or listen to Vladimir Putin's chilling speeches, and Russia is a besieged fortress, struggling to preserve humanity against the decadent West, defending the traditional values of family life, and defying death by its readiness to sacrifice life. Walk on Moscow streets, however, and it looks nothing like a city in the grip of a death cult. But neither did Berlin in the early 1940s, with its entertainments, consumption and comforts. PREMIUM Russia's President Vladimir Putin.(Reuters) The Russian capital is enjoying a three-month festival called 'Summer in Moscow'. It has been masterminded by Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor, and implemented by a team of young designers. Most of it is free. Pink, white and blue petunias in pots, amphitheatres of wildflower boxes and exotic plants fill every space. 'The city looks like one giant flower bed,' says Tatyana Malkina, a journalist. The centre is a display of paradisical life, with gardens, verandas, open-air classes in cooking and painting, artisanal ice-cream stations and pétanque and tennis. The festival is the culmination of years of renovation and infrastructure improvements. Around the Kremlin a horse-shoe ring of boulevards has become a chain of open-air stages: operetta on Tverskoy, art shows on Strastnoy, circus on Tsvetnoy. All this co-exists alongside an intensifying ideological campaign. On June 12th, Russia Day, Mr Putin surveyed military men and women in the Kremlin's columned Hall of the Order of St Catherine. 'The meaning of today', he told them, 'lies in the immortality of the Russian people, our state, our motherland, Russia. And the road to this immortality lies through the victories you and your comrades-in-arms are blazing.' A female officer replied by extolling 'the moral purity of the army and…of the life of our people in the country'. Repression is tightening, too. On June 29th the Kremlin published a new order which classifies any preparations for the mobilisation of society or institutions as a state secret. It also prohibits sharing data from vast areas of civilian-state interaction, from trade to science. Contact with the West is perilous. Prison sentences of up to eight years chill debate. The prominence of ideology in Russia has increased in proportion to the number of Russian casualties from the war in Ukraine. But unlike communism or fascism, the besetting ideologies of the 20th century, Mr Putin's surrogate offers no vision of the future. It consists of ultra-conservative, anti-Western, militaristic and millenarian tenets. The function of this ideology is to legitimise the war and the growing size of Russia's cemeteries. Mr Putin argues there is a civilisational struggle against the depraved West. The futile deaths are heroic feats. 'Allegiance to ideology is a marker of loyalty to the regime, not a matter of conviction,' one Moscow entrepreneur explains. The paradox is that while the war requires ideology it also depends on distraction. Russia's vast contract army has allowed it to avoid wide-scale compulsory mobilisation so far. For many the war is fought 'somewhere over there' by people who freely signed contracts and have been paid to die, says Alexei Venediktov, the editor of the now-banned Ekho Moskvy radio station. Massive payouts to soldiers and their families drive consumption. With limited options to spend abroad, Moscow is a mecca for internal tourism. 'Inside the Boulevard Ring, you must not remember there is a war going on and you must see that paradise on earth has already arrived,' a 37-year-old Muscovite says. She tells a new joke: 'Please God, I don't ask for much—just to be a contractor for Summer in Moscow.' With the outsourcing of the fighting to a contract army manned by recruits from the poorer provinces, Mr Putin is able to keep his capital free of signs of war. This allows him to accommodate the bureaucratic elite, which is overwhelmingly concentrated in the city and has no taste for traditionalism or the cult of death. Isolated again as it was during the cold war, and with the economy teetering on the brink of recession, the city demonstrates Russia's resilience and its superiority over Europe's capitals, with their dirty streets and crumbling infrastructure. Mr Putin remembers that the elites abandoned the Soviet regime when it failed to provide the lifestyle and goods available in the West. More than ever consumption, repression and war are simultaneous. Memories of past conflicts have been redacted. Bolotnaya Square, the site of anti-Putin rallies in 2011-12, hosts free creative and sporting events for the young. A statue of Pushkin, a focal point for protests since Soviet times, is fenced off by newly planted cypresses. The shrine to Boris Nemtsov, a liberal politician who was killed in 2015 by the Kremlin, is overwhelmed by a flower arrangement. Muscovites are well aware of the schizophrenia. Alexandra Astakhova, a photographer, says the experience is psychedelic. 'You can walk along beautifully decorated streets, then turn the corner and see a line of people outside a prison queuing up to hand parcels to those who have been jailed for protesting against the war.' While some 300,000 have fled the city, most have stayed. Their voices are rarely heard. Dmitry Muratov, a 2021 Nobel peace prize laureate, says, 'People with whom I live and work in Moscow are stripped of their right to protest, other than their last word in court before they are sentenced. They have no possibility to express their repulsion at the bloodshed.' One journalist says that neither she nor her friends participate in the masquerade. But they take some comfort from the fact that the city is full of flowers and verandas rather than the swastika-like 'Z' symbol of the war and checkpoints. 'The mayor could be running around the city with an assault rifle hunting draft-dodgers. He isn't. He emphatically chooses life over death—as he understands it, which is pitifully narrow.' Summers in Russia are short. Come autumn, the stages will be dismantled and the flowers removed. No one knows what next year's performance will look like. For now, people are living the only life they have and doing their best to ignore Mr Putin's obsessions.
Daily Tribune
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Moscow parties on despite Ukraine drone attacks
A red Ferrari glides by as techno music blasts from fancy bars full of dressed-up revellers sipping ice-cold spritz. The party is in full swing in Moscow's posh Patriarch Ponds neighbourhood. Even though Ukraine has recently intensified its drone attacks aimed at the vibrant Russian capital, the wealthy Muscovites heading out for Friday night are barely bothered. "No-one cares," said Kirill, a 27-year-old with a black beard and sunglasses. "People have too much work and too many worries to pay attention," Kirill, who has a job in real estate, told AFP. The city has been largely spared from the consequences of the large-scale offensive launched by President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine more than three years ago. Ukraine has been targeted by daily Russian bombardment, and air raid sirens and strikes are part of normal life in Kyiv, where several attacks have killed people there in recent months. Ukraine has launched hundreds of drones at Moscow over the past month, escalating its targeting of the Russian capital. With most intercepted over the surrounding region, there has been little material damage, although one hit an apartment block in the city last week. The skies above the capital are shut every time a barrage is launched, leading to regular disruptions to air traffic. And deadly strikes are not unheard of. In March a massive attack on the city's outskirts killed three people. - 'Stay calm' - Ukraine's air space has been completely closed since February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its offensive, sending troops across the border and firing volleys of missiles at Ukrainian cities. In Kyiv, Russian strikes regularly kill civilians, and residents take shelter during particularly intense bombardments. But in Moscow, there are no air raid sirens and no rush to shelters when drones are detected. Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov has simply urged Russians to "try to remain calm" in the event of an attack. "Panic always disorients," he was quoted as saying by Russian media last week, noting the publication of brochures with "recommendations". Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin is busy preparing "Summer in Moscow", a cultural and sporting programme. His office did not respond to an AFP request about measures being taken by the city in response to the more frequent drone attacks. Unlike at the beginning of the conflict, posters calling for people to join the army have become few and far between in Moscow, as have portraits of "heroes" who have fallen on the Ukrainian front. At a trendy restaurant near Patriarch's Ponds, Zhanna said she had no intention of letting "her good mood be spoiled" by following the news. "There are a lot of lies ... Everyone has their own truth," the 29-year-old Muscovite said. And the drones? "I'm sure they'll be eliminated. I'm calm," said Zhanna, who declined to give her surname as is often the case when Russians are asked about the conflict. - 'We'll get used to it' - There is also little sign that inflation -- running at around 10 percent -- is sapping the mood in one of the country's most plush districts. Tables are as crowded as ever in the restaurants that line the streets, where a mushroom risotto goes for 1,980 rubles ($25) and a truffle pizza for 2,290 rubles ($30) -- big sums for most Russians. An SUV drove by, windows rolled down, with a Z sticker on the side. The letter is a symbol of support for Russia's offensive on Ukraine -- a conflict that has killed tens of thousands. The streets are packed with affluent young people and a handful of foreign tourists. Marina, 43, walked with a determined stride. She said she was opposed to the conflict and was "not afraid" of drones, which "we will probably get used to". What worried her is the business she has lost. "But it's not because of the war. It's because I left my husband," Marina said, using the word "war" even though Russian authorities still call the conflict a "special military operation". And then, she said, there are the economic sanctions "that we are all feeling". "Have you seen the inflation? Have you seen the prices?" she asked.
Nahar Net
03-06-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
Moscow parties on despite Ukraine drone attacks
by Naharnet Newsdesk 03 June 2025, 16:28 A red Ferrari glides by as techno music blasts from fancy bars full of dressed-up revelers sipping ice-cold spritz. The party is in full swing in Moscow's posh Patriarch Ponds neighborhood. Even though Ukraine has recently intensified its drone attacks aimed at the vibrant Russian capital, the wealthy Muscovites heading out for Friday night are barely bothered. "No-one cares," said Kirill, a 27-year-old with a black beard and sunglasses. "People have too much work and too many worries to pay attention," Kirill, who has a job in real estate, told AFP. The city has been largely spared from the consequences of the large-scale offensive launched by President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine more than three years ago. Ukraine has been targeted by daily Russian bombardment, and air raid sirens and strikes are part of normal life in Kyiv, where several attacks have killed people there in recent months. Ukraine has launched hundreds of drones at Moscow over the past month, escalating its targeting of the Russian capital. With most intercepted over the surrounding region, there has been little material damage, although one hit an apartment block in the city last week. The skies above the capital are shut every time a barrage is launched, leading to regular disruptions to air traffic. And deadly strikes are not unheard of. In March a massive attack on the city's outskirts killed three people. - 'Stay calm' - Ukraine's air space has been completely closed since February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its offensive, sending troops across the border and firing volleys of missiles at Ukrainian cities. In Kyiv, Russian strikes regularly kill civilians, and residents take shelter during particularly intense bombardments. But in Moscow, there are no air raid sirens and no rush to shelters when drones are detected. Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov has simply urged Russians to "try to remain calm" in the event of an attack. "Panic always disorients," he was quoted as saying by Russian media last week, noting the publication of brochures with "recommendations". Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin is busy preparing "Summer in Moscow", a cultural and sporting program. His office did not respond to an AFP request about measures being taken by the city in response to the more frequent drone attacks. Unlike at the beginning of the conflict, posters calling for people to join the army have become few and far between in Moscow, as have portraits of "heroes" who have fallen on the Ukrainian front. At a trendy restaurant near Patriarch's Ponds, Zhanna said she had no intention of letting "her good mood be spoiled" by following the news. "There are a lot of lies ... Everyone has their own truth," the 29-year-old Muscovite said. And the drones? "I'm sure they'll be eliminated. I'm calm," said Zhanna, who declined to give her surname as is often the case when Russians are asked about the conflict. - 'We'll get used to it' - There is also little sign that inflation -- running at around 10 percent -- is sapping the mood in one of the country's most plush districts. Tables are as crowded as ever in the restaurants that line the streets, where a mushroom risotto goes for 1,980 rubles ($25) and a truffle pizza for 2,290 rubles ($30) -- big sums for most Russians. An SUV drove by, windows rolled down, with a Z sticker on the side. The letter is a symbol of support for Russia's offensive on Ukraine -- a conflict that has killed tens of thousands. The streets are packed with affluent young people and a handful of foreign tourists. Marina, 43, walked with a determined stride. She said she was opposed to the conflict and was "not afraid" of drones, which "we will probably get used to". What worried her is the business she has lost. "But it's not because of the war. It's because I left my husband," Marina said, using the word "war" even though Russian authorities still call the conflict a "special military operation". And then, she said, there are the economic sanctions "that we are all feeling". "Have you seen the inflation? Have you seen the prices?" she asked.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Moscow parties on despite Ukraine drone attacks
MOSCOW: A red Ferrari glides by as techno music blasts from fancy bars full of dressed-up revellers sipping ice-cold spritz. The party is in full swing in Moscow's posh Patriarch Ponds neighbourhood. Even though Ukraine has recently intensified its drone attacks aimed at the vibrant Russian capital, the wealthy Muscovites heading out for Friday night are barely bothered. 'No-one cares,' said Kirill, a 27-year-old with a black beard and sunglasses. 'People have too much work and too many worries to pay attention,' Kirill, who has a job in real estate, told AFP. The city has been largely spared from the consequences of the large-scale offensive launched by President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine more than three years ago. Ukraine has been targeted by daily Russian bombardment, and air raid sirens and strikes are part of normal life in Kyiv, where several attacks have killed people there in recent months. Ukraine has launched hundreds of drones at Moscow over the past month, escalating its targeting of the Russian capital. With most intercepted over the surrounding region, there has been little material damage, although one hit an apartment block in the city last week. The skies above the capital are shut every time a barrage is launched, leading to regular disruptions to air traffic. And deadly strikes are not unheard of. In March a massive attack on the city's outskirts killed three people. - 'Stay calm' - Ukraine's air space has been completely closed since February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its offensive, sending troops across the border and firing volleys of missiles at Ukrainian cities. In Kyiv, Russian strikes regularly kill civilians, and residents take shelter during particularly intense bombardments. But in Moscow, there are no air raid sirens and no rush to shelters when drones are detected. Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov has simply urged Russians to 'try to remain calm' in the event of an attack. 'Panic always disorients,' he was quoted as saying by Russian media last week, noting the publication of brochures with 'recommendations'. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin is busy preparing 'Summer in Moscow', a cultural and sporting programme. His office did not respond to an AFP request about measures being taken by the city in response to the more frequent drone attacks. Unlike at the beginning of the conflict, posters calling for people to join the army have become few and far between in Moscow, as have portraits of 'heroes' who have fallen on the Ukrainian front. At a trendy restaurant near Patriarch's Ponds, Zhanna said she had no intention of letting 'her good mood be spoiled' by following the news. 'There are a lot of lies ... Everyone has their own truth,' the 29-year-old Muscovite said. And the drones? 'I'm sure they'll be eliminated. I'm calm,' said Zhanna, who declined to give her surname as is often the case when Russians are asked about the conflict. - 'We'll get used to it' - There is also little sign that inflation -- running at around 10 percent -- is sapping the mood in one of the country's most plush districts. Tables are as crowded as ever in the restaurants that line the streets, where a mushroom risotto goes for 1,980 rubles ($25) and a truffle pizza for 2,290 rubles ($30) -- big sums for most Russians. An SUV drove by, windows rolled down, with a Z sticker on the side. The letter is a symbol of support for Russia's offensive on Ukraine -- a conflict that has killed tens of thousands. The streets are packed with affluent young people and a handful of foreign tourists. Marina, 43, walked with a determined stride. She said she was opposed to the conflict and was 'not afraid' of drones, which 'we will probably get used to'. What worried her is the business she has lost. 'But it's not because of the war. It's because I left my husband,' Marina said, using the word 'war' even though Russian authorities still call the conflict a 'special military operation'. And then, she said, there are the economic sanctions 'that we are all feeling'. 'Have you seen the inflation? Have you seen the prices?' she asked.
