Stories from Russia

A significant portion of the Russian population remains passive regarding the ongoing conflict, neither actively supporting nor publicly opposing it. While proponents of the war are few, and anti-war protesters are also scarce, the majority appears to occupy a neutral or undecided stance.

The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow is scheduled to present a new ballet production on April 28. The Sevastopol State Opera and Ballet Theatre will present the ballet 'The Stormy Pass' at the Bolshoi Theatre's new stage in Moscow on April 28. The production is based on Emily Brontë's novel and is staged by Johnna Poluk. Ksenia Ryshkov and Dmitry Sobolevsky will perform lead roles. The production is directed by Andrey Kantselevsky. The performance is described as featuring large-scale battle scenes and ballroom sequences. This marks the first time this specific production will be shown on the historical stage.

Rosnadzor head Anzor Muzaev reported that artificial intelligence successfully identified a student cheating during a state exam. The announcement was made during a speech at the Alpha Summit. Vice-Premier Marat Khusnullin reported a catastrophic shortage of workers in the Russian construction sector. High-demand specialists include ventilation system installers, electricians, and plumbers. Salaries for highly skilled plumbers can reach 400,000 rubles per month, while electricians earn up to 350,000 rubles. Khusnullin stated that labor productivity must increase by 22% to address the shortage. The United Russia party appears to be losing support ahead of parliamentary elections in Russia this autumn. In the Russian political system, elections function primarily as a test of loyalty for regional elites rather than competitive contests.

The number of private foundations in Russia has significantly increased, growing from approximately 200 at the start of last year to 570 by year-end. These foundations allow for estate planning and family capital management, with legal entities for managing assets under specific instructions. The private sector in Russia has seen growth, with approximately 300,000 public entities and the remainder being private. While the constitution guarantees free medical care, the source suggests that those who can afford it may opt for private services, particularly for vacation-related medical needs. A new institute, the Center for Engineering Data and Artificial Intelligence (CDI), is being created to develop and implement advanced solutions for Russia's construction industry.

Ak Bars Kazan secured a 5-2 victory over Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Continental Hockey League playoffs. Ak Bars opened the scoring and went on to win the series 4-0. The next game is scheduled for March 27th. Roman Kantserov scored in the fifth minute on a power play, followed by a goal from Sergey Tolchinsky. By the middle of the match, Metalurg held a 3-0 lead. Ak Bars attempted a comeback in the third period with goals from Artem Galimov and Alexander Khmelevsky, narrowing the score to 3-2.

A program titled 'Coaches in Crisis Are No Longer Needed' will explore why American coaching practices may not be effective for addressing Russian problems. The discussion will feature consultant, psychologist, and top manager coach Alexey Yozhikov. Russian courts are reportedly applying deportation in 99% of cases involving foreign citizens, even for those integrated into society. Intellectuals lived with the consciousness that such a way of life was unsustainable but feared admitting it.

Christianity-focused blogger Khristolyub Bozhiev was found dead in a punishment cell at a Voronezh colony. His family is disputing the official suicide ruling, noting he was under interrogation prior to his death. Bozhiev was known for his YouTube channel and anti-war stances regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Relatives of anti-war blogger Vegan Christalu Bozhiev dispute the official suicide ruling following his death in a Voronezh colony.

The Russian app store 'Russtore' has released its first-quarter rankings, with the messenger app 'Max', marketplace 'Sazon', and online bank 'Sberbank' among the most downloaded. The competition required participants to create a reliable artificial intelligence system for detecting lung abnormalities on chest X-rays. Researchers from the Institute of Artificial Intelligence developed three solutions for this problem, securing a spot among the top contenders. The Russian budget faces challenges due to ongoing sanctions and fluctuating oil prices. An expert suggested that even under an ideal scenario for Moscow, such as a prolonged war in Iran leading to Iranian oil leaving the market, Russia might not be able to fully capture the Asian market share or dictate prices. Oil prices have seen days with figures around 90 and even 100, with current prices around 80.

A new Russian law, effective since July 1st, prohibits operators from charging fees for loan agreements, installment payments, or schedule maintenance. This measure aims to protect consumers by eliminating additional charges associated with loan servicing. The law was discussed by Duma deputy Alexey Gavyrin. Notary fees in the Russian Federation consist of a federal tariff and various regional tariffs. These figures are economically justified and developed through federal legislation, the tax code, and the Ministry of Justice. The unified notary chambers ensure that fees are not set independently by individual practitioners. These rates are economically justified and standardized rather than set individually by private notaries. The source noted that fees are not determined by the individual notary's discretion.

Children of Russian military personnel will receive free admission to higher education programs. Separate quotas will be provided without entrance exams for Bachelor's and Specialist degrees, as well as for vocational education organizations. The announcement was made by Alexei Pimanov, with a memorial service scheduled for April 27th. A new Russian law has entered into force allowing parents to apply for their children's citizenship online. The procedure can now be completed via the Gosuslugi portal from home. Previously, parents were required to visit a Multifunctional Center (MFC) in person. The law aims to simplify administrative processes for young families. Radio ZET is advertising Lokomotiv, a product available as lozenges, dietary supplements, dragees, and syrup for children aged three and older. New Lokomotiv drops are also available.