Few Moscow outlets have offered a more devastating judgment about the state of Russia at the end of 2009 than the editors of the mainstream newspaper “Gazeta,” who said in an lead article yesterday that “the main result of the last year and of the entire Putin decade is the recognition that no one is dealing with the affairs of the country”.
Instead, everyone is concentrating on their private affairs. Instead of worrying about how to ensure that the country is governed and developed, the powers are only interested in milking the country for all it is worth and then sending their children and money to the “hated” West rather than trying to develop Russia.

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MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday ordered a one fifth cut to the staff of Interior Ministry after a series of scandals involving the police. The reform could affect at least 280,000 people and become one of the most ambitious reforms of Russia’s bloated bureaucracy since the fall of the Soviet Union. (more…)

Werner Braun für Die Wiener Nachrichten

Nun ist der Deal perfekt! Opel hat sich von seiner Muttergesellschaft GM gelöst und ist in Deutschland sozusagen auf den Markt geworfen worden. Es hat lange und zähe Verhandlungen gegeben, in welchen sich schließlich Frank Stronachs Unternehmen Magna durchgesetzt hat.

Der Verkauf eines derartigen Unternehmens ist aber keineswegs eine einfache Sache. Auf der Verkäuferseite gilt es, die – durchaus unterschiedlichen – Interessen mehrerer Gruppen zu wahren, und auch der Käufer muss mehrere Geldgeber unter einen Hut bringen, dabei die Interessen der Verkäufer wahren und zudem noch seinen Mit-Financiers klare Vorteile aus dem Kauf bieten.
Magna ist kein kleines Unternehmen – immerhin der weltweit drittgrößte Zulieferer der Autoindustrie. Aber dieser Deal brachte auch Frank Stronachs Unternehmen an die Grenze seiner Möglichkeiten. Und es ist noch keineswegs ausgestanden, denn auch Magna wurde – verständlicherweise – von seinen Kunden tief in die Krise mit hineingezogen. (more…)

Photo by Toktalieva, Vienna, Heldenplatz

Associated Press-MOSCOW – Russia will deploy short-range missiles near Poland to counter U.S. military plans in Eastern Europe, President Dmitry Medvedev warned Wednesday, setting a combative tone that clashed with global goodwill over Barack Obama’s election.
In his first state of the nation speech, Medvedev blamed Washington for the war in Georgia and the world financial crisis and suggested it was up to Washington to mend badly damaged ties.
Echoing Putin, who made criticism of Washington, Medvedev used the speech in an Kremlin reception hall to cast Russia as a nation threatened by encroaching American military might.
“From what we have seen in recent years — the creation of a missile defense system, the encirclement of Russia with military bases, the relentless expansion of NATO — we have clear impression that they are testing our strength,” Medvedev said. He signaled Moscow would not give in to Western calls to pull troops from Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, or rescind its recognition of their independence following the August war.
“We will not retreat in the Caucasus,” he said.

Young female beggar in one of Vienna streets listening to arguments of older woman who suddenly stopped to express her opinion on beggary.

For the first time in my life, I was brought at the place against my will and kept there shut. I felt shaken and thought it must be mistake and soon they would let me go.

At the same time, I knew in my heart that the world where I lived before would never be the same again. On incomprehensible reasons, I became outcast, object of persecution; I broke certain rules and revealed my alien nature to others. I failed to act in reality that all others people except of me shared. So albino crow in flock of black birds is hit by beaks of others till it is dead. I had feeling that all others shared knowledge I had no access to.

Many years would pass until I realize that everybody creates his own truth, and common reality for all does not exist. I would realize that unanimity and group thinking point out to higher levels of compromise only and also ability to float at surface of interactions without digging deep inside Feeling of being fatally unique and isolated was destructive and overwhelming illusion of my youth. I was subservient and quiet girl, brought up in family of five children as youngest, accustomed to respect older and rely on their wisdom. (more…)

Feeling distantly curious about the car, I had no any thought it could concern me. However, my eyes were fixed at the fire escape staircase leading on the roof of the building. I regretted being disobedient to Red Mistress. Moreover, my instincts told me I was in danger after talk with her.
Struggling with imperative to escape, I asked myself:
- What I am afraid of? Did I damage school property, steel money from the common safe or did I murder, harm or gave public insult to somebody? Why I must run and crawl like beast, seized with panic, if I know I am pure and innocent?
Three men in white gowns who appeared at the doors to interrupt my inner dispute. And without further explanations one of them – with sleeves turned up high above massive black-haired arms- told I must attend sort of psychological consultation instantly and drive there in ambulance car. The air this hospital attendant had did not give chance to resist or question. Escorted along corridors and downstairs I felt myself unreal. We crossed the yard, and before door of van closed behind me, I caught glimpse of yak chignon that flashed between curtains in one of school windows.
The car was moving on high speed toward secluded suburban areas of town, passed big park and arrived at barbwire-fenced territory. (more…)