Russia and Vodka: A History Primer
Before you pour your ritual Friday evening shot of cold vodka, read this. There’s more to Russia’s favorite spirit than you think!
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What Will Russia Do With Its Giant World Cup Stadiums?
The hosts have been left with a herd of white elephants.
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Russian Deputies Prioritize Visa-Free Entry Law for World Cup Fans
Russia will allow the 806,000 holders of Fan IDs multi-entry travel without visas until the end of the year.
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Foreigners Spent $1.5Bln in Russia During World Cup, Bank Says
An estimated 3 million foreigners visited the 11 host cities of the tournament this summer.
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In the Emperors’ Closets
The new Costume Gallery at the Hermitage Museum brings old clothes to light.
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Russia Struggles to Mourn the Romanovs 100 Years On (Op-ed)
There is still no national consensus on the legacy and death of the last royal family.
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France Shuts Trade Agency in Russia Over Worsening Conditions
Business France complained about deteriorating working conditions and illegal seizures on its bank accounts.
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Moscow Museums and the World Cup
Check out these five football-themed exhibits at Moscow’s greatest museums and galleries and keep the World Cup spirit alive a little longer.
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Celebrate Life and Art with Anatoly Zverev
The AZ (Anatoly Zverev) Museum is celebrating its third anniversary with a gift for us: three floors of Zverev’s joyful, playful, masterful works. Don’t miss it.
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The Most Memorable Moments of Russia’s World Cup, In Photos
Russia’s World Cup may be over, but iconic images of the tournament’s highs and lows offer a chance to relive the most exciting moments.
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Insider Shopping in St. Petersburg
Traditional souvenir shops selling matryoshka dolls, amber jewelry and fur hats are easy to spot in St. Petersburg. But where do the locals go to find a special gift? Check out our favorite insider shops.
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In the World Cup Friend Zone, Tinder Rules
A surge in Tinder matches during the World Cup has some Russians unusually spoiled for choice.
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FIFA: Near-Perfect Fan Attendance at World Cup 2018
FIFA says it has recorded a near-perfect attendance rate at World Cup games in Russia this summer.
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What to Expect From The Helsinki Summit (Op-ed)
The Kremlin’s expectations are high — too high, given the limited scope of the discussion.
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Kokoshniki Are Russia’s Latest Inside Joke
The traditional headdresses became a hit after a Russian family wearing them and munching on hot dogs became a widespread meme.
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Meeting Russians in the Regions Will Be My World Cup Souvenir (Op-ed)
I glimpsed lives I hadn’t known existed but nonetheless felt remarkably familiar.
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Retired Opposition Mayor Yevgeny Roizman Predicts a Crackdown
The end of the World Cup will bring Russia back to a harsh reality.
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Thanks For the (Linguistic) Memories
Foreigners leave Russia with kokoshniki and happy memories. What do they leave behind? Words, of course!
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No Positive Doping Tests at Russia’s World Cup
There have been no positive results from over 3,000 anti-doping tests carried out before and during the World Cup, FIFA said.
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World Cup Nostalgia: A Russia We’ve Not Seen Before
The World Cup is not even over and Russians are already full of nostalgia for a time when, it seemed, everything was possible.
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Russia Expects 15 Percent Foreign Tourism Boost After World Cup
The World Cup will boost tourism as fans head home and spread the word that they had a great time, said the deputy prime minister.
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The English Stamp on Moscow’s History
Three architectural spots spanning four centuries represent the long history of England in Moscow
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Russian Roots Bring Sony Gold
Genndy Tartakovsky’s third vampire animated feature hits the theaters everywhere in the world this week, including Russia.
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Medical Staff for Russian Team Argue ‘Smelling Salts Are Legal’
Medical staff with Russia’s national team have denied allegations that the country’s players took substances to increase
their fitness levels.
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their fitness levels.
Russia’s Only Foreign-Born Player Thanks Fans
“I thank God for having brought me to Russia,” defender Mario Fernandes wrote on Instagram.
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FIFA: Russia Sets Bar High for Qatar 2022 World Cup
FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said on Wednesday that Russia’s staging of the football World Cup had set the bar high for Qatar, the tournament’s next hosts in 2022.
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Russian Comedian Who Mocked Team Apologizes for Skepticism
Semyon Slepakov, a famous Russian singer-songwriter who wrote a parody song about the country’s dismal chances in the World Cup, has now released a statement thanking the team and apologizing for his earlier skepticism.
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Croatian Player Sparks War of Words With Pro-Ukrainian Video Statement
FIFA has sanctioned a Croatian football player and coach for making pro-Ukrainian statements after their team’s victory over Russia in the World Cup on Saturday.
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More Than 30 Female Journalists Harassed on Air During World Cup
The Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network also identified 30 fans accused of perpetrating acts of sexism on the streets.
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Great Belgian, English, and French Joints in Moscow (Waiting on Croatian)
Every semifinalist is already a winner, and you can celebrate your team’s success at these fantastic pubs and restaurants.
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Conspiracy Theories Make the World Cup Go Round
The World Cup has been fodder for conspiracy theorists with Putin at their center.
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Russian Enough, but for How Long?
Will Russia still be friendly to foreigners after the World Cup? I hope so.
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Hear Arvo Pärt in Moscow
This Estonian composer is the most played living composer in the world.
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Mural of Russia Coach Defaced, Restored After World Cup Loss
The Hoodgraff street artists who were responsible for the original mural updated the installation, depicting the gruff coach instead giving a salute.
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Far and Wide: The Secret Life of Goalposts
Who says football pitches are flat and green, that goalposts are made out of metal and that fields are made for playing football?
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With Russia Out of the Tournament, Hosts’ World Cup Fever Wanes
Russian social media compared the remaining teams in the tournament to guests who stay at a party after the host has gone to bed.
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Essential Reading for Russophiles
The history of the improbable English-language Odessa Review.
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Overzealous Regulators Are Closing in on Russian Universities (Op-ed)
Mountains of pointless paperwork are making it nearly impossible for independent universities to survive.
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Russia’s World Cup Sparks Old Fears of Abandoned Mothers and ‘Festival Children’
Some in the host nation are worried what will happen nine months after foreign fans leave.
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Croatia’s Football Federation Sacks Coaching Staff Member Over Ukraine Message
Croatia’s Football Federation (HNS) sacked Ognjen Vukojevic, a member of the national team’s coaching staff, over a «glory to Ukraine» video posted after Croatia beat Russia in the World Cup quarter-finals, HNS said in a statement
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FIFA: Russian Team World Cup’s Best Defenders So Far
The team, led by Coach Stanislav Cherchesov, scored the third largest number of goals of all competing countries.
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Vox Pop: Following Loss to Croatia, Russia Fans Look On The Bright Side
We went to the Vorobyovy Gory fan zone to ask locals how they were feeling after the national team’s defeat.
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Vadim Kosmatschof’s Revolution in Art
The solo exhibition of works by Vadim Kosmatschof at the New Tretyakov Gallery will change your understanding of sculpture if you let it.
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‘We Wanted to Prove That Football Is Alive’ (Op-ed)
Only a cynic could dismiss Russia’s World Cup successes.
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Some Real Russian Pubs
Ever wanted to have a 4 p.m. breakfast or see the workings of a real brewery? Do all that and more at these nine Moscow pubs.
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Veteran Russian Football Defender Sergei Ignashevich to Retire
Ahead of his 39th birthday on Saturday, the veteran defender announced his retirement after 127 games with the Russian national team.
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Patriotism Abounds After Russia Exits World Cup
After Russia loss to Croatia in Saturday’s quarterfinal, footballers, politicians and fans alike are all still beaming with pride for their national team.
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Bank Ad Jinxes the Russia Team
The Mir payment system reportedly jumped the gun to congratulate Russia for winning against Croatia.
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Russian Fans Tidy Stadium After World Cup Loss
Russian fans organized a flashmob to clean up Sochi’s Fisht Stadium after the country’s quarterfinal game against Croatia.
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On the Streets Where They Lived
Take a trip into the lives of Alexander Pushkin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and other renowned St. Petersburg residents.
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Russian Fans Watch Their Defeat Against Croatia, in Pictures
Russians across the country were on the edge of their seats the entire night
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World Cup Hosts Russia Disappointed but Exit With Pride
The hosts came into the tournament as the lowest-ranked team but have defied expectations
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Russia Coach Not Getting Carried Away Despite Calls of Support From Putin
«When the president supports you that makes us comfortable and this is an extra boost for us in terms of motivation.»
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Putin Says World Cup Has Broken Stereotypes About Russia
«People have seen that Russia is a hospitable country, a friendly one for those who come here,» Putin said.
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World Cup Graffiti, In Pictures
By the time the World Cup games began, Russia was prepared not only with logistics but also with art. Currently, graffiti connected to the World Cup has bloomed all over the host cities.
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The Surprising History of Russian Football
Football has had a bumpy ride in Russia and the Soviet Union. Sometimes the game got players an award, and sometimes — a prison sentence.
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Fans Feast on Tatarstan Pastries in Kazan
Since the beginning of the World Cup, football fans have gobbled up some 21,000 echpochmaks — traditional Tatarstan pastries — in Kazan alone.
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Historic TV Ratings For Russia Win Against Spain
Russia’s match against Spain last Sunday became one of the three most-watched sporting events of the past 20 years.
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